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[Papa Mouse]

You are right mavisdavis, I would think twice before walking the blvd. In fact I would not go to thinking about it twice. It's quite a distance which I knew from pictures and T.V.

With all the readers giving advice I said that I would consider himself where to book a hotel and stay.

Then after checking in and at convenience walk outside and then possible walk (walking) down one or two blocks on the other side of the street. Maybe look inside the hotels and casinos even thought not interested in the casinos. Then being I have not been to Vagas I would take bus to downtown Vegas in the heart of town on Ogden Street (Blvd. or whatever). On the way to Ogden (heart of downtown) I would sightsee and try to remember what I would like to investigate further later.

Getting off the bus (or other means of transportation)downtown I would then see that it is not as spread out like further down the strip. Now there are hundreds (give or take a few) of all type shops to browse through crowded next door to each other. Yes, maybe a few casinos which I was not interested in the first place. But someone suggested that I check all places for phamplets and fun books (or whatever they call them). I'd do that. Time to grab some chow, relax a little. Finish the downtown area, which is within a few square blocks. I've been walking and a rest would be great now. Back on the bus, sightseeing from the other side of the street I came downtown on, and back to my hotel. Get my shoes off, relax and read my sack full of literature, phamplets, fun books and other give aways passed to me. Off to show tonight. Here's one for tomorrow night in the fun book, discount on food and a free drink.

A sack of things to do as I collected everything. I have not been here before and I want to take in as much as possible before heading back to Chicago (or did I forget to leave a change of address?).

A show in another hour or so and looking through my "sack" of goodies again.

Now I know why someone sent me a link on Off the Strip. I didn't really need the other maps as the bus driver was kind enough to remind me where my stop was that I wanted o get off at for downtown. I could see my hotel in advance from the bus. Actually the maps did help. I had doubled back will enjoying the sites.

Of course there were several places of interest north of downtown.

Of course, thanks to all PassPorters in the forum for there advice and help in making my visit a success....or will make it such.

[blondie]

Love, love, love going to see the Freemont Street Experience at night. There are usually some street performers also, like country bands, or magicians there at night too. All for FREE!

We are going for 10 days in February and we can't wait.

[Donald_Quackers]

That is mostly why I chose the Hilton -- good rate, on the Monorail, but I'm not adverse to walking places.

I already picked up tix to see Bill Engvall there, and am still looking at all the other options -- there are so many to go through.

Thanks all for your suggestions!

[EmilyJ]

If there are other shows you decide to do spur of the moment, next to the Paris and next to the M&M store (near MGM) is a booth where you can get show tickets that didnt sell for that night for over 50% off. We had center stage, 6 rows back for Phantom and paid 20 dollars a seat, not the 75+ we would have paid had we bought them before hand.

[Donald_Quackers]

Originally Posted by EmilyJ

If there are other shows you decide to do spur of the moment, next to the Paris and next to the M&M store (near MGM) is a booth where you can get show tickets that didnt sell for that night for over 50% off. We had center stage, 6 rows back for Phantom and paid 20 dollars a seat, not the 75+ we would have paid had we bought them before hand.

I thought I read on one of the linkes about that...thanks for the advice! I'll be checking that, as I'd like to see Penn and Teller, too. I'm not sure if they sell out every night or not.

I'm glad that MGM is on the monorail!

[Papa Mouse]

Subject to correction on the correct casino, when downtown stop by the Horseshoe and feast your eyes on one million dollars in $100 dollar bills.

Subject to correction again, years ago it was a million dollars in $10,000 bills.

You can have your picture taken with one million dollars but don't lean to hard on the case.

A trick or treat surprise might happen.

[Donald_Quackers]

Less than 10 days to go for my trip...wondering if anyone has any other suggestions that haven't been mentioned yet.

Thanks again to everyone that have responded.

[chezp]

Not long now! Just have a great time - and Vegas is a bit like Disney, you won't see or do everything in one trip.

[Tigger71]

I could go to Vegas for a month by myself and still not do everything I wanted to.
You will be so busy and never lonely - everyone is your 'buddy' in Vegas.
Must see Dick Mac the comic magician at Harrah's (free ticket with drink purchase usually given out along the walkway between hotels), Penn & Teller at the Rio (get tickets from Tix4tonite in M&m building and take the free shuttle bus to Rio hotel from Paris hotel), whilst at Rio see the Masquerade in the sky show above the casino floor - join in if you dare, ride the New York rollercoaster, see the Freemont St lightshow and have your photo taken with a cabaret dancer, ride the gondolas at Venetian hotel and be serenaded as you glide along, visit the top of the Eiffel tower and see the dancing water ballet at Bellagio whilst you're up there, tour through the Egyptian mummy display at Luxor, shop at Premium Outlet stores for the cost of a small busfare from the strip (We once walked from the Luxor and my husband has forever labeled me as cheap! We got the bus back!), take a night helicopter ride over the strip - awesome, go quad biking in Death Valley (bus pick up from most hotels daily - no minimum numbers), tour Hoover Dam - buses/tours from major hotels - heaps of coupons available, see the lion habitat at MGM, Ethel's chocolate factory (we took a cab) and fun park rides at Circus Circus are a hit with all ages.
As you can see I love Vegas and have been both with my family and many times with just my DH. We have some dud activities that we paid big $$ for and have done some fantastic free stuff too. My advice is to read up on hotels on the internet and look up free Vegas on google plus check out all the coupon books available in food places, airport and hotel lobbies. We have even had stuff sent to us prior to our trips (We do vegas, Vegas 4 less and I 4 Vegas) - sign up to websites and check out the activities on offer. You will have so much choice - you'll just have to go again!
Have an awesome time.

[Donald_Quackers]

All great suggestions! Right now, the only thing I had scheduled was to see Bill Engvall at Treasure Island.

I'm putting this into an itinerary, but I'm not going to stick to it like religion -- sometimes the best parts of a vacation is the spontaneous stuff you can do in between the stuff you REALLY want to do.

I definitely was going to hit the Freemont street experience and the new york roller coaster, along with touring Hoover Dam.

Lion habitat is going to be easy to get to, just a monorail ride away for me.

I'm getting more excited now that I found a $100 bill hiding in my hutch that will now be my designated gambling money. One has to have a limit so that you don't lose your house, eh?