Seven Really Cool Things on The Las Vegas Strip
7 Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
Where else can you actually swim with dolphins? Thanks to a special ‘Trainer for a Day’ program, guests are allowed to work side-by-side with bottle nose dolphins. Even if you opt not to do the full blown trainer program, you can still enjoy a guided one-hour VIP tour which provides exclusive insight into animal care.
When: Daily 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Contact: (702) 791-7188
Cost: CALL
mirage.com
6 The Mirage Volcano
Imagine if the Fountains in front of The Bellagio shot fire instead of water. Well that gives you a pretty good idea what the Mirage Volcano is all about. This audio/visual spectacle features never-before-seen fire effects to an unlikely musical composition created by legendary Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and international tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. More than 150 FireShooters™, developed specifically for The Mirage by WETET, shoot fireballs choreographed to the music. The show ends with a giant fire eruption 60 feet into the air.
When: Erupts nightly every hour on the hour from dusk until 11 p.m.; schedules are subject to change and vary by season.
Cost: Free
5 The Roller Coaster at New York, New York
The designs of the cars on this coaster replicate the classic New York City cabs. The ride features a first-ever “heartline” twist and dive maneuver. The roller coaster’s highest point is 203 feet and drops an astounding 144 feet reaching a maximum speed of 67 m.p.h.
When: Daily 10:30 a.m. to midnight
Cost: Tickets $14; Same day re-rides $7; All-day Scream Pass $25 or purchase a Family Fun Flight For Four Package includes four individual rides and two 5 × 7 souvenir pictures for $56
nynyhotelcasino.com
4 Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio
Welcome to 13,500 square feet of absolute peace in the middle of Las Vegas. The conservatory features 50 feet high glass ceilings which hold displays of flora arranged in a theatrical presentation that changes five times a year – each season and Chinese New Year.
Each display is planned a year in advance to ensure that the necessary flowers, plants and trees are available for the presentation.
When: Daily, 24 hours
Cost: No admission fee
Bellagio.com
3 Shark Reef Aquarium
This amazing exhibit features more than 2,000 animals representing 100 species (including 15 types of sharks) in an aquarium holding nearly 1.6 million gallons of seawater across 14 major exhibits. The Shark Reef Aquarium is the only Nevada institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Dive with Sharks program provides certified divers, 18 years of age and older, a rare chance to dive side by side with more than 30 sharks and a variety of other creatures including sea turtles, sawfish and schools of fish.
When: Daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: Admission: Adult, $16.95; Children 5-12 years of age, $10.95; Children 4 and under, free; Nevada residents with valid I.D. receive a discount on admission; Adult, $13.95; Children 5-12 years of age, $8.95. Tickets can be purchased at Shark Reef Aquarium Box Office or online at www.mandalaybay.com.
Contact: (702) 632-4555
sharkreef.com
2 The Fountains of Bellagio
A magnificent ballet of dancing fountains choreographed to music and lights with more than 1,200 dancing fountains on a lake of more than 8.5 acres of water. The music ranges from Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli to Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.
When: Performances every 30 minutes, Monday – Friday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.; Sunday, every 15 minutes, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; every thirty minutes after 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; After 8 p.m. daily, performances are every 15 minutes until midnight
Cost: No admission fee
1 Adventure Dome Theme Park at Circus Circus
Welcome to Nevada’s largest indoor theme park featuring 25 rides and attractions on a five acre park. With a constant temperature of 72 degrees the Adventure Dome always offers ideal conditions to have a blast. If you go parking is most convenient off Industrial Road.
When: Open daily, call (702) 794-3939 for hours
Cost: All-day regular ride pass: $24.95; All-day junior ride pass: $14.95
adventuredome.com