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With Jenny & Jeff Story Index Inside the Luxor, visitors are greeted by a life-size replica of the Great Temple of Ramses II, which rises 35 feet. Photo by Jeff Scheid. The Verandah restaurant at Four Seasons presents an elaborate display for its afternoon tea, offered daily from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Photo by Jeff Scheid. Kids of all ages can get up close with the many species of aquatic life at the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Photo by Jeff Scheid. A great view of Mandalay Bay and its pool area can be seen from the large windows along the hallway that leads to the Shark Reef. Photo by Jeff Scheid. An obelisk fronts the Luxor's pyramid on the Strip. Photo by Jeff Scheid. Knights race to glory in the Excalibur's arcade, on the lower level of the resort. Photo by Jeff Scheid. EXCALIBUR: Court Jesters Stage Dragon and moat Krispy Kreme Sir Galahad's Pub & Prime Rib House Steakhouse at Camelot "Tournament of Kings" Photo by Jeff Scheid. LUXOR: Blue Man Group Imax Theatre Pyramid architecture Ra nightclub Tomb and Museum of King Tutankhamen Photo by Jeff Scheid. MANDALAY BAY: House of Blues Lenin statue Shark Reef Walking path around pool/beach Wine tower at Aureole FOUR SEASONS: High tea at Verandah Photo by Jeff Scheid.

Sunday, May 13, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Way Down South

Attractions abound at lower end of the Strip

You don't have be a gambler to enjoy all the Strip has to offer. In today's themed resorts there's plenty to do and see that doesn't require a roll of the dice. And it's surprising how much walking you'll get in just going from one hotel to another.

We ventured to the south end of Strip for this month's urban hike. From Camelot, we traveled to to the South Seas via Egypt. The Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay obviously have their own look and personality and appeal to different age groups.

We walked this course during the day, but in many ways, there is more to do at night. And, after all, Las Vegas hotels look better after the sun goes down.

Excalibur

We started at the Excalibur, 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Opened in 1990, it is the oldest of the three south-Strip resorts built by Mandalay Resort Group, formerly known as Circus Circus Enterprises. The family-oriented resort features a medieval castle theme.

The front, Strip entrance features a moat, from which a dragon springs to life at dusk. Inside, the King Arthur motif continues with brightly colored flags, stone turrets, stained glass and armored figures.

Take the midcasino escalator to the second level. Right off the escalator is the Court Jesters Stage, where daily performances include jugglers, magicians, puppeteers and musicians. Several times a day, King Arthur and Lady Guinevere lead a Royal Fete parade of entertainers down to the first floor.

As you walk around the upstairs shopping area, you'll catch the sweet aroma emanating from Las Vegas' favorite doughnut chain, Krispy Kreme. Through the large display window, you can watch the spheres of dough rise as the automated racks take them through their cycle.

If you're there at night, the "Tournament of Kings" dinner show is one of the few Strip productions suitable for young children, who will delight in the jousting knights on horseback. If you're a meat-lover with a king-size appetite, there are the Steakhouse at Camelot and Sir Galahad's Pub & Prime Rib House

From the second floor of Excalibur, follow the walkway that leads to Luxor.

Luxor

The interior of the pyramid, which was built in 1993, is an architectural wonder. The rows of hotel rooms become smaller as they converge to a point 30 floors up.

As you enter Luxor, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South, you'll pass by the talking camels. Head toward the front lobby and up the escalator to Pharaoh's Pavilion.

Upstairs, the resort continues the Egyptian theme with the Tomb and Museum of King Tutankhamen, a full-scale reproduction of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of King Tut's burial site. An audio tour gives a description of the replicated treasures found in the tomb.

You can learn more about the Carter's discovery by watching the film "Mysteries of Egypt" in the seven-story Imax Theatre. Also showing in the theater is the 3-D "Cyberworld." While the plot is geared more to the under-10 crowd, the 3-D effects will impress showgoers of all ages.

Luxor's Passport to Adventure at $23.95 includes entry to both movies, the museum, the Imax ride-film and a virtual-reality roller coaster.

Luxor offers plenty of activities at night. There's the popular, avant-garde Blue Man Group show, and, for late-night action, the young and beautiful people head to the Ra nightclub.

From the second-floor Pharaoh's Pavilion, head down the escalator near the food court to the casino level. Just past the sports book is the walkway to Mandalay Bay.

Mandalay Bay

Completed two years ago, the resort is Mandalay Resort Group's newest edition to the south Strip. According to Mandalay Bay spokesman Gordon Absher, the resort is not patterned after one specific place, as there is no actual "Mandalay Bay" in the world. Rather the tropical experience of the resort is "whatever you want it to be," he said.

As you enter the casino at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, you'll see the House of Blues to your left. The House of Blues serves New Orleans-based cuisine, but even if you're not going to eat there, stop in and check out the artwork. The restaurant chain is known for exhibiting the adult-themed works of untrained artists.

Continue through the casino to restaurant row. You'll see the headless, paint-splattered statue of Lenin. His head can be found in the subzero vodka locker at Red Square.

Nearby Aureole features a four-story wine tower. During business hours, "wine angels," young women clad in black-cat suits, fly via a pulley system to retrieve the bottles inside.

Mandalay Bay comes alive at night. Concerts are held in both the Events Center and House of Blues. In addition, the resort continues its poolside concert schedule this month when Blues Traveler appears May 25.

Other popular nighttime venues include rumjungle with a late-night aerialist and 137 bottles of rum and Red Square with its frozen ice bar and vodka locker.

During your hike, however, head up the long hallway from restaurant row toward Shark Reef. Large windows will provide a view of Mandalay Bay's great pool area, complete with wave pool and lazy river.

Nearing its first anniversary, Shark Reef has been hugely successful, attracting 2,000 visitors a day, 4,000 on weekends. The 90,000-square-foot aquarium features more than 2,000 specimens including 12 species of sharks.

An ancient underwater temple and sunken ship provide the setting for the exhibits, which allow viewing at many different angles. Naturalists in flowered shirts are stationed throughout the aquarium to answer any questions.

A 45-minute audio tour is included in the entry fee price of $13.95; locals receive a $3 discount with proof of residency.

After exiting the Shark Reef, head down the outside stairs to the half-mile walking path that surrounds the pool. Turn left at the track and continue past the outdoor dining area of Border Grill.

Just past the spa and fitness center, you'll see a path leading back into the hotel. Once inside, follow the signs to Four Seasons.

Four Seasons

Although adjacent to Mandalay Bay, the upscale, nongaming Four Seasons, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is a separate entity with its own rooms, restaurants and private swimming pool.

If you're there during the afternoon, stop by the Verandah for high tea. It's a little pricey at $21, but there's a good selection of teas, scones, finger sandwiches and pastries.

To return to Excalibur, head back to Mandalay Bay and take the tram that connects all three Mandalay Resort Group properties or walk along the Strip and get at great view of the front architecture of these unique hotels.

Mileage: about three miles round-trip.

Best time to go: afternoon or evening.