Somerset House Motel, inexpensive, (702) 735-4411. If you're
saving your money for the slots, book your stay at the fabulously
affordable Somerset. With only 104 rooms, it's much more low-key
than the megahotels that are a mere block away on the Strip. The
majority of rooms have full kitchens, saving you even more moolah
and making it ideal for families.
Dining
Hofbräuhaus, moderate, (702) 853-2337. Sausage, sauerkraut,
spätzle, strudel - it's all here at this right-down-to-the-rivets
replica of
Munich's world-famous beer hall. The Bavarian vibe is
here, too, thanks to the live music and jovial servers. As they
say, it's like
Oktoberfest every day.
Pink Taco, inexpensive to moderate, (702) 693-5525. A scion
of the founder of legendary Morton's Steakhouse, Harry Morton has a
hit on his hands with this first outpost of his budding
Mexican-food chain. The name refers to the panucho, or grilled
chicken taco, a patron favorite, as is the it's-so-money selection
of beers and tequilas.
Shopping
Zoom Shop, (702) 732-5111. Leave it to Vegas to automate
buying an
MP3 player. Located inside the
Las Vegas Hilton, this
tricked-out vending machine dispenses iPods, digital cameras,
batteries, and more. If you're already equipped, it's still sort
of fun to watch people poke and paw and pick out their purchases
(check out some of the clips on MySpace if you don't believe
us).
OUTDOORS
Mount Charleston, (702) 515-5400. Want to beat the heat?
Head less than an hour north on U.S. 95, where atop this panoramic
peak it's a good 30 to 40 degrees cooler than on the desert floor.
Mount Charleston is located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest, an oasis offering hiking, camping,
cycling, and skiing.
Family-Friendly