Things to do over Christmas/NY period

hey guys the mrs and I are making the trip again to Vegas over chrissie and ny. I've been to Vegas around 13 times and mrs around 5.

We have seen most shows etc so I just wanted to post and see what interesting, different, oddball, off the beaten path etc things that we can do in Vegas.

I've got a hire car once again so can travel anywhere.

We are staying ten nights total so please feel free to suggest things to do so we can fill the itinerary.

Many thanks

 

My bride and I have been to Vegas in that week between Christmas and New Year's a few times.
We usually just walk around, gamble, and people-watch, enjoying our shared time away from the minions.

*We always enjoy visiting the Bellagio and the Venetian for their Christmas displays and we get some cool photos.
*Most places have at least a little something special for the holidays. Sometimes just a Santa hat on a statue. Or a drunk guy out front.

I really enjoy the festive mood of a lot of the crowd and have had a good time talking with folks from all over.

Nothing too oddball to recommend, only my confidence that you'll have a great time being there at that time of year.
Happy travels!

RICHARD

 

We're usually in Las Vegas about that time and we normally do just normal Vegas stuff.

 

Before I moved here, Christmas was my favorite week to be in Vegas.

Less people, friendlier people, friendlier staff at hotels, casinos, bars, and restaurants.

And since I live here now, I'll still get a hotel for a few days - either downtown or on the strip.

If you have a car, the best off strip thing to do is a trip down to Town Square. The Village is all lit up - trees and buildings - and there's a neat "park" with a machine that produces real snow.

OK, it's fake and it's Vegas, but it does look cool.

And if you're in town on Monday the 19th, be sure to hit Bootlegger Bistro for a terrific Open Mike night of Christmas music hosted by Kelly Clinton.

NYE - You're on your own, as you couldn't pay me to be on the Strip or Downtown.

 

Ice skating at cosmo is always fun!

 

This. Really this is why I love going to Vegas at Xmas time (this year will be my 4th in a row) - the bartenders have more time to BS with you, you don't have to fight through the usual ginormous strip crowds and the whole place just seems more relaxed and groovy.

And as others have said - good luck when the NYE crowd kicks in, I'll be long gone by then.

 

Christmas light drive through at the speedway. I think last year there was a walk through light show at Craig Ranch Regional Park. Human Nature usually does a Christmas show. Henderson has lighting contests for residents and then publishes a map on the city website with directions. Google Christmas in Las Vegas for more ideas. If you have a decent concierge where you're staying he/she may have some ideas. If staying on the strip NYE, Have a nice dinner, go out and absorb some atmosphere early. We stayed at the Mandarin a couple of years ago and they had a party for hotel guests with a band. At the time I think non-guests could get in for 75 bucks a head. If you're feeling loaded you can get a table in the bar for a few hundred. We had a good view of the fireworks and you could move around the bar even though we didn't have a table. If not there, find somewhere to be so you have access to a bathroom. I'm not kidding. It beats being in the street.

 

Second the ice rink at Cosmo even if you don't skate. They had movie nights last year and we reserved a firepit for $80 to watch Christmas Vacation on their Marquee. The $80 was a food/beverage credit so was a deal to me. The hot beverages were awesome and they even had s'mores you made yourself over the fire. Great time.

 

thanks guys appreciated

can you recommend where to eat for christmas and nye? or events on?

 

For Christmas eve last year we did the buffet at Rio, and there was no line at all to speak of. The lower part of the casino there was almost empty!

We usually fly out Christmas day since the prices are usually down and ditto with the crowds. The night before we'll usually do a nicer buffet or a sit-down restaurant.

As for NYE I don't know. I've done NYE in LV only once and that was back in the 1970s. From all I hear it's just too expensive and zooey to do it anymore.

 

I've never done the firepits at the ice rink. Is it $80 for the whole night or is it for a set term of hours?

 

xjjx - when we did it they had 2 movies playing and we reserved the later movie. I think we got the pit around 7:30pm for the rest of the night. The $80 was also a shared pit so there was 2 others couples using the same one. You can get it to yourself but that was a lot more money for only the 2 of us.

 

What type of food are looking for? I can give some suggestions if you tell me what you like haha.

All of the clubs will be doing some sort of NYE event