One of the quintessential activities in Las Vegas is walking the Strip. It’s a great way to see all the casinos, get exercise, people watch, and see the free attractions that some of the casinos have.

Three of the major Casinos on the strip have free, live scheduled “shows” that are offered on the strip in front of the resort. Treasure Island has the ‘Sirens of ti’ show which has what my husband calls “some hot chicks wearing some torn clothes on pirate ships”. The Mirage has an exploding volcano, and the Bellagio has the famous fountains. In downtown Vegas on Fremont Street, they have erected a giant canopy over the street that they run a giant LED light show on at night. It really is hokey, like the casinos down there and not worth a trip just to see it.

The ‘Sirens of ti’ show used to be strictly about pirates, had a different name and was an artifact of the days that Las Vegas was targeting entire families. Nowadays, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” has transformed the show into more of an adult theme. Hot, wet girls and apparently some dudes who pump iron as pirates on a ship. I have not been able to see this show yet, due to the fact that the crowds are immense. Also I know that I will be back again soon. This show runs nightly at 7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. Sirens of ti

The Volcano in front of the Mirage is also very popular. You must see this at least once. It is essentially an erupting volcano complete with rumbling, and fire. I always wonder how much natural gas they burn through each show. They also use water with red lighting to simulate lava. It’s well done. After seeing it a couple times, it’s not something that you crave to see every time you’re in Vegas, however. This show runs daily on the hour. Spring Hours 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Summer Hours 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Winter Hours 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Mirage Volcano

The ‘Fountains of Bellagio’ is another story. My absolute all time favorite thing in Vegas is the fountains. They are an absolute marvel. The fountains move and dance with light all choreographed to music and even shoot up to 200 feet in air. The programs range from the blithe “Luck be a Lady” by Frank Sinatra to the poignant “Time to say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (that’s my personal favorite). That program has brought many folks to tears. If you ever go to Vegas, even for just a few hours, DO NOT MISS THIS!! This show runs:

 
Welcome to Steph’s Vegas!
This blog is designed for people who are relatively new to Las Vegas and want to know a little bit about the city. Some of the features of this blog will include overviews of the city, hotels, dining, entertainment, and casino reviews. I’ll also include some tips and tricks that I’ve picked up.

Here’s a little something about me. I first visited Las Vegas in 2000. I currently live in Utah, a mere 5 hours away by car. My husband and I go to Vegas anywhere from 6-10 times per year. We try to stay at a different hotel each time we visit, and we try to see a different show. We spend an average of about $800-$1000 per day total. That includes hotel, tips, attractions, dining for two, gambling, shows… You could easily spend much more or much less. If you stay at Whiskey Pete’s, eat lots of 99 cent shrimp cocktails and listen to a few timeshare spiels, you could probably do it on a $50 a day. I would’nt want to, but, hey that’s me.

My husband really likes table games and Texas-Hold ‘em. He thinks he’s Daniel Negreanu. Three lousy tournament wins… I like blackjack and the slot machines. They like me too. I also like the sports book. I’m a fan of football, hockey and dog racing. When I lose too much money, since it’s only a matter of time, I do some shopping, visit some attractions, spend some quality time being pampered at the spa, or of course, eat.

This blog will draw from my experiences in order to help other people enjoy Las Vegas as much as I do.