Guide To A Long Weekend In Las Vegas

A long weekend in Las Vegas can be a real whirlwind. You want to do it all: gamble, see a show, take in the sights, catch a slice of Vegas history and eat some excellent cuisine. You may even decide to renew your marriage vows at the wedding capital of the world. Lucky for you, it's all just a step away and so easy to do in a city like Vegas. Although there is never enough time, at least you can make time for the things you really want to do.
A Little White Wedding Chapel
1301 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(800) 545-8111
www.alittlewhitechapel.com

It may seem cliche, but A Little White Wedding Chapel really does have everything you need to make your wedding a dream come true. You have your choice of chapel, music, limo service (if desired), bouquets and boutonnieres, tux and gown rental and can even have wedding photos taken. It's cozy, tastefully done, even intimate, and if it's good enough for celebrities and other folks, then why not you? Enjoy a Hawaiian wedding, have Elvis there to serenade you or choose to go traditional or romantic. It's all up to you. Plan a small ceremony or bring along the gang to help you carry out your big day. Renew your vows or get married, and have a wonderful short (second) honeymoon away from the hustle of home in the bustle of Sin City. Just don't forget the marriage license!

Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(888) 987-6667
www.bellagio.com/amenities

If you are looking for a lovely hotel, with elegance and ambience, look no further than the Bellagio. The rooms are top-notch, the shows are spectacular works of art in themselves. The Conservatory is a peaceful place, so tastefully decorated with plants and flowers that it's difficult to describe. Outside, you have the dancing fountains that hold their own charm and appeal. The gambling area is opulent and one of the most beautiful on the Strip, with rich reds and golds that make you feel warm and welcome. You are within walking distance of so many other attractions and can literally walk from one end of the Strip to the other to collapse back in your comfortable room before taking in dinner at the fine dining establishments or at the cafe. If you want to take a swim, there is no pool finer than the pool at the Bellagio. The spa rivals any others and provides special packages to relax and revitalize you before you face another big day in Las Vegas. The concierge will cater to your every need to make this your best vacation ever, even if it is just for a few days.

Related: Vacation Relaxation: Top Spas In Las Vegas

High Roller Wheel
The Linq
3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 694-8100
www.caesars.com/thelinq/high-roller

The High Roller Wheel is a new landmark on the Strip and is dubbed as the world's tallest observation wheel. This high-tech ferris wheel operates every day and stands over 100 feet taller than its rival, the London Eye. It features 28 glass-enclosed cabins, each holding up to 40 passengers. The views of the Strip are breath-taking and you can even see the area surrounding the greater Las Vegas area from the top. It takes about half an hour for the wheel to rotate once, and the ride features a video and music show that fades away as the wheel climbs. For a real "view from the top," nothing rivals the High Roller Wheel, not even The Stratosphere observation tower.

The Stratosphere
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 380-7777
www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower

For anyone wanting to take a true 'leap of faith,' there is nothing more stomach-dropping than jumping off the iconic Stratosphere tower. Of course, you are fully secured by professionals before your leap and you know many others have taken this dive, but it's still eerie to pause just before jumping and then plunge for the tallest controlled free fall in the world. For those not quite as adventurous, there is always the incomparable view from the observation tower, where Las Vegas and the surrounding desert are sprawled before you in all their glory. At sunset, when the Strip lights come on, it's downright magical. Some folks would rather dine at the top of the tower or visit the nightclub, and that's fine too. But thrill-seekers definitely know where to go for excitement.

The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 229-2734
www.themobmuseum.org

If you want to experience a real showcase of Las Vegas history, you have to visit the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Here you'll find artifacts including an electric chair, the real courtroom where one of the most televised mob cases was tried, a piece of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall and photos, videos, fashions, celebrity shots, a section on grifting and casino theft plus actual case files and mugshots of Al and Bugsy and the gang. This is where the Cosa Nostra met Las Vegas, and, as one of the central hubs on the circuit, the Mob connection can definitely be felt in this town's history. So read the stories, take the pledge to see if you can be an associate of the Cosa Nostra and revisit the glory days in a unique, three-story refurbished courthouse that may just take a good three hours to explore. It's well worth the trip.

Related: Top Helicopter Tours In Las Vegas

Fremont Street Experience
(702) 678-5777
www.vegasexperience.com

Once you've visited the Mob Museum, you will want to walk the cobblestones of the Fremont Street Experience. Fremont Street was the first paved street in Vegas, and the city began at Fremont and Main. This is a favorite haunt of locals and tourists, and, in the evening, Fremont Street comes alive when the overhead Viva Vision screen lights up to pulsate to music and the casinos burst into gaudy color with all their old glory. You can still find showgirls here – a rarity these days in Las Vegas – and the feel of "Old Vegas" hits you every time you turn around and look at the Binions, The Golden Gate, The Lady Luck or the Golden Nugget. Collect your Mardi Gras beads at all of the locations and look for the hidden treasures inside each casino: cheap eats, great buffets, old tables and slot games not to be found elsewhere. You may hear some old rockers jammin' or may hear one of the best cover bands around performing great hits. Casino bosses rub shoulders with guests to welcome you to their establishments. This is definitely the vintage Las Vegas that every visitor has to experience at least once. With curfews, be prepared to show some ID after 9 p.m. Viva Las Vegas!

Sharon Damon is a preschool specialist, avid reader, passionate writer and creative baker/ cook. She has been a cooking instructor at a local Rec Center in Henderson, NV since 2011, and has written for Examiner and other publications since 2010. She knows her way around the keyboard and the kitchen! Sharon moved from a small city in Canada to Las Vegas 6 years ago, to marry the love of her life, and has since been swept up in the whirlwind known as Sin City. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.