Sunday, April 3, 2022

Days 4 and 5: Bellagio Fountains, Downtown Las Vegas, and a Helicopter Flight

 Day 4: Bellagio Fountains and Other Activities

We spent the first part of the day wandering around the Strip (no pictures), and around mid-afternoon we inspected some of the merchandise that we bought at Cookie's the previous day (no pictures of that, either).  

In the evening, we went to a burger place called Holstein's at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, and had $17 milkshakes that were easily worth the $17.  As a matter of fact, that was our entire dinner.



After dinner (such as it was), we wandered back on the Strip, and got a close-up view of the fountain show at the Bellagio.


I don't know who he is.  I don't think he knows who he is

Show Time!


Below is a video of the fountains, and the accompanying audio:




On the walkway to the Bellagio


We then spent a few minutes wandering around the atrium in the Bellagio




A disappointing end to our walk through the Bellagio 


Day 5: Downton Las Vegas and a Helicopter Flight

This morning we got on the Deuce bus and headed for downtown Las Vegas.


All of Caesar's Palace



At the north end of the Strip, near the Strat, things start getting a bit more downscale.




Eventually, we made it down.  Our first destination was The D Hotel and Casino, a hotel with, believe it or not, a Detroit theme. 





The highlight of The D (for me) is the American Coney Island on the ground floor.


We then went to the Fremont Street Experience, which is basically a block long covered area with casinos and shops.





We walked a few blocks from downtown to see the Neon Museum, but unfortunately it was closed.  We walked around the edge and did see a lot of old neon signs behind the walls.  

Entrance to the Neon Museum

A view from the outside





View of downtown Las Vegas from near the Neon Museum

We then walked back downtown to visit the Mob Museum, which is housed in the old Federal Courthouse.  

Outside of the Mob Museum

A reconstructed speakeasy in the Mob Museum

We then got back on the bus and headed back to our condo.

The Circa, a relatively new hotel/casino downtown

The Stratosphere


The Sahara and Hilton Vacation Club near the north end of the Strip

The Wynn Hotel and Casino

Palazzo Hotel (left) and Fashion Show Mall (right)

Street view from the north end of the Strip

We spent the early evening back at the Planet Hollywood casino watching UNC lose in the NCAA championship game :-(.  At about 10:00 PM, we took a sightseeing helicopter trip over the Strip.  The entire trip took about 12 minutes, but we got some spectacular views.

South part of the Strip from the airport.  New York New York on the left, and MGM Grand on the right

View of the Venetian, Palazzo, and Wynn hotels from the east side of the Strip


The Strat and the area between the Strip and downtown

Downtown Las Vegas--the tallest building is the Circa


View of the Strip from the northwest


View of the southern end of the strip from the west

Far southern end of the Strip from above I-15.  The pink lights are T-Mobile Arena


Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders

Safely back on the ground