What to do in Vegas besides the obvisous?

has anyone been to the grand canyon?  i like the idea of staying at the actual park, but everything seems to be booked (easter weekend).  is there a big difference btw north & south rim.  (really stupid question but which one is closer to vegas).  anything else to do around canyon?  wasn't looking forward to the vegas bit but now that we're heading into the dessert beautiful bit of nevada, quite excited.

Former park ranger here...yes, I still have the hat!!! 

The north rim is much less built up than the south rim, but it's also higher in elevation and will be closed during the time that you're planning on visiting.  So...it's gotta' be the south rim.  I actually spent a winter living at the south rim of the grand canyon, and gotta say it's an incredibly beautiful place.  As w/Zion, Easter weekend is going to be busy.  Definitely try and get some lodging booked sooner rather than later.  There is a small town at the entrance to the Grand Canyon..Tusayan.  Back when I lived in the area it was pretty small and lodging was pretty limited, but I think selection has improved since then.  I still remember the 'Red Feather'...it used to be our Friday night date!  They had a bowling alley in the hotel!

If you have trouble w/Tusayan, you could always check out Williams, which is a fair bit away but I believe the Grand Canyon railroad runs from Williams right into the park.  My personal favourite, though, is Flagstaff.  As I remember, it's a good 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive to the park, but it's over the San Francisco Peaks and it's a beautiful drive.  Flagstaff is a fair sized university town, so there's quite a good selection of hotels/restaurants/etc.  (There's a great burger place...or at least there was....called 'BunHuggers'!)  Flagstaff is also within easy driving of Sedona.  Definitely take the drive to Sedona down Oak Creek Canyon...one of the most gorgeous places on earth.  Sedona is beautiful red-rock country, quite new agey and frankly a bit pricey, but good fun to visit.

Hope you have a great time!

I've been. There is a beautiful offical hotel (I think called the Grand Canyon Hotel). I highly reccomend it.

Also, eat Navajo fry bread while you are there. Mmmm.

One more thing, the painted desert is close to Vegas, very beautiful with shades of purple, and far less crowded.

Have fun

I've been. There is a beautiful offical hotel (I think called the Grand Canyon Hotel). I highly reccomend it.

Also, eat Navajo fry bread while you are there. Mmmm.

You're probably thinking of the El Tovar...it's the really ritzy hotel located right on the rim!  I think they recently did a major renovation on it, so I'm sure it's in great shape.  Here's a link for lodging within the park, if you don't already have it...  http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

Remember to allow plenty of time for driving from Vegas to the park...as I remember, it's about 4-5 hours.  (Been a long time since I drove that way...I usually drive from southern Utah down highway 89.)

Have a fabulous trip!

I've been to Vegas countless times and only gambled $5.00 total.

I went there to shop, shop, shop!  OMG.  Sephora alone can take an entire day.

The Venetian.  More fab shops.

The Bellagio - more shops.

Caesar's Palace - just to go fantasize.

Then we went downtown.  For more shopping, of course.

 

I've been to Vegas countless times and only gambled $5.00 total.

I went there to shop, shop, shop!  OMG.  Sephora alone can take an entire day.

The Venetian.  More fab shops.

The Bellagio - more shops.

Caesar's Palace - just to go fantasize.

Then we went downtown.  For more shopping, of course.

 

Ooh yes, like the shopping as well!  I usually end up shopping over in Henderson, not in Vegas proper.  The Galleria Mall is out there, along w/all sorts of other shops...Target, Barnes & Noble, Wild Oats, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc., etc., etc.  You know, the typical city shops, along w/lots of places to eat.  There's also a HUGE, indoor factory outlet mall at the south (?) end of the strip.  Don't ever hit Vegas to gamble, but I do like to shop there!

i know i've left this a bit late.  i'd rather drive to zion as i hear it's beautiful and closer to vegas.   but the boyfriend (english) has his heard set on the grand canyon (he compares it to going to new jersey and NOT going to New york city)  all the lodges IN the park are closed.  so i guess i'll look at tusayan etc...

I've been to Vegas countless times and only gambled $5.00 total.

I can beat that! I've only ever gambled $2! I won $6 and figured a 300% profit was pretty good, so I took my winnings and stopped! I'm not Vegas's favourite kind of tourist, that's for sure!

My fave thing to do in Vegas is see Siegfried & Roy's white tigers -- not the show, but the place where they keep them at the Mirage. It's also a dolphin habitat which is very cool if you're into that sort of thing.

are the dophins in the mirage as well?  that sounds like a great afternoon trip.  in my guide book they have a note about a whole bunch of outlet malls outside of town.  watch out!!

are the dophins in the mirage as well?  that sounds like a great afternoon trip. 

They were, but it's been a while since I've been to Vegas. You might want to check and make sure it's still there.

The white tigers and dolphins weren't actually IN the Mirage, but behind it. I think we went through the casino to find it, though.


(Modified because I googled and they are still there: http://www.mirage.com/attractions/ )

Yep they are at the Mirage.

Steer clear of the Belz; it is crappy, except Off 5th (Saks outlet). Go to the Primm outlet at Stateline- it is one of the best outlets in the US!

If you go in to the connecting casino, you can also see Bonnie and Clyde's shoot-out car.

we're renting a car for thursday/friday but using that car time to go to the grand canyon and back (the boy promises he'll drive).  is it a long cab ride to the primm outlet at stateline?  public transport?

can i just say how wonderful it is that there are people from all over the world on this site.  so useful when you're planning a trip to some random locale.  thanks everyone!

Check with your hotel; I am pretty sure there is a free shuttle to primm, leaving from the strip. I know there is one to the Belz (which is not that far; it is by McCarren Airport)

 Have fun!

I went 2 years ago and it was...crazy. If you want a cool place to stay try staying at Sam's Town it's  ocated on the corner of Boulder Highway and Flamingo Avenue...like six miles from the Strip. If you get a room overlooking the indoor atrium it's AWESOME..they have a water & laser show that you can view from your room. They have EVERYTHING you could possibly need or want inside that hotel...you never have to leave lol. There's a really nice Buffet called Firelight Buffet...really nice food for a good price.

This is what it has:
Casino: Yes, 150,000 square feet. Casino games include Blackjack, Bingo,Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, Keno, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Poker, Roulette, Madness 21. Mini-Baccarat, Megabucks and Super Megabucks. More than 2,800 slot and video poker machines. The casino has a poker room.

Race & sports book: Yes, a 316-seat race and sports book, equipped with 62 televisions and 12 big screens.

Restaurants: Sam's Town has the following dining options: Billy Bob's Steak House & Saloon, Fellini's, Fresh Harvest Café, Firelight Buffet, Willy and Jose's Cantina, Calamity Jane's Ice Cream Parlor, Java In The Park, Food Court, Deli Snack Bar and Bowling Alley Snack Bar.

Entertainment: Entertainment is featured in Sam's Town Live! 1,100-seat venue with headline entertainers, and Roxy's Lounge.

Attractions: Sunset Stampede light, laser and animation show.

Pool: Yes, one outdoor pool and a Jacuzzi.

Spa: Yes, the Jon'Ric International Salon and Day Spa offers multiple types of massages and services. The spa also has a full-service salon.

Shops: Yes, gift shop, Shepler's Western Wear.

Standard room amenities: Air conditioning, alarm clock/radio, remote-controlled cable TV, electronic door locks, iron and ironing board, pay-per-view movies, telephone, voice mail.

Hotel amenities: Currency exchange, laundry, luggage and maid service, wake-up calls. Mystic Falls Park, which includes a 25,000-square-foot indoor park, complete with trees, waterfalls, footpaths and a mountain, a 56-lane AMF equipped bowling center, Century 18 Sam's Town movie theater complex, video game arcade.

Their movie theater is out of this world! it's crazy lol.

Like the person above said...there are also free shuttle that leave to take you to the bigger hotels on the strip.

Okie I'm done...I'm not too sure what's around outside of the town. We only left the hotel a few times to go to the strip.

HAVE FUN!  

are the dophins in the mirage as well? that sounds like a great afternoon trip. in my guide book they have a note about a whole bunch of outlet malls outside of town. watch out!!

The outlet mall at the very south end of the strip (past the airport cutoff @ 215) is twice the size it was last time I went a few years ago- definitely worth the trip down the road. They had a bit of everything, including a poor chicken in the parking lot that we tried to save. In the end, we chased him into the Outback Steakhouse's parking lot.....there might be something 'new' on the menu now...lol

Guess I'll have to check out the Primm stateline ones here soon- I've been in a shopping mood lately..and that doesn't happen often!