Las Vegas for Christmas
 

We will be in Las Vegas for Christmas and wonder two things 1- are there any special holiday events or displays that we shouldn't miss and 2- in late December, what side trips are possible- Hoover Dam? Grand Canyon or ?.

Hmm, Vegas in December. Well one good thing is less drunks on the sidewalk.
I think it would be a great time to visit Death Valley. We have driven to Scotty's Castle and then down through the Valley to Furnace Creek Ranch stopping at the ghost town of
Rhyolite. There are tours that do this if you want for around $200. Plan a twelve hour day.You can still do Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon, but the canyon can be cold at that time of year.

I don't remember much going on at Christmas because I think Vegas prepares for New Years and the Superbowl.

The weather will probably be in the mid-50's during the day and can get below 40's at night.

Nope, no special displays at all going on. The only one is the garden at Bellagio, which is always changing with the seasons. You might check the Wynn since it's new and they might have something.

we went to freemost st before christmas one year and the show was a christmas show- cute and at fashion mall they had the rockets dancing etc but i don't know how close to christmas that goes on

Seems Vegas is in a permanent state of denial about the passage of time and the seasons!

I go to Vegas at Christmas every other year. It's the best time to go weather-wise. There isn't much Christmas celebrations going on. The Bellagio is nicely decorated and last year I think they had an iceskating rink somewhere along the strip, I don't remember where exactly. Other than that, you can barely tell it's Christmas unless you go Downtown. There is a big decorated Christmas Tree, and the Fremont Street Experience is done with a Christmas theme.

It should be less crowded the few days or week before Christmas and a few days after - until New Year's Eve. I've been to Vegas several times during Christmas and I still had fun. One year it even snowed - I think that was 1995 or 1996 maybe...

If it's not raining, it will be crisp around the 50's and maybe 60's in the day. Maybe you could check out Hoover Dam, but beware of the possible traffic. Yes, traffic, even at that time of year. Last December we were in Vegas about 12/27/04 and it was an hour wait on the street driving into Hoover Dam. Blows me away that the damn engineering marvel was built in like a couple years and yet the ONE highway leading into the thing is being widened and the sign by Nevada transportation department said it wouldn't be finished until like 2008. Damn! Casinos and hotels and high rise buildings are constructed from the ground up in months and yet it takes 4+ years to widen one highway for a few miles? Typical government.

Needless to say, our trip to Hoover Dam didn't happen. After 45 minutes in bumper to bumper 2 mph traffic I said, no thanks. Next time please. LOL

Have fun in Vegas and good luck!

The Conservatory at the Bellagio (already mentioned)is a MUST see. Also, at Ethel M's chocolate factory they have a cactus garden that they decorate really nice for Christmas, I suggest visiting it, do around dusk so you can tour the factory then come out at night time to see the cactus with the lights on, it is really pretty. Opportunity Village does a Magical Forest every year with a little train that runs through (great for kids...if you have any traveling with you), Sunset Park does a Gift of Lights, where you drive through the park and under all of the lights. The Sagebrush Ranch offers Christmas caroling on horses that are decorated for Christmas.
As far as side trips, Death Valley and the Valley of Fire are nice to see this time of year because they won't be hot. Hoover Dam is also a good choice, the traffic is still rough at times, but it has got a little better since last year. I also recommend Red Rock Canyon, sometimes they get snow and it is a nice drive out there.

we went last year, the week before Xmas, and will do it again this year. The weather was absolutely perfect. 60s-70s during the day, brilliant sun, and a little chilly at night. last year we went to the Valley of Fire, this year I am not sure yet. I do know I will be going flying, apart from that not sure.

Thanks everyone; you have good ideas! Any more would be appreciated too. I am shocked at the restaurant prices I have researched, and am still looking for a charming Christmas Day Dinner place.

I second what everyone else says! The Bellagio garden & fountains is nice.

As for dinner....what kind of dinner are you looking for? You don't have to go to a hotel on the strip to get a charming dinner.

Andre's Restaurant , the one that is off-strip, is one heck of a French restaurant - assuming that they are open during Christmas Day.

the ice skating rink was at caesar's last year. was very nice and had a stand out front for "beverages" -hot chocolate, adult and otherwise

I'm also taking a Christmas trip to Vegas this year, traveling alone. I had a Christmas trip in 2002 with my friend and her sister. For me, it's a good time to visit. The hotel rates are lower, there's no crowd problem, and it's not blistering hot outside.

Let us know if you find some good spots for Christmas Dinner. Since I'm staying at Hard Rock, I thought about AJ's Steakhouse. However, they're usually closed on Sundays. I e-mailed to ask if Christmas would be an exception, but not reply yet. It's Thanksgiving weekend, so I'm not too surprised.

I may be in Vegas this Christmas as well--do you want to have a GTG? I need to find a nice last minute package though.

Last minute package? Are we still talking about the same thing?

We were in Vegas for Christmas. It was pretty surreal how the holiday wasn't really observed. There were trees in the lobbies, but that's about it. Freemont St. had a Christmas show, but only periodically. We actually rented a car and spent Christmas Eve/Day at Disneyland! It was also much cooler than we expected it to be. My husband had to buy a heavier coat while we were there. Not at all what we expected.

I forgot to add, we didn't think about it ahead of time, but we couldn't believe how many kids were there with it being Christmas break at school!