 | Las Vegas Off The Strip Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 41 |  |
"I've seen the gateway to Hell and it's in Las Vegas." --RGH
Binion's Horseshoe Casino is locatated on Freemont Street Downtown and from the outside looks innocent enough. But step through the veil of cigarette smoke in the doorway and you may feel as if you've been beamed down into the middle of a David Lynch film, and it's not just a bad dream.
Seriously, though, Binion's houses the biggest bunch of characters I have ever seen under one roof. This place is old-time, Wild West Vegas and is known among hardcore gamblers as a "hot bed of action", as one dentally challenged client told me on the night we were there. It is where the serious gamblers play, not the tourists. It is also the home of the World Series of Poker every spring.
Go and check it out if you make it all the way downtown. Just don't look at anyone's cards too long. Leave a Comment Phone: 702-382-1600
|
Visiting Las Vegas?
Read reviews about Las Vegas Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
I'm including downtown under this category because I find that most people who go to Vegas never go downtown. In some ways this makes sense, as it isn't all that close to the strip. If you do go downtown and you've been staying on the strip, be prepared for a bit of a shock because although both places have casinos they are nothing at all alike.
Some people refer to downtown as the "real" Vegas, feeling that it is more authentic somehow than the newer, flashier strip casinos catering to those with a few bucks to blow. In a way I can see their point, because the casinos here are much smaller and have much lower minimum bets and tend to attract customers from a lower socio-economic background. But to me, it is just a different place all together than the strip, and equally "real"; it is sort of like a permanent carnival with it's insane lights and street vendors yelling at the tops of their lungs to induce tourists into feeding their quarters into their slots before they make it into the place next door.
The main street downtown is Fremont St which is covered by a huge canopy of lights. Every hour after dark you can catch an amazing light show here complete with rock music. It's cool. Just watch your pockets while you're looking up.
To get here, just ask any cabbie to take you. It's the easiest and safest way. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
A really great hotel off the strip is the "Alexis Resort & Villas" which is situated across from the Hard Rock hotel. It has been in the process of refurbishment but every room is a suite, all which are very nice.
Mr. Alan Alda told me about this hotel years ago and so we thought to give it a try. The price was reasonable and with AAA there was a nice discount.
The grounds were lovely and there is a lovely garden for weddings and rooms for conferences. It is a non gaming resort so it is perfect for families. The suite and villas vary in size but some have both an upstairs and a downstairs. There is a bit of a walk to the strip but this hotel is worth it. Leave a Comment
|
The tour of the Ethel M chocolate factory ends with a free sample! It was a holiday the day we went through so there wasn't much activity. Here you see some satin creme filling being mixed -- that's a BIG pile of butter off to the left!!!
.
Do NOT miss the cactus garden. For my pictures please visit the travelogue on this page. Leave a Comment
|
As well as seeing the bright lights of the city, we wanted to explore the desert surounding Las Vegas. Through Virgin and a local company called Adventure Tours (highly recommended-we went on several tours with them) we embarked on the area 51 trip. Basically it was just us and the guide and the driver in a ford 4 by 4 travelling through Nevada's breathtaking desert. Because they do the tours only in small groups, they welcome you to say if you want to stop along the way anwhere to take photos etc. We stopped at an old ghost town, and a tranquil stream where it was so refreshing to paddle and soak up the beauty of the surroundings. Along the way they tell you lots of info and also ufo consparicies etc! this is quite a laid back fun trip ! We stopped for lunch at small inn called the Little Aleinn (get it??!!) Inside all the walls are completely covered in photos of ufos that tourists have pinned up-its fascinating. This inn really is in the middle of nowhere, food is great (service very slow but thats ok-it gives you time to talk to chill out-who's in a rush anyway?)and this place just reminded me of those inns in american movies where time seems to stand still. After lunch we went through the Joshua tree forest to get to the Area 51 perimiter, where there are security guys in black jeeps sitting on the hills with binoculars observing your every move. They have these big signs everywhere warning you not to cross the line as they can use lethal force -this makes it quite eery as you really start to wonder what secrets they could be hiding. Amongst the trees they have hidden cameras watching people like us to make sure we don't try and enter. There is further along the road an alien postbox for tourists to post their letters! A great fun day and a chance to see the most amazing landscape. Venture out of Las Vegas for the day and see it for yourself. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Visiting Las Vegas?
Read reviews about Las Vegas Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Henderson is the suburb just outside of Vegas. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and a large portion of its population works in tourist related occupations. Its interesting to drive about 15 miles away from the Strip and find yourself in a regular suburban neighborhood. The Vegas Strip seems larger than life, at least it did to me, but its just a small portion of this area. Leave a Comment
|
The Attic Vintage store
This is a fun place to check out for cool retro stuff although it has a rep. of being somewhat (ok, very) inflated price-wise (while yer in the n-hood check out the Catholic Charities Thrift Store 1 block down, which is probably where they get most of the stuff anyway). Hit El Sombrero for lunch/dinner right accross the street.
1018 South Main Street
Las Vegas Leave a Comment
|
As you leave the last of the wedding chapels behind you on Las Vegas Blvd you see this sign -- pointing to the REAL downtown for those who live here:) Leave a Comment
|
Just off the Strip at the Hilton is a Trekkies' wonderland. We were too cheap to take the 'ride', but did enjoy looking around in all the Star Trek shops. Leave a Comment
|
There's also a really big cactus garden by --- I think it's Mrs. M's Chocolates. It's a very nicely maintained botanical garden. Leave a Comment
|
|
 |
 |
Search Hotels
Find the best room rates |
|
 |
|
on July 9, 2004
on January 20, 2005
on July 2, 2005
on February 5, 2004
on June 14, 2004
on August 25, 2002
on August 26, 2002
