Thursday, November 09, 2006

NBA All Stars Weekend puts strain on Las Vegas Hotel Rates

The 2007 NBA All Star weekend is set to play the court at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas. This marks the first NBA All Star game to be played in a city that does not host it's own NBA team. Throughout Las Vegas, hotels are selling and room rates are rising. The All Star Weekend begins officially on Friday, February 16th with events leading up to the "All Star Game" on Sunday, February 18th. The event dates combined with President's Day and Chinese New Years is expected to sell out the city's hotels.

You can still book rooms at premium hotels through the guys at http://www.nbaallstarsweekend.com/ . I called the hotels direct and premium hotels such as the Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, the Aladdin and the Orleans are seeing sold out dates on Saturday and Sunday, I found these guys and was able to book rooms for the entire weekend including Thursday. The website only features Friday through Sunday dates, but give them a call at 1-800-NBA-WEEK, they have limited room availability for Thursday as well.

Click here to read up on the complete Press Release for the NBA All Star Weekend

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Las Vegas offers up Golf this season

Las Vegas is best known as the "City of Entertainment", but the famed Sin City has so much more to offer. Over the past few years, Vegas has grown to be one of the leading golf destinations in the world. Golf courses designed by renowned architects such as Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye and the legend himself Jack Nicklaus grace the desert sands that surround the bright city lights.

The golf season in Las Vegas begins in early fall, when the hot summer weather has passed, the season stays steady through the winter with a break for the holidays then back in full force mid-January through mid-June. Tee-times are usually a difficult find during major sporting events, such as the NFL Superbowl, Nascar, and March Madness. "..it's unfortunate sometimes, when we have to let our customers know that we're sold out during these times of the year, the only way to get guaranteed tee times to the top championship courses in Vegas during this season is by booking months in advance " says Alex Isaac, VP of Marketing for GolfAdventures.com.

The golf courses in Las Vegas are some of the top courses in the world. Bear's Best Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus design, offers 18 holes hand selected from Nicklaus golf course designs world-wide by Nicklaus himself. “It’s a golf course that’s made up from many different regions. You have Colorado represented here, you have New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California, the country of Mexico, and also Anaconda, Montana. It’s got eighteen signature holes that Jack Nicklaus designed from five different states and another country, so it definitely has a unique nature.” says Greg Blackwell, head pro at Bear’s Best Golf Course.

The Rio Secco golf course, continiously ranked as Las Vegas's #1 golf course, is nestled within the pristigious community of Seven Hills in Henderson, Nevada. The course design delicately runs through the canyons taking advantage of of it's beautiful desert surroundings. Imaculate conditions are expected at the Rio Secco, from the lush fairways to the stunning greens, one can never be disappointed with the Rio Secco's conditions a challenging but forgiving golf course.

Las Vegas is also home to PGA owned "Tournament Players Club" TPC Canyons and TPC Summerlin. The TPC Canyons, open to the public holds up to the PGA standards in course conditions as well as customer service. According to Joe Maassinova, Marketing Director for TPC Canyons, “The main strength is that we allow regular guests to live the PGA Tour experience on our course.” That's a lot to promise your customers, but I have yet to be let down by those words. The best thing about the TPC canyons is that there's always that chance to run into some of the worlds greatest golfers. This is Las Vegas afer all!

Las Vegas has so much to offer golfers world-wide. With it's gain in the industry as a leading gof destination, it won't be long before more top architects lay their hands on this southwest desert sand.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

The best of Las Vegas' outside of the Strip.


Las Vegas has much more to offer than casino's and shows, in fact - this city is so diverse that you could spend an entire lifetime here, and still miss out on so many exciting visits. Of course, if you're like every other visitor to Las Vegas, who stops in for the weekend and hopes for large cash win, then you won't get past the strip and you'll never know the full potential of what this city offers.

It's not often that the average visitor ventures past the Las Vegas Strip, with the multitude of themed casino offerings, it's hard to argue the logic. Dare to venture past the strip into the rest of Las Vegas and prepare for a more exciting visit to the famed Sin City!

ATV Four Wheel Drive Tours (4x4)
The Las Vegas desert is home to some of the worlds most dramatic sceneries and stage to some of Hollywoods biggest blockbusters. Take Star Trek and countless western movies shot on and around the "Valley of Fire", now imagine yourself and your friends aboard your own personal All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) - kicking up the sand and riding into the desert. The tours are set up for Experienced and Amateurs alike - check out the guys at Adventure Las Vegas for ATV Tours in Las Vegas.

Golf Las Vegas!
Okay - so I write about golf a lot - but can you truly blame me? Have you ever seen the golf courses that Las Vegas has to offer? I'm not talking about budget city golf courses, I'm talking about some of the most dramatic landscaped championship golf courses in the world, and by dramatic, I mean... imagine a 418 foot waterfall shimmering down the mountainside onto a river which flows through a beautiful club house - in the middle of the desert! Unbelievable! Think about it, Las Vegas is the desert - and yet, we boast some of the greenest and most pristine courses in the U.S. like "Bear's Best Golf Course" a course where each hole is an exact replica of another signature hole designed by Jack Nicklaus - did I mention that each hole was handpicked for Bear's Best by Jack Nicklaus himself? Golf in Las Vegas - a definite off the Strip adventure you really should try.

Kayak the Colorado River (Oh yes.. this is Las Vegas!)
If you're a water baby or love to try something new and fun, try this tour on for size. You'll see some unique and hidden places such as the Sauna Cave, Gold Strike Canyon, Lone Palm Canyon, Emerald Cave, Hanging Gardens and many other neat stuff along the route. Not to mention the wild life you might come upon as well.

Green Valley Ranch
Here's a casino that is frequented by locals, the Green Valley Ranch (GVR) is in Henderson, about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. The casino offers an upscale design and just about all the games you'll find on the strip, and some you won't find on the strip as well. Check out the "Drop Bar" smack center of the Pit and usually packed on weekends. The Ranch's famed weekend hangout is the "Whiskey" and outdoor/indoor club experience. GVR is set to open their Oyster Bar this October.

Red Rock Casino
Another great Off the Strip casino - The Red Rock is in Summerlin, new and quite similar to it's sister casino the Green Valley Ranch. Check out T-Bones - the signature steak house at the Rock - it's simply amazing.

Snowboarding
Yes you can! Seasonal of course, but if you have the family with you - and shopping has got you down, take them over to Mt. Charleston. The season is usually mid December into February and March.

Skiing
Also at Mt. Charleston

The Grand Canyon
There's so much to do at the Grand Canyon, from hiking tours, camping tours, river rafting, kayaking and much more. I personally recommend the river rafting and the helicopter tours.

Primm Valley
From roller coasters to mad casino gaming, this town just outside of Las Vegas and 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip is a definite must. Most of the excitement comes in play with the Primm Valley Outlet Mall which winds into Buffalo Bills Casino and just a short tram trip across the highway to Whiskey Pete's, a full day's worth of adventure is at Primm Valley. Primm Valley is also home to one of Las Vegas' top golf courses - the Primm Valley Desert Golf Course.

Lake Las Vegas Resort
Just 30 minutes from the strip, is the beautiful Lake Las Vegas Resort, a beautiful resort landscaped around a man-made lake. The Resort offers two (2) top quality golf courses - The Reflection Bay Golf Course and the Falls Golf Club. The Hyatt at Lake Las Vegas features a boutique casino which is the only casino in Las Vegas that does not open 24 hours. The resort does feature a 24 hour casino however - "Casino Montelago".

There's more to Las Vegas than just the "Las Vegas Strip" - next time you're in Vegas, do something different, do Vegas the way the locals do Vegas. You won't regret it - Pinky Swear!

Friday, September 22, 2006

Top 10 Golf Courses in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is home to some of the top Golf Courses in the world, it's no wonder that architects like Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye and Jack Niklaus have made their mark right here in Sin City. I've golfed most of the championship courses here, and have even spoken to several PGA Professionals and golfers throughout the city. So here's the scoop - if you plan on golfing in Las Vegas, then you'll definitely want to jump in on these golf courses. 


Based on the words by local PGA Professionals and avid golfers like myself - these are the definite top 10 Golf Courses in Vegas. See you on the Tees!

  1. Cascata
  2. Shadow Creek
  3. Reflection Bay Golf Club
  4. TPC Las Vegas
  5. Rio Secco Golf Club
  6. Las Vegas Paiute Wolf
  7. Bear's Best Golf Club
  8. The Fall's Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas
  9. Primm Valley Lakes Course
  10. Revere at Anthem - Lexington Course

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Henderson, Nevada the Las Vegas Extension

To many local "Nevadans" who live in Henderson, it's common to respond to the adage "where do you live?" with "Las Vegas", despite the fact that we live in the suburb of Henderson, Southeast of Vegas - It's not that we're trying to mislead others, Las Vegas is "just" the better answer and avoids confusion. I mean... where the heck is Henderson, Nevada anyway?

Henderson is Southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, a quick 15 minute drive over the 215 Beltway, takes you straight into the entrance of the city. Like other cities across the US, Henderson has it's own downtown area, parks and entertainment. The best description of the city is that it is an "Extension to Las Vegas", in short... "What Happen's in Henderson, stays in Las Vegas". You're probably wondering why I would take the time to write about this city? What you probably don't know, is that Henderson plays a significant role in the dining and entertainment industry for Las Vegas. Huh?

Henderson, Nevada offers it's fair share of top dining and entertainment choices for Nevada, from it's top rated restaurants, over-packed celebrity visited night clubs, renowned golf courses, casino gaming to concerts and more, Henderson is a perfect compliment to the brightly lit Las Vegas Strip.

Henderson is home to some of the top Golf Courses in Las Vegas, sure, we can always say Golf Courses in Henderson, but where's the glamour in all of that? Hence, we refer to a lot this city as Las Vegas, did you not read the first half of this article? The Rio Secco Golf Course, for example, one of the top rated golf courses, commonly listed as the #1 golf course in Las Vegas, stretches itself around the pristigious community of "Seven Hills" in Henderson. Troon Golf's, Revere Golf Club home to the Anthem Community in Henderson, the "Lake Las Vegas Resort" hosts of the nationally recognized "Reflection Bay Golf Club" is guess where? you got it.. Henderson, Nevada. Who needs Las Vegas right?

The city of Henderson has lots to offer both locals and visitors take the Eastern Avenue exit off the 215 and immediatly submerge into the what is commonly referred to as the Henderson Restaurant Row, offering a wide array of dining choices from the typical Southwest offering of Mexican food (I recommend the popular after work hang out, El Jefe's) to the exotic Mediterranean fare of "Chandelier Restaurant", recently reviewed by the Las Vegas Review Journal as " ... one of few excellent Mediterranean Restaurants in the Las Vegas valley" and by the Las Vegas Weekly "The best Hummus in Las Vegas!". Chandelier Restaurant lives up to it's reviews, the food is always fresh and the service is phenominal, "we refer to our customers as guests, each guest is greeted and catered to as if they were visitors in my own home" says Gaurav Varma, head chef and managing partner of Chandelier Restaurant. He's definitely on target with that comment, each time that I've been to Chandelier, I am always greeted at the door by one of the staff, often times, the door is opened to welcome me into the beautifully decored dining area. Now these guys know how to treat a girl! You definitely want to place this restaurant on your "top 10" lists while in Henderson, Chandelier will be celebriting it's 1st Anniversary in October, 2006 and is currently offering a 15% summer discount to diners.

There are many other dining options throughout the city of Henderson, and although, we "Hendersonites" sometimes, venture south toward the Strip for a portion of our entertainment cravings, it's not uncommon for us to stay within our city limits to fulfill a greater part of those cravings.

The Green Valley exit off the 215 plants you at The Green Valley Ranch, a local casino often host to top celebrity names, the Ranch is commonly visited by locals, but keeps it's share of visitors throughout the year. The casino is one of Henderson's most popular hang outs, with a large array of dining and entertainment options located within and around the Ranch such as the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs and Hanks Steak House, a movie theater, the famed dance club "The Whiskey" and of course shopping at the District, it's hard to imagine the Green Valley Ranch as not being the center of Henderson's Night Life.

Exit off Stephanie for excellent shopping and more dining choices, the Galleria Mall off Sunset and Stephanie is a favorite shopping experience. The mall offers top designer stores and high fashion trendy stores as well. Around the Galleria, you'll find, more restaurants and across the street, even more shopping. If you enjoy Sushi, try Momo's Sushi on Warm Springs and Stephanie, families will welcome the large dinner portions at Claim Jumper. Macaroni Grill is also located here, for pasta lovers and for entertainment, drop into the "Sunset Station" where you can find hooters, the Oyster Bar and one of Henderson's best Casino Buffets.

While in Las Vegas, stop over in Henderson, take the Beltway 215 exit off Highway 15 and exit off Eastern Avenue, Pecos, Valle Verde, Green Valley and Stephanie - and extend your Las Vegas trip.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Las Vegas is a Golfers Paradise

Fall means golf season in Las Vegas and with the list of championship golf courses we offer, the city's golf courses are sure to be filled up, so if you're planning a golf trip you might want to get on it fast tee times fill up pretty quickly around this time of year.

The golf courses in Las Vegas are second to none in the world, world renowned architects such as Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye and the man Jack Nicklaus himself have all made their mark in Sin City. As a destination, Las Vegas is unique in that it offers golfers more than just golf, from dusk to dawn, golfers have a large array of entertainment to keep them occupied before their next visit to the tees. Don't take this city lightly however, to a golfer Las Vegas would be a 24 hour play ground.

A typical golfers day in Las Vegas could start off with early tee times at one of Las Vegas' championship golf courses, settle down for a few drinks and laughter with your fellow golfers, then head into the Las Vegas Strip where you have a selection of some of the worlds top restaurants to have lunch, my favorite place after hitting a few balls is the Paris Hotel cafe - I can always expect excellent food and atmosphere, and the keno isn't too bad either! The cafe at the Paris Hotel offers a wide selection of sandwiches and entrees that are sure to please any one.

After lunch you can walk around the Paris Casino or any Casino on the strip. Personally, I would take the gang up to Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, grab a private table at the pit and have a fun afternoon. The Green Valley Ranch is a favorite haunt for me, the pit design upstages any casino on the strip. Always a fun time, lots of great music and the people aren't bad either.

After an afternoon of fun, it's time to check out the dinner choices on the strip, you can find just about any cuisine imaginable in Las Vegas. The Forums at Caesars Palace hosts the infamous Spago's, and if you get there at a good time, you could probably get in without much wait (okay.. maybe not!) The Aladdin has some great restaurants and an excellent mediterranean buffet, and great place to hit is the MGM Grand, take a stroll through the shops at MGM for a surprising array of restaurants including Emeril's and the Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill.

After dinner, head out to one of the great shows in town, check out the comedy clubs, in Las Vegas it's not unusual to run into some great artist on stage. Not up for a show? The dance clubs are a great place to work off the day, there's a lot of entertainment that can be found throughout Las Vegas. If you are up for some serious crazy fun, stop into the Hard Rock Hotel or Hooters.

Close up your night and head back to the hotel, hit the tables and if you are a risky partier, play all night - but don't forget the 7:10 Tee Time in the morning.

When you plan a golf vacation to Las Vegas, be sure to check up with the guys at Las Vegas Golf Adventures. They can save you money and hook you up with the top golf courses in Las Vegas, as well as hotel and casinos. After you have the guys working on your itinerary, relax and get ready for some serious partying, because for a golfer - there's no better paradise than the city of Las Vegas.

Welcome to my blog spot...

I'm Asia, I've lived in Las Vegas for over 3 years now, and there is absolutely nothing about this beautiful city that has disappointed me, since leaving Hawaii.

Las Vegas has so much to offer, whether you are a visitor, a resident or planning to move out here, from the colorful casino's that grace the Las Vegas Strip, the fantastic dance clubs, the delicious food at some of the worlds best restaurants, the outdoor activities including the Grand Canyon and the beautifully desert land scaped golf courses - there is so much to do and see in Las Vegas!

This is where I begin my first weblog, a place where I can share my experiences about this city that I have grown very fond of. Every story I write here takes into account my personal experience of places and people in Las Vegas. I'll share my favorite places to eat and hang out, perhaps even my least favorite places as well, my favorite casinos and people I meet along the way, what I enjoy doing, and what I suggest others do as well. I hope you enjoy reading my weblog, as much as I enjoy writing it.

TPC Canyons a must play Golf Course in Las Vegas

If you're like me and enjoy top quality golf then TPC Canyons in Las Vegas is the golf course to play. TPC (Tournament Players Club) is contracted to always have excellent conditions - owned by the PGA it should be in top condition. Rated in the Top 100 golf courses in the world, if you golf, you need to check this Las Vegas Golf Course out.

read more | digg story

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Courses

Near Mt. Charleston in Las Vegas, lies the beautiful Paiute Resort. Featuring three outstanding golf courses in a serene desert setting. The Las Vegas Paiute is a must play in Las Vegas - I strongly recommend the Wolf Course.

read more | digg story