Forget Madonna. Las Vegas—that special siren to countless kama‘aina—is the true queen of reinvention.

Once a turn-of-the-century desert railroad town, the flashy international entertainment mecca has morphed from hotbed of organized crime (check out the new downtown Mob Museum) to family-friendly destination and back to Sin City (the current “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” slogan is pure marketing gold). Although the economic downturn of the early 2000s dealt a death blow to several grandiose projects, massive renovations to the

Strip and downtown have bolstered Las Vegas’ latest incarnation as a nexus of modern art, innovative dining, and upscale indulgences. No matter your personality, the new Vegas has something to show you.

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VegasVoltageNew attractions beckon at the ever-evolving “Ninth Island”By RoBin Rockey

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May/June 2013 | AAA Hawai‘i 27

RetRo actiVistDay The Neon Museum’s outdoor Neon Boneyard houses more than 150 salvaged signs, including an iconic red number from the now-defunct stardust and an enormous pirate’s skull from treasure island. Book the last tour of the day, when some of the signs are illuminated. Adult admission $18. 770 N. Las Vegas Boulevard. (702) 387-6366; neonmuseum.org.

Night get your game on at The D, site of the former fitzgeralds Casino & hotel, where a multimillion-dollar renovation banished the old kitschy leprechaun decor. the second floor is stocked

with vintage coin-operated slot machines and games. snack on a Detroit Coney Dog at American Coney Island (pictured), the motor City–based restaurant’s first outpost outside of michigan. Room rates from $39. 301 Fremont Street. (702) 388-2400; thed.com.

eat if culinary hotshots such as thomas Keller and Joël Robuchon have induced fine-dining fatigue, clear your head with a burger and a beer at Public House at Luxor. try the hearty cheesesteak spring roll and a craft brew from the sizable drink menu. Prices start at $7 for appetizers; $18 for entrées. 3900 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. (702) 262-4525; luxor.com/restaurants/public_house.aspx.

sleep founded in 1906 as Vegas’ first hotel, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino recently underwent a multimillion-dollar overhaul that includes an expanded casino. at night, dancing dealers in flapper-esque attire evoke the Roaring twenties. Rates from $39. 1 Fremont Street. (702) 385-1906; goldengatecasino.com.

aRt aFicionadoDay “warhol out west,” the current exhibit at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, features 56 works on loan from the andy warhol museum in Pittsburgh until october 27. Pop art paintings, a rarely seen “Cowboys and indians” series, and, fittingly, Double Elvis are on display. Adult admission $16. 3600 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. (877) 957-9777; bellagio.com/attractions/gallery-of-fine-art.aspx.

Night for a weird, wild night at the theater, check out Cirque du soleil’s Zarkana at the aaa five Diamond Aria Resort and Casino. a dark, acrobatic circus opera sung in a made-up language, the show tells the odd tale of Zark, a circus ringmaster searching for his lost love. (the group’s Michael Jackson One show opens June 29 at mandalay Bay.) Two shows daily Friday–Tuesday. 3730 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. Tickets from $69. (855) 927-5262; arialasvegas.com/cirque/zarkana.

eat Chef Nobu matsuhisa opened his first Nobu hotel within Caesars Palace in february. his asian fusion cuisine at the hotel’s Nobu Restaurant and Lounge represents his artistry in blending cultures. Entrée prices start at $14 and escalate rapidly. 3570 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. (888) 509-0520; nobucaesarspalace.com/restaurants.html.

sleep The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a hip aaa four Diamond resort and casino that opened in 2010, has a modern-art collection of hundreds of sculptures, paintings, and digital artworks. Rates from $195. 3708 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. (702) 698-7000; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

The Neon Museum

Zarkana

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VegasVoltageNew attractions beckon at the ever-evolving “Ninth Island”By RoBin Rockey

gettiNg there Last year, McCarran International Airport (Las: mccarran.com), which serves Las Vegas, built the new $2.4 million terminal 3. travelers can enjoy art installations and 16 new restaurants and shops, charge gadgets, indulge in a massage, and play slots. hawaiian airlines uses the new terminal for ticketing and baggage claim. the airline flies nonstop between honolulu and Las Vegas and offers connecting service from Kahului, Lihu‘e, Kona, and hilo.

For free Las Vegas maps, visit the AAA Hawai‘i branch.

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28 AAA Hawai‘i | May/June 2013 AAA.com

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Robin Rockey is AAA Hawai‘i’s web editor.

Your AAA travel agent can provide trip-planning information. Visit the AAA Hawai‘i branch, call (888) 651-0198, or go to AAA.com/travel.

WellNess WarriorDay During the one-hour indoor fitness hike offered by the spa at Aria, a trainer will guide exercisers through the palatial resort, which opened in 2009, and other CityCenter attractions as part of the workout. $50, including a day pass to the fitness center and spa. (702) 590-9600; arialasvegas.com/pools-spa/spa-salon.

Night the energetic Blue Man Group Las Vegas show at the aaa four Diamond monte Carlo Resort and Casino is rife with opportunities for working up a sweat, including an audience dance party. You’ll want to rock a poncho if you’re seated in the first few rows. Tickets from $59. 3770 S. Las Vegas Boulevard. (800) 258-3626; blueman.com.

eat at Tetsu, chef masa takayama’s Japanese teppanyaki grill at aria, fresh ingredients such as filet mignon and santa Barbara shrimp are cooked at your table. heaping ice piles loaded with the day’s menu items—live lobsters, shiitake mushrooms, and more—serve as the room’s centerpiece. Prices start at $6 for appetizers; $26 for entrées. (877) 230-2742; arialasvegas.com/dining/restaurants/tetsu.

sleep instead of stale cigarette smoke, your room in new Vegas just might smell like a spa. the aaa four Diamond MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is fresh off a $160 million guest-room remodel, which includes 42 stay well rooms designed with health-conscious features such as vitamin C–infused shower water, advanced lighting technologies, and optional aromatherapy. Rates start at $75. 3799 S. Las

Vegas Boulevard. (702) 891-7777; mgmgrand.com. n

Blue Man Group Las Vegas

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