Caesar Gutierrez of Granada, Nicaragua, along with Vanessa and Marcelo Cuadra of Miami, take a gondola ride with Alfredo Leoni at The Venetian. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Want to inject some romance into a relationship, get a taste of a foreign tradition or take the kids on a Strip adventure?

Try the gondola ride at The Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The 12 boats are modeled after the real thing from Venice. They ferry passengers along the half-mile Grand Canal that flows through the center of shops and restaurants. The ride takes a leisurely 15 minutes and gives passengers the chance to people-watch or scope out shops they want to visit. Riders can take a gondola trip outside, as well, weather permitting.

But once on the gondola, expect to be the center of attention to passers-by; they'll be stopping to look at and listen to your singing gondolier.

The gondoliers, who wear the traditional outfit of striped shirt and beret, are trained vocalists and can sing a variety of songs in Italian.

Gondola rides run from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Gondolas seat four; tickets cost $15 for indoor ride, $12.50 outside. Guests can rent private two-person gondolas for $60 indoor and $50 outdoor.

For more information, call 414-4500.

Strip Tips is a weekly feature by Sonya Padgett that highlights attractions and activities on the Las Vegas Strip.