Take Your March Madness to Vegas

5 Reasons Why Sin City is the Place to Go Now

What a difference a week makes! Wet snow and freezing rain have us begging for those insane, spring-like days of January and February. Still, sun-splashed relief is but a one-hour flight away in Las Vegas, where the gaming is hot, accommodations are plush, entertainment is world class and the golf is sensational.

Here is a five-course sampling of why Vegas is the place to be right now:

1. Premier Course Conditioning: This week’s storms have also brought turf-sweetening rain to Vegas, and have leveled daylight temperatures into that high-60s, low-70s sweet spot. Take full advantage by booking tee times at peerless destinations like 2015 CAGGY winners Shadow Creek (designed by Tom Fazio), The Wynn Golf Club (Fazio, pictured below), Las Vegas Paiute Resort (Pete Dye), Cascata (Rees Jones) and Coyote Springs Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus).

Photo: The Wynn Golf Club, © Chris Duthie

Photo: The Wynn Golf Club, © Chris Duthie

2. Big-Ticket Memories: For legendary entertainment ranging from Cirque du Soleil to Blue Man Group, it’s impossible to find a more exhaustive bucket list of must-see performances than in Las Vegas. CdS’ tribute to Michael Jackson is among the best, and so are adults-only Jubilee and X Rocks; the Frankie Valli tribute Jersey Boys; and iconic Legends in Concert, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

3. Reinvent Your Vacation: Las Vegas is constantly redefining its mind-blowing desert lifestyle. New to the Strip is the luxurious Cromwell, a boutique-style casino resort that includes among its enticements the first-ever restaurant by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis; and The LINQ Hotel and Casino, the massive “socially connected” property that is turning heads with celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s first Las Vegas restaurant, spa, titillating entertainment and the world’s tallest observation wheel.

4. St. Patrick’s Day Twist: Get your Irish on when Fremont Street hosts a heritage-celebrating St. Patty’s Parade and Firefighter Fun Challenge that promises to wow the entire family. The event will include six competitions, with winnings donated to local charities. Tuesday, March 17, from 12-5 p.m.

5. March Madness: Las Vegas won’t be hosting any season-ending NCAA men’s basketball tournaments this season, but that won’t stop its thrilling hoops action. Fans can roar for (and wager on) their favorite college teams during live televised games at various March Mayhem Tournament Viewing Parties, including those hosted by the Hard Rock Hotel, Treasure Island, Cabo Wabo Cantina, The Mirage, The Venetian, Crazy Horse III and at the 6th Annual Downtown Hoopstown at the Freemont Street Experience. March 19-21.

RELATED LINKS

2015 CAGGY Awards: Best Travel Destinations

Go For Broke in Las Vegas

Nevada Lodging is a Sure Bet

Wynn Big in Sin City

Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.

GET COLORADO GOLF NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX