Some businesses rise to greatness from humble beginnings. Humble beginnings were never part of the vocabulary at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This hotel opened in 1966 with a 14 story tower and 680 rooms. The name originated from the desire to make every guest feel like Caesar. After decades and several renovations later, the hotel has grown to more than 3300 rooms and 166,000 square feet of casino area.
Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas hotels are in the people-pleasing business, and Caesars Palace aims to please an upscale clientele. From the casino to the hotel rooms to the in-house restaurants and nightspots, Caesars Palace is dripping with luxury. Some of the highest rollers in the world come to Caesars Palace to try their luck in any number of casino gambling games of chance.
Casino gambling is certainly on the “things to do” list on a Las Vegas vacation, but other forms of entertainment are often desired. Throughout its history, Caesars Palace has been the site of many newsworthy events, starting with opening night. Andy Williams was the first of an endless list of big-name entertainers to play at Caesars Palace, when he performed on the August 5, 1966 grand opening. Two days later, Charo became the first blushing bride to walk down the aisle on the property.
The Las Vegas hotel exploded onto the national news scene on New Year’s Eve, 1967. On that date, Evel Knievel made an ill-fated attempt to jump the fountain in front of Caesars Palace. His motorcycle crashed upon landing, and he suffered life-threatening injuries. The iconic footage of Knievel’s shattering body bouncing on the parking lot asphalt has lost little of its cringe factor.
Since those early days, the biggest names in the entertainment business have played Caesars Palace. The outdoor arena at Caesars has hosted numerous championship boxing matches, with Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Thomas Hearns and Larry Holmes all performing inside the squared circle.
Las Vegas Vacations at Caesars
Casino gambling can be hungry work, and this Las Vegas hotel has numerous dining options. From steak to seafood, almost any type of cuisine can be found at Caesars Palace. For the diner who can’t make up his/her mind, the Lago Buffet offers several dining options at the same site. The weekend champagne brunch can provide everything from eggs to crab legs.
If Lady Luck was looking the other way, guests at this Las Vegas hotel can take out their frustrations on a golf ball at either of two courses where Caesars Palace guests have preferred access. One of these courses is Rio Secco Golf, voted the #1 public golf course in Nevada by Las Vegas PGA.
If golf seems too strenuous, Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis provides several places to swim or just relax and work on the tan.
Nightlife at Caesars Palace can take on many forms. Several bars and lounges can provide a needed diversion from the hustle and bustle of the bcasino, as well as a cool drink to slake a desert thirst.
Since the day it opened, Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino has been the centerpiece of the Las Vegas Strip. People come to Las Vegas to leave their daily grind behind, and this is one Las Vegas hotel and casino property that can provide almost anything to make the world go away. Just don’t forget the cash.
Sightseeing Tips on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas is one of the most sought-after vacation spots in the world due to its spectacular restaurants, shopping, and unparalleled entertainment. But before anyone runs off to book the ultimate Vegas vacation here are a few tips to make your trip everything you want it to be.
Walking the Las Vegas Strip With a Plan or a Monorail
Las Vegas might seem fairly contained in maps and especially in movies, but between the Las Vegas Strip and the famous Fremont Street, there are countless sights to see and activities to partake in. And this isn’t even counting time for gambling. It can be difficult to see everything in a single four-day trip. It is best to set out a plan for what sights are of the most interest and those of lesser importance. Without a plan to loosely follow, it can be easy to waste valuable time wandering around trying to figure out what to do next.
While sightseeing along the main Strip, weigh the option of taking the Las Vegas Monorail that stretches from the MGM Grand to the Sahara hotel-casino with frequent stops at other major resorts along the Strip. A single ride can be a little pricey at $5.00 USD per ride, making the single-day or three-day pass more economical. The monorail rides behind the Strip itself making sight-seeing difficult, but for those tired or those who have trouble walking, the monorail cannot be undervalued.
Free and Inexpensive Sights Along the Strip
With Cirque du Soleil shows like Criss Angel’s Believe and the more notable O routinely running over a hundred dollars a ticket, it is more important than ever to find inexpensive entertainment. Luckily, Las Vegas is ready to oblige. The first stop for any visitor to Las Vegas should be to the Bellagio fountains. Every guidebook and the past visitor will say to go there, and it’s not all hype. The fountains are beautifully choreographed to all types of music from Mozart to the National Anthem that closes out the last show at 12:00 a.m. every night.
Directly across from the Bellagio fountains is the Paris Las Vegas and its replica Eiffel Tower stands at a soaring 300 feet over the Strip. The Paris offers the Eiffel Tower Experience that will take guests up the full length of the tower with a 360-degree view in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The tickets range from $10 for adults and $7 for children during the day and rise at 7:30 p.m. to $15 for adults. This is a fifty percent hike, but well worth the breathtaking view of the Las Vegas Strip all lit up in all its glory. Not to mention the shiver-inducing view of the Bellagio fountains directly below the observation deck also lit up at night.
Another great draw at the Bellagio is their Conservatory and Botanical Gardens that are free to all guests and open all day and year-round. The exhibits change as the seasons pass and when certain holidays approach. A can’t miss way to spend an hour.
The MGM Grand offers daily lion shows at the front of their casino. The lion habitat is large, but when a hundred people gather around it for the free show, the lions appear penned in. It’s a free show and one of the major kid-friendly attractions, making the lions’ popularity very sought after. It would be wise to get to the show early to avoid the massive crowds of children and parents that routinely show up.
These are only a few suggestions. There are still countless free experiences to take all over Las Vegas.
Things to Consider Before Visiting Las Vegas
One thing to remember, especially for parents, is that Las Vegas is slowly moving away from its family-friendly focus since the 1990s. The once kid-friendly Treasure Island is now a bastion of scantily clad “Sirens” and hunky pirates. The friendly Aladdin resort in the middle of the Strip is now the Planet Hollywood resort that offers blackjack dealers in nothing but bras and underwear and partially clothed pole dancers. This means sex is at the forefront of Las Vegas once again. Parents should research what resorts the best suit them and their children.
Parents should also be wary of groups of people peddling escort advertisements. These people can be aggressive at times but usually stay to themselves. They will hold sexually suggestive cards in front of pedestrians all along the Strip hoping those walking by will take them. The only thing that can be done is to ignore them. Simply be prepared.
