VegasFamilyTripper.com Family Travel News

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Fall Arrives at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

If your family will be staying at Bellagio this fall, don't miss a visit to the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Through November 24, the facility will feature fall witha towering, 35-foot-tall cider mill set powered by a slow-moving stream. It's all set amidst a stand of white birch trees. Just steps away, a bountiful harvest of more than 1,000 Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples evokes memories of piping hot cider and homemade pies.

An unexpected surprise resting atop a bed of pumpkins awaits guests. A 10-foot-tall Ent, a mythical talking tree, sits amongst the colorful gourds and enchants passers-by with a sweet smile, gentle eyes and wild botanical hair made of moss and bittersweet root.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Haunted Reef at Shark Reef Aquarium

It's almost Halloween and that means, for the sixth year, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay will be transformed into the Haunted Reef. Rattling chains, creaking doors and hauntingly spooky music will replace the normal sounds of the ocean and the jungle.

Children 12 and under, in costume, will receive complimentary access and candy!

Not to leave Count Dracula out in the cold, Haunted Reef also hosts Nevada's United Blood Services. Each adult who donates blood will receive complimentary entrance into Shark Reef Aquarium.

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Vegas Vacation Promotion through United Vacations

If you're considering a vacation at one of the MGM MIRAGE RESORTS, be sure to check out the new promotion offered through United Vacations. Travelers who book their vacation package to the Resorts of MGM MIRAGE by December 21, 2007 can save up to $100 per reservation or receive up to 7,500 bonus miles - it's your choice!

The Promotion: The number of bonus miles and the savings amount received is determined by the hotel booked:

Travelers will receive 7,500 bonus miles or $100 savings when they book their Vegas vacation to any of the following hotels: Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Signature at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. Promotion code L7500 must be used at the time of booking to receive 7,500 bonus miles. Promotion code L100 must be used at the time of booking to receive $100 savings.

Travelers will receive 5,000 bonus miles or $75 savings when they book their Vegas vacation to TI-Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, New York-New York and Luxor. Promotion code L5000 must be used at the time of booking to receive 5,000 bonus miles. Promotion code L75 must be used at the time of booking to receive $75 savings.

Travelers will receive 2,500 bonus miles or $50 savings when they book their Vegas vacation to Excalibur and Circus Circus. Promotion code L2500 must be used at the time of booking to receive 2,500 bonus miles. Promotion code L50 must be used at the time of booking to receive $50 savings.

Vegas Vacation Contest: Besides selecting miles or savings for their trip, customers can enter The Great Las Vegas Giveaway for the chance to win a VIP vacation for two that includes:

* Roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas

* 3-night stay at Bellagio

* 2 tickets to The Beatles(tm) LOVE(tm) by Cirque du Soleil(r)

* Dinner for two at STRIPSTEAK

* 2 spa treatments at the Grand Spa

Mileage Bonus:
As an added bonus, United Vacations travelers earn 500 bonus miles per adult - up to 1,000 bonus miles per reservation - with any complete vacation package booked online at www.unitedvacations.com. That's in addition to the regular miles you'll earn with your flight.

The Fine Print: This offer is not retroactive and may not be combined with any other promotions, discounts or deals. Additional restrictions may apply. Miles offer is valid per reservation. 7,500 bonus miles is based upon 3,750 bonus miles per adult with a maximum of two adults per reservation. 5,000 bonus miles is based upon 2,500 bonus miles per adult with a maximum of two adults per reservation. 2,500 bonus miles is based upon 1,250 bonus miles per adult with a maximum of two adults per reservation. Additional $50-$100 savings amount is applied per reservation and is based on the original purchase price of the vacation, before the discount. A roundtrip + hotel for 3 nights or more must be selected to qualify. The $50-$100 savings amount is available on air-inclusive vacations purchased 9/1-12/21/07 for travel 9/1-12/21/07, with the applicable promotion codes listed above. You must be a Mileage Plus member to participate in this offer. Flights must be credited to the member's Mileage Plus account in order to qualify. For complete details about the Mileage Plus program, visit www.united.com. A valid Mileage Plus number must be entered into the reservation at the time of booking. Bonus miles will be deposited six to twelve weeks after completion of qualifying travel. For full details, see the Terms & Conditions.

For More Information:
• Vacations can be purchased online at www.unitedvacations.com, by calling 888-328-6877 or by contacting a local travel agent.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

The Strip Adding Town Square

On November 14, a new shopping, dining and entertainment destination on the Strip will open called Town Square. When complete, the 1.5 million-square-foot super regional lifestyle center will include more than 150 shops, over a dozen restaurants and several entertainment venues.

Location: Town Square, which will include 22 architecturally distinctive buildings in an open-air, Main Street-themed environment, is under construction on 117 acres south of Mandalay Bay at the junction of I-15 and the 215 Beltway. The center, which is being created by Turnberry Associates and Centra Properties, is located just ten minutes from McCarran International Airport.

“There is nothing like Town Square in all of Las Vegas,” said Joseph P. Tagliola, Turnberry’s President of Retail. “A respite from the bright lights of The Strip, the center will be the perfect place for the entire family to enjoy. Due to Town Square’s close proximity to the airport, we anticipate many patrons will visit the center on their way in and out of Las Vegas.”

Children's Park: At the heart of Town Square is a 9,000-square-foot children’s park featuring pop fountains, a hedge maze, a 25-foot tall treehouse that children can climb up and slide down and an interactive, two-level miniature replica of the center. Additionally, there will be a staging area for children’s performances, storytelling and more.

The children’s park will be the centerpiece of an exciting “Town Square” venue, which also will feature a variety of special events and live entertainment. The center will be surrounded by lush landscaping and numerous spots for shoppers to relax and enjoy the picturesque mountains. Trees, vines, trellises, canopies and awnings will provide shade for a large portion of the development.

Simon A. Sykes, vice president of Development Design Group, the designer of Town Square, said the center was conceived as a lush oasis in the middle of the desert.
“We’ve united a collage of contemporary and Old World European architectural styles to create the sense of a rich and diverse environment that has evolved over time … in essence, we’ve formed a “real town” … the antithesis of The Strip as we know it,” Sykes added.

Stores: Anchored by an 18-screen Rave Motion Pictures, Robb & Stucky, Borders, 24-Hour Fitness and Whole Foods Market, the Town Square’s retail selections also will include Abercrombie & Fitch, Aldo, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Apple, Armani AX, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, BCBG, Bebe, Bebe Sport, Body Shop, Cache, Chico’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Crabtree & Evelyn, Design Within Reach, Eddie Bauer, Express, Everything But Water, Finish Line, Fossil, Godiva, Guess, Hollister Co., J. Crew, Kay Jewelers, LeSportsac, Limited Too, Lucky Brand, MAC, Metro Park, Michael Stars, Oakley, Old Navy, Origins, Pac Sun, Puma, Sigrid Olsen, Parasuco, Skechers, Solstice, Soma, Steve Madden, Sunglass Hut, Swarovski, Teavana, The Walking Company, Up Against The Wall, Victoria’s Secret, White House/Black Market and many others.

Restaurants: Guests will have their choice of several restaurants, including Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café and Emporium, Yard House, The Grape and Texas de Brazil and Brio Tuscan Grill, all of which will make their Las Vegas debut at Town Square. Also, well-known chef and restaurateur Louis Osteen is planning to open two restaurants – Louis's Las Vegas and Louis's Fish Camp – at the center. Additional Town Square restaurants include Claim Jumper, Bar Louie and Blue Martini.

Concierge Service:
Town Square also will feature a concierge center will multilingual staff members able to address guest queries.

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Monday, October 8, 2007

Shark Reef Now Offering Behind the Scenes Tours

There's a new option for teens at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium. Visitors age 13 and over can take take a 30-minute, behind the scenes guided tour of the aquarium which boasts over 2,000 exhibits.

This new in-depth, fully guided tour explores water filtration, saltwater-making, food preparation, SCUBA diving and animal care. Visitors will see what it takes to operate a 1.6 million gallon aquarium in the middle of the desert.

Tours are available every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $8 with the purchase of an admission.

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Sunday, October 7, 2007

Weekly Moroccan Souk at Loews Lake Las Vegas

Here's a fun experience for families looking for a themed event and a chance to see the area around Las Vegas a little bit. Every Saturday, the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort (located on Lake Las Vegas) is hosting a Moroccan Saturday Souk. You'll find unique shopping with works by local artists, jewelers, and craftspeople as well as wine tasting from the resort's restaurants.

The event takes place every Saturday from 11am-3pm. It takes place next to the resort’s Marrakesh Marketplace, a gourmet coffee bar and deli that offers a full range of specialty coffees and teas, wines, pastries, sandwiches, salads and snacks, as well as specialty gift items.

For directions to the resort, see the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort website..

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Friday, October 5, 2007

AdventureDome Launches FrightDome

Circus Circus' AdventureDome is being transformed into FrightDome for the weekends leading up to Halloween. Every Thursday through Sunday from now through Halloween (including the Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday before and during Halloween), the theme park becomes a haunted attraction from 7pm until midnight.

Ranked the fourth scariest haunted attraction in the country by AOL.com, the Fright Dome includes killer clowns, a haunted 4-D theater, the Cavern of the Dead Haunted House, and more. In all, you can opt for five haunted houses, haunted rides, haunted theater shows, and more for a single day ticket of $32.95 (or a get in fast pass for $44.95 that puts you in the express line at all haunted houses). The attraction is very intense and isn't suitable for kids under 12.

For More Information:
• visit www.frightdome.com

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