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Las Vegas Tourist Attractions - The Star Trek Experience

"To boldly go where no man has gone before"

The Star Trek Experience is a Las Vegas fun entertainment and is a far cry from the stuffy, upper crust atmosphere of the regular casino at the Las Vegas Hilton. With a combination of uptempo rock music, futuristic looking slots, a bar area straight from the the 24'th century, and laser lights streaming across the sky, this puts a whole new dimension on the word "casino". The blackjack tables were closed, but I assume those are open during the weekends and perhaps busy week nights. If you don't want to gamble, they have a four pool tables for those more inclined to play in this unique setting.

First stop on your adventure through The Star Trek Experience is the "History of the Future" museum area where more than 200 items used in the filming of the Star Trek television serious and movies are displayed. It is the largest permanent collection of Star Trek props and costumes in the world including 23 original costumes from the series and movies, eight starship models built to a 1:80 scale, 12 hand-painted alien head displays (so real, they are almost scary) and more than 100 hand props like the 3D chess set, communicators, phasers, and the like.

As you walk along, you follow an illustrated timeline of the universe with a special twist. From the time of Galileo and Newton to the present, it is (of course) factual. But from our time through the year 2372 (Stardate 47779.4) it follows the evolvement of the world, planets, political situations and the like as depicted from the original television series all the way through the movies and new series.

You may take all the time you wish viewing the museum as the as the actual adventure portion starts every 10 minutes. We've been asked not to give away the "good parts", but this is a real interactive experience. Among the highlights are getting to experience being transported and ending up in the transporter room of the Enterprise, venturing onto the bridge as the crew goes about it's duties, riding a turbolift (the "elevators" that move people around the ship), walking down the incredibly realistic corridors (all sets are constructed on a 1:1 scale from the originals), and taking a shuttlecraft mission through space and time. The shuttlecraft is the finale, and what a finale it is! Featuring a six-axis simulator in a domed theatre, this motion simulator puts the Luxor's to shame. These screens give you a 160 degree view -- at no time do you see anything stationary outside the shuttle. The ride was incredible. You truly see and feel like you are being transported though time and space in a crystal clear universe you have never seen before with heart-pumping action taking place all around you! I don't want to spoil the ending too much except to say that you get a unique perspective on the Las Vegas strip. The total post museum experience runs about 25 minutes. Hit the restroom Afterwards, you exit through the obligatory shopping area containing everything from exclusive Star Trek clothing, the largest collection of Star Trek products and souvenirs, authentic collectibles, and the "your photo with a Star Trek star" image chamber.

The verdict? Trekkies should be put to death if they come to town and miss this. If you enjoy the series and movies, or enjoy first-class virtual entertainment with lots of surprises, this is also a must see. If you are on the strip without a car (the Las Vegas Hilton is a few blocks off-strip) and just looking for something to do, it's worth a visit but you will live if you miss it.

Admission is $15.95 (includes tax) and you must be 42" tall. There is no admission to visit the shops or Quark's bar and restaurant (unique dinners in a futuristic setting running about $12 a plate). Just ask the ticket office to point the way. The Experience is open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.

Las Vegas Entertainment Book

In the Las Vegas entertainment guide you will find many exciting family attractions in Las Vegas like this. At the New York New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino with heights of 203 feet, drops of 144 feet and speeds up to 67 MPH, this roller coaster adds new meaning to the phrase "let it ride!" It surrounds the hotel and casino, and features the world's first "heartline" twist and dive maneuver, allowing riders to experience the thrilling force of negative g's! Simulating a barrel-roll in a jet fighter, it rolls 180 degrees, hangs 86 feet in the air, then dives back under itself- promising dizzying excitement and white-knuckle thrills!

The Casino Legend's Hall of Fame - Las Vegas Fun

Hidden away in the Tropicana Hotel and Casino is a true treasure called the Casino Legend's Hall of Fame. If you have been getting ready for some Las Vegas fun for more than a few years, or want a quick lesson on the history of the city, it's all in one place. Implosions, chips, artifacts, Las Vegas related movies, and the men and women who made the town what it is today are featured in all their stunning glory.
The collection of chips and artifacts is outstanding and amazing. More than 738 casinos are represented, 550 of which no longer exist (including the ones imploded this decade). Just the photographs of downtown and the Las Vegas Strip are worth the price of admission. It's truly hard to believe that 4 decades ago, the Las Vegas Strip was a 2 lane highway and Flamingo Rd. (and others) leading off of it were unpaved desert roads. Of particular interest was the Las Vegas sign in 1959 and an aerial view of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino from 1952 of Flamingo and the Strip. You can still see the narrow strip of land that would one day become the Barbary Coast.

If you are a chip collector, or even have a passing interest in them, your jaw will drop as this collection must be second to none. Glass case after glass case against the edges of this 5,000 sq. ft. museum display chips from the original days of legalized gambling in Nevada, right on through the "mob" years, and all the way up to the present. The focus is on chips from casinos no longer open (The Dunes and Pioneer are just two among hundreds), but they have an incredible collection of themed chips as well. These are real gaming chips issued as commemoratives and themed according to categories like holidays, events, cars, airplanes, and much more. This is a true Hall of Fame, featuring display and memorabilia from figures that have helped put Las Vegas on the map and made it what it is today.

Many are featured with various photos and artifacts, including the gold statue of Bob Stupak that was inside the Stratosphere, the actual motorcycle that Robbie Knevil did his Grand Canyon death jump with (our visit was 8 weeks ago, and you could still smell the oil and see the dust on the bike), Robert Goulet 1972 contracts with the Sands, Frontier, and Desert Inn (many contracts of famous entertainers are exhibited), portraits of Sinatra with figures ranging from Bob Stupak to Steve Wynn, and boxing memorabilia from fights with Tyson, Holmes, and Ali just to name a few. Four different video presentations run continuously in various parts of the museum. The first one honors the movies inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame, the second tells the stories (with spectacular video) of the various casino implosions and fires over the past decade, the third is a retrospective on showgirls, and the fourth focuses on the rise and fall of mob influence and involvement.

Admission is $6.95 for adults and $5.95 for seniors. The Hall of Fame is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. We want to make clear that we barely scratched the surface of the exhibits and if just even one of the above topics interests you, the $6.95 will be money well spent and enjoyed.