Fun Things to do in Las Vegas
First trip to Vegas? Been there a million times before and looking for something different to do when not partying at our wedding? Here is a list of places and activities our friends (and one from us) recommend to ensure your trip is fun filled.
Kitschiest Place in Kitsch-town: Liberace Museum
Embrace your kitschy inner self at the Liberace Museum. Months after your visit, you'll find yourself giggling uncontrollably. Maybe it'll be the magnet on your fridge-the one of Liberace 
decked out for Independence Day in red white and blue, from his fringed star-spangled jacket to his hot pants. Maybe it'll be the memory of one of his 300-pound stage costumes that you got to view up close, in its purple fur and ostrich feather glory. Maybe it'll be the memory of squinting from the glare of his mirror-encrusted Rolls Royce. Whatever your threshold for glitz may be, the Liberace Museum will deliver. You'll have to take a rental car, taxi, or museum shuttle to get there, but the flash and sparkle at this Vegas joint will outshine anything the Strip has to offer. Click here for further information. – Deb Pollak and Tom Grayson
Best Place to Feed Quarters into a Machine: Pinball Hall of Fame
Far more entertaining than slot machines, this non-descript storefront in a strip-mall on Tropicana Blvd. houses one of the largest collections of pinball games in the country. Ranging from the 1950s to the 2000s, the collection is comprehensive and you actually get to play them. The games are well maintained, and the occasional gobbled quarter is remedied by the friendly staff. If that wasn’t enough, all profits from the museum are donated to the local Salvation Army. Look for Black Knight, Whirlwind, Comet, Gulfstream and other classics! They even have Ms Pac-Man, Frogger and Tempest for those who find pinball too "analog". Click here to find out more. – Millie and Rob Shillingsburg
Far more entertaining than slot machines, this non-descript storefront in a strip-mall on Tropicana Blvd. houses one of the largest collections of pinball games in the country. Ranging from the 1950s to the 2000s, the collection is comprehensive and you actually get to play them. The games are well maintained, and the occasional gobbled quarter is remedied by the friendly staff. If that wasn’t enough, all profits from the museum are donated to the local Salvation Army. Look for Black Knight, Whirlwind, Comet, Gulfstream and other classics! They even have Ms Pac-Man, Frogger and Tempest for those who find pinball too "analog". Click here to find out more. – Millie and Rob ShillingsburgBest Place to Ponder Your Place in the Universe: Valley of Fire State Park
The weather should be just about perfect at the end of March for hiking, rock climbing, or just laying down 
on a red rock and looking at the sky. You can hang around after the ceremony (or show up early) and experience all this state park has to offer. Valley of Fire has something for trekkies, movie buffs, ancient history aficionados and nature lovers. Nature lovers will love the 150 million year-old rock formations that look like they are on fire as they reflect the desert sun that beats down on them. As you wander around the rocks, Trekkies will appreciate the unearthly scenery where a Star Trek episode was filmed. Ancient history and art appreciators will love the Petroglyph Canyon hiking trail - a short quarter-mile hike that is stuffed with prehistoric Indian rock art. Hollywood-philes will love the White Dome trail, a 1 ¼ hike through a canyon leads past the ruins of the movie set for The Professionals, with Burt Lancaster. Check in with the Park Visitors Information Center when you arrive at the park for specifics on these and more trails. Find more information here. – Sujatha Jahagirdar
on a red rock and looking at the sky. You can hang around after the ceremony (or show up early) and experience all this state park has to offer. Valley of Fire has something for trekkies, movie buffs, ancient history aficionados and nature lovers. Nature lovers will love the 150 million year-old rock formations that look like they are on fire as they reflect the desert sun that beats down on them. As you wander around the rocks, Trekkies will appreciate the unearthly scenery where a Star Trek episode was filmed. Ancient history and art appreciators will love the Petroglyph Canyon hiking trail - a short quarter-mile hike that is stuffed with prehistoric Indian rock art. Hollywood-philes will love the White Dome trail, a 1 ¼ hike through a canyon leads past the ruins of the movie set for The Professionals, with Burt Lancaster. Check in with the Park Visitors Information Center when you arrive at the park for specifics on these and more trails. Find more information here. – Sujatha JahagirdarBest way to get in touch with your funky, sexy, beautiful side
As of this writing, Prince is performing every weekend at the club 3121 at the Rio Hotel and Casino. With the 
Godfather of Soul now at rest, many worldwide will be looking to His Purpleness for funky guidance and being in Vegas is a great chance to see this musical force up close. Prince is a world class performer and his shows will surely fetch a world class price tag (assume $100 or more) but, it is DEFINITELY worth it. There are the hits (Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, Kiss etc.) plus who knows what sizzling covers he might play (please lord let it be Whole Lotta Love) that would be reason enough to see him. Add to that his killer guitar playing or Maceo Parker on saxophone or the clothes or the dancing or the freakin' freakiest falsetto ever and you're in for a good time. If for some reason Prince has stopped the weekly show -- what with the Superbowl and five grammy nominations and other schedule-packing obligations -- you can always check out the best Prince cover band we’ve ever seen, Purple Reign, for much less money. Visit to www.ticketmaster.com for the real thing and www.purplereign.net for info on the respectable tribute. -- Nancie Koenigsberg
Godfather of Soul now at rest, many worldwide will be looking to His Purpleness for funky guidance and being in Vegas is a great chance to see this musical force up close. Prince is a world class performer and his shows will surely fetch a world class price tag (assume $100 or more) but, it is DEFINITELY worth it. There are the hits (Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, Kiss etc.) plus who knows what sizzling covers he might play (please lord let it be Whole Lotta Love) that would be reason enough to see him. Add to that his killer guitar playing or Maceo Parker on saxophone or the clothes or the dancing or the freakin' freakiest falsetto ever and you're in for a good time. If for some reason Prince has stopped the weekly show -- what with the Superbowl and five grammy nominations and other schedule-packing obligations -- you can always check out the best Prince cover band we’ve ever seen, Purple Reign, for much less money. Visit to www.ticketmaster.com for the real thing and www.purplereign.net for info on the respectable tribute. -- Nancie KoenigsbergBest Place Improve Your Golf Game: John Jacob’s Golf School
If you're looking for a little extra fun while you're in Vegas, perhaps you'd like to tune up your golf game at the John Jacobs golf school. There's one in Las Vegas, about a 15-minute drive from the strip. You'll spend the morning in lessons - long swing, chipping, putting - and then have free reign of the courses in the afternoon. It's a great way to get in good form for the season. They have a variety of program options - 3 day, 5 day, etc. More Info – Leanne Sardiga
Best Place to Drive at High Speeds on a Dry Lakebed: Jean, NV
If you opted for the full insurance coverage on your rental car, don't forget to check out this dry lakebed 20 miles south of Las Vegas. 
With several square miles of hard, packed soil, you can really test out the handling capabilities of your ride. Take I-15 south to the Jean exit, turn left under the highway and then left again at the stop sign to head north up the service road. After 1.5 miles, make a right onto the gravel road that goes through the tunnel under the railroad tracks. Follow this road over the pass and you will be on the lakebed. – Eddie Fiorelli
Best Way to Finance Your Trip
A little short on cash for the trip? You're in luck because Vegas is the vacation that pays for itself! We'll be the in the midst of the NCAA basketball tournament, so perhaps you'd like to try your luck at the sportsbooks. My favorite spots are: Mandalay Bay, Caesars', Palms, and the Mirage. All will fill up early so get there several hours prior if you want a seat. You can have one person "save" some seats while the rest wander. Some casinos such as the Mirage and the Palms also have TV's by the table areas so you can indulge in two gambling vices at the same time. 
Personally, I'm not a big fan of basketball wagering as I think these games are rigged - you'll find me at the craps and blackjack tables instead. If you're feeling a little crazy, throw down a "Ben" ($100 bill) on a single hand of blackjack. Just remember the cardinal rules of gambling: (1) never bet more than you can afford to lose and (2) quit while you're ahead. Statistically, you will eventually lose (they didn't build all those glitzy casinos by giving away money to people, after all) so make sure you walk away after you've had a good streak. - Leanne Sardiga
Personally, I'm not a big fan of basketball wagering as I think these games are rigged - you'll find me at the craps and blackjack tables instead. If you're feeling a little crazy, throw down a "Ben" ($100 bill) on a single hand of blackjack. Just remember the cardinal rules of gambling: (1) never bet more than you can afford to lose and (2) quit while you're ahead. Statistically, you will eventually lose (they didn't build all those glitzy casinos by giving away money to people, after all) so make sure you walk away after you've had a good streak. - Leanne SardigaBest places to bet, bluff, and put on bad beats
