Danny Gans Dies

According to CNN the famous Las Vegas "Entertainer of the Year" Danny Gans, died today at 52. The cause of death has not yet been revealed. Gans’ outrageously successful Vegas career began in 1996, when he landed a three-month gig at the Stratosphere Hotel.

In the intervening years, the Broadway vet had shows at the Mirage Hotel and the Encore Theater at Steve Wynn’s Wynn Las Vegas Hotel. He has sold more tickets on the Strip than the Rat Pack or Elvis Presley, and was voted Las Vegas "Entertainer of the Year" for 11 consecutive years. He leaves behind his wife of 25 years and three children.

Rest in Peace Danny.  Condolences to his family.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum

Unless you let your kids play craps, blackjack, or bet on their video games, then you probably have avoided Las Vegas as one of your family hotspots for vacation. But just because Vegas doesn’t have an honored mouse running around with all of his little friends in the kingdom doesn’t mean you should ignore what the beautiful desert city has to offer families like yours or mine. Sure, when you think of the City of Sin and their “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” motto, you aren’t thinking of children’s activities. But one of the greatest places families can go in the sandy, lit up strip of Nevada is the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum.

With over 22,000 square feet of exhibits, your kids will get to enjoy a hands-on experience as they learn about art, science, humanities and early childhood. There are currently 100 permanent exhibits kids can interact and learn while having fun at the same time. And to keep things more interesting, and families coming back year after year, of course, is by offering a rolling schedule of temporary featured exhibits, such as Clifford and Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body to get the kids’ imaginations moving. You know how kids love to learn about yucky stuff. And the best part is they can touch everything in the museum, which will keep them more interested than if they were in a more formal learning environment that represents a cold funeral home. In addition to the wide array of exhibits for the little ones to get their hand son, there are also several educational programs to keep the learning process going.

Another important feature is the price it costs to get in. With all the fun and interactive education you and your children will get, you would think it should cost more than the $7-8 admission fee, right? And at a time when vacation budgets are being cut, it is important to get the most bang for your buck. So next time you are near the town of secrecy, feel comfortable knowing that there are places like this you can take the kids to for some pure, clean fun. And who knows, you might just end up having a great time with them!

Gregory Popovich’s Pet Comedy Theater

If you ever go on vacation with the family, I am more than positive you have never considered Las Vegas. I mean, “Sin City” a place to bring the kids? All that gambling, liquor, and adult entertainment would be enough to prevent Vegas from entering the arena of vacation planning, right? Well, you may not know this, but there are plenty of things to do with the kids in the land of “evil”. And the funny part is that some of them are located right in the heart of the strip.

All kids love pets. At least, all of mine do, and since I have five then majority rules, I suppose. And nothing is funnier than when pets take on a human persona and run with it. So for some good family entertainment that doesn’t involve scantily clad cocktail waitresses and clouds of cigarette smoke, then you have to take the kiddies to Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theatre . Playing at the V Theater in the Planet Hollywood casino, this show is perfect for all ages. Cats, bird, mice, birds and more join their talents with humans to create the craziest circus you have ever seen before in your life. All of the animals are rescued from shelters across the country and have been trained to tale part in this amazing show.

Watch as the animals entertain the audience and fill the theatre with laughter as their little vignettes are simple yet hilarious. I mean, a cat pushing a dog in a stroller? How can anybody not find that absolutely amusing? Pets acting as humans are always fun to watch. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Give your kids something they will be talking about forever, and even you the parent will be talking about it for years to come. But if you are planning on catching this show, buy your tickets early and make reservations. The word is out and it is one of the hardest shows to get into.

You won’t even know you are in a casino environment while sitting in the show, letting your family enjoy the other side of Sintown. And this is just one of the many family attractions that Vegas has to offer. So what are you waiting for? With shows like this, you will now have a reason to bring the family to the desert city that never sleeps.