Leaving For Vegas on Monday 4/27

[LouisEly]

Most fun in Vegas? Shooting fully automatic M-16s and AK-47s at the Gun Store (yes, automatic, not semi-automatic). Indoor shooting range, on Tropicana about 3 miles east of the Strip. Every cabbie knows how to get there; there is also a bus that stops about a block or two from there that will take you to the strip. It's about $1/bullet, but it's pretty freakin' fun to unload an M-16 on a target with a picture of Osama bin Laden on it. Or a .50cal Desert Eagle.

[phxMILWfan]

Lots of good info on this thread already... My wife and I are heading over to Vegas over Halloween weekend for her birthday and I was hoping to get even more advice. Can anyone recommend a great sushi place? We are looking into staying at the Mirage. Has anyone stayed there and what did you think? As far as golfing goes is there a course that is really worth Vegas greens fees? What's the minimum I can put on a game at the sports books? Thanks in advance.

[homer]

Minimum at sports book is $5 I believe.

[mattsr0625]

i want to go to vegas but the wife wants to drive.. im in milwaukee and she thinks it will be fun. can you guys back me up that it would be much better to fly. thanks

[phxMILWfan]

I drove from Milwaukee to Phoenix. Took me about 28 hours. I wasn't exactly popping No-Doze and racing out here but still trying to do it quickly. It sucked and I wouldn't do it again. I'd agree that it would be much better to fly. Just my opinion though.

[nate82]

Unless she wants to be stopping at the grand canyon and other tourist attractions before going to Vegas drive but you could always take a tour out to the grand canyon in Vegas. Some of the states you drive through to get to Vegas are rather dull and boring remind her of that. Especially the first part of the trip through Iowa and Nebraska. Corn fields after corn fields and nothing but flat ground for the most part. It doesn't start to get interesting at least scenery wise until you get to Colorado and Utah. Then when you go through Nevada which is mostly desert I believe you could go through either I80 W or I90 W. I80 W takes you through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. I90 W takes you through Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah. I90 W is the longer of the two drives taking about two more hours than I80 W. If you drive straight through it should take you about a day to get there compared to about 4 hours of flight time.

 

Or you could take US-93 which is an even longer drive in terms of time but is probably more scenic. I took I80 W to Denver when I went out there a few years ago.

 

It is much better to fly unless you really like to see flat fields of corn and then some mountains and then a desert and then the city of Vegas. Plus it is better to use the public transportation in Vegas than to be driving around there.

[pitchleague]

just an FYI, if you drive to Vegas, a stop at the Grand Canyon is definitely out of the way and will expand your trip by at least a half day up to a full day.

 

It's funny when you look at a map and think, "hey, it's right next to Vegas!" But it's not. Not even close. The roads make you go way out of the way from Las Vegas. Trust me, I live here.

[nate82]

just an FYI, if you drive to Vegas, a stop at the Grand Canyon is definitely out of the way and will expand your trip by at least a half day up to a full day.

 

It's funny when you look at a map and think, "hey, it's right next to Vegas!" But it's not. Not even close. The roads make you go way out of the way from Las Vegas. Trust me, I live here.

Actually Grand Canyon National Park is just east of Las Vegas. It is about 200 miles east of Vegas. It is somewhat out of the way but I believe if you take I80 W and then take US 191 south you would run into the Grand Canyon National Park. Then it is only another 300 miles to Las Vegas. If you do that it adds about 5 hours onto the trip than driving straight to Vegas.

[SeriesFinale]

just an FYI, if you drive to Vegas, a stop at the Grand Canyon is definitely out of the way and will expand your trip by at least a half day up to a full day.

 

It's funny when you look at a map and think, "hey, it's right next to Vegas!" But it's not. Not even close. The roads make you go way out of the way from Las Vegas. Trust me, I live here.

Actually Grand Canyon National Park is just east of Las Vegas. It is about 200 miles east of Vegas. It is somewhat out of the way but I believe if you take I80 W and then take US 191 south you would run into the Grand Canyon National Park. Then it is only another 300 miles to Las Vegas. If you do that it adds about 5 hours onto the trip than driving straight to Vegas.

Well, which is about what most consider half a day's drive, without adding in the time spent at the Grand Canyon itself. It was a fair point, I thought.

 

Anyway, while we're on the subject (sort of), Red Rocks, just outside LV, is a fantastic diversion for those on a too-long weekend there who are sick of spending money, getting drunk, or the casino atmosphere.

[Raw Biz]

I'm headin out to Vegas Friday morning. First stop is O'Shea's for 10 am beer pong.

[jazzytrav]

I've never driven to Vegas, but I would highly recommend flying. Keep in mind that if you take the same general route, you'll see the same thing on the way back. Every time I drive for long trips, the way there is kinda fun, but the way back is brutal. It also depends on your personality. I'm not a big drinker, but I had my share while we were in Vegas, and it can be hard to sleep a lot when you know there is so much bustling around you. I was exhausted on the flight back after a four day stay, so I can't imagine what an almost 30-hour drive would be like in that condition.

 

Besides, flights to Vegas really aren't very expensive, and there are some great packages out there for some of the better hotels. My wife and I paid less than $700 for 2 roundtrip tickets and a 4-night stay at the MGM Grand. They don't care how much it costs you to get to Vegas...they just want you to get there so they can take the money you saved on airfare.

 

By the way, for anyone staying at the MGM Grand, I would suggest trying to make sure you're in the main building. For the first night we were put in the West Wing, and I wasn't a fan.

[FVBrewerFan]

I had a suite at the MGM. You just have to win more money, and you'll get a nice room! And it worked, I came back and lost it all back the following year ; )

[jazzytrav]

Yeah, for the other 3 nights I made sure we were moved into the main building, so we were in a suite on the 27th floor facing the strip.

[Jimbo]

i want to go to vegas but the wife wants to drive.. im in milwaukee and she thinks it will be fun. can you guys back me up that it would be much better to fly. thanks

I have made the drive from Milwaukee to Las Vegas to Los Angeles. I made it in a February.

 

Colorado was great. Utah surpasses my expectations. Nebraska was brutal. I think this time of year would be a bit dull. But flying takes just three hours, so it is easier. As mentioned above, you've seen everything as you drive back.

[GAME05]

a friend of mine had a convention at Red Rocks Hotel and really hated it. said the place is getting delapidated already.

 

The Orleans is a good place to play poker if you can stand the smoke, but is definitely my least favourite casino. it's a bit off the strip, too. I basically just play cards when i go to Vegas and like to hit Downtown in the early afternoons. Freemont Street is a better place to walk during the day, just without the light show. the overhead display lets you in the shade during the day and it's easy to dip into the air conditioning. i'll hang out at a Strip casino in the evening.

 

if you like clubs and want to try some celebrity-spotting, then go to the Palms.

[DHonks]

I am thinking of heading back for Halloween weekend as well (Purdue is at Wis, so one buddy is available), Packers hosting Vikings, and I think World Series. Plus, weather still nice and warm, and cheap rooms are THE Hotel

[SZBrewerFan]

Phx....sorry for the delayed reply I was out of town last week, but if you still need help with golf in Las Vegas please IM or email as I would love to help you out with some suggestions if you need help. My company books golf trips to Vegas and we can get you set up with some pretty good deals. You are coming out during a more expensive time of the year but we can still set you up on a solid course for $100.00 or less without much of a problem. Send me a message if you are interested with the dates you want to play and the number of players and I will see what I can get done for you.

 

Steve