Page 112 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

110  LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS  111

Visitors enter the pyramid luggage, the ship’s whistles, and Weddings in Las Vegas
through the legs of a giant an unopened bottle of vintage
sphinx to find themselves inside cham pagne from 1900. Visitors A Las Vegas wedding comes second only to the lure
the casino, where the ranks of can walk through re-created of the gaming tables. The kitsch style of a range of
ringing slot machines are first- and third-class rooms. ceremonies, from a drive-in chapel to themed
surrounded by walls decorated medieval receptions or an Elvis Presley special,
with copies of paintings and E Bodies, The Exhibition persuades around 100,000 couples to tie the
hieroglyphs from the original Luxor. Open 10am–10pm daily. & 7 knot here each year. One brave couple said
Karnak temple in Luxor. E Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition their vows on a high platform in front
As a tribute to Egypt’s ancient Luxor. Open 10am–10pm daily. & 7 of Circus Circus before performing a
spectacular bungee jump. A host of
religions, a beam of light is celebrities have married here, including
projected from the pyramid’s Elvis and Priscilla Presley, and pop star
apex nightly – so powerful that Britney Spears to Jason Alexander.
it can be seen from planes Packages start at around $100. Both
cruising above Los Angeles parties must also first appear in person
250 miles (400 km) away. to obtain a $77 marriage license at the
The plush façade of the Mandalay Bay resort on the Las Vegas Strip Among the hotel’s many County of Clark Marriage Bureau (201 E.
attractions, a free ride in the Clark Ave., 702-671-0600; open 8am to
1 Mandalay Bay which features live perform- guest elevators (named midnight daily; www.clarkcountynv.gov).
ances of many musical genres. “inclinators”) ranks high – they
3950 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 632-
7777. 7 8 Open 24 hours (see It was also the first resort on the travel along the inclines of the Elvis impersonator with a new bride
p239). ∑ mandalaybay.com Strip to feature a non-gaming 350-ft (105-m) pyramid at an
hotel, the Four Seasons, located angle of 39 degrees.
The Mandalay Bay resort aims to on the Mandalay’s top four floors. Bodies, The Exhibition good option for kids and Roaring around the complex is
re-create the tropics of the late showcases whole bodies and families to unwind. There is an the thrilling, Coney Island-style
19th century. Located at the hundreds of organs that have impressive selection of arcade roller coaster that twists at
south end of the Strip, it has 2 Luxor been preserved through an games, redemption games, and 180 degrees and dives at speeds
3,300 rooms. Tropical plants and 3900 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 262- innovative process. The sports challenges, such as the of 67 mph (108 kph), passing
white stucco architectural 4000; (877) 386-4658. Open 24 hours specimens provide a unique, Mega Stacker, Big Bass, and around the building’s exterior
features such as arches and (see p239). 7 8 ∑ luxor.com three-dimensional view of the Excalibur’s towers are designed to create Key Master. and through the casino itself.
decorative cornices evoke a human form, with all its skeletal, a medieval fantasy castle Adding to the Manhattan
colonial atmosphere. Even the The Luxor’s famous 30-story muscular, and circulatory 4 New York flavor are versions of many
vast 135,000-sq-ft (12,550-sq-m) bronze pyramid opened in 1993 systems. Also on show are 3 Excalibur popular New York eateries.
casino manages to suggest and quickly became a Las Vegas organs that have been 3850 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 597- New York Set among Greenwich Village
elegant 1890s Singapore. One icon. Despite the fact that the damaged by over-eating 7777. Open 24 hours (see p238). 7 3790 Las Vegas Blvd S. brownstones is a wide selection
highlight is the 11-acre (4.5-ha) resort is named after the and lack of exercise. ∑ excalibur.com Tel (702) 740-6969; (800) 689-1797. of cafés, restaurants, and bars
lagoon-style swimming pool Egyptian city of Luxor, which Titanic: The Artifact Open 24 hours (see p239). 7 offering a choice of live music
with its sandy beach and wave has no pyramid, there is Exhibition tells the story of the The Excalibur is a family-friendly ∑ newyorknewyork.com from swing and jazz to
machine, plus a water ride impressive attention to detail in Titanic, a floating palace that theme park resort with a casino Motown and rock.
around the pool. More restrained the range of Ancient Egyptian sank on a calm night in 1912 attached. The inspiration of the This hotel’s re-creation of the
than other Strip resorts, the architectural features. Painted when it struck an iceberg in medieval world of King Arthur Manhattan skyline dominates
Mandalay Bay includes over 20 temple pillars adorn the casino, the North Atlantic. Actual and his knights is obvious at first the Tropicana Avenue corner
restaurants, nightclubs, and and a repro duction Cleopatra’s artifacts recovered from the sight of the castle-like exterior, of the Strip – no mean feat in
The House of Blues Music Hall Needle graces the entrance. ship are on display, including with its white towers, turrets, a street of impressive façades.
moat, and drawbridge. Suits of Considered one of Las Vegas’
armor line the entrance, which most appealing sights, New York
leads into the heavily themed New York is fronted by a 150-ft
casino where even the one- (46-m) replica of the Statue of
armed bandits have signposts Liberty, behind which are 12
such as “Medieval Slot Fantasy.” of Manhattan’s most famous
The second floor houses landmark buildings, including
the Medieval Village, where the Empire State, the Chrysler,
quaint alleyways are lined and the Seagram.
with shops and restaurants, Every interior detail of the
such as Dick’s Last Resort, the hotel is designed to reflect a
Buffet at Excalibur, and The part of New York City, including
Steakhouse at Camelot. The the areas around the casino
shops and kiosks on Castle floor, which feature many of
Walk offer merchandise and the city’s most famous land-
souvenirs based on the hotel’s marks including Times Square.
medieval theme. This fabulous casino is entered
Fun Dungeon, the in-house from the Strip via a replica of
games arcade offering more Brooklyn Bridge, which is one- The roller coaster at New York New York
Impressive Egyptian-style entrance of the Luxor hotel than 200 exciting games, is a fifth the size of the original. speeding through the air
For hotels and restaurants see pp238–40 and pp251–4

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