36 GEARS August 2007

T his year’s Expo is in Las Vegas… gambling capital of the world. But if you aren’t

drawn by the roll of the dice or the cha-ching! of the slots, there’s still plenty to see and do in this oasis in the desert.

It’s hard to imagine a more excit-ing destination than Las Vegas. Even with gambling becoming commonplace all across the country, Vegas is still the Mecca of flash and entertainment. No place in the world offers a wider variety of shows and attractions, all within a few blocks of one another.

At the HiltonStart with this year’s host hotel:

The Las Vegas Hilton. Barry Manilow will be playing at the Hilton Theater the entire week of the show. If you’re a Manilow fan, you won’t want to miss your chance to see the man who writes the songs live.

If you’re looking for a show with great tunes and laughs, look no further than Menopause the Musical, in the Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret. The New York Times says, “It has no trouble winning over its audience… because elsewhere the subject is almost never treated with humor from the woman’s point of view.”

Later in the evening, the Shimmer Cabaret is taken over by Sunset Strip,a musical group and dance company that’s sure to get your heart pumping and your feet tapping.

For the more imaginative souls, there’s Star Trek: The Experience,including the new Borg Invasion 4D and the Klingon Encounter. An amaz-ing adventure for the trekker in you.

Shows Along the StripNot a bad start, considering we

haven’t even left the Hilton! Once we do walk out the front door, we’re just two blocks from the world-famous Strip. Or don’t go outside; take the monorail from right inside the Hilton’s lobby, and let it whisk you away to nearly any hotel on the Strip.

Looking for big production shows? How about the Blue Man Group or Phantom, both at the Venetian? Or Monte Python’s Spamalot at the Wynn?

Enjoy magic? There’s Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, David Copperfield at the MGM Grand, Penn and Teller at the Rio, and the Amazing Johnathan at the Sahara.

How about comedy? Rita Rudner will be at Harrah’s, Second City at the Flamingo, Louie Anderson at the Excalibur, and Carrot Top at the Luxor.

Attractions and ExhibitsMaybe the big shows aren’t your

cup of tea; maybe you’re looking for something a little more refined or edu-cational. This is Vegas; there’s plenty here for you, too. Start with Titanic: The Artifacts Museum at the Tropicana… your chance to get a firsthand look at the many artifacts collected from the fated ship.

For the art lover, there’s the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian, or the Gallery of Fine Art

It’s Vegas, It’s Vegas, Baby!Baby! by Steve Bodofsky

36expo-dacco out.indd 3636expo-dacco out.indd 36 7/12/07 2:17:15 PM7/12/07 2:17:15 PM

transtec807.indd 37transtec807.indd 37 7/11/07 3:06:28 PM7/11/07 3:06:28 PM

38 GEARS August 2007

at the Bellagio. Or there’s Madame Tussauds at the Venetian; have your pic-ture taken with Frank Sinatra, Harrison Ford, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

And since most of us are car peo-ple, there are a few automotive exhibits you might want to catch: Exotic Cars in the Forum Shops at Caesars, the Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace, or the Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati showroom. Okay, that last one isn’t really a museum, but how often do you get to wander through an auto dealer showroom that has cars costing over $700,000? Who knows; you get lucky at the craps table, you might be driving one of them home.

Of course, there are also dozens of free or low-cost attractions in Las Vegas. The Freemont Street Experience, the Fountains at the Bellagio, Sirens at Treasure Island, the Volcano at the Mirage, and the Masquerade Village at the Rio, just to name a few.

If you’re interested in shopping in stores you can’t possibly afford to buy from, don’t miss the Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian, and the Forum at Caesar’s. The Forum is said to be the best place to star watch; you’re likely to spot all sorts of TV and movie stars there.

Beyond VegasPerhaps you’d rather see nature

and all its glory; you’re in luck in Las Vegas. Vegas is just a short ride from Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire. Or take a day trip out to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Death Valley and more. And for those who are excited about the Star Trek Experience, there’s even a tour out to Area 51!

Let’s not forget why we’re coming to Vegas in the first place: Expo, with all the valuable educational experi-ences, terrific deals, and business con-tacts it has to offer. And since this is a business trip, you can get Uncle Sam to foot a good part of the bill: talk about win-win!

So whatever your passion, you can be sure to enjoy your fill at this year’s Expo at the Las Vegas Hilton. We’ll look for you there!

It’s Vegas, Baby!

36expo-dacco out.indd 3836expo-dacco out.indd 38 7/12/07 2:21:31 PM7/12/07 2:21:31 PM

dacco807.indd 39dacco807.indd 39 7/9/07 9:05:08 AM7/9/07 9:05:08 AM