TajLV

Opened in December 2009, CityCenter is the MGM Mirage’s newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip, comprising several new hotels, condos, and the Aria Resort & Casino.

I expected more of a Steve Wynn creation. The atrium as you enter is more like a movie set than an indoor garden. The red chandeliers in the casino are garrish in the extreme, as is the red carpeting with butterflies. The colors actually hurt your eyes. The pool area looked small, crowded. I found nothing to set it apart from other Strip casinos. I prefer the Wynn next door for its opulence and design.

Rather than drive the 18+ miles to the unmanned gate on the road to Groom Lake, we were advised to drive eight miles from Rachel, NV to the manned back gate. It’s a bit more photogenic, but no more accessible. We were warned that fines of $600 to $6,000 were levied on trespassers. Some non-US citizens who took photos beyond the warning sign had their passports confiscated and were deported, without an opportunity to collect their belongings from their hotel room. They are now banned from the United States for life. The people who work at and guard the secrets of Area 51 are very serious. They will not even talk about their work with locals at the bar in Rachel. So don’t expect much. Just bring your sense of adventure (and humor).

BTW.. Verizon signals are strong in this area, but AT&T was non-existent. Apparently, visiting aliens appreciate “the network.”