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Girls Night Out in Vegas

Some ‘Sin City’ with a feminine appeal

By Barbara Wiltshire

Ever consider a getaway with the girls to Las Vegas? You might flirt with that notion as smoke filled rooms and stillettoed dancers are now giving way to a more female tempting atmosphere. One is more likely to see spandex suited joggers or sensibly shoed grandmothers than ladies of the night in today’s Vegas. All major casino/resorts offer spa/fitness centers complete with yoga classes.

The casinos actually compete for the exercising set. Mandalay Bay bills itself as having the best jogging course at its pool/beach for hotel guests. Even if you don’t want to go outside, the massive shopping concourses can provide an ‘out of the box’ jogging experience. The five star Bellagio Resort is perfect for laps – start at the end of the shops somewhere around Armani and Channel, walk around the skyward spurting fountains, the lake with a look at the Italian villas,  and up to the front doors….then return to the shops. For your effort you get a 1 kilometer walk with an incline, and a peek at the highest of the high couture.

And if you can manage to move fast enough to dodge the phampleteers, just enjoying the sidewalk spectacle of the Boulevard makes for a great morning run in the non winter challenged conditions of Vegas.

For years, the casinos have tried to homogenize the gambling venues to include family oriented fun. Most casino/hotels boast amusement rides or arcades. Now the focus is moving to include the ladies only venues. This group of Minnesota co-workers splurged for a weekend get-a-way to the palatial Bellagio.

GAMBLING

While gambling is still one of the major attractions, with the expected high rollers and sports betting venues which tend to be male dominated, Vegas stats now point to the greatest increases in slot machines, which are normally considered female territory. Consder there are 122,800 slots machines in Clark County and a measly 3,896 live table games. And why not…..slot machines are user friendly, non threatening. Your short-sighted grandmother would feel comfortable here. In fact the Red Hat Society is planning to host thousands of their members in Vegas this June.

SHOWS

Consider too the shifting content of Vegas shows. Scantily clad, long legged beauties who provided the staple in the days of Frank Sinatra’s rat pack still exist but have given way to more substantial productions. Now the main casinos showcase stunning multi techniqued extravangas like Cirque de Soleil complex production of ‘O’, Celine Dion and Elton John. What could scream female more than the now running musical ‘Menopause’.

And for the more adventurous…bare breasted female revues are more than balanced by whatever one calls the opposite of girly shows. ‘Men - The Show’ includes male entertaines from all over the world including Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, Sweden and Hawaii. The Show is getting rave reviews. ‘Thunder From Down Under’ is another major show getting rave reviews all over Vegas and certainly offers women an alternative perspective.

FOOD

Visions of a mile long buffet table, loaded with every imaginable food,  may be something your 16 year old son might find appealing, but for most women a million carb-heavy nasties is not the way to spend a guilt free holiday. Once again Vegas is able to multi task to include something less fattening and more fiberous for the femmes. Try these for top health food restaurants in Vegas…The Bagel Café, Sweet Tomatoes, Jamba Juice, and Tea Planet for a healthy alternative to coffee and doughnuts.

A single casino resort can boast as many as 20 restaurants for your buffet alternative. Mandalay Bay holds 23 and the five star Bellagio features 19 award winning restaurants.

SHOPPING

Assuming you do have money left after hitting the gaming, the shopping experience in Las Vegas is unparalled and would require a separate vacation to even scratch the surface. Shopping in the major resorts can naturally be above budget…way way above budget, unless you count yourself among the rich and famous. However, there are some great more moderate venues such as the Fashion Show Mall located across for the newly constructed Wynn Hotel and walking distance from Caesar’s, Bellagio and Treasure Island.

WEATHER CONCLUSION

The sun shines for an average 300 days a year in Las Vegas…rain an average 4 inches…snow = none. Translated this means Las Vegas is the city that never winters and a perfect winter refuge for a girl weekend, which can, of course, include a guy if necessary.

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