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I and my wife will be making the journey from Australia to the USA for a month leaving this time next week. Our trip will take in Las Vegas, Nashville (anyone have NAMM passes?), New York, Boston and LA
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Welcome! I hope you have a great time here.
In Vegas there are many great shows. I recommend you see the Blue Man Group show at the Luxor (the pyramid shaped hotel), and any of the Circ Du Soleil shows! They are probably the best shows on the strip. There are a ton of other great shows to see like singers (Clint Holmes is great) and magicians also all over the strip. Pick up a copy of the Entertainer Magazine for show times and locations when you get into town. There are also great comedians in Vegas. I recommend the Rite Rudner show at New York, New York casino. Very Funny!
As for hotels in Vegas, I would suggest you do what I used to (before I moved out here that is) and stay at many different hotels during your stay. Prices change at different hotels depending on the day of the week, conventions, etc. Check for rates at different hotels, and then book a few days at one hotel, then move to another for a few days, then another, etc. It will save you money, and you get to enjoy the different rooms and hotels amenities that each place has to offer.
All the strip hotels are great except for the Oriental Palace (stay away from there, the place is a dump!) My favorite places in Vegas are the MGM, Luxor, and the Alladin (soon to be the Hard Rock).
Other things to do in Vegas are visit the Stratosphere tower. It has rides on the top including a roller coaster and a slide drop (you just have to see it!), as well as great views of the valley.
Also, if you like to hike, ask any of the hotel staff about the hiking and wilderness trails around the valley. Be sure to bring and drink plenty of water with you if you go hiking, as we get really hot out here (it was 117 today) and little to no humidity.
Another area of Vegas to visit is the Downtown area of casinos. There are great older casinos like Binions Horshoe and the Golden Nugget, as well as the Freemont Street Experience. This is a large overhead canopy (blocks long) that is a giant TV screen! A large pumping sound system (EAW) put in by SPL provides the great audio for the hourly shows. There are also great shops downtown, and some cool restaurants.
Speaking of food, check out the buffets at the casinos. They average about 8-10 per person per meal, and offer all types of food. My favorite buffets are at the Orleans casino (off the strip) and at the RIO. also, the Flamingo Casino has a great buffet, and you can eat and look out the window at the flamingos and other birds as well as the waterfalls in the garden court! They even have penguins!
There are also great shopping places in Vegas. There is a mall called the Fashion Mall, as well as many shops located at the casinos. One casino, The Alladin, has a mall called the Desert Passage that is entirely decorated like an old mid-eastern bazaar! Really cool!
Not to be missed are the Fountains at the Bellagio (free), the ship show at the Treasure Island (also free) and a gondola ride in the canals at Venice!
Just outside of Vegas are two great things not to be missed, the GRAND CANYON and the HOOVER DAM. There are all sorts of planned tours to both locations, including helicopter tours of the canyon.
In New York, you have to visit the Empire State Building! There is an observation deck on the top that allows you to see almost forever!
Hope you have a great time in our fine country. Remember, we speak a different language here! You may need a translation book for English to American English! hehehe
Craig