There are many things to see in Las Vegas that are not just the casino floor. Las Vegas is full of museums and attractions such as; Madame Tussauds, and the Guggenheim at the Venetian, the Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio, the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, King Tut’s Tomb at the Luxor… you get the point. Anyhow, one of these attractions is the Ferrari and Maserati showroom at the Wynn. This is apparently Ferrari’s “flagship” showroom, and it is definitely worth seeing if you like cars. Last time I was there with my friend, the one that bought the shoes, we decided to check it out. It is $10 per person to get in. Yes, I know, I paid just for the chance to look at the cars for sale. But hey, I bet they would reimburse that fee if you purchased one… So anyhow, I determined that I want an F430 Spider. I also got to sit in an F360 Spider, which was pretty cool. Then I paid more money to buy pictures of myself in that car. This trip was also educational, as there are spec sheets describing various features of most of the cars in the showroom. I learned a few things about Ferraris that I didn’t know. You might too, if you decide to go.
One last thing, if you think you might buy something in the Ferrari store, wait until after you tour the showroom. You will receive a $10 off of a $50 purchase coupon with your admission. Be forewarned, the prices in the store are high, though the quality of most products seem high as well.

If you love shoes, and what girl doesn’t, you should definitely check out the Manolo Blahnik store at the Wynn in Las Vegas. For those of you who don’t know what Manolo Blahniks are, you should watch a few episodes of Sex and the City. Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie, is a huge fan of the brand on the show. Anyhow, the store in Las Vegas is one of only 2 Manolo Blahnik stores in the United States. Sure, you can buy these shoes at Nordstrom and other high-end department stores, but these are the flagship stores that showcase the new items. I have been to this store a few times now to look at some really gorgeous shoes. It is located on the Wynn Esplanade near Dior, Rolex Louis Vuitton… you get the point. The shoes in here are gorgeous; there are alligator, ostrich, Italian leather, and even fur ones.

The ones I would buy if I could, would be the alligator print red sling-back heels for $2200. And of course, I would need the matching purse for a mere $8000. Or maybe the ostrich flip-flops… But my husband just may explode if I spent $700 on flip-flops…

Last time I was in Vegas, a couple of weeks ago, I went with a friend, who is also a huge Manolo Blahnik fan. She splurged and bought herself the most amazing vixen-red stiletto Mary-Janes that I have ever laid eyes on. If you have the self-control, or lucky you, the budget for these shoes, go to Vegas and check them out. If you can’t find anything that floats your boat, head over to the Jimmy Choo store at Caesar’s Palace. They have the cutest little pair of indigo blue strappy heels with and matching purse…

Las Vegas has become quite a shopper’s paradise. There is actually something for almost everyone. Many of the Casinos have large shopping malls right on the property. The Venetian has the Canal Shoppes, Caesar’s has the overwhelming and upscale Forum Shops, the Planet Hollywood has the Desert Passage shops, now called the Miracle Mile. There is an entire shopping Mall called Fashion Show right across from the Venetian, and that is just a start. There is a decent outlet mall a couple miles south on the strip. There is even an M&M factory, just in case you could find any chocolate anywhere else! Honestly, I have started looking forward to visiting Las Vegas because I want a new pair of shoes, or some new perfume or makeup at one of the Sephoras right on the strip. Don’t even get me started on Sephora!

In my opinion, the best shopping, in walking distance from major sights, is located at the north end of the strip from about Caesar’s to the Fashion Show Mall. I like to window shop in the Forum shops. The Forum Shops also feature a highly unusual spiral escalator. As I stroll, I often think to myself, who can afford most of this crap? It is very pricey. A few big names are Juicy Couture, Coach, Judith Leiber, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Bvlgari, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana…. you get the point. I love this little chocolate shop called Vosges Haut Chocolat. I know, great name. It’s pricey chocolate, but haven’t you always wanted to know what taleggio cheese, fennel, olive oil, and kalamata olives could do to your chocolate? No, I’m not joking. And it’s actually pretty tasty. Caesar’s Forum shops is really a stunning mall architecturally as well. One thing that annoys me, however, if the stairway and the path. They force you to walk in a huge circle, even though you could cut through if it were not for a strategically placed gate. It’s obvious they want you to walk past as many stores as possible. You’ll see what I mean if you go.

After I torture myself at Caesar’s, I like to get back to reality at the Fashion Show Mall. It is honestly a regular mall, except that it is located on about $1 billion worth of land right on the strip across from the Venetian ( I made that up, but it has to be uber-valuable land). This mall has Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neimann Marcus, Dillards and Saks. It also has regular stores like Foot Locker, Apple, Brookstone, Gap, and other mall staples, like a little food court.

If I’m up to it, I might also walk through the Venetian’s Canal Shoppes. These are in a similar price category as Caesar’s, but not so huge and overwhelming. The atmosphere is also great. I love the little gondolas that float by, with the little gondoliers belting out a song… and there’s always the gelato stand. I can’t remember what the gelato stand is called, but it’s in a big open area. Try the zabaglione flavor.

If budget is your thing, visit the outlets. They have a lot of shops, including a Nike store, which I love. Just like any outlet mall, this is a great place to go for just about anything, as long as it’s women’s clothes. And you’ll want to take a cab, since, it’s about a mile past any casinos.

When I first heard about the canal at the Venetian, it struck me as odd that someone would build a river on the 2nd floor of a building. Yes, really, the 2nd floor. A close second, was the thought that I would never pay to ride such a tourist trap. You guessed it, I did ride it. It is actually quite charming. Each boat has a little gondolier that steers the little boat along the canal and sings an Italian song as you drift past the shops. Their voices really carry well in the area, and a crowd often watches as your gondolier belts their tune. You see, the canal is the median area in the Grand Canal Shoppes, the Venetian’s indoor mall. Before riding it I always wondered if the gondoliers got tired after rowing a boat all day, but they actually have little motors on the boats. The gondolier just presses on a little hole, and it senses their foot, and goes. They do, however, use their big oar to steer. The motor is essentially silent, so it seems like they are actually rowing you down the stream. I rode the boat with my husband and his brother & wife. For the 4 of us, it was $60 total. It costs $15 per person and $7.50 for kids 12 and under. You can rent the whole boat for $60. (It seats 4). There is even a special wedding gondola. It is white & looks like some Cinderella version. You buy a ticket at the starting end, and it has a time on it. Then you just get in a line about 20 minutes before your marked time, and it’s first come first served at that point. The ride lasts about 15 minutes. You go down the indoor canal and back. There is also an outside canal that you can ride. They are not linked though. The outside one is a little cheaper at $12.50 for adults, but I like the ambiance of the canal shoppes, though outside you see the facade of the Venetian’s front. You can pay extra to purchase your picture, just like amusement park rides. We took our own photos. Oh, make sure you go with someone you like, apparently it is customary to smooch every time you go under a bridge. Just a tip so you can avoid an uncomfortable moment. The Venetian’s Gondola.