DISTANCE: 24 miles (39km) (drive to Lion Habitat Ranch and back)
TIME: Roughly 9 hours
START/END: The Mirage
POINTS TO NOTE: All the sights on this tour except those at the university, the Lion Habitat Ranch and the Veggie House lunch recommendation are within walking distance. However, the CAT bus number 202 serves this route. This tour is a good one to do with children, if they are animal lovers.
It is, perhaps, ironic that a city such as Vegas that is so thoroughly artificial has so successfully managed to exploit some of nature’s most dramatic protagonists, such as tigers, sharks, and lions. The fact that it has done so in its harsh and unforgiving desert location is truly impressive.
The Mirage
Begin the tour at the Mirage 1 [map] (3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 791-7111 or 800-929-1111; www.mirage.com; for more information, click here or click here), on the Strip. The inspiration for the array of widely emulated “theme” hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mirage was the most expensive hotel ever built, costing $630 million in 1989.
Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden
Alamy
It was the venue for Siegfried & Roy’s animal magic show from 1990 to 2003, before the duo retired after Roy Horn was injured by a white tiger during their act. A larger-than-life statue of the duo and one of their tigers stands in front of the hotel. The Mirage has recently been remodeled to emphasize its exotic tropical nature theme, and looks over a model volcano. Guest rooms are luxurious, though somewhat small by modern Las Vegas standards.
You might like to start with an early (9am) breakfast at the hotel’s casual Paradise Café, see 1. After breakfast, take a look at the impressive, 53-ft (16-meter) -long, 20,000-gallon (75,700-liter) salt-water aquarium (daily; 24 hours; free) by the front desk that is home to 60 species of fish from the South Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea.
Dolphins at Mirage
FLPA
Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
At the end of the shopping promenade is this open-air jungle area (Mon–Fri 11am–5.30pm, Sat–Sun 10am–5.30pm; summer daily 10am–7pm) with waterfalls and a pool. The area is home to 40 rare or endangered species, including Siegfried & Roy’s white tigers, and a white lion.
The white tigers, which live in conditions modeled on their natural habitat, are descendants of a breeding pair donated to a North American zoo by the Maharaja of Rewa, India, in 1958. They are not a distinct species, but the result of the appearance of a rare recessive gene. A larger pool with windows for underwater viewing is home to bottlenose dolphins, which are not trained to perform tricks but are provided with toys to play with on their own.
Aquarium at Mirage
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Marjorie Barrick Museum and Arboretum
At around noon, take a taxi or drive to the Marjorie Barrick Museum and UNLV Arboretum 2 [map] (4505 South Maryland Parkway; tel: 702-895-1421; Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat noon–5pm, Sun closed; free), which focuses on the flora and fauna of the Mojave Desert.
The museum is centrally located on the campus of the University of Nevada – Las Vegas (UNLV), which lies around 2 miles (3km) east of the Strip. If driving, the simplest way to get there from the Mirage is to drive south on the Strip for about one mile (2km) to East Harmon Avenue, which ends in the middle of the campus, turning south at Gym Drive. The museum is right there. Inside are exhibits on Nevada’s wildlife, and artifacts created by American Indians.
Mandalay Bay Shark Reef
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UNLV Arboretum
The university’s “arboretum” is a series of gardens throughout the campus, including native plant collections as well as a rose garden, an AIDS memorial garden, and a pool designed to attract birds, with a shaded viewing area.
Lunch
By now it should be around 2pm. If you fancy lunch, a good option for healthy eating is the Veggie House, see 2, around 4 miles (6km) northeast of the UNLV campus on Spring Mountain Road. After lunch, return to the Strip by driving directly west along West Flamingo Road. If you do not want to stop for refreshment at this point, head straight back to the Strip by continuing south on Gym Drive to East Tropicana Avenue and turning right.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
The route now continues by exploring nature attractions at a number of other large casino hotels, starting with the modest, beautifully landscaped island off the main lobby of the Flamingo Las Vegas 3 [map] (3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 702-733-3111; www.flamingolv.com; for more information, click here or click here). This island is home to a flock of Chilean flamingos, as well as numerous Asian pheasants, swans, ducks, parrots, turtles, and koi.
Lion Habitat Ranch
Formerly at the MGM Grand (see 3), these 40 magnificent creatures thankfully now live on Lion Habitat Ranch 4 [map] (382 Bruner Avenue; tel: 702-595-6661; Mon–Fri 11am–4pm), a dedicated 8.5-acre ranch, around 20 minutes’ drive south of the Strip near the M Resort Spa Casino and Saint Rose Parkway,
Mandalay Bay Shark Reef
If the lions have given you a taste for sharp-toothed carnivores, Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay Hotel 5 [map] (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 702-632-7777; www.mandalaybay.com; daily 10am–11pm) should appeal. To get there, continue south for another two blocks, where the Mandalay Bay Hotel’s 22ft (7 meter) -deep aquarium is one of the largest in the US, with 1.5 million gallons (5.5 million liters) of salt water.
To bring the tour full circle, consider heading back to the Mirage for dinner at Cravings, see 4, which does one of the better all-you-can-eat buffets on the Strip.
Food and Drink
1 Paradise Café
Mirage Hotel, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 702-791-7111; daily 24 hours; $$
Enjoy the serene sounds of the waterfall and savor classic dishes. Whether you’re in the mood for a refreshing cocktail or a lavish lunch, this poolside café is the perfect retreat from the Strip. Start your day in paradise with a light breakfast or take a break from swimming to order a guest favorite like the Ice Chichi, Mirage’s signature cocktail, served in a coconut.
2 Veggie House
5115 Spring Mountain Road; tel: 702-431-5802; www.veggiehousevegas.com; daily 11am–9.30pm; $$
All-vegetarian Chinese stir-fries and noodles are served in a low-key setting with an indoor gazebo. This relatively new eatery has become something of a cornerstone in the Las Vegas community and has been recognized for its outstanding Chinese cuisine, excellent service, and friendly staff.
MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 702-891-8580; daily 11am–11pm; $$
Kids love this jungle-shrouded restaurant with its waterfalls, artificial trees, and animatronic gorillas and elephants. The large, predictable family dining menu features cute names – Safari Salads, Passport to Paradise Pizza, Galapagos Seafood Pasta, Congo Catfish, and so on. Desserts include a Sparkling Volcano brownie sundae big enough for two kids (or about six adults) to share.
4 Cravings
The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South; tel: 702-791-7111; Mon–Fri 7am–9pm, Sat–Sun 8am–9pm; $$$
The buffet at Cravings features international gourmet cuisine from 11 cooking stations, including Asian, Mexican, Italian, and Japanese. The buffet also includes free beer and wine refills. Decor is sleek and modern. Expect a long wait in line at this long-time Vegas favorite.