With travel restrictions being lifted, one place I visited recently was Las Vegas. And if you haven't been there since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many new things to do in Las Vegas:
Mega Mart and Area 15
One of the most unique places in Las Vegas is an entertainment zone called Area 15. It opened in late 2020 and it's a place that is hard to describe other than it is an entertainment zone that houses different interactive experiences. For those travelling with children and don’t want to gamble in Las Vegas, there is plenty to do here. One of the signature experiences located in Area 15 is Mega Mart. On the surface, it looks like a grocery store selling weird science-fiction items. But on closer inspection, it is actually a maze where you can discover and enter into other alternate realities. You could literally spend hours exploring, taking photos and letting your mind escape reality. Here is a short video giving you a small taste of what Mega Mart is like.
Shows
One reason many people visit Las Vegas is to watch the shows. We went to Mad Apple, which is Cirque du Soleil’s most recent show in Las Vegas, that was playing at the New York New York hotel. There is less emphasis on acrobatics compared to other Cirque shows. It is a very small theatre so the experience is very intimate and every seat gives you good sight lines to the performance. It is more like a variety show with a comedian, and catchy music, along with death-defying acrobatics that Cirque Soleil is known for. For those who love the vibe and action of New York, you will love this show.
Wynn Hotel has also just debuted a new show called Awakening. It is a 360-degree theatre experience that is infused with modern-day myth and magic and uses hydraulics, puppets, sound and choreography to give you a fully immersive experience.
Food
What would travel be without talking about food! Las Vegas offers a great variety of food choices from cheap eats to very high-end restaurants. On the casual side, I would recommend Eataly, located near the Park MGM hotel. Eataly is like an Italian food court where you can get everything from Italian pastries, to coffee, to charcuterie to pasta dishes. There is plenty of variety and prices are fairly reasonable.
If you want to splurge, I would recommend Picasso restaurant inside the Bellagio hotel or Rivea inside the Delano hotel. Picasso gives you a magnificent view of the Bellagio Fountains Show, which occurs every 15-30 minutes depending on the time and day. Rivea is located on the 64th floor of the Delano hotel. Both not only give you spectacular views but the food is of very high quality. See my review of Picasso here and my review of Delano here.
For those concerned about smoking, there are a number of hotels in Las Vegas that are smoke-free. Try the Delano, Park MGM, Vdara and Palazzo hotels. It is actually surprising how many hotels in Las Vegas are now non-smoking which is a positive step for those who are bothered by smoke.
Going forward, Las Vegas will continue to evolve. In 2023, I am looking forward to the opening of the MSG Sphere at the Venetian (an entertainment venue), and the Electric Pickle, an entertainment complex containing nine pickleball courts with an associated restaurant and bar.
Let’s travel everyone!
Tony Kwan is a lawyer by day, food and wine lover by night. Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer.
