As someone that lives in Southern California, I can say that I have been to Vegas a time or two and something that people have asked me for is a list of places to go or things to do. I’m not a travel guide so I didn’t want to do this…..BUT…..now since NASCAR is in Vegas this weekend, I can say that I wanna tell you where to go, what to see, what to eat but with a NASCAR twist:
HOTELS
If your looking for hotels, understand, the hotels know that NASCAR is in town this weekend and that means that room rates have gone up. If your willing to pay higher rates for the big name hotels….don’t. there are a lot of rooms in vegas for cheep, make sure that you shop around. websites like Hotels.com and Vegas.com have good deals and you can book your flight and room at once with sites like these and save money. Hotels like Monte Carlo, South Point and Tropicana normally have a LOT of NASCAR personal at them and the Tropicana just got redone so these rooms are high on my list when I’m in Vegas for NASCAR.
FOOD
Places to eat in vegas……..you ever notice how you have NEVER had a good meal on the strip? Come on, 30, 40, 50 dollars for one mean for one person?! Families get killed eating on the strip, so don’t. Remember, Las Vegas is a city and like any other city there is food off the strip, do you think that the average joe goes to dinner in New York-New York once a week? No. Look around the city, if your in town for the race, you will have to drive 30 minuites North of the city anyway, keep an eye out for those local eats off the strip. Something that I do every time I’m in town, ask the locals, and no don’t ask people that work in the hotels, they will tell you the 5 places that are in the hotel your standing in. Ask the cap drivers or the people that park your car, they live in Vegas, you think they know where to get some good food? One of my favorite place to eat in vegas is a place called Bahama Breeze. Its about 5 minutes off the strip and its great. Its a tropical-type restaurant that has great food for only $10 – $25 a plate. No joke, its the best food I have had in Vegas and its never really super crowded (unless its a Friday or Saturday night) and the service is good too.
Fun Away from the Track
So, you have a good room, you got some good food, now what? Since it early March, stay away from the pool, but what else can you without blowing a ton of money? If you still haven’t eaten yet, try Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur. Talk about dinner and a show, this place feeds you and shows off a live Invading army, Dancing maidens, jousting, fireworks and eating with your fingers. Its about $60 per person for the dinner and the show and at first glance, its too much but for dinner and a show, its a good deal.
Speaking of good deals, maybe you do want to go see a show when your in town for the race, don’t buy your tickets anywhere else except for Tix4Tonight. They have 3 locations on the strip and they sell not only Las Vegas show tickets BUT dinner tickets to all the hot spots in Vegas. Its where I get my tickets and I’ve used them for years. Try them out.
The Track
Here we go, the reason your in Vegas, the RACE! A lot of people over sleep and miss the start of the race. Thing that is a must for the weekend is the garage area. LVMS sells passes to the fan zone/ garage area and I’m telling you this is the greatest garage area for a fan in all of racing. You can see everything! From atop the garage area you can see down into the garage and see every move the drivers and crews are making. As someone that has worked the from inside the garage area, it kinda makes you feel like a small fish in a large fish bowl. Plus with large TVs, food and seating in the fan area inside the garage, why would you be anywhere else on race day?
Okay, this is what I know. This is how I ‘Vegas’ when I am in town and I have been doing it for years. Its going to be cold this weekend so make sure your ready for a little cold weather and I’ll see ya at the track.
