We all love living in Lincoln and, most of the time, we can find nearly everything we need locally, from shopping to entertainment to nightlife. However, every once in a while, some of us need to get out of town and visit somewhere new. That’s what our travel series is all about. Our staff travels to a vacation destination and checks out things to do for you so you know the best places to eat, stay and be entertained. In July, we had the opportunity to visit fabulous Las Vegas and we came back with a whole list of ‘must-do’s! Though we were tempted to go shopping while on vacation, we followed our own ‘rules’ of spending as much money as possible in Lincoln and decided to do our shopping locally before heading out to Nevada.
Read on to see what we did on our trip—it may just give you some ideas for your next Vegas vacation.
Embassy Suites Las Vegas
4315 Swenson Street
702-795-2800
When you think about staying in a hotel in Las Vegas, most people think of staying in a casino. However, we wanted to try something different for this trip and stay at a non-casino hotel. Since we’ve always had such great experiences with Embassy Suites in Lincoln, Omaha and Kansas City, we decided to try one of their locations in Las Vegas. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Embassy Suites for a number of reasons. First, there’s the hotel shuttle service. Depending on how busy they are, they can take you a number of places for no charge. We used their services to take us to a couple of the hotels we had shows or dinner at and used them to get to the airport on the day of our return flight. The next perk of staying at Embassy was the complimentary breakfast and complimentary managers cocktail reception daily. The breakfast featured cooked to order omelettes, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and French toast as well as toast, bagels and pastries. The complimentary managers reception, which is from 5:30 to 7:30 nightly, features complimentary drinks and hors d’ oeuvres and is the perfect place to relax and visit before going out for the evening.
The Embassy is the perfect place to stay if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the strip and just relax while you’re at your hotel. Lounge on the spacious sundeck near their outdoor heated tropical pool while listening to the soothing sounds of a waterfall. The location we stayed at was located very near to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, so it was easy to walk over there if we felt like it and we could easily call a cab to take us anywhere else we wanted to go. UNLV and the Thomas and Mack Event Center is also with in walking distance from the hotel. We definitely recommend trying out the Embassy Suites Las Vegas next time you visit Vegas!
B & B Ristorante-Venetian
Average Meal Price: $60
We visited the Venetian’s newest Italian restaurant, B&B Ristorante, on Thursday night. B&B features chef Mario Batali and his partner/winemaker Joseph Bastianich’s blend of exquisite food and casual elegance. We were treated like royalty with appetizers like the grilled octopus (with “Borlotti Marinati” and spicy limoncello vinaigrette) and warm lamb’s tongue with chantrelles and a 3-minute egg. First course choices included the goat cheese tortelloni with dried orange and wild fennel pollen and beef cheek ravioli with black truffles and crushed duck liver. Our second course featured dishes like the duck with sweet and sour cabbage, rabbit with baby carrots, pearl onions and carrot vinaigrette and fennel dusted sweetbreads with sweet and sour onions, duck bacon and membrillo vinegar. Our final course, dessert, featured some delicious options like the Bombolini (cinnamon spiced sheep’s milk ricotta frittelle) and the vanilla bean semifreddo. Each course was paired with the perfect wine, which was explained and served by the knowledgeable sommelier. B&B is an excellent restaurant with a gorgeous atmosphere, unique food that you won’t find anywhere else and top-notch service.
Spamalot-Wynn
Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail, Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table in musical form. It features ‘a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people’. With a hilarious lead performance by John O’Hurley (best known as J. Peterman on “Seinfeld”), Spamalot is a delightful show that will appeal to everyone who likes to laugh, whether you’re a fan of Monty Python or not. Two of us attended the show on Friday night and were instantly charmed by the silly, light show. Recommended for anyone who wants to see a humorous performance while in Vegas.
Corsa Cucina-Wynn
Average Meal Price: $60
Chef Stephen Kalt puts his unique stamp on everything wonderful about modern and traditional Italian food at Corsa Cucina, which two of us visited on Saturday night. With an upbeat, classy atmosphere, Corsa Cucina features a great setting for a delicious meal. We were treated to appetizers of whipped ricotta cheese and sweet garlic with virgin olive oil and grilled olive bread, a squash blossom frittura, marinated clams in steamed white wine and Trippa alla Corsa (slow cooked tripe with carmelized fennel and onions, hand made farfalle and parmigiano). The appetizers were followed by a dinner of Short Rib of Beef Ragu tossed with rigatoni and Parmigiano Reggiano and a roasted lobster tail with lobster gnocchi drizzled with basil pesto and creamed spinach with a lobster butter sauce. Dinner was served with a loaf of delicious bread and wine pairings for each course. Dinner was concluded with rice pudding crepes with blueberry sorbet and a Coco Bombolino with Stracciatella, a chocolate-chip ice cream. We were very impressed with not only the atmosphere and the fabulous food, but also with the amazing service. Everyone is treated like a VIP at Corsa Cucina and we suggest you find out for yourselves the next time you are in Vegas!
The Phantom of the Opera-Venetian
Paige had always wanted to see The Phantom of the Opera and there’s no better place to see it than Las Vegas, where it is one of the highest rated show and plays in a gorgeous theatre in the Venetian. Phantom tells the story of Christine, a chorus girl who is secretly tutored by a disfigured musical genius who lives in the recesses of the opera house. When Christine is forced to take the place of the temperamental diva in the opera, she rockets to fame and catches the attention of wealthy opera patron Raoul. However, Raoul is not the only one who loves Christine. The Phantom, who is obsessed with her success, is also in love with her and will do anything to make her his own. With stunning music, breathtaking set designs and a haunting story, The Phantom of the Opera is a must-see for anyone who wants to see a dramatic, classic show.
Crazy Girls-Riviera
The first show we saw in Las Vegas is probably what many people think of when they think of shows in the ‘old’ Las Vegas. Crazy Girls is a revue for adults only. An adventure through the world of beauty, Crazy Girls features not only the ‘most stunning showgirls in Las Vegas’, but it also has humor in the form of a comedian emcee and a guest juggler. Situated in a small theatre, all of the seats in the house were good ones with excellent views of the stage. This show would be great for a bachelor party or a group of friends or even couples who are looking for something sassy, affordable and a little bit different to see while in Sin City.
Taqueria Canonita-Venetian
Average Meal Price: $25
If you enjoy unique Mexican food, you need to put Taqueria Canonita on your list while you’re in Vegas. The casual dining restaurant is located directly beside the gorgeous canal in the Venetian, making for a beautiful view while you dine (we even saw a proposal on one of the gondolas!). With a bright, lively atmosphere and exhibition kitchen, Taqueria Canonita is truly a dining experience. We started our meal off with chips and some excellent guacamole and Mexico City Shrimp Ceviche (rock shrimp marinated in fresh lime juice, served on a house blend of tangy tomato sauce with fresh chiles, cucumber, cilantro and avocado salsa. This was accompanied by one of their delicious margaritas and their take on the Mai Tai called the Black Tai. We followed up with the Yucatan Achiote Shrimp (skewers of black tiger shrimp, served in a marisco broth with blackened tomatoes and tomatillos on a bed of white rice medley) and the Sonora Filet Mignon (grilled tenderloin steak with Canonita spice, served with a huitlacoche tamal, winter vegetables and a pasilla de Oaxaca reduction). The filet came with the option of lobster tail or king crab legs as an add-on and we chose the lobster tail. Taqueria Canonita provides the delicious flavors of Old Mexico with a New American flair—perfect for a casual night in Vegas.
Blue Man Group-Venetian
One of the most popular shows in Vegas, the Blue Man Group is an amazing experience that combines humor, percussion and a whole lot of other stuff that’s nearly impossible to explain to someone who has not seen this unique and entertaining show. Two of us saw Blue Man on Friday night and had a great time for the entire 90 minutes. The show is interactive and combines a number of elements to produce an experience like no other. It’s appropriate for all ages and will entertain children as well as adults. We highly recommend Blue Man Group for those who want to see a visually stunning, hilarious show.
TAO-Venetian
If large dance clubs are what you want to visit while in Las Vegas, you should visit in the Venetian. TAO features two dance floors with different types of music, a 40-foot long outdoor terrace with a view of the strip, eight private boxes with mini bars and a state of the art lighting and audio system. We visited TAO on Friday night and had a true Las Vegas nightclub experience.
Mamma Mia!-Mandalay Bay
Paige had seen Mamma Mia! at the Lied Center and it had been one of her favorite shows, so she wanted us to make sure to see it in Las Vegas while we were there. Mamma Mia!, set to the music of ABBA, is the story of a young girl who is on the verge of getting married, but wants her long-lost father to be at the wedding. Unfortunately, she’s not sure who her father is. After finding three candidates in her mother’s old diary, she invites all three to her wedding to finally find out who her dad really is. If you like the music of ABBA, you’ll love Mamma Mia! The music is wonderful, the acting is great and the story is heartfelt and funny, making you laugh and cry depending on the scene. Even if you’ve seen Mamma Mia! here in Lincoln, you should see it again with the Las Vegas cast when you’re in town.
KA-MGM Grand
If you want to see a truly amazing show, you can’t do any better than one of the many Cirque du Soleil shows that play in Las Vegas. We were fortunate to get tickets to Cirque du Soleil KA, the story of twins who must embark on a dangerous journey to fulfill their destinies. The show brings to life an entire empire on the stage and involves stunning costumes, breathtaking aerial stunts and wonderful music. Paige was especially impressed with the diversity of the show, with some scenes being comedic and others being dramatic. She also commented that it would be a perfect show to take kids to as they would be amazed by the stunts and the costumes and music would hold the interest of even smaller children. Cirque du Soleil KA was definitely a winner and on our must-do list while in Vegas!
Bouchon-Venetian
Average Meal Price: $60
For an elegant dining experience, you should definitely consider Bouchon, a wonderful French restaurant located in the Venezia Tower in the Venetian. World-renowned chef Thomas Keller, named ‘Best American Chef’ by Time Magazine, brings his famous combination of French bistro classics and daily specials to Las Vegas and pairs it with unbeatable service to make for a memorable dining event. We were given quite the tour of Bouchon’s menu by our delightful waiter, who began our meal with the Petit Plateau (1/2 lobster, nine oysters, three shrimp, three clams and six mussels), Terrine de Foie Gras de Canard with toasted baguette and Rillettes aux Deux Saumons (fresh and smoked salmon rillettes with toasted croutons). Our main course included Poitrine de Veau (slow cooked veal breast with soft polenta, forest mushrooms and olivade, roasted Atlantic halibut and a delicious Australian top sirloin that our waiter explained was Australia’s version of Kobe beef. The meal was concluded with not one but all six desserts that the restaurant had to offer, including Crème Caramel (caramel custard), Tarte au Citron (lemon tart) and Mousse au Chocolat Noir (chocolate mousse). Like at B&B, Bouchon served wine with each course from an experienced sommelier, which helped to make the meal a classy affair that we’ll remember for years to come. Visit Bouchon for the elegant food and for the unprecedented service.
Mix-Mandalay Bay
High atop the Mandalay Bay hotel sits Mix lounge, which we visited on Saturday night. Mix is stylish, gorgeous and offers one of the best views of Vegas. You can sit inside and listen to music spun by DJs or you can sit on the open air patio and look out over the city. The lounge features delicious cocktail concoctions and bottle service (you can purchase a bottle or bottles of liquor and mix your own cocktails). This lounge is great for relaxing with friends since the music is lively, yet not too loud and there’s no better backdrop in Las Vegas than the view from Mix.