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This page from my master list of all Las Vegas articles I wrote while developing Vanabode as the best travel vehicle for cheap easy long term road trips.

MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas

MGM Hotel in Las Vegas can satisfy all your entertainment needs. Everytime we have Vanabode camped here though it has been a long walk to the casino floor. You can find adult diversions as well as distractions for the kids at the Lion Habitat. Of Course, MGM has a long history in the television and entertainment industry. In fact, when the MGM opened it was called the Emerald City after the Wizard of Oz, hence the green building. Today, the MGM wants to be known as the City of Entertainment.

mgm grand hotel and casino las vegas at night

One of the top running "Cirque du Soleil" shows, KA, is currently playing in a custom-designed theater at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas NV. It's one of the few Cirque shows to tell a story. The story develops slowly but anyone can enjoy KA if you look at the phenomenal acrobats and multi-million dollar sets. It's a kung-fu, ninja, martial arts type of extravaganza with dare devil stunts and visual scenes such as a 'battle that takes place on a vertical plane.' Also check out 'O' at the Bellagio and Mystere at "Treasure Island."

Using a small theater to create intimacy, Crazy Horse is based on the French burlesque revue. It is a topless show with beautiful, thin women dancers who are very similar in body type and reveal themselves to be highly trained dancers. They dance precision steps and interpretive dances performed in good taste. One of the funniest parts of the show is an intermission act with Micro Jackson (take-off on Michael) and Bubbles, his chimp. Everyone talks about it! Also check out International Cabaret singer, Kiki Kalor who sings in 7 languages.

Another intimate venue at the MGM Hotel is the Hollywood Theater. It has plush red seats, booths and tables. Top entertainers from around the world perform nightly, such as comedian Drew Cary, magician David Copperfield and singer Tom Jones.

The MGM Grand Arena is a huge venue which seats over 17,000 people. Barbara Streisand opened the arena with a concert in 1993. Britney Spears has sold out every performance at the arena. Boxing matches, also held here, are hugely popular.

Don't miss the Lion Habitat. It's a huge success. Adults as well as kids can watch up to 6 lions a day playing in a glass enclosed environment. You can also see lions, tigers and dolphins at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage.

MGM Hotel Las Vegas NV looks like a large city. Actually, when it was first built in 1993, it was called Emerald City from the Hollywood movie, Wizard of Oz. This explains the green color scheme of the building. When the Emerald City was renovated in 1996, visitors would enter the casino through a giant lion's mouth in keeping with the new Lion theme.

girls in the pool at mgm grand in vegas


Unfortunately, the MGM found out the hard way that Chinese guests avoided the casino because they believe it's bad luck to walk through a lion's mouth. So the lion was changed and placed above the entrance so as not to scare away any customers. And the real lions can be seen daily in the Lion Habitat. Now the casino theme is more Art Deco and wants to be known as the City of Entertainment.

This picture taken at night of the Las Vegas Strip really shows off the brilliant emerald green lights of the MGM Grand.

The emerald green lights of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at night picture

It is a huge casino with over 5,000 guest rooms in just one building. You might feel a little anonymous when you stay there but there are many attractions, clubs and restaurants in which to meet people. Bring comfortable shoes because you'll be doing a lot of walking. It's an ideal place to stay if your business meeting or convention is at the MGM Hotel Las Vegas NV.

The biggest draw for MGM Grand itself is the MGM Grand Arena where massive UFC mixed martial arts fights and boxing events take place weekly. They also host giant big name concerts and celebrations. Crazy Horse Paris is an adult only showcase of Paris finest dancers showcased in a dazzling array of special lighting and stage effects. The biggest most powerful and mind blowing show I have ever seen was MGM's "KA", a show on a stage that is an absolute engineering marvel. Much better than Bellagio's "O" and just as expensive. Put it this way, when you spend $150 for a ticket and its worth every penny of it you know you have seen something you will never forget.

Overview: famous massive must see strip front hotel and casino
Location: Middle of Las Vegas Strip at one of the busiest intersections in the world. It amazes me what you will see here EVERY DAY like clockwork.
Restaurants: Get some fresh fish southern style at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, or some French at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, but stay away from the goofy Rainforest Cafe unless you have kids or no money for the better food.
Nightclubs, Lounges: Studio 54 has a class and style similar to the one in New York, Tabú is real clever and you can get in free early sometimes.
Casino: 180,000+ square feet, including Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, Keno, Let It Ride, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Poker, Roulette, more than 2,300 slot machines, and poker room, race & sports book has seating for only 100 people with 100 TV's and 40+ big screens for viewing major events.
Entertainment: Cirque du Soleil's KA, and Crazy Horse Paris for adults, plus numerous other smaller act in smaller venues throughout the casino
Extras: 17,000+ seat stadium venue called MGM Grand Garden Arena
Pools: 7+ acres of pools, lazy rivers and waterfalls plus great outdoor hot tubs and hidden little places to hang and hide.
Health Club or Spa: 30,000+ square foot spa plus a salon
Shopping: not much here except Studio Walk with small shops and little restaurants. Check out this list for serious shopping.
Wedding chapel: numerous packages via Forever Grand Wedding Chapel
Childcare facilities: None
Pets allowed: No
Parking garage: massive, far from the casino, but free indoor parking garage. I recommend valet, its worth it.
Shuttle service to the airport: back and forth to the airport by a private company, better to take a cab unless you are real short on cash.
Shuttle service to Strip: MGM Grand is ON the strip, no shuttle needed, Las Vegas Monorail stops at: MGM Grand, Bally's, Paris, Flamingo, Harrah's, Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.
Hotel amenities: Typical amenities, plus valet parking, salon, currency exchange, laundry, luggage handling, electronic check-out, car rental onsite
Miscellaneous: Check-in time is 3 pm and Check-out time is 11 am. The minimum age to reserve a room is 18 years so you will see lots of the younger crowd. There is a maximum number of guests per room of four. Must provide a credit card for incidentals

The lions belong to long-time lion trainer Keith Evans. Look for lions going down Las Vegas Boulevard as Keith transports them every day from his ranch in Las Vegas to the MGM. He personally trains and cares for over 30 animals at his 8.5 acre ranch. When you meet Keith, you can ask him any question as he assisted in the design of the lion habitat and its use for entertainment as well as educational purposes. There's a lot of roaring going on at the MGM Hotel in Vegas.

American Road Trips - reviews & pictures of places we visited on $20 a day - food, gas and lodging.

 

 

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