Nevada Archives - Travel Frances

Las Vegas, NV: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Every time I turn around, I find ANOTHER great book about the city’s history and what’s still around:

- “Chronicles of Old Las Vegas” by James Roman
- “Cult Vegas: The Weirdest! The Wildest” by Mike Weatherford
- “Discovering Vintage Las Vegas” by Paul W. Papa
- “Las Vegas Legends” by Greg Niemann
- “Rat Pack Confidential” by Shawn Levy

Getting There – Drive, take a bus or fly.

- Drive: It’s not far from Los Angeles. Just know that if you come back on Sunday, you WILL hit traffic.
- Bus: Now a very hip and cool way to travel with free Wi-Fi, streamed entertainment, in-seat power outlets, comfortable seats, restrooms:
- Fly: Either JSX or Southwest seem to be the most frequent and reasonably priced. I’m particular to JSX as you fly to and from a private hanger at the various airports and avoid the hassle of TSA.

Las Vegas, NV: Getting Around & Accommodations

Getting Around:

- To and from the airport, I prefer Lyft or Uber. No need to rent a car and pay for expensive parking.
- Las Vegas Monorail (MGM Grand to SLS)
- Mandalay Bay (Luxor – Excalibur Tram)
- Park MGM (Aria – Bellagio Tram)

Accommodations – Everyone has their favorite place to stay, but my suggestions are:

- Join hotel groups like M Life (MGM) or Total Rewards (Caesar’s) and watch for sales. My personal favorite is the MGM Grand because its on the outer edge of the hectic beat of the strip.
- If you want all the benefits of a top notch casino/hotel but want to be south of the Strip – try South Point Hotel Casino & Spa.
- If you want to stay downtown, here’s several that are both modern and vintage:

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Las Vegas, NV: Eating & Drinking

Restaurants/Bars – There are SO many wonderful restaurants in Las Vegas, it is challenging to choose, especially since new ones are always popping up. However, here are a few that I have bookmarked as my favorites (categorized by general area) and why:

Downtown

- Chart House @ Golden Nugget – Sit next to the salt water fish tank!
- Don’t Tell Mama – Piano Bar on Fremont
- Downtown Cocktail Room – Oldest continually operating bar in DTLV
- Hugo’s Cellar – Old School dining at Four Queens Hotel & Casino
- Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse – Fine dining at the D downtown
- Laundry Room – Century’s worth of Sin City Scandal & Debauchery
- Legacy Club @ Circa – Drinks only, but with an amazing view
- Underground Speakeasy – Visit the Roaring Twenties at Mob Museum
- Vic & Anthony’s – Prime steak & seafood at the Golden Nugget

Arts District

- Casa Don Juan Mexican Restaurant – Full of authentic Mexican art
- Esther’s Kitchen – Seasonal Italian neighborhood restaurant
- Jammyland – Tiki bar and Caribbean food
- Letty’s De Leticia’s Cocina – Mexican food with a relaxed ambiance
- Main Street Provisions – Arts District Community-Oriented
- PublicUs – Farm-to-Table sandwiches & pastries
- Red Dwarf – Phenomenal craft beers with nerdy Tiki
- Silver Stamp – Down-to-earth robust beer menu
- Stray Pirate – Sunken dog/Pirateship styled cocktails
- Velveteen Rabbit – Craft cocktails and beer

Off Strip (West)

- Bob Taylors Ranch House – Western themed restaurant since 1955
- Capo’s Restaurant & Speakeasy – Mafia chic Italian favorites
- Gabi’s Coffee & Bakery – Coffee & light bites in warehouse-chic digs
- Golden Tiki – Very fun happy hour drinks and snacks in Chinatown
- Herbs & Rye – Classic Italian & cocktails in moody restaurant & lounge
- Hush Puppy – Finest catfish west of the Mississippi since 1975
- Speakeasy Candle – Cocktails and candle making

Off Strip (East)

- Bahama Breeze – Great seafood OFF the strip
- Casa Di Amore & Tiki Di Amore – Excellent Italian w/outdoor tiki bar
- Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar – Lounge Spanish eatery for tapas & cocktails
- Italian American Club – Non-profit social club w/3 dining rooms/bars
- Lotus of Siam – Northern Thai flavors
- Piero’s Italian Cuisine – Off the strip, really old school delicious Italian
- Sicilian Ristorante – Traditional Sicilian meals & wines
- Starboard Tack – 24 hour cocktails and Asian Fusion food

Strip (north of Flamingo)

- Bugsy & Meyer’s @ Flamingo – Vintage era steakhouse
- Cornish Pasty – Cornwall traditional meals!
- Davidoff of Geneva Cigar Bar (Cigars and drinks only)
- Delilah @ Wynn – 1950’s Glam fine dining
- Fireside Lounge @ Peppermill Restaurant – Rat Pack energy
- Golden Monkey Tiki Lounge @ Resorts World – classic Tiki decor
- Golden Steer Steakhouse – Favorite of the Rat Pack & Elvis
- Joe’s Seafood @ Caesars – Old school seafood experience – YUM!
- Margaritaville @ Flamingo – Food varies, but good music & fun vibes
- Sinatra @ Wynn – Classic Italian

Strip (south of Flamingo)

- 1923 Bourbon Bar – @ Mandalay Bay – Swanky speakeasy
- Barbershop Speakeasy @ Cosmopolitan (Go through the Janitor door)
- Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar @ Park MGM – French flair
- Bootlegger Italian Bistro – Old school Italian w/old school entertainment
- Border Grill – @ Mandalay Bay – Creative traditional Mexican tastes
- Eiffel Tower Restaurant @ Paris – Excellent views worth the $$$
- Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House @ MGM Grand – Creole flavors
- Foundation Room @ Mandalay Bay – International dining
- Ghost Donkey @ Cosmopolitan – Fiesta flights & lounge snacks
- Harvest by Roy Ellamar @ Bellagio – Farm-to-Table
- Island Time Floats – Tiki and Taco @ Grand Bazaar Shops
- L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon @ MGM Grand – French fine dining
- Morimoto @ MGM Grand – Modern Japanese fare
- NoMad Library Restaurant @ Park MGM – French-inspired
- Petrossian Bar @ Bellagio – Martinis, caviar & live piano music
- Picasso @ Bellagio – New French eatery
- Ri Ra Irish Pub @ Mandalay Bay – Traditional Irish eats
- Scarpetta Italian Restaurant @ Cosmopolitan – Sophisticated menu

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Las Vegas, NV: Things to Do

Great Museums here! Who knew?

- Haunted Museum – 1938 Haunted property!
- Nevada National Security Site Tours – NOT TO BE MISSED!
- National Atomic Testing Museum – Best museum in town!
- Neon Museum – SO MUCH FUN (outdoors)!
- Mob Museum – Great history of Cosa Nostra
- Mob Museum Speakeasy – Grab a cocktail learn about the Roaring 20’s
- Hollywood Car Museum – Vehicles from movie and TV history
- Natural History Museum – Egypt, Prehistoric Mammals, Marine Life
- Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort – First settlement from 1955
- Pinball Hall of Fame – World’s largest Pinball collection

Other Super Fun Places to Visit and Participate!

- Arts District – Independent businesses and creatives
- Elevated Spirits Cocktail Series – Learn to make Craft cocktails!
- Flamingo Wildlife Habitat – Flamingos, swans, ducks, Koi fish & turtles
- Gamblers General Store – Fun supplies for any gambler – vintage, too
- High Roller Observation Wheel @ Linq – Party 550 feet above the Strip
- Lied Library at UNLV – Special collections section by special request
- Lost Spirits Distillery Experience – An immersive world to explore
- Marvel Avengers Station – Really fun for us superhero fans!
- Shark Reef Aquarium – Over 100 species in total sensory experience
- Springs Preserve – Train or trails through Las Vegas beginnings
- Titanic – The Artifact Exhibition – Over 250 authentic artifacts
- Vegas Mob Tour – Most authentic Mob tour in Vegas

Outside Vegas Fun Places to Visit!

- Kiel Ranch Historic Park – Early Las Vegas Settlement Site
- Lion Habitat Ranch – Book the tour; SO worth it
- Lost City Museum – Boulder Dam Park Museum
- Mount Charleston – Hiking trails, camping and biking
- Nevada Southern Railway Museum – Ride the rails form 1930’s
- Nevada State Museum – Natural & cultural heritage

Entertainment

I’m more into the musical performances, but those change constantly, so check websites like Vegas.com for a current list of shows.

I highly recommend seeing as many tributes and traditional performers while they are still with us. Don’t miss Rich Little at the Tropicana and The Rat Pack is Back at the Tuscany.

Conventions

There are a LOT of conventions here each year. My personal favorites are:

- Barbershop Harmony Society Convention (not every year)
- Star Trek Convention
- Tea Expo (not every year)