If you're interested in Cold War stuff, there's a new Museum about Nuke Testing. You can also bus tour the NTS (Nevada Test Site), but have to contact the DOE to get details. Get to see all the stuff they blew up in the 50's (lot's of it is still there)
LOL...I live in Vegas and haven't done all those things. :)
Ring-A-Ding-Ding PING
Is that where the Roy Horn Buffet is?
Well you can...
Mrs. F & I...
*nevermind*
If a funny-looking guy named Siegfried asks if you want to join his act, just say no.
There's a lot of locals that hand out fliers on the strip for fun/exciting things to do. Look for one of those guys. ;o)
If you are interested in visiting any of the parks (which I did). There are great parks you can hike or just walk the trails in just about 1 hour away. Valley of Fire National Park, Red Rock Canyon etc. And its more fun doing it in the winter because its not sooo hot. Even Death Valley is great to visit and not far and you drive on part of Route 66 which is nice.
If you go on the Hoover Dam tour, go on the Hard Hat tour. It's more expensive, but I heard it is the better of the two.
Where are you staying?
I see you've got the white tiger exhibit at the Mirage listed... make sure you don't just see the tigers in the casino, spend the 12(?) bucks for entrance to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden. Despite the homoerotic name, it's a really cool place that's got a dolphin enclosure, an elephant, and excellent viewing of many different big cats.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS -- KEEP 'EM COMING!
If you are a choco-holic, the Ethel M tour is worth the 5 pounds you'll gain there. If you are not QUITE that fanatic, I recommend finding an Ethel M store on the strip (I think they also have them at the airport) and bring home a pound or two to your chocolate-loving friends.
When my office-mates hear I'm off toe Las Vegas, I'm not allowed back in the office until I produce the requisite box of sweets!
The Star Trek Experience at the MGM Grand hotel is fun if you're a fan of the series.
Fremont Street and the shows in front of the hotels on the strip are good, free entertainment - I always enjoy them.
I say drop the father-in-law off at the Spearmint Rhino with a stack of $1s then, you the Mrs. do a helicopter tour. ;)
The last time I was in Vegas, I ended up dragging my late night buddies that partyed too hard to the sauna/steam rooms in the hotel we were in. I brought the poisons out and they liked it so much it became our ritual for the rest of the stay. Turned out to be the right thing for my golf game as well...all loosey, goosey....
Believe it or not, but the best things in Vegas are free (or a lot cheaper than gambling or going to shows).
Free stuff:
1. Hoover Dam (the coolest part of Vegas, IMO).
2. Water show at the Bellagio is awesome
3. There's a show at the Boardwalk Casino (next to NY-NY) call Purple Reign that's a Prince tribute that's actually pretty cool (but it starts at 11 p.m. so be prepared to stay up late)
4. As someone previously mentioned, hiking Red Rock Canyon is great--I highly recommend it.
5. The lion habitat at MGM Grand is also cool.
6. Just browsing at stores. If you like to shop, there are so many different shopping malls your head will spin. The best ones are the Desert Passage (Aladdin), the LV Premium Outlets (off of Grand Central Pkwy) and the Grand Canal Shoppes (Venetian). The Forum Shops at Caesars also have a lot of good shops, but it's usually so crowded that I avoid it at all costs.
Another really awesome thing to do is to see the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. This one costs about $18 per person to see, but it is well worth the money. If you like marine life, it's fascinating--they even have a "petting pool" where you can touch live fish, stingrays, etc.