Las Vegas – Middle of the Las Vegas Strip aka a Fake Trip to Europe

I consider the area with the Bellagio, Paris, Caesar’s Palace, Venetian and the Wynn to be the middle of the Las Vegas strip. In a previous post, I covered starting by Mandalay Bay and walking up to New York New York after a breakfast at Della’s Kitchen. That leaves us now walking past the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino where I always mention The Pub (“Food You Can’t Forget, Drinks You Can’t Remember” “Eat Like a King, Drink Like the Village Idiot”) as an option for visitors looking for a big beer menu.
Monte Carlo in Las Vegas Monte Carlo in Las Vegas The Pub in the shopping mall area by Monte Carlo- Food You Can't Forget, Drinks You Can't Remember The Pub in the shopping mall area by Monte Carlo- Food You Can't Forget, Drinks You Can't Remember The Pub in the shopping mall area by Monte Carlo- Food You Can't Forget, Drinks You Can't Remember

You can even get some beer tasting flights here at The Pub, particularly one of local beers from Sin City Brewing and Tenaya Creek Brewery. Sin City Brewing also has some small beer bars in a few locations on the Strip, or you can try it here with many other beers from other breweries. Of course in Las Vegas, I can come through with some local beer options for you! Their beers also show up on some of the beer menus at various places all over the Strip, so if you in the mood for a beer check out the list and see if a local beer might be available.
Tenaya Creek Brewery Calico Brown Ale

You can to walk through the Crystals, where there is a stop you can also make at Aria (or ride on through the monorail from Monte Carlo, through Crystals, to Bellagio). I happened to have spent quite a bit of time there in the Crystal Shops so I’m going to save that as a separate post. Instead, I’m going to point out that at this point, starting with Monte Carlo, and the rest of the casinos I’m about to cover, you are about to be transported from North America (as represented by MGM Grand and New York New York) or the faux historical themed Excalibur and Luxor. The trio of Bellagio. Paris, Caeser’s Palace and Venetian is essentially your fake trip to Europe you can go on while visiting Las Vegas. Let’s follow that theme… so onto from Monte Carlo and Monaco to the capital of France, that city of lights Paris!

I always enjoy visiting Paris Hotel and Casino. I’ve never actually been to France, so I can’t say how good it is as at representing France or Paris, but I’ll take what I can.
My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
At Paris, the most obvious attraction is the Eiffel Tower. You can buy tickets to go up this half scale replica, but I like to recommend dining al fresco at Mon Ami Gabi (it’s the red awning you see in part of one of my photos). They are open from breakfast to dinner, including having a kids menu and gluten-free and vegetarian options so perfect for everyone at a better value than everyone going up the tower. Instead, pretend to be eating on the streets of Paris with a glass of French wine from their cart and pate or escargot, or a bananas foster crepe. My friend from Urban Bliss Life visited and had a great meal here – check out her photos as well as other recommendations here mid-strip!
My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
If it’s too busy or too chilly for you to eat al fresco, go inside the casino as they have a few cafes in an area that mimics sidewalks in Paris and you can grab crepes from Le Creperie, or baguettes and croissants at JJ’s Boulangerie or Cafe Belle or Le Café Ile St Louis. If you feel like lounging and a drink, there’s a champagne bar with dueling pianos in the evening. Besides the obvious chance to gamble, these are the highlights I think of visiting Paris Casino, and visit both during the day to see the detail and at night to see the City of Lights effect.
My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas My pretend little trip to France thanks to Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

Ready to continue on to another part of Europe? How about the glamour of Caesar’s Palace and the height of the Greek and Roman empire time period just across the street?
Exterior of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Exterior of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Exterior of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Fountains just outside Caesars Palace Fountains just outside Caesars Palace Fountains just outside Caesars Palace Fountains just outside Caesars Palace

Some of the best shopping (well, for me, window shopping) is here in the Forum Shops and a huge 3 story H&M. At the end of the mall by where the Cheesecake Factory is, the statues at the fountain come to life telling the story of the Fall of Atlantis with animatronics and fire for a free 10 minute show (you should come early in order to find a good spot to stand) that plays every hour on the hour at 11 AM – 11 PM and is totally family-friendly. And free. There’s also a large aquarium here with feedings twice a day. If you have kids that are tweens or under, this could be a fun surprise. For more details on those activities fellow blogger Meagan as some info at her post Mommy Travels Caesers Palace Forum Shops
Caesar's Palace The Forum Shops area, Exterior fountain Caesar's Palace The Forum Shops area, Exterior fountain Inside Caeser's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Inside Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas

Besides the various headliner concerts shows and other events that also are held at Caesar’s, you might also consider visiting the newly redesigned Bacchanal Buffet that features more than 500 items and is rumored to be one of the new best buffets at Vegas. I didn’t have the room during my short stay to eat there, but I was fascinated how they have kiosks by the entrance where you can input your party size and print out a ticket so you know when to return to queue up – a bit of a combination of a FastPass at theme parks, but for a buffet.

You can also actually get into Rao’s here, unlike the Italian original iconic outpost in New York, and there are also restaurants by famous chefs like Gordon Ramsey, Guy Savoy, Bobby Flay, and there’s a Nobu here too. Similar to my previous post on the South end of the strip where I highlighted a lot of food options at Mandalay Bay, when it comes to the middle of the strip if you are a foodie there are a lot of options at Caesar’s.

Now that you’ve seen all the gold and marble of the ostentatious Caesar’s, let’s up the luxury with a trip to Italy via the Bellagio. Let’s get this out of the way – the famous fountain shows play every 15 minutes starting at 8 PM to midnight everyday, but also during the day every 30 minutes starting at 3 PM on weekdays and at noon on weekends and holidays. There’s more than 2 dozen songs with routines that the fountains might play, and you never know what they will run. I’ve already seen them at night so I didn’t take any photos this visit, but you can see even during the daytime the fountains can be mesmerizing to watch.
The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio The fountains of the Bellagio

The other famous attraction at the Bellagio are the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which are updated with new themes every few months. The website has the various seasonal themes and dates for when they change the themes.Similar to the fountains, they are free to visit, and probably take about 10-15 minutes to walk through. The gardens are open 24 hours every day of the week. Here are some examples of how the garden appeared for the Autumn Harvest theme in Fall 2014.
Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme.
Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme. Details inside the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Autumn Harvest 2014 theme.

The last photos are showing the floral arrangement modeled after Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork Red Tree, Yellow Sky of 1952.

Another reason to go inside the Bellagio? There’s also the obligatory admiration and selfie with the Dale Chihuly created Fiori di Como glass sculpture in the Bellagio lobby. You can also see some great sculptures of the human form in the gallery of The Art of Richard MacDonald by the O theater lobby
obligatory admiration of the Dale Chihuly created Fiori di Como glass sculpture in the Bellagio lobby in Las Vegas obligatory admiration of the Dale Chihuly created Fiori di Como glass sculpture in the Bellagio lobby in Las Vegas

Mee!
obligatory admiration and selfie with the Dale Chihuly created Fiori di Como glass sculpture in the Bellagio lobby

But, that’s not the only reason you should visit. Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio happens to also be the home of the World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). The fountain of liquid chocolate includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, over 500 feet of stainless steel piping, with 2 tons of chocolate at a rate of 120 quarters per minute rising up 27 vertical feet. And it’s free to see!
Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio and the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). Includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, and free to see inside the Bellagio Las Vegas Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio and the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). Includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, and free to see inside the Bellagio Las Vegas Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio and the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). Includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, and free to see inside the Bellagio Las Vegas Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio and the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). Includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, and free to see inside the Bellagio Las Vegas Jean Philippe Patisserie inside the Bellagio and the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain (as listed in the Guinness World Records). Includes white, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate, and free to see inside the Bellagio Las Vegas

To complete your trip to Italy, go back across the street and walk inside the Venetian with its “canals of Venice” inside. The wandering and window shopping and people watching are free – the food, drinks, and buying things of course are priced individually. 🙂
Exterior of the Venetian at the Las Vegas

Have you ever done a “trip to Europe” in Vegas, and if so which “European casino stop” is your favorite? If you haven’t been, which one do you think interests you the most?

My Guide to the Free and the Food on the Las Vegas Strip

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Comments

  1. vegas has some awesome skyline shots to take and great “european” scenes! love these pictures!

  2. Wow! What a fun trip…and much cheaper than the real Europe! It’s been ages since I’ve been to the strip, but we fly through Vegas about once a year when we go to Arizona to see my parents. Since all my kids have seen of the Vegas is what it looks like as we fly in, they call it “That Crazy City!”

  3. I’m not a huge Vegas fan, mostly because I’ve only gone in college and on bachelorette parties, but this is making me rethink an adult trip!

  4. hahahaha omg a fake trip to Europe!!! It’s so true. I leave in two weeks! I can’t wait!

  5. I’m not a big fan of Las Vegas—my sister lived there for three years, and seeing it often really burned me out—but you hit some great highlights here! For other visitors, I’d also recommend heading out of the city for some of the area’s great hiking day trips. Boy, it does a body good after too many casino nights!

    • I agree, if you are in Vegas for more than a weekend, it definitely is worth getting out of Vegas to the outdoors and away from the casinos and lights and sounds.

  6. The bellagio is definitely my favorite!

  7. As someone who was hoping to head to Europe this summer until I saw the $1800 plane tickets, I might have to do this as an alternative.

  8. OMG how funny – I posted a Vegas post today as well and mentioned how the whole replication of Europe thing trips me out. It’s not even the poor man’s Europe… it’s just… wrong! LOL. You did a great job including many of the spots in one post!

  9. Oh my! I think it has been almost ten years since my one and only visit to Vegas! I remember Caesar’s Palace the most because of the stores where I could only afford to window shop. 🙂 Next time I go I want to see the chocolate fountain! But my main question is are you able to sample the chocolate?

    • Hm, you know I was really full when I got to the Bellagio from a previous meal, and I actually don’t like chocolate that much so I didn’t even go up to the counters to see the chocolate goods they had for sale!

  10. There is a Vegas theme today. Looks like a lot of fun!

  11. That Las Vegas architecture is just insane. So much grandeur and investment in such a small, concentrated area!

    Great pictures!

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