Best Attraction In Vegas Isn't On The Strip
Dazzling Light Show Wins Honors
LAS VEGAS -- As we near the end of the year that was 2002, it's time to look back and reflect on the things that we hold dear ... ah, to heck with that! It's time for those annoying "Year's Best" lists that everyone does, seemingly in an effort to drive people crazy, since no one ever agrees with what is selected.
But who am I to buck tradition? So without further ado, I present to you the 4th Annual Vegas4Visitors.com Top 10 Awards!
As with most "favorites" lists, these choices are strictly the personal opinions of well, me... and we all know that one man's treasure is another man trash. I'm sure that some of you may be shocked that I left your particular favorite off, or that it didn't place higher on the list, but when you get your own weekly column you can make your own Top 10 list.
To make it on the attractions list, an attraction has to, of course, be entertaining, but value is a big consideration also. Most of the entries on this year's list are either free or under $10 per person, making them both fun and economical. So save your money for the slot machines and check the winners.
10. Caesars Magical Empire
This fantastic magic and dinner theater experience was going to be No. 1 on my list this year, but then Caesars Palace went and shut the place down. So as a measure of protest we're giving honorary mention in the No. 10 spot to an attraction that will definitely be missed. 9. Chicken Challenge
You play tic-tac-toe against a live chicken for a chance to win $10,000. What more needs to be said? Probably the silliest, oddest wackiest thing to hit the Strip since Liberace. 8. Liberace Museum
Speaking of Liberace, the recently revamped and expanded Liberace Museum is more than just a shrine to the flamboyant entertainer. It's a rhinestone-encrusted trip through Las Vegas entertainment history, complete with all of the feathers, jewels, and platform shoes that went with it. 7. Casino Legends Hall of Fame
And as long as we're on the subject of history ... in a town that seems to delight in tearing down or blowing up its past, it's a joy to find this hidden treasure of a museum/tribute to all things Las Vegas. 6. Treasure Island Pirate Battle
You usually have to pay big money at a theme park to see live-action stunt shows as entertaining as this one featuring pirates, explosions, and sinking ships. But this being Vegas, the ultimate theme park, you get to see it for free every 90 minutes. A must for the first-time Vegas visitor. 5. Eiffel Tower Experience
If you can get over whatever fear of heights you may have (Warning: Close your eyes during the glass-elevator ride) this 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower offers some of the most stunning views of the Strip. Go at night to see the lights and grab a viewing spot to watch the Bellagio fountain shows directly across the street. 4. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
Where can you go when you need a break from the lights, the noise and the general over-the-top hullabaloo that is Vegas? Go commune with a dolphin for awhile. It's the most un-Vegas thing to do in Vegas, but I dare you to walk out of there without a smile on your face. The place gets extra points for being one of the most successful (in terms of health and breeding) dolphin habitats in the world. 3. Bellagio Fountain Shows
In the First Annual Vegas4Visitors.com Reader's Poll, you folks picked this delightful water and sound show as the best attraction in Vegas, and it's easy to see why. With dancing fountains and water cannon all masterfully timed to evocative and well-chosen music selections, this is the kind of attraction you watch over and over and not get tired of. 2. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this family fun-park packed with all of the latest arcade games, classic carnival attractions, and some of the coolest go-kart courses ever. There's a little something for everyone here and even the adults can have a great time acting out their Mario Andretti fantasies. Bonus points for a great snack shop and terrific pizza. 1. Fremont Street Experience
The downtown area is so easily overlooked for first-timers, and even repeat visitors seem to forget what an amazing experience the Experience can be. Millions of lights and a booming sound system create a dazzling show in the sky every hour after dark, with different shows rotating in and out all year. We went back recently and caught the tribute to classic rock (The Who, The Doors, The Rolling Stones) that had the hundreds of people in attendance literally dancing in the streets. It absolutely shouldn't be missed, and as such it becomes my choice for the bst attraction in Vegas.
This fantastic magic and dinner theater experience was going to be No. 1 on my list this year, but then Caesars Palace went and shut the place down. So as a measure of protest we're giving honorary mention in the No. 10 spot to an attraction that will definitely be missed. 9. Chicken Challenge
You play tic-tac-toe against a live chicken for a chance to win $10,000. What more needs to be said? Probably the silliest, oddest wackiest thing to hit the Strip since Liberace. 8. Liberace Museum
Speaking of Liberace, the recently revamped and expanded Liberace Museum is more than just a shrine to the flamboyant entertainer. It's a rhinestone-encrusted trip through Las Vegas entertainment history, complete with all of the feathers, jewels, and platform shoes that went with it. 7. Casino Legends Hall of Fame
And as long as we're on the subject of history ... in a town that seems to delight in tearing down or blowing up its past, it's a joy to find this hidden treasure of a museum/tribute to all things Las Vegas. 6. Treasure Island Pirate Battle
You usually have to pay big money at a theme park to see live-action stunt shows as entertaining as this one featuring pirates, explosions, and sinking ships. But this being Vegas, the ultimate theme park, you get to see it for free every 90 minutes. A must for the first-time Vegas visitor. 5. Eiffel Tower Experience
If you can get over whatever fear of heights you may have (Warning: Close your eyes during the glass-elevator ride) this 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower offers some of the most stunning views of the Strip. Go at night to see the lights and grab a viewing spot to watch the Bellagio fountain shows directly across the street. 4. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
Where can you go when you need a break from the lights, the noise and the general over-the-top hullabaloo that is Vegas? Go commune with a dolphin for awhile. It's the most un-Vegas thing to do in Vegas, but I dare you to walk out of there without a smile on your face. The place gets extra points for being one of the most successful (in terms of health and breeding) dolphin habitats in the world. 3. Bellagio Fountain Shows
In the First Annual Vegas4Visitors.com Reader's Poll, you folks picked this delightful water and sound show as the best attraction in Vegas, and it's easy to see why. With dancing fountains and water cannon all masterfully timed to evocative and well-chosen music selections, this is the kind of attraction you watch over and over and not get tired of. 2. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this family fun-park packed with all of the latest arcade games, classic carnival attractions, and some of the coolest go-kart courses ever. There's a little something for everyone here and even the adults can have a great time acting out their Mario Andretti fantasies. Bonus points for a great snack shop and terrific pizza. 1. Fremont Street Experience
The downtown area is so easily overlooked for first-timers, and even repeat visitors seem to forget what an amazing experience the Experience can be. Millions of lights and a booming sound system create a dazzling show in the sky every hour after dark, with different shows rotating in and out all year. We went back recently and caught the tribute to classic rock (The Who, The Doors, The Rolling Stones) that had the hundreds of people in attendance literally dancing in the streets. It absolutely shouldn't be missed, and as such it becomes my choice for the bst attraction in Vegas.
This Week's Trivia
Q: Excluding IMAX and other speciality theaters, how many first-run movie theater complexes are located directly on the Strip between Mandalay Bay and Stratosphere? ANSWER The Weekly Trivia Question is sponsored by the Online Memorabilia Museum at Vegas4Visitors.comThe Full Story
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