Cooling Things Down in Sin City
Winter is in full swing, even in the deserts of Las Vegas. If you’re headed to Sin City for winter, but still want to experience a “cool” night, Vegas has plenty of options to help you feel like you never left home, well, sort of.
One of our favorites is Minus 5 Ice Bar. It is not just a bar -- it’s an experience. There are two Vegas locations: one being inside the Shoppes at Mandalay Bay and the other inside of the Monte Carlo located near the Blue Man Group showroom. The bar was named after its chilling temperature, which remains at negative 5 degrees Fahrenheit all the time. Everything in the bar is completely made of ice from the walls to the glasses you drink from. Each bar has its own special ice carver who creates beautiful ice sculptures, adding to the ambiance of this ‘oasis’ in the desert per se. Thick coats and gloves are provided to keep you nice and warm in these chilly venues. It’s a great place to feel like you’ve got a little winter at your fingertips while visiting Vegas.
For some classic, winter fun, check out an ice rink or two, which are now open at select hotels and casinos. Skating in Las Vegas isn’t like you’re typical ice rink, though, it’s almost better. A fine example of this epic experience is at The Cosmopolitan, which freezes the Boulevard Pool during wintertime and transforms it into a snazzy, upscale ice skating rink. They even have themed days such as:
* Mondays Date Skate where they play movies off of their 65-inch digital screen
* Industry Wednesdays in which some of the city’s most loved DJs come to spin making a club-like atmosphere
* Throwback Thursdays in which everybody kicks it back to the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s era.
Caesars Palace has also joined the ice skating trend as well their Winter Wonderland ice rink at their fountain. The rink is at an amazing location facing the Strip with views of the bustling Las Vegas Boulevard. Delicious seasonal food is available including cocktails like the Moet Patron, Naughty and Nice, Red Roller, Miracle on the Blvd., Ugly Red Sweater, and Red Roller; all tempting and perfect for the holiday season.
If you want to feel like it’s winter, but don’t really want the chill (which is exactly why you’re in Vegas) then head to the Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens where a winter wonderland awaits, but in a tropical garden oasis. You can sip Champagne or Starbucks as you peruse the giant snow globes or 40-plus-foot tree decked out in everything holiday.
What are you waiting for? Dust off your parkas and gloves and head to Las Vegas with Galavantier for the holiday season.
