Las Vegas (September 2001)

(includes Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon)

Fifth Anniversary Trip

• Day 1: Pennsylvania to Las Vegas

                      Mirage Hotel and Casino Link to my review

• Day 2: Las Vegas

                     Mirage Hotel and Casino
Lunch at Canaletto Ristorante Veneto Link to my review
                     Show: Siegfried and Roy
Dinner at Renoir Link to my review

• Day 3: Las Vegas

                      Mirage Hotel and Casino
Lunch at the Border Grill Link to my review
                      Show: Cirque du Soleil's "O"

• Day 4: Las Vegas to Hoover Dam to Grand Canyon (driving)
  Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen Link to my review

Tip: **This is at least a 4-hour drive each way**

• Day 5: Las Vegas to Pennsylvania

Cirque du Soleil

Really tough question! I loved both shows. O is so unique because of the water, but I liked that KA had more of a story, and the moving stage in KA was amazing. I also thought that the KA theatre was better--incredibly comfortable seats with headrests that had speakers, really enveloping you in the show. Maybe you can see which show has better seats available on the day you want to go. That's as good a way of deciding as any, because both shows are fabulous! I really can't say which I liked better.

Definitely go with the full-price seats, not the limited view. If you call for tickets, they will tell you what seats are "wet". I believe they were section 103, rows A through G. We avoided those, and sat in the section just behind (203). The wet area didn't seem to get too wet, though. I was happy with where we sat because there is so much going on that you get a better view of the whole picture. (Just FYI, I see lots of Broadway shows, and I believe the best seats are 8 to 10 rows from the front--definitely not front row. I like to sit a little farther back.) There's a great seat map available on-line at www.cirquedusoleil.com. I wouldn't pay for the "green" or "purple" sections--they are just too far away. Spend the extra money--and it's not that much more--for the better seats. This is both the BEST and the most bizarre show I have ever seen. It is amazing and completely unique, and I wouldn't hesitate to see it again.

 

 

Las Vegas: Border Grill at Mandalay Bay (September 2001)

My spouse and I dined at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay for lunch in late September 2001. This vibrant, modern Mexican restaurant overlooking the Lazy River just off Mandalay Beach, where Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network's "Too Hot Tamales," want nothing more than to spice up your day. With two floors of patio dining, this hip, urban cantina is the perfect setting for sipping margaritas and savoring a menu of the bold flavors of Mexico while enjoying views of the beach and pool.

Las Vegas: California Pizza Kitchen (September 2001)

My spouse and I dined for dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen in September 2001. We had made reservations at "better" restaurants along the Strip, but after enduring a late grueling dinner the first night at Renoir, which was very formal and costly, we weren't awake enough to keep our original fine-dining reservations. California Pizza Kitchen, known within the food industry as CPK, is a polished casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in California-style pizza. The restaurant was started in 1985 by attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax in Beverly Hills, California, United States. The chain is widely known for its innovative and nontraditional pizzas, such as the "Original BBQ Chicken Pizza", BLT, Thai Chicken, and Jamaican Jerk Chicken pizzas. They also serve various kinds of pasta, salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. They have an extensive children's menu for children ages 10 and under which includes a variety of different pizzas, pastas, salad and chicken. Launching in 2014, CPK debuted introduction of their Next Chapter locations. Focused on sustainability and "seeking the unique," Next Chapter locations boast reclaimed wood, natural stone counter tops and herb gardens. A newly reimagined menu introduces specialty hand-tossed pizzas, main plate offerings, seasonal features, hand-crafted cocktails and more. The chain has over 200 locations in 32 US states and 13 other countries, including 17 California Pizza Kitchen nontraditional, franchise concepts designed for airports, universities and stadiums.

Las Vegas: Renoir (September 2001)

My spouse and I dined at Renoir at The Mirage for dinner in late September 2001. And our dinner was late in the evening - we could barely keep our eyes open to enjoy this 4-star dining experience. Acclaimed Chef Alessandro Stratta produces utterly delicious meals to match the elegant surroundings, specifically the walls adorned by actual paintings by Renoir. The amazing French cuisine leaves you the difficult choice of deciding what to pay most attention to: the art or your plate.

 

Las Vegas: Mirage (September 2001)

My spouse and I stayed at the Mirage for five nights in late September 2001. The Mirage is a 3,044 room Polynesian-themed hotel and casino resort that was built by Steve Wynn and is currently owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. The original marquee sign in front of the Mirage is the largest free-standing marquee in the world. The resort is connected by a free tram to the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino neighboring the hotel's property to the north. The Mirage opened on November 22, 1989 and was the first resort that was built with the money of Wall Street through the use of junk bonds. It was built on the site formerly occupied by the Castaways and prior to that, the Red Rooster Nite Club. The Mirage was the most expensive hotel-casino in history, with a construction cost of US $630 million. The hotel's distinctive gold windows get their color from actual gold dust used in the tinting process. When it opened, The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games. From 1990 through 2003, The Mirage was the venue for the Siegfried and Roy show. The two headliners combined magic and the use of wild animals. The show closed in 2003 after performer Roy Horn was bitten and injured by one of the white tigers used in the show. The Mirage features an artificial volcano along the Strip that "erupts" nightly from 8 pm–midnight on the hour. An atrium at the hotel entrance features a large number of palm trees, water features, and other "rainforest" flora. The 53-foot-long, 8-foot-tall aquarium behind the registration desk is home to nearly 1,000 specimens.

Las Vegas: Canaletto Ristorante Veneto (September 2001)

My spouse and I dined for lunch at Canaletto Ristorante Veneto at The Venetian in late September 2001. A master of the rotisserie and grill, Chef Gianpaolo Putzu recreates the unique flavors of Venice, drawing from his extensive knowledge and repertoire of regional recipes. Complement your meal with a variety of fresh breads baked throughout the day at Il Fornaio's nearby bakery and a bottle of wine from Canaletto's list of distinctive vintages. The restaurant's architecture is as remarkable as its food with 16-foot ceilings rising above polished hardwood floors and a glorious exhibition kitchen. Luxurious booths envelop diners in intimate privacy. Upstairs, five distinct private rooms, for groups as small as six or as large as 175 - offer breathtaking views of the Grand Canal and gondolas passing below. Created by the founders of the Il Fornaio restaurants, Canaletto is quite simply the quintessential Venetian dining experience.