Inside Las Vegas

Las Vegas often marks its seasons by the presence–or absence–of heat. As an all-season destination, Sin City has few traditions to mark the arrival of autumn, but one is cherished by locals and visitors alike. The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden offers five extravagant exhibits each year to celebrate the arrival of a new season, including the Chinese New Year. Its Fall 2020 exhibit, “Into the Woods,” opened September 15 and offers a journey through a place that most would never associate with the Strip—a magical forest.

This seasonal tradition dates back to 1998 with the opening of the Bellagio Hotel. This year, attendees can explore a virtual forest featuring colorful mushrooms, a grizzled old tree sculpted into a friendly grimace, buzzing fireflies and more—all painstakingly sculpted from an array of flowers, plants, and trees. Visitors looking for the inside conservatory are often surprised to find this world within a world just a short distance from the front lobby.

This year, a family of foxes aboard a magical sailboat greets the visitor. Travel further, and a large hand-hewn tree comes into view. Called the “Talking Tree,” on closer inspection, travelers will find that it also is home to an elaborate, flower-festooned tree house. Spanning 14,000 square feet, “Into the Woods” also features four winged faeries (and their faerie home), bears playing in a harvest of pumpkins (and, naturally, a honey pot) and much more.

While justly famous for its legendary fountains, these “Woods” are sure to delight both children and adults. This Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden exhibit is one of the most popular offered by any strip property and remains free to the public, 24 hours a day. Get there early, as there are bound to be numerous visitors.

In a sign of normalcy returning to the Strip, the Wynn is reopening its famous 8,600 square foot Poker Room on September 30 at noon. When it closed in March as a result of COVID precautions, it was announced as temporary. In the interim, numerous protective measures have been put into place.

The Poker Room, located at Wynn’s Encore facility, will feature 24 poker tables for cash gaming. Several tables have been removed to ensure a more spacious environment for gaming, and each table will seat up to 8 players. Safety dividers have been installed for worry-free play, and cards and chips will be sanitized on a continual basis.

All of the amenities that have made the Poker Room a popular spot for players are back. Visitors will appreciate its sports wagering window, as well as numerous 65” high-definition televisions throughout streaming live sporting events. Each table also contains personal USB ports for players to charge their electronic devices. As before, a special poker menu features high-end cuisine from selected local restaurants.

The Wynn Poker Room is renowned for its open, uncluttered, and exclusive ambience, and it returns as the destination of choice for poker devotees from around the country. Wynn anticipates the resumption of tournament play soon, but for now guests can look forward to 24 hours, 7 days a week gameplay.

Las Vegas is a 24-7-365 town, but some months are busier than others. When March arrives, the days get warmer and longer. Basketball fans arrive in droves to cheer on March Madness. And Pool Party season officially gets underway. From March to October, thousands of visitors flock to the Strip to cool off–and let’s face it, to show off–by the pool. Pool Parties are a veritable nightclub in broad daylight, with private cabanas, bikini-clad hostesses serving up signature crafted drinks, and world-renown DJs helping to orchestrate the mood. It all starts the first week of March. Here are some noteworthy dayclubs to check out with your crew.

At the Mandalay Bay, the Daylight Beach Club remains one of the city’s largest pool parties. The main pool is nearly 5000 square-feet in volume, including plenty of room for revelers to cool off from the day’s heat. The Daylight has its own dedicated parking lot, so partygoers need not trudge through the hotel. It also boasts 23 VIP Cabanas, two ultra-VIP bungalows and a stage which in previous years has hosted luminaries like Ludacris, Morgan Page, Jeezy, Steve Powers, and more. This dayclub is jumping every day, with Rosé All Day Thursdays catering to the bachelorette crowd. The Daylight opens March 5.

The famous Wet Republic commences its 2020 season the next day, March 5. Located at the MGM Grand, Wet Republic caters to revelers looking for great dance music. March alone brings DJ Shift, Fergie DJ, Jeff Retro, Cash Cash, and the legendary Steve Aoki all killing it in the booth. Wet Republic continually upgrades its accommodations, which include cabanas, bungalows, and daybeds arranged around its “Ultra Pool.” Their cabanas include giant TVs. The bungalows are next-level luxury, featuring plush furniture, private plunge pools and restroom and shower facilities. Wet Republic’s party vibe is real, so it gets packed early–especially Thursday to Sunday.

Drai’s Beach Club opens March 15. Drai’s is renowned for its incredible views, situated 11 stories above the Strip on the rooftop of the Cromwell. Featuring a 30,000 square-foot deck and two large pools, partygoers will enjoy the offerings of its 2 full-service bars and 75 bottle service tables. The soundtrack leans heavy on hip-hop with a large amount of cutting-edge EDM thrown in for good measure. In 2017, no less than Snoop Dogg thrilled a Tuesday night crowd when he played a full set at the stage poolside. This year, performers include Maria Romano, Luke Shay, Shift, and the return of DJ Pauly Shore. The pool opens every day, with Swim Night held on Thursdays.

Imitated but never equaled, Sin City pool parties have only gotten bigger over time. While all pool parties have a lot in common, there are also differences. Some cater to a younger crowd, some are known for their cutting-edge DJ sets, while others have a smaller, more intimate vibe. 2020 promises to be one of the wildest seasons yet, so get your tickets and your wingman (or woman) lined up early.