What to do besides eat, shop and gamble

By Bob Ecker
Special to The Advertiser

Erica and Jeff Phillipy ride the Speed roller-coaster at the Sahara. Speedway driving and bungee jumping are also Las Vegas thrills. Bob Ecker • Special to The Advertiser

Been on a roller-coaster lately? There are three monsters in town, offering thrills and stomach wrenching chills enough to satisfy the bravest coaster afficionado. "What an awesome time, that was great!" said Erica Phillipy of Mannasas, Va. Erica and her new husband Jeff had just stepped off Speed — The Ride, the loopy roller-coaster at the Sahara. Speed specializes in ultra-fast rides with a breathtaking, upside-down stop in the middle.

The High Roller spins up and around the Stratosphere, the tallest building west of the Mississippi, and is said to be the highest roller coaster in the world at more than 100 stories tall.

The Manhattan Express' 144-foot drop can be experienced running up, over and through the New York, New York Hotel.

Something a little tamer? Las Vegas is home to a variety of curious museums: the Elvis Museum, full of Elvis paraphernalia and live Elvis impersonators; the Liberace museum, showcasing 18 of the legendary entertainer's pianos; and the Houdini Museum, providing artifacts and clues into the mysterious magician's psyche.

Another spot worth a look is the Imperial Palace Auto Collection. This huge and largely under-viewed collection boasts a display of more than 150 gorgeous, unusual and famous automobiles — 1960s presidential limos, one-of-a-kind-prototypes, Ferdinand Marcos' bulletproof Mercedes, Wayne Newton's 1929 Duesenberg and many others. And if you get lucky at the tables, every one is for sale.

Chocoholic. Next stop, M&M's World at the Showcase Mall on The Strip. This place is a kick for all lovers of chocolate. The four-story store features M&M films, trivia, history of the candies and characters, games, gifts, and of course an amazing array of those colorful little candies. Great fun.

Feeling indulgent? Spas are all over town and vary wildly in prices and offerings, with most beginning at around $79 for a 50-minute massage or facial. Among those to consider are: The Spa at the Golden Nugget, Canyon Ranch Club at the Venetian, or for ultimate luxury, the Spa at the Four Seasons.

Something in an adventure, perhaps? Check out Off the Wall, the largest man-made climbing wall in the world. This facility, inside the Showcase mall, has a 75-foot-tall wall providing the intrepid climber with a serious indoor challenge.

The A.J. Hackett Bungee invites visitors to take a flying leap and watch the Vegas skyline fly by. This company, the Kiwi originators of the sport, provide everything needed in this safe, yet harrowing experience.

Inside the Mandalay Bay, the Shark Reef Aquarium offers a glimpse of the world beneath the sea. This large, well-planned facility brings the sharks and other animals up close to visitors. It is especially intriguing for children, but can get crowded, so advance purchase of tickets is recommended.

For visitors looking for thrills with a little more RPM, consider the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For $99 and up, you can ride along with a professional driver, hitting the banked turns at speeds approaching 140 mph. The 600-horsepower NASCAR stock cars hurtle through the gears. For considerably higher fees, you can take a course and eventually be your own Richard Petty.

If you go ...

Roller coasters: Speed — The Ride at the Sahara hotel, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, until 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; $8; (702) 737-2111. High Roller Roller Coaster in the Stratosphere open 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; $7; (702) 380-7777. Manhattan Express Roller Coaster inside New York-New York, open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; $12; (702) 740-6969

Museums: Elvis-a-Rama Museum, 3401 Industrial Road, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; $9.95 (under 12 free); (702) 309-7200. Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $12 adults, $8 students, under age 5 free; free shuttle, call (702) 474-6507 or (702) 798-5595. Houdini Museum inside the Venetian, open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; $2 adults, $1 children; (702) 796-0301. Imperial Palace Auto Collection, open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; $6.95 adults, $3 seniors, children; discount tickets readily available; (702) 731-3311.

M&M's World in Showcase Mall, 3785 Las Vegas Blvd. (702) 736-7611

Spas: The Spa at Golden Nugget, (702) 385-7111. Canyon Ranch Spa Club in the Venetian, (702) 414-3600. The Spa at Four Seasons, (702) 632-5302.

Adventures: Off the Wall Rock Climbing in Showcase Mall, 3785 Las Vegas Blvd; $6-$10 per session; (702) 432-4263. A.J. Hackett Bungy, 810 Circus Circus Drive, daily 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; $54 first jump, $25 per jump after that; must be at least 13 years old to jump; (702) 385-4321. The Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay, daily 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; $14.95 adults, $9.95 students, under age 5 free; (702) 632-7777. Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (800) 237-3889.