I'll be in Las Vegas, celebrating the 50th birthday of a good friend. She is planning to do the Stratosphere zipline on her own; she wants to hang the certificate in her office. Her sister, also part of this group, has purchased Celine tickets for all of us.

We would like to treat our birthday girl and her sister to something special. Any ideas? Is there a special place for dinner? None of us are interested in spa treatments; we have our favorites at home.

We have never been to Las Vegas. Thanks in advance. ~ Bow

Book a dinner at Mix, believe it's atop Mandalay Bay, resv. required.

Thanks, aliced!

Do you know ifs there a place to have dinner outside near the fountains at Bellagio?

You can see the Bellagio fountains from the outside tables at Mon Ami Gabi (paris) which is across the street from the fountains.

At the Bellagio you can see the fountains from Picasso on the patio or Olives

Thanks, Suzie! Do you think it will be uncomfortably warm outside or do they run fans or something?

Have enjoyed the incredible Bellagio fountains from both their restaurant - Olives - and across the street at Mon Ami Gabi. You get a better view/experience - more up close and personal at Olives - but more bang for your buck across the street at Paris/Mon Ami Gambi.

It's you call as you are offering the gift. Check out both menus and double check what kind of faire your guests like.

Olives is more Italian (or was anyway) and of course, Mon Ami Gabi is French - but they each have other offerings, and you can go online to check out the prices/menus.

After dinner at either place - take them for a dessert at - Jean Phillip's Patisserie - just behind the beautiful Arboretum in Bellagio's - where you can see the biggest chocolate fountain in the world.

http://tinyurl.com/7h9w8bd

Oops. Forgot about Picasso. Yes, that is marvelous/fantastic - sitting amongst his works of art while you dine and see the fountains (if you get a window table) - but it is une petit cher.

Comment cher?

For class but $$$ I'd look at any of the restos at Wynn Las Vegas.

My favorite day in Las Vegas was the day we spent with a private guide hiking the Red Rocks Conservation Area. Neil was fantastic.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...a.html#REVIEWS

This tour, hiking will be a wonderful memory. Why not take them out for a hike?

I would love to do this hike! I think it'll be too hot though....

It sounds like they enjoy experiences. Treat the group to the ice bar - http://www.minus5experience.com/about/

Very cool, starrs, but we've done an ice bar in London. We loved it there.

What Cirque shows are in town? Perhaps we'll see a new show.

And, one of the husbands has booked Ko for us! I've reserved a table for dinner at Olives. It'll be our splurge night out.

I think the Cirque show is Ka - and it was good.

Thanks! Looking forward to our celebration!

Never heard of a Strat zipline but there is a zipline over the downtown Fremont Street Experience.

Retro Bakery will deliver cupcakes or one of their beautiful cakes to the strip hotels. Bring some plates/forks and a bottle of champagne and little champagne glasses with you and you're good to go. There is a $20 delivery charge because the bakery is a ways out of town, but their stuff makes for a great conversation piece, unique and delicious. Small bakery that has become really popular so full-size cakes need to be ordered well in advance.

www.retrobakerylv.com

Thank-you Tracy! We won't have time to order a cake for this trip.

She's looking forward to doing the Sky Jump:

http://skyjumplasvegas.com/Gallery

not me. no way.

Aug and Sept def too hot for outdoor dining. Hiking too, but Red Rock makes for a nice driving tour in an air conditioned car which you can rent for a day from your hotel. The visitors center is a nice way to spend an hour, too. Valley of Fire is another nice drive, but about an hour from the strip as opposed to 1/2 hour for Red Rock.

How about Donny and Marie?

That ice bar gives me the shivers. What's up with the gloves? Do they give you latex inserts? Because what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. I can handle wearing a communal coat, but communal gloves - hell no!!! Do you know how easy it is to transmit skin conditions by wearing someone elses gloves?

Olives is fine, not that special. The thing I found when we stayed at Bellagio was that having a view of the fountains from the room was very anti climatic since it is a multi senses work of art and when you take the music and the mist away, all is rather lost and quickly forgotten or ignored.