Picture yourself in sunny Las Vegas: you are in the desert, just a few short miles outside of town you will be able to climb Red Rock Canyon, and yet someone suggests going on a gondola ride. Are there gondolas in Vegas? The answer is a resounding yes. A Venetian experience in Sin City is not as far fetched as it may appear. The Venetian Resort and Hotel is home to the gondola ride.

The Venetian is the premier address for luxury, style, and architectural marvels. Before you even set foot inside this amazing playground for grown ups, you will be baffled by the fantastic architecture that speaks of Italy as a land of enchantment. Once inside, you will be enticed to partake of the many culinary offerings – among which you can find the greats liker Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck – or visit the many exclusive shops and boutiques which are known collectively as the Grand Canal Shoppes. Perhaps you decide to visit Madame Tussaud’s wax cabinet to see the amazing likenesses of Billy Idol, Patrick Stewart, and Sammy Davis, Jr.; for the art enthusiast there is the Guggenheim Museum with its ever changing exhibits.

Yet inevitably the visitor to The Venetian is drawn to the Grand Canal Shoppes. Distinct from any other shopping experience in Las Vegas, the idle strollers will behold street performers and authentically costumed carnival actors. It is not unusual for one ore more of these characters to suddenly break out into an Italian opera aria. Living statues clad in white suddenly come to life and interact with one another or passers by only to once again revert to absolute stillness. The ceiling is painted in the blue and white of a summer day in Venice, and the amazing lighting makes it look like it is perpetually three o’clock in the afternoon. Yet bar none the highlight of The Venetian experience is the gondola ride. Aimed to imitate the unforgettable Canale Grande the resort has imported authentic Venetian gondolas to complete a perfect illusion. An experienced gondolier, who is also adept at singing Italian arias, rows the gondola. More often than not, your gondolier will delight passengers with “O Solo Mio” or “Santa Lucia.” It is amazing – and for the first timer perhaps a bit embarrassing – to suddenly have casual stop and gaze at you while you are gliding past them on a gondola. As a matter of fact, some visitors have found that onlookers will even take their photos as part of their own personal Las Vegas experience. Yet whatever the case may be, this is a wonderful ride that should be taken if at all possible!

There are two possibilities for taking this ride: either indoors or out of doors, weather permitting. If at all possible, you should opt for both. In addition to the foregoing, do yourself a favor and retain this memory by purchasing the photos, which are taken of you at the time of the ride. They will make a wonderful keepsake and present a treasured memory you will want to remember time and again.

When the ride finally ends, you may wish to take in an amazing meal. Why not have beautiful views of the gondolas while dining at Canaletto? Well known for its well stocked wine cellar as well as the unmistakable smells of fresh baked bread from a nearby bakery, the waiting list for a large table is long and reservations are most certainly encouraged if not required. The restaurant seeks to recreate the charm of the Piazza di San Marco and it does so beautifully! The only way that you will be able to tell this St. Marks’ Square from the one actually located in Venice, Italy, is the notable absence of pigeons!

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