Interesting Places In North America

**chenchow** · #1 18-02-2004 **Interesting Places In North America**

To organize the threads in this Special Interest Group much better, I have decided to spilt the sharing of experiences of various traveling experiences into various continents.

So, this thread is specifically for interesting places that you have known or been in US or Canada.

**chenchow** · #2 18-02-2004 **Interesting Places In North America**

To organize the threads in this Special Interest Group much better, I have decided to spilt the sharing of experiences of various traveling experiences into various continents.

So, this thread is specifically for interesting places that you have known or been in US or Canada.

**chenchow** · #3 19-02-2004

I will first start by sharing what I believe is the mini World - Las Vegas.

Las Vegas has long been dubbed as the Casino place etc, but what amazes me when I visited Las Vegas was not the casino. We can get the casino in Genting and the odds and machines are almost the same... More so, there are lots of people smoking there...making it so unbearable to me... although i was just walking by...

However, I think the architecture of various hotels at Las Vegas really made it a dream destination. I would suggest that if you are going to visit Las Vegas, go on weekday (the hotel rate is much more affordable, where you can get like 3 star hotel for USD40 or so from Expedia, Orbitz etc, or you can bid via priceline for good price for 4 to 5 star hotel.)

Live on The Strip, that's how they call the long line of hotels, where all the main hotels are located. From one end, it started with Mandalay Bay, where there is a huge marine park, with sharks, whales etc. I didn't go in, as I was to visit Sea World in San Diego after that... It cost about $20 or so.

Then the next hotel was the Luxor, a Pyramid with Sphinx. Inside the hotel , the Pyramid is the hotel, and your room is facing inside, where when you walk on the corridor of the rooms of the hotel, you see the middle part of various ghostly architecture of Egypt. It was a nice visit.

Then the next one was Excalibur, where it is build based on Medieval Times. So, you live in castle. There are horse shows of Medieval Times for you to watch and the architechture is great.

I don't think I am going to go one by one, but as you see, there are a number of hotels from the above three, to New York hotel, Paris hotel, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, Aladdin, Sahara, Imperial Palace, Venetian, Caesars Palace, etc...

Each come with a fantastic design... So, basically you are visiting the whole world...

For instance, Venetian. It is the nice city of Venice, with people on sampan inside. Go to www.venetian.com, Go to Exploring the Places and go to Grand Canal Shoppe. The things that you see are really what you see in the hotel. It is indoor. Magnificent~!

The other one worth mentioning is Aladdin, where you get to visit North Africa. There are desert storm indoor once per hour. Imagine with the ceiling darkens and rain and lightning... It is awesome...

And many more... I will leave it to others to describe...or if I have more time, I will be back to describe more...

Hope more people will post!!!

**chenchow** · #4 19-02-2004

I will first start by sharing what I believe is the mini World - Las Vegas.

Las Vegas has long been dubbed as the Casino place etc, but what amazes me when I visited Las Vegas was not the casino. We can get the casino in Genting and the odds and machines are almost the same... More so, there are lots of people smoking there...making it so unbearable to me... although i was just walking by...

However, I think the architecture of various hotels at Las Vegas really made it a dream destination. I would suggest that if you are going to visit Las Vegas, go on weekday (the hotel rate is much more affordable, where you can get like 3 star hotel for USD40 or so from Expedia, Orbitz etc, or you can bid via priceline for good price for 4 to 5 star hotel.)

Live on The Strip, that's how they call the long line of hotels, where all the main hotels are located. From one end, it started with Mandalay Bay, where there is a huge marine park, with sharks, whales etc. I didn't go in, as I was to visit Sea World in San Diego after that... It cost about $20 or so.

Then the next hotel was the Luxor, a Pyramid with Sphinx. Inside the hotel , the Pyramid is the hotel, and your room is facing inside, where when you walk on the corridor of the rooms of the hotel, you see the middle part of various ghostly architecture of Egypt. It was a nice visit.

Then the next one was Excalibur, where it is build based on Medieval Times. So, you live in castle. There are horse shows of Medieval Times for you to watch and the architechture is great.

I don't think I am going to go one by one, but as you see, there are a number of hotels from the above three, to New York hotel, Paris hotel, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, Aladdin, Sahara, Imperial Palace, Venetian, Caesars Palace, etc...

Each come with a fantastic design... So, basically you are visiting the whole world...

For instance, Venetian. It is the nice city of Venice, with people on sampan inside. Go to www.venetian.com, Go to Exploring the Places and go to Grand Canal Shoppe. The things that you see are really what you see in the hotel. It is indoor. Magnificent~!

The other one worth mentioning is Aladdin, where you get to visit North Africa. There are desert storm indoor once per hour. Imagine with the ceiling darkens and rain and lightning... It is awesome...

And many more... I will leave it to others to describe...or if I have more time, I will be back to describe more...

Hope more people will post!!!

sim_min · #5 19-02-2004

I took GreyHound from LA to Las Vegas during Christmas in 2001. It was a two night trip. I can't forget how crowded the place was during this special occasion.

I was staying at Sahara Hotel(if i could still remember) which is located at the other end of the The Strip. We chose to walk from our hotel to other hotels and buildings along the strip. But it was too far us to walk! We just managed to complete visiting half of the buildings along the strip after trying our best to walk, we were too tired and hungry!!!!!

SO, the next time, i am going to visit the other half of it!!

sim_min · #6 19-02-2004

I took GreyHound from LA to Las Vegas during Christmas in 2001. It was a two night trip. I can't forget how crowded the place was during this special occasion.

I was staying at Sahara Hotel(if i could still remember) which is located at the other end of the The Strip. We chose to walk from our hotel to other hotels and buildings along the strip. But it was too far us to walk! We just managed to complete visiting half of the buildings along the strip after trying our best to walk, we were too tired and hungry!!!!!

SO, the next time, i am going to visit the other half of it!!

**chenchow** · #7 19-02-2004

I think a good hotel to be recommended is Imperial Palace. Nothing posh, but it is a 3-star hotel and it is cheap. I got a King Size bed for $39 during summer.

The location is good...in the middle of the strip, about 10-12 hotels on its left and about the same number on its right... So, after walking one side, can go back room for refreshment. Heard that by 2006, there will be monorail linking the entire The Strip.

Another reason why I say its location is good, is that it is just exactly opposite Caesar's Palace and just less than 100 meters from Bellagio (the place that they shot Ocean 11), so I guess we can't be wrong with it..

I still have a few more hotels to cover, and one of it is Sahara Hotel...It is too far to walk and I don't have enough time....argh.. I only visited 18 hotels last time I went.

**chenchow** · #8 19-02-2004

I think a good hotel to be recommended is Imperial Palace. Nothing posh, but it is a 3-star hotel and it is cheap. I got a King Size bed for $39 during summer.

The location is good...in the middle of the strip, about 10-12 hotels on its left and about the same number on its right... So, after walking one side, can go back room for refreshment. Heard that by 2006, there will be monorail linking the entire The Strip.

Another reason why I say its location is good, is that it is just exactly opposite Caesar's Palace and just less than 100 meters from Bellagio (the place that they shot Ocean 11), so I guess we can't be wrong with it..

I still have a few more hotels to cover, and one of it is Sahara Hotel...It is too far to walk and I don't have enough time....argh.. I only visited 18 hotels last time I went.

jiinjoo · #9 23-02-2004

If you have more days to spare in Las Vegas, consider making a trip out to the Grand Canyon.

On the way you'll also pass by Hoover Dam, worth stopping by it's visitor center and see the big turbines

Best way to get to Grand Canyon IMHO is drive, although I know people who'd rather fly and or take the touring buses from Las Vegas. That drive was the most exciting drive in my life, partially because we got this cool rental car and was driving in the night, speeding down the Arizona dessert without turning the wheel for 3 straight hours

Journey by car takes anywhere between 7 to 10 hours. Warning - journey there can be boring since it is all dessert.

But Grand Canyon itself is awesome. AWESOME! Be prepared to hike because if not, looking at the scenary from the rim of the canyon is nothing. I suggest you take the south rim since there are more life support there as well as more popular tracks. Go see how 60 year old grandmas walk down the canyon step by step, and how mules carrying tourist line up in a straight file while the tour guide explains the powers of nature.

Hike down to Colorado river - it is quite a feat, but you'll really enjoy it - be prepared to climb back up! It takes around twice as long to go back up the canyon. It will be even better to camp by the riverside.

Peak season for Grand Canyon is Spring and Fall since Summer is too hot and Winter is not safe for hiking. Last time I went during Spring, and it was to crowded - had to fight for camp ground. I heard testimonials from friends who went during early summer - it wasn't that bad. It's hot but since we're all used to tropical weather and knows to carry large amount of water, it's ok.

The canyon is quite big - you can spend many days just hiking. You can also go rafting at the river. Mule riding (wait.. I think those are asses, shoot i forgot what's the diff) is an interesting option if you can afford a few more bucks. And of course if you're rich, there are helicoptor tours available too.

Most important thing - drink lots of water - people die of dehydration every year - think "Grand Canyon is in a dessert" - and you're all set!

jiinjoo · #10 23-02-2004

If you have more days to spare in Las Vegas, consider making a trip out to the Grand Canyon.

On the way you'll also pass by Hoover Dam, worth stopping by it's visitor center and see the big turbines

Best way to get to Grand Canyon IMHO is drive, although I know people who'd rather fly and or take the touring buses from Las Vegas. That drive was the most exciting drive in my life, partially because we got this cool rental car and was driving in the night, speeding down the Arizona dessert without turning the wheel for 3 straight hours

Journey by car takes anywhere between 7 to 10 hours. Warning - journey there can be boring since it is all dessert.

But Grand Canyon itself is awesome. AWESOME! Be prepared to hike because if not, looking at the scenary from the rim of the canyon is nothing. I suggest you take the south rim since there are more life support there as well as more popular tracks. Go see how 60 year old grandmas walk down the canyon step by step, and how mules carrying tourist line up in a straight file while the tour guide explains the powers of nature.

Hike down to Colorado river - it is quite a feat, but you'll really enjoy it - be prepared to climb back up! It takes around twice as long to go back up the canyon. It will be even better to camp by the riverside.

Peak season for Grand Canyon is Spring and Fall since Summer is too hot and Winter is not safe for hiking. Last time I went during Spring, and it was to crowded - had to fight for camp ground. I heard testimonials from friends who went during early summer - it wasn't that bad. It's hot but since we're all used to tropical weather and knows to carry large amount of water, it's ok.

The canyon is quite big - you can spend many days just hiking. You can also go rafting at the river. Mule riding (wait.. I think those are asses, shoot i forgot what's the diff) is an interesting option if you can afford a few more bucks. And of course if you're rich, there are helicoptor tours available too.

Most important thing - drink lots of water - people die of dehydration every year - think "Grand Canyon is in a dessert" - and you're all set!