Your poor wife -- it's bad enough if you don't have a problem with heat, and it's been especially harsh here of late, with extreme temperatures even for the desert and regular health and safety warnings. Let's see if we can come up with some suggestions to make her visit a bit less miserable.
The best tip is the most obvious one -- keep her inside! Every casino, restaurant, and shopping mall is fully air-conditioned, so she won't be too aware of the excruciating heat outside and may even need a sweater. We're assuming that your spouse doesn't like to gamble; if that's the case, there are still plenty of indoor activities she might enjoy.
Does she like to shop? Check out tomorrow's QoD for a list of all the malls, which vary from the super-upscale designer versions like Wynn and Bellagio (think Gucci, Armani, Manolo Blahnik, Cartier, Tiffany) and the Forum Shops at Caesars or the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (some designer stores, but also lowlier retailers like Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, Anne Taylor, and Anthropologie) to the designer outlet centers downtown or out at Primm (great bargains, but you have to step outside between stores). The Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood) is also pretty good (French Connection, Betsy Johnson, Betty Page, Frederick's of Hollywood, Urban Outfitters). The malls at Caesars and the Venetian are massive -- you could easily spend a couple of hours or more in there, plus there are plenty of other things to see and do besides shopping, like free shows, aquariums, gondola rides, opera singers, oxygen bars, and restaurants. And the Fashion Show Mall is so huge it scares us, with every high street store you could think of, plus a good restaurant area, and people giving quickie chair massages.
The Conservatory at Bellagio always has an interesting display, which changes seasonally, and it's very light and airy in there. While at Bellagio, she could also check out the Gallery of Fine Art, which currently has an exhibition of Picasso ceramics. If art's her bag, the Guggenheim-Hermitage (Venetian) is also worth checking out, although it's closed until July 27th while the next installation is set up (an exhibition of modern masters, including Monet, Cezanne, and the ominipresent Picasso). Wynn's art collection (probably minus the Picasso that he accidentally put his elbow through) moved from the gallery and onto the walls of the hotel, so you don't have to pay to see this exhibit, although you will have to hunt around for it. There's also a conservatory here, although we tend to like Bellagio's better.
Does your wife like shows? Here are some that have a matinée performance, which is a good way to kill a couple of hours in the afternoon: Mac King Comedy Magic (1 and 3 p.m. performances Tuesday-Saturday at Harrah's); Menopause the Musical (2 p.m. on Wednesday and 4 p.m. Saturday/Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton); The Price is Right, Live (2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday at Bally's); The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater (3:30 p.m. daily, except Fridays, at the V Theater at Planet Hollywood); and Xtreme Magic starring Dirk Arthur (2 p.m. Saturday-Thursday at the Tropicana).
For ticket prices and other information, check out our "Shows & Events" section under "Vegas Info," where you'll find details of all production shows, plus one-off events including concerts, sporting fixtures, and festivals.
Or how about a spa treatment? Every major Strip hotel, plus many off-Strip properties (Hard Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palms, Red Rock, South Point), and the Golden Nugget downtown all have spas, where you can get anything from a simple manicure/pedicure or facial to a host of exotic massages and other therapies. Many also have swimming pools, whirlpools, and fitness equipment that guests are welcome to take advantage of. Again, check out our "Spas" section for details.
If the heat's really getting to you, then the new Arctic Ice Room at Caesars' QUA spa might be just what the doctor ordered. It features heated floors and benches in a room that's chilled to 55 degrees, complete with indoor falling snow and skin-scrub ice-cubes. Yes, really.
Or check out Red Square at Mandalay Bay, where they have a bar made from a solid block of ice and serve around 170 different vodkas. If you're in a party, you can also check out the famous Vodka Locker -- it's a walk-in freezer where the vodkas are stored and is so cold that they provide you with a fur coat and hat. It seats between 8 and 10 people and the admission charge is a bottle of vodka, which start at $250 each.
Too early in the day for a martini? Luv-It Frozen Custard, located at 505 E. Oakey Blvd. (a short walk from the Stratosphere) is a Las Vegas tradition established since 1973. Their product is made fresh daily and has a richer flavor and consistency than regular ice cream and melts slower. Sundaes are the house specialty, with myriad flavors to choose from, plus whips, malts, shakes, floats, and other specialty frozen yummies.
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