Viva Las Vegas: The Perfect Weekend Getaway
One fabulous benefit of retiring in St. George, Utah is the town’s close proximity to big cities like Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. You get the charm of living in a quiet, small town while major metropolitan centers are just a short drive away; Las Vegas, in particular, is perfect for a quick getaway. Only an hour and a half from sunny Southern Utah on I-15, the city popularly known as “the entertainment capital of the world” can be your go-to destination when you’re ready for a weekend escape full of fun and adventure. As for what to do when you get there? Read through the list below for ideas on how to spend an unforgettable couple of days in the city where what happens there, stays there–even in retirement…
Gamble the night away
Hitting the slots or the blackjack table is the go-to activity for anyone visiting Las Vegas but if the packed, loud casinos on the Strip don’t sound ideal for your getaway, there are plenty of less hectic places to gamble in the city. For a more relaxed atmosphere to win big, try low-key local gems like Sam’s Town, Station Casinos, The Orleans or the Silverton.
Visit the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Every tourist stops at the Bellagio for its unforgettable dancing fountains show but did you know the luxury hotel is also home to the best art gallery in all of Las Vegas? In the past, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has featured exhibits of artistic legends like Picasso, Warhol and Lichtenstein. Beginning March 31, the gallery will host “I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali,” an exhibition of unseen footage, photographs and rare personal artifacts to tell the story of the greatest boxer of the 20th century. (Tickets can be purchased at the gallery’s box office, located within the hotel’s Promenade Shops.)
See a show
Entertainment of all kinds abounds in Sin City and taking in a show or two is one of the best ways to make your trip to Vegas memorable. From stand-up comedy and magic shows to lavish Cirque du Soleil shows and music superstars like Celine Dion (whose long-running residency continues to dominate Caesars Palace) and Donny and Marie (at the Flamingo), there’s truly a show for everyone to enjoy.
Visit a museum
Las Vegas is home to a plethora of museums to satisfy nearly any area of interest. Popular options include the Atomic Testing Museum, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the Neon Museum, and the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society. Looking for something more eccentric? Check out the Mob Museum, the Pinball Hall of Fame or the Vegas location of Madame Tussauds wax museum inside The Venetian.
Hop on a bus tour
Taking a bus tour is perhaps the most convenient way to explore all the sights the Las Vegas has to offer. Not only does a bus tour limit the amount of walking you have to do around the city, it provides perfect opportunities to take pictures, stop at gift shops and experience more in one weekend than you probably could without the luxury of a bus. Take a tour up and down the legendary Strip to get an eyeful of Sin City’s most iconic landmarks or head outside the city limits to explore the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. Other options include tours of everything from Area 51 to the hit A&E reality show Pawn Stars.
Eat up at the buffets
The best way to dine during a weekend in Las Vegas is easily at the city’s many all-you-can-eat buffets. You get the most bang for your buck with reasonable prices, a wide variety of food and (often) senior discounts on the meal. Some of the best-rated buffets in Vegas include the Wicked Spoon (inside The Cosmopolitan), Carnival World and Seafood Buffet (inside Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino), Feast Around the World Buffet (inside Green Valley Ranch Resort) and Bacchanal (inside Caesars Palace).
Written by: Glenn Rowley
