Monday, July 30, 2007- What Happens in Vegas…

Today was our day to hotel hop in Las Vegas. We started off taking a taxi cab to the Las Vegas Hilton where we then caught the monorail. We thought that the monorail connected the major hotels. Actually, it’s not the great. Many of the ones that we wanted to see were not on the monorail’s line, so we still ended up taking a few cabs today anyway. The monorail’s track wasn’t even that scenic, since it goes behind many of the hotels instead of the front of them. In the end, it was an expensive trip that we wouldn’t make again.

We got to the MGM Grand and we got chance to see three of the lions that they have on display there. We walked right underneath them in a plexi-glass tunnel with the lions sitting right on top. From there we went across the street to New York, New York. There wasn’t anything specific that we wanted to see there, but Julie wanted to check out the elaborate façade with the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. Anna was hoping to ride the roller coaster, but was very disappointed when she was too short to be able to ride.

From there we went to Mandalay Bay, where we wanted to see the shark exhibit. We had thought that it would be free, like the lions at MGM, but there was a hefty little admissions charge to the aquarium. Though it was a bit expensive, it was an interesting place with tunnels to walk through the shark tanks. Anna liked seeing the piranhas.

Then we caught a cab to the Hofbrauhaus German restaurant. Unfortunately, the band wasn’t playing so early in the day, but Scott enjoyed the beer, wurst, and schnitzel as usual. It was interesting to see how much they made the interior of this one look like the one in Munich. We’ve now officially been to each of the sites- the original in Munich, the one Newport, Kentucky, and here. Scott wants to send in pictures of himself at all three places to see if he can win anything. Emma ate her fill of noodles and fell asleep on the way out.

From there we took a cab to the Venetian where Julie and Anna picked up their tickets for Phantom of the Opera tonight. We peeked around there a little, and then rode the monorail back to the Las Vegas Hilton. Anna and Scott went to the Star Trek Experience, where they simulate being beamed up to the bridge of the Next Generation’s Enterprise during a Klingon attack. Apparently, Klingons were attacking us because one of us is Jean Luc Picard’s ancestor. They shipped us out on a shuttle craft (on a ride somewhat like Star Tours at Disneyland). Emma was too little to ride and was creeped out by the aliens who were in the waiting area anyway. Again, though, it was quite expensive. The Star Trek museum filled with props and costumes that we got to see on the way in made up for it somewhat.

Now, Julie and Anna are on their way back to the Venetian where they will be seeing Phantom of the Opera. Anna should really like it, because it’s one of her favorite movies. We sprung for some of the good seats because of that.

Julie says that Las Vegas seems to have gotten a lot more expensive. There seems to be fewer freebies and cheap buffets that hotels used to use to try to get you in the front doors to begin with and a lot more times where you’re forking out money. Scott said it feels like there’s a hole in his wallet here, and we haven’t even done any gambling.

Update: Julie and Anna loved the Phantom. The special effects in the show were excellent and included fireworks inside the theater. Julie loved the chandelier and the part when the Phantom was dangling from. Anna said her favorite part was "Everything."