TODAY IN LAS VEGAS MAGAZINE - ATTRACTIONS

LIBERACE MUSEUM
A truly unusual attraction. The King of Glitz and candelabras can only mean LIBERACE, the master showman of his time. The displays include an assortment of rare pianos, classic autos, million-dollar wardrobe, much more. You’ll see artifacts, rare furnishings & many collectibles. Among the most popular of the exhibits are Liberace’s stage costumes, all incredibly elaborate, colorful and spectacularly bejeweled. This is a non-profit museum with a nominal admission fee. 1775 E. Tropicana. 10 to 5; Sun. 12-4 p.m. 798-5595.

MGM GRAND’S AMAZING LION HABITAT
One of the town’s most spectacular attractions is the MGM Grand’s new tri-story, 5,345-square foot Lion Habitat. The incredible facility is designed with a 3,000-sq. ft. viewing area that allows humans to, in effect, be surrounded by lions. Here visitors can observe the stately kings & queens of the jungle, going about their lionly business in a specially crafted state of the art showcase that includes a plethora of striking features. No admission charge. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 891-1111.

IMPERIAL PALACE CAR COLLECTION
At the Imperial Palace Hotel, what is reputed to be the world’s largest and finest selection of antique, classic and special interest automobiles, in a gallery like setting. More than a museum, it’s also a place you may purchase from among some of the world’s great cars. Your visit can include not only viewing these vehicles, but also buying, selling, consigning or even just trading. Auto history before your eyes. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Admission is a nominal $6.95 for adults, $3 for children under 12 & seniors. 731-3311.

THE SIEGFRIED & ROY SECRET GARDEN AND LIVE DOLPHIN HABITAT AT MIRAGE
The Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy is a wondrous habitat at the Mirage Hotel. You’ll see some of the world’s rarest and most exotic animals, side by side in harmony. Up close, the public can view snow white & striped white tigers, white lions, black panthers, snow leopards & an Asian elephant, all in a unique jungle setting. Entry $15 for adults and $10 for children 4-12. Admission price includes entry to the nearby Live Dolphin Display. This is a 2.5 million gal. pool in which swim 8 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at play, doing flips, dives, & being fed. Both Secret Garden/ Dolphin Habitat open daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 791-7188.

ETHYL M CHOCOLATE FACTORY/CACTUS GARDENS — FREE TOURS
Something fun, unique and delicious for Las Vegas locals and visitors alike is a trip to the Ethyl M Chocolate Factory and the spectacular accompanying two-acre Botanical Cactus Gardens. Free tours take you through both. A great attraction for families, you’ll not only get to see the world famous chocolates being made, but also get to try a sample. Regular tours are presented throughout the day from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. The factory and gardens are located only a few miles east of The Strip at Mountain Vista and Sunset Way. Just call for directions. 458-8864.

VINTAGE VEGAS WALKING TOUR
The Vintage Vegas Walking Tour covers Las Vegas’ turbulent history and all the colorful characters who made it what it is today. From John C. Fremont and the early wild west beginnings to the Mobs’ behind the scenes control to the arrival of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. Tours depart from the Lost Vegas Gambling Museum which is located in the Neonopolis Complex on Fremont Street. $15 per person. 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Daily (except Wed). 280-2235

UNIQUE LOST VEGAS MUSEUM & STORE
Neonopolis in downtown Las Vegas has added to its attractions with the novel and historical Lost Vegas Historic Gambling Museum & Store. With over 5,000 exhibits of unique historic items, it’s a trip down memory lane for those who lived it and a fun history lesson for those who missed it. Retail area features such LV memorabilia as hotel ashtrays, chips, matchbooks, swizzle sticks & more. Opens at 10 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week. Museum, $2.50 for adults, $1.25 for seniors, free for active military. Admission to Store is free. 385-1883.

MOUNT CHARLESTON ALL-SEASON FUN
One of the remarkable aspects of a Las Vegas visit is that within an hour’s drive, only 36 miles away, are Mount Charleston and the great Toiyabe National Forest. It’s ideally suited for year-round retreats. In the summer, it’s a cool, beautifully wooded area of mountainous slopes and stately pines, with a fine lodge & picnic facilities. In the winter, it’s a grand, scenic snow-covered retreat with an excellent ski resort. Ask at your bell desk for more about it.

LAS VEGAS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Experience the roar and thunder of the most ferocious prehistoric beast of all time – Tyrannosaurus Rex! You & your family may enjoy animated dino-saurs as you walk thru natural history. Children experience fun activities in the Hands-On Room. There’s wildlife from all over the world, including a 2,500 sq. foot exhibit entitled Summer of Sharks. Even a Wild Encounters program of fun & educational demonstrations. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Adults $6, kids $3. 900 Las Vegas Blvd. No. 384-3466.

M&M’S WORLD COMPLEX
The four story M&M’s World, located on The Strip next to MGM, a spectacular monument to color and chocolate, now features a splendid entertainment experience. It’s a special 3-D movie whose story stars the irrepressible characters, Red & Yellow, taking you thru the whimsical process of how an M&M chocolate candy earns its “M.” The movie is only part of the adventure offered by 40-foot bag of M&M’s, to its floor to ceiling see-thru candy filled wall, to its dazzling Colorworks. 736-7611.

STREET PERFORMERS AT VENETIAN
Located in the heart of The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Hotel, St. Mark’s Square is home to a wide range of performing artists. Life-size puppets, dazzling magicians, stratospheric stilt walkers and living statues all vie for your attention while the Artiste Del’ Arte, adorned in bedazzling period costumes, fascinate and delight audiences of all ages with their musical performances! Accompanied by fine Las Vegas musicians, the Artists perform daily at noon, 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 pm. Also, The Living Statues perform from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. 733-5000.

HUGE REPLICA OF EIFFEL TOWER
A pair of phenomenal landmarks are the Paris Hotel’s 50-story Eiffel Tower and its two-thirds-size Arc de Triomphe, both exciting reproductions of the world famous Parisian originals. The Eiffel replica was produced from the original 110-year-old drawings, au-thentic right to the its 100th anniversary lighting. Visit-ors may board glass elevators for an ascent to the high observation deck. The adjacent Arc also repeats the original in every detail. Open 9:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Admission $9 adults, $7 children/seniors. 946-7000.

SAHARA'S NASCAR CYBER SPEEDWAY
This incredible virtual reality auto racing facility, the Cyber Speedway, gives people of all ages the thrill of being an Indy race car driver. A specially designed 40,000 sq. ft., Speedworld provides 24 interactive 3/4 scale simulators situated in 24 service bays that replicate actual pit areas. Each fills your senses with engine vibrations and a sophisticated sound system. You choose the type of car & course. And can you believe it. No driver’s license is required to race these engines. 734-7223.

STRATOSPHERE TOWER/THRILL RIDES
Visible from any part of town is Stratosphere Hotel’s free standing tower, America’s tallest such structure. It houses three of the world’s highest and most exhilarating thrill rides. The super-thriller is the Big Shot, which shoots fun-lovers one-hundred-and-sixty feet in the air along a mast, free falling back down to the pad. Then, there’s the X Scream, a real thriller that dips riders forty feet over the edge. Finally, joining this mind-boggling trio, is Insanity – The Ride. 380-7777.

SAM’S TOWN WATER/LASER SHOW
A totally original water & laser show spectacular fills the picturesque indoor park at Sam’s Town Hotel, playing four times daily at the waterfall area, at 2, 6, 8 & 10 o'clock p.m. Entitled The Sunset Stampede, the show is choreographed to a symphonic score & comprises a unique journey through the western frontier. 456-7777.

FAMED ELVIS-A-RAMA EXPERIENCE
The Elvis-a-Rama Experience houses the world’s largest private collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia,. Much of it has never been seen before by the public, including his 1960 black Rolls Royce and Mercedes Benz Limo from the ’72 MGM film, “Elvis On Tour.” Call for free shuttle. Located at 3401 Industrial Rd., behind Fashion Show Mall. $12.95, seniors $9.95. 309-7200.

LUXOR’S FUTURISTIC IMAX 3D THEATRE
The Luxor houses Las Vegas’ first IMAX 3D Theatre, the most powerful projection system on Earth. Exper-ience state-of-the-art film technology on a screen measuring 68’ x 84’. The frame is more than ten times the size of conventional 35 mm film. Current features are Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D at 11 a.m. & 5 p.m; Deep Sea 3-D at 12, 3, 6, 9, & 11 p.m.; Fighter Pilot at 1, 4, 7 & 10 p.m.; and, Mystery of the Nile at 2 & 8 p.m. Tickets are $11.99. 262-4555.

MADAME TUSSAUDS LAS VEGAS
Madame Tussauds, an exceptional showcase of over 100 exquisite wax figures of famous folks, is located inside the Venetian Hotel. The incredibly life-like representations of celebrities from film, sports, shows and concerts constitute an interactive “must feel” attraction and provide a unique opportunity to be in contact with these famous figures. This is one of the premiere facilities of world famous Madame Tussauds museums. Open Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri./Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Adults $22.95, students $17.95, children $12.95, under 5 free. 862-7800.

SHOWCASE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
On the Strip next to the MGM Grand is the Showcase Entertainment & Shopping Center, hard to miss with a one-hundred foot neon-lit Coke bottle and mammoth bag of M&Ms out front. It’s a truly unique non-gaming facility. You’ll stroll among such notable attractions as World of Coca-Cola, M&Ms World and Ethel M Choco-lates, the Spielberg designed GameWorks, a virtual reality and fifty-foot climbing facility.

WYNN RESORT’S FINE ART COLLECTION
Some of the finest art and finest artists in the world are on display in this showcase of Steve Wynn’s personal collection. Two pieces with a direct connection to its owner are Picasso’s “Le Reve,” which names the hotel/casino’s extravagant production show, and an Andy Warhol treatment of Wynn himself. Also defining the Wynn collection are hallmark works by Monet, Gauguin, Renoir, Rembrandt, Matisse, van Gogh and others. Gallery store on-premise. Ex-hibit hours, Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri./Sat. 10-12 a.m. $6 per person, $3 locals. 770-3590.

TREASURE ISLAND “THE SIRENS OF TI”
Presented every evening at 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 p.m., in front of Treasure Island Hotel, “The Sirens of TI,” an exhilarating new production that presents a cast of “sexy sirens,” an outdoor show for all to see. In it, these swashbucklettes battle a band of renegade male pirates as Siren’s Cove comes alive with music and dance, danger and excitement, temptation and seduction. A full-scale pyrotechnic war takes place, huge masts snap, flames burst and sailors catapult thru the air and into the waters below. The shows are free of charge, of course.

THE ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
Historical drama is front & center at the Atomic Testing Museum, where visitors begin a storied journey with visuals depicting world events leading up to the establishment of the famed Nevada Test Site. Successive galleries use first-person narratives, multi-media presentations, replicas, iconic artifacts and a “bunker” theater to showcase the progression of the Test Site. Open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission $10; ages 7-17/seniors/military with ID $7. At 755 E. Flamingo, just west of Swenson. 794-5161.

MANDALAY BAY’S “SHARK REEF”
A million and a half gallons of sea water serve as home to over 2000 animals from 100 different species, including 15 kinds of sharks. Visitors view them from within the tank via an acrylic tunnel and a sunken ship. There are also informational monitors, audio wands and a touch tank geared specifically to children. The “Shark Reef” also features very rare golden crocodiles, in the only place outside Thailand. There also are such unique occupants as Southern Stingrays, sea turtles and other exotics. Adults $15.95, children $9.95, including audio tour. Open 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 632-7580.

FREMONT ST. EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN
Probably the country's most unique, if not most spectacular, downtown pedestrian promenade. On Fremont Street in the neon center of Las Vegas, it's a beautifully landscaped four blocks. In addition to mall entertainment, a one-of-a-kind light and sound show derived from over 2 million lights and 540,000 watts of concert quality sound comes alive each night, beginning at dusk and running through to midnight. Outstanding shows featuring live talent are presented all year long. 678-5777.

JUBILEE! BACKSTAGE WALKING TOURS
The production spectacular Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas now gives guests thirteen and over a phenomenal opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Las Vegas’ longest running shows. Best of all, the tours are conducted by one of the stars, a Jubilee! showgirl. The one-hour “All Access Backstage Walking Tour” features a sneak peek into everything from hair and makeup to costumes and set designs, plus a chance to hear backstage tales from the showgirl herself. This unique program is offered every Mon./Wed./Sat. at 2 p.m. Tickets $15 without purchase of a Jubilee! show ticket and $10 with ticket. 946-4567.