  |
|
|
|
Yuletide Spirit, Las Vegas StyleU. S. Entertainment Capital Combines Tradition with Nevada Flair
Christmas trees decorate Bellagio, Caesars Palace and all other hotels, Special Shows and Shopping at the newTown Square Center Add Dazzle to the Strip's Bright Lights.
Las Vegas, known for its bright lights, glows even brighter during the holiday season. Since the visitor count is lower than usual, the Entertainment Capital of the World is also less expensive on most days from December 15 through 29 than at other times of the year. Hotel/Casino DecorationsEvery casino decks its halls, not only with holly but with even more lights on its multiple Christmas Trees. Decorative themes range from traditional and extravagantly luxurious to spangles, sparkles and lots of flash. The display at Caesars Palace is usually one of the best, with lighted trees and Christmas scenes decorating the hotel/casino’s extensive grounds. The Rio Suites Hotel even has fir trees incorporated into the backdrop for its free Masquerade in the Sky show, which features showgirls and extravagantly decorated floats. The show is presented several times each day. Most tasteful decoration honors go to the Bellagio, where the centerpiece of the hotel’s conservatory is an elegantly trimmed tree that reaches toward the area’s glass roof. (In 1998, the hotel’s opening year, the tree was decorated by Martha Stewart). The Bellagio lobby, already dazzling with its Dale Chihuly-designed glass ceiling, glows with a sophisticated Yuletide décor. The Entertainment SceneAlthough several of the big production shows are dark at various times from mid-December through mid-January, a number of big-name entertainers including Andrea Bocelli, the Spice Girls, Marie Osmond, Van Halen and Trace Adkins are on the headliner list for December, 2007. The best sources for finding out who is appearing while you’re in town are the free entertainment magazines such as What’s On (www.whats-on.com). The entertainment magazines are available at hotels, motels and tourist centers throughout the city. The Shopping NewsSpending the holidays in Las Vegas means you can save your shopping until after you arrive. Not only are there shopping arcades in almost every hotel, but also more than a dozen huge shopping malls in all parts of town. The newest mega-mall, Town Square (south end of the Strip), opened in mid-November. Among the shops at the 1.5 million square foot “lifestyle center” are Tommy Bahama (the store also contains a café with its patio overlooking the center’s park), Abercrombie & Fitch, Godiva, Victoria’s Secret and Borders. If you’re on a budget, you can browse Town Square, then walk over to Las Vegas Outlet Center, just across the boulevard. Another budget choice is Hawaiian Village (3743 Las Vegas Blvd. S) where vendors sell mostly inexpensive items and Polynesian dancers put on free shows every day. Away from the StripFor visitors who want to visit the Strip but also get away from it all, Christmas at Lake Las Vegas may well be the best choice. At the lake’s MonteLago Village, 17 miles from the Strip, golf courses outnumber casinos (there’s only one) and the views are reminiscent of a Mediterranean lakeside village. However, there are specialty shops with gifts galore and also a schedule of holiday events including visits from Santa.
The copyright of the article Yuletide Spirit, Las Vegas Style in Nevada Travel is owned by Connie Emerson. Permission to republish Yuletide Spirit, Las Vegas Style in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
