July/August 2024


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quirky way to fill the time from early morning hotel pick up to late evening return. And our guide Ralph definitely fulfilled the brief. His laid-back style and whip-sharp gags jollied us along from obligatory photo stops at the fabled Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Joshua Tree Forest and a good 20 mins overlooking the engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam.


on the High Roller big wheel with spectacular views along the Strip and beyond. There really is no time to rest in this busy


city. And, as night descended, it was a taxi hop to the STRAT observation for another high-rise view – this time showcasing Vegas in all its sparkly glory. Adrenalin junkies were throwing themselves off the top of the USA’s tallest freestanding tower and others were strapping into the top deck X-Scream roller coaster. We headed back inside to watch iLuminate, a fabulous and funny show where dancers in LED light suits create clever, ever- changing scenes with a soundtrack to get the crowd on their feet. A great way to end day two in this crazy city! It’s incredible to think that just a couple of hours drive from the man-made madness of Sin City lies one of the great natural wonders of the world. I have longed to see the Grand Canyon for many years and liked the sound of Comedy on Deck Tours – a company whose guides are also stand-up comedians. A


Ralph constantly warned us about the queues once we reached our destination, and he wasn’t wrong. Tickets include lunch at the West Rim restaurant run by the indigenous Hualapai tribe who own and oversee the Grand Canyon. A good hour was spent in line but knowing this in advance helped take out the sting, As Ralph said, ” this day is probably on your bucket list so don’t let a queue spoil it. What you are about to see is epic.” And how right he was. Seeing the sheer scale and majesty of this iconic site in real life is spellbinding, and not a little scary. As I kept well away from the edge – not a safety rope in sight – others were heading perilously close for that ultimate selfie,


despite


written and verbal warnings to keep at


least 5ft from


the precipice. My constant pleas to the children to steer well clear, despite them being as cautious as me, had a fellow mum laughing. “I’m the same as you,” she admitted as we both shared our ill- founded sense of impending doom. The Grand Canyon does that to do! Photos


dutifully


grabbed, we took a few minutes to


sit down and quietly take in this amazing spectacle, as a never-ending convoy of sightseeing helicopters buzzed past. The Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam duly checked off that list, it was time to return to our gaudy glitzy base. Our final day continued the action-packed vibe with a trip to AREA15, a reimagined shipping container named after Nevada’s highly classified Area 51. This giant space is crammed with mind-bending attractions (inside and out), interactive experiences, cafes, shops and even a zipline to whizz you round its interior. Taking up a giant chunk of this sensory- overload space is Omega Mart, a completely bonkers supermarket of the surreal. It’s like The Stepford Wives went shopping on acid as you scan the shelves and find such grocery wokery pokery delights as tattooed chicken, Gender Fluid energy drinks and Rainbow Wash spray with the warning – caution: may backfire.


A bizarre family mystery runs throughout the grocery store, with secret portals leading you deeper and deeper into the storeroom abyss. Dazzling lights, unhinged art and lots of mind-boggling moments conspire to create this weirdest


VIVA LAS VEGAS | 27


of wonderlands. You could spend hours dissecting the scene and delving further into this bizarre bazaar. But move on we must, Omega Mart still reeling in our heads. What was all that about? The truth, as they probably say in Area 51, is out there… We have come to the conclusion that reality is never really an option in Vegas, and so it was with our final nighttime flourish. Up there with casinos, nightclubs and 24-hour wedding chapels (all of which can be viewed from the Big Bus hop on, hop-off tours) - are the desert city’s mega shows. Big names and even bigger productions jostle for your money as magicians, comedians and even animal acts conjure up their own distinct spectacle. But the daddy of them all has to be Cirque du Soliel whose themed shows run continuously across seven Strip hotels. We opted for Mystère at Treasure Island which delivered a non-stop display of gravity defying acrobatics amid a flourish of feathers and kaleidoscope of colours.


The giant stage was electric with a mesmerising display of contortion and comedy. Oohs and aahs rang out from the crowd as each aerial display swooped and soared in this beautifully orchestrated show. An absolute must for all ages visiting this entertainment mecca. Three days in Vegas and not a hangover in sight. It can be done, and children of all ages have so much to enjoy, an extra day or two wouldn’t have gone amiss. We could have experienced such additional


delights


as the Minus5 Ice Experience, and, albeit a tad boozy, Fremont Street


Personally


Experience. speaking,


I’d rather wake up without a tiger in my bed… Vegas with kids will do for me.


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