Las Vegas is heating up and we’ve done your summer trip planning for you! When you’re escaping to the dessert oasis of Sin City, take a break from the casinos and nightclubs to enjoy the other aspects of the Vegas Strip — the vibrant foodie scene, word-class shows, and game-changing cocktails.
First stop – have the best cocktail of your trip (and maybe the best cocktail of your life?!) at Rosina in The Palazzo. You may be tempted to order one of their classic cocktails from their elegant art deco menus — don’t. Sit at the bar instead and let the bartenders dream up an innovative cocktail just for you. The Rosina cocktail enthusiasts know so much about spirits and flavor profiles that they can create masterpieces of mixology. Open nightly from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
If you are heading to modern musical mash-up BAZ, situated right next to Rosina, it is the perfect excuse to stop in for a cocktail. BAZ performs Tuesday – Sunday at 8:00 p.m featuring moments from the great love stories reimagined by director Baz Luhrmann.
One of the best free Vegas activities is the Fountains of Bellagio. Take in a spectacular show of thoughtfully interwoven water, music and light designed to mesmerize its admirers. It is the most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature ever conceived and it’s absolutely free for any visitor to enjoy. Step back, or find a comfortable perch to sit, and watch the dynamic performance set against the backdrop of the Las Vegas lavender sky. Each performance is unique in expression and interpretation so no matter how many times you have seen the Fountains, they always have more in store to wow you with. Fall in love with this unprecedented aquatic accomplishment as you enjoy an enchanting concert of opera, classical, Broadway and pop tunes.
Watch out for a new fountains show to Cher’s hit song, “Believe.” The GRAMMY Award-winning song is was choreographed by WET, the original Fountains’ creators. WET Executive Designer & Director of Choreography Peter Kopik carefully choreographed the show ensuring the rapid water movements matched the same vigorous energy showcased in the instantly recognizable song. The Fountains of Bellagio has daily performances that rotate more than 30 songs.
The Fountains of Bellagio show takes place every 30 minutes from 3pm to 8pm Monday through Friday and every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight. On Sundays the show starts at 11am every 30 minutes until 7pm when the show goes on every 15 minutes until midnight. On Saturdays and Holidays the shows start at noon every 30 minutes and change to every 15 minutes at from 8pm to midnight.
My favorite way to enjoy the Fountains of Bellagio? Sitting down for a meal at the delicious (and affordable!) Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris. Mon Ami Gabi is a classic French bistro that embraces a passion for food, wine and culture. Situated right on the Vegas Strip, you can enjoy people watching in between fountain shows! I love going for brunch, lunch, and dinner for a reasonably-priced (for the Strip), high-quality meal with great service and an unbeatable location. For lunch, try the Cheeseburger ($16.95) – served with deliciously thin hand-cut fries. For dinner, I recommend starting with the Onion Soup au Gratin ($11.95) before moving onto their specialty, Steak Frites (starting at $27.95).
And my all-time favorite show in Vegas is Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles LOVE. Even if you aren’t a Beatles fan, LOVE will enrapture you. LOVE is a Rock ‘n’ Roll poem, a magical mystery tour into the heart and soul of The Beatles music through an exploration of the aesthetic, political and spiritual trends of the 1960s. Inspired by the poetry of the lyrics, the creative team designed a series of scenes inhabited by colorful characters in extravagant costumes. LOVE is presented in a custom-built theatre at The Mirage featuring 360˚ seating and advanced high definition video projections with 100-foot digital, moving images. The Beatles™ LOVE™ performs Thursday through Monday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
