April 3, 2026 • 7 mins
"One of life’s great truths is that Las Vegas never rests on its laurels. It is constantly in a state of evolution and reinvention, unfurling ever brighter and more ambitious embellishments to enrich its entertainment arsenal."
"No matter how you tackle Sin City, Las Vegas requires a suspension of disbelief, as you’re swallowed up within the whirling, swirling haze of escapist gratification. Blend the best of new and old Las Vegas, sampling the latest and greatest hits in town."
Read Mike's full article here.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Travel correspondents Mike Yardley. He's taking us to the Las Vegas,
Nevada this morning for the latest and greatest in Sin City.
And it's not the sort of place that rests on
its laurels, is it, mate?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
This is very true, Jack, Yes, I was thinking Vegas
is more like a globulous shape shifting organism. You know,
it's always it's always on the search for to.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Be described as globulus, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
This is very true. But I mean the latest Star specimen,
which I checked out a couple of weeks ago, is
undeniably the sphere. I've heard a lot about the sphere
and it really is quite trippy. So they are saying
in Vegas this is the entertainment venue of the future
because it's just got so much immersive technology. And interestingly, Jacob,
(00:59):
you are going there in the next few months. I
noticed the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, and Metallica all have residencies
in this sphere over the next few months. But even
if you don't venture inside what is the world's largest
spherical structure, it's from the outside that it's just so remarkable.
So that exterior skin, which they call the Exo Sphere. Yeah,
(01:24):
it's become the greatest advertising billboard in the world, and
it is just positively eye popping to see in the flesh.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, it looks amazing, Like I really, It's one of
those things where like just I constantly, you know, I
often think about wanting to go there, and not for
the rest of the city, but just to experience the
sphere itself, because it does look extraordinary. I'm always amazed
that they don't like accidentally bring down planes and things.
That's so bright, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
See.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Anyway, what about the strip itself has that smart and
dumb tact. Does it change at all?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Interesting? Yeah, because it's been ten years since I was
last in Vegas, and the whole scene feels cleaner and classier,
and without being too judge, I think it is that
Vegas has decided we're not just going to pander to
the Singleton Shorts brigade. And by the way, Robotaxis, as
you will know, Jack, they're on the march in the US.
(02:19):
If you're heading to Vegas, take a ride in a Zooks.
So this is not a car, it's more like a
glass cabin on wheels and it will just zip you
all over sin City with autonomous precision. It's an Amazon product,
but Vegas is one of the two test cities. San
fran is also being used at the moment, and you
can hail a ride with the Zooks for free at
(02:42):
the moment with the app. So I think they're offering
free rides this year in Vegas. So yes, super cool.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, that's great. I suppose it's to try and help
its machine learning and all that kind of thing, but yes,
sound like a bit of fun. Vegas is making a
big move into the sports market to.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Massive. Yeah. So obviously people will know about the F
one that that street circuit down the strip that's become
such a highlight on the F one roster. Allegiant Stadium,
Oh my goodness, what a venue. Go and check out
Allegiant Stadium on a tour. They hosted Super Bowl two
years ago and this week it's just been confirmed they
will host Super Bowl again in two years time. And
(03:23):
across the road from Ndolai bajack I was gazing over
a four billion dollar basketball arena which is currently been constructed.
So they are expanding the NBA league and Vegas is
gunning to get a team, you know, sort of home
base for this glitzy new arena. So yeah, Live Sport
(03:44):
is definitely the new god in Sin City.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What are the best free attractions in Las Vegas?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, well, for all the latest bling the classics, they
still resonate, and none more so than those Billagio fountains.
There are plenty of imitations around the world. I'm looking
at you Do, Bai, but you cannot beat original. And
I was just watching the crowd, you know, thousands and
thousands of people just stopping in their tracks to watch
(04:13):
these incredible dancing fountains. They are gorgeous. There are so
many free attractions in the Strip hotels. My favorite would
actually be the Fall of Atlentis Animatronics show, which you
can find inside Caesar's Palace. I used to love watching
the volcano erupting outside the mirage. I was sad to
(04:35):
discover a couple of weeks ago that's gone. It's been bold,
but taking its place is the new hard rock Hotel
Jack and they are building a fifty story guitar shaped
at tower as you do.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, I mean even just the people watching it going
in on the watching Yeah, you certainly get some color,
to say the least. So for oddest school vibes, what
hotels on the stage you check out?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Well, all things at Elvis is trending. So if you
want to check out the hotel where he notoriously performed
night after night, year after year in the lead up
to his death, go to the Westgate Hotel formerly known
as the International, now known as Westgate. You can even
stay in the Alvis Suite where he was domiciled for
(05:24):
seven years. I noticed Barry Manilow is currently doing a
residency at the Westgate. Jack and I also love the Flamingo.
They do have flamingos in the garden, although when I
was there a couple of weeks ago, Yeah, a drunk
Canadian tourist kidnapped two of the birds. So security is
(05:44):
rather tight at the Flamingo. And mobster Bugsy Siegel actually
established this hotel, the Flamingo, just before he was assassinated.
So there's just a bucket load of history at the Flamingo.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, amazing. So, speaking of history, Fremont Street in downtown
is that worth a jaune?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah? Dip into Vintad, Las Vegas. This is where the
first bursts of blazing Neon and casinos were established. It
does have a ced vibe, to be honest, but there
are a lot of cheap thrills, like that slot Zilla
zip line experience. So you can actually fly right above
the original cluster of casino hotels and Fremont Street, and
(06:28):
the whole thing has been encased by this massive canopy
which stretches for four blocks along Fremont Street and around
the clock. That canopy sort of sets the stage for
a very trippy sound and light show. So yeah, a
lot of cheap thrills downtown in Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And if you're into museums, we is good for a nosing.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Two super quick tips. The Mob Museum is a cracker.
It's writ large with macarbon sights into the vice like
grip the Mob had on Vegas and maybe still does.
And I do adore the Neon Museum. Jackets, iconic hotel
signs go to die, laid to rest and freshly lit
(07:11):
before the buildings are demolished, like the Mirage Hotel and
my Volcano.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Very good. That sounds like a lot of fun. Yeah,
I've got to get there. I haven't been there in oh,
probably ten years, as well as probably ten years since
I was lasting Vegas. I feel like Vegas is like
great for forty eight hours. You know, it's near place
to spend two weeks or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But a quick dip is good.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yes, quick dip is a way to do things. And
now with the sphere, I really must get there. I
would love to see that. Yeah, yeah, thank you so much, Mike.
We'll put all of Mike's tips for tripping the best
of new and old in Las Vegas up on the
News Talks.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
He'd be website for more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame.
Listen live to News Talks he'd be from nine am Saturday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Travel correspondents Mike Yardley. He's taking us to the Las Vegas,
Nevada this morning for the latest and greatest in Sin City.
And it's not the sort of place that rests on
its laurels, is it, mate?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
This is very true, Jack, Yes, I was thinking Vegas
is more like a globulous shape shifting organism. You know,
it's always it's always on the search for to.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Be described as globulus, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
This is very true. But I mean the latest Star specimen,
which I checked out a couple of weeks ago, is
undeniably the sphere. I've heard a lot about the sphere
and it really is quite trippy. So they are saying
in Vegas this is the entertainment venue of the future
because it's just got so much immersive technology. And interestingly, Jacob,
(00:59):
you are going there in the next few months. I
noticed the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, and Metallica all have residencies
in this sphere over the next few months. But even
if you don't venture inside what is the world's largest
spherical structure, it's from the outside that it's just so remarkable.
So that exterior skin, which they call the Exo Sphere. Yeah,
(01:24):
it's become the greatest advertising billboard in the world, and
it is just positively eye popping to see in the flesh.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, it looks amazing, Like I really, It's one of
those things where like just I constantly, you know, I
often think about wanting to go there, and not for
the rest of the city, but just to experience the
sphere itself, because it does look extraordinary. I'm always amazed
that they don't like accidentally bring down planes and things.
That's so bright, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
See.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Anyway, what about the strip itself has that smart and
dumb tact. Does it change at all?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Interesting? Yeah, because it's been ten years since I was
last in Vegas, and the whole scene feels cleaner and classier,
and without being too judge, I think it is that
Vegas has decided we're not just going to pander to
the Singleton Shorts brigade. And by the way, Robotaxis, as
you will know, Jack, they're on the march in the US.
(02:19):
If you're heading to Vegas, take a ride in a Zooks.
So this is not a car, it's more like a
glass cabin on wheels and it will just zip you
all over sin City with autonomous precision. It's an Amazon product,
but Vegas is one of the two test cities. San
fran is also being used at the moment, and you
can hail a ride with the Zooks for free at
(02:42):
the moment with the app. So I think they're offering
free rides this year in Vegas. So yes, super cool.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, that's great. I suppose it's to try and help
its machine learning and all that kind of thing, but yes,
sound like a bit of fun. Vegas is making a
big move into the sports market to.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Massive. Yeah. So obviously people will know about the F
one that that street circuit down the strip that's become
such a highlight on the F one roster. Allegiant Stadium,
Oh my goodness, what a venue. Go and check out
Allegiant Stadium on a tour. They hosted Super Bowl two
years ago and this week it's just been confirmed they
will host Super Bowl again in two years time. And
(03:23):
across the road from Ndolai bajack I was gazing over
a four billion dollar basketball arena which is currently been constructed.
So they are expanding the NBA league and Vegas is
gunning to get a team, you know, sort of home
base for this glitzy new arena. So yeah, Live Sport
(03:44):
is definitely the new god in Sin City.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
What are the best free attractions in Las Vegas?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, well, for all the latest bling the classics, they
still resonate, and none more so than those Billagio fountains.
There are plenty of imitations around the world. I'm looking
at you Do, Bai, but you cannot beat original. And
I was just watching the crowd, you know, thousands and
thousands of people just stopping in their tracks to watch
(04:13):
these incredible dancing fountains. They are gorgeous. There are so
many free attractions in the Strip hotels. My favorite would
actually be the Fall of Atlentis Animatronics show, which you
can find inside Caesar's Palace. I used to love watching
the volcano erupting outside the mirage. I was sad to
(04:35):
discover a couple of weeks ago that's gone. It's been bold,
but taking its place is the new hard rock Hotel
Jack and they are building a fifty story guitar shaped
at tower as you do.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, I mean even just the people watching it going
in on the watching Yeah, you certainly get some color,
to say the least. So for oddest school vibes, what
hotels on the stage you check out?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Well, all things at Elvis is trending. So if you
want to check out the hotel where he notoriously performed
night after night, year after year in the lead up
to his death, go to the Westgate Hotel formerly known
as the International, now known as Westgate. You can even
stay in the Alvis Suite where he was domiciled for
(05:24):
seven years. I noticed Barry Manilow is currently doing a
residency at the Westgate. Jack and I also love the Flamingo.
They do have flamingos in the garden, although when I
was there a couple of weeks ago, Yeah, a drunk
Canadian tourist kidnapped two of the birds. So security is
(05:44):
rather tight at the Flamingo. And mobster Bugsy Siegel actually
established this hotel, the Flamingo, just before he was assassinated.
So there's just a bucket load of history at the Flamingo.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, amazing. So, speaking of history, Fremont Street in downtown
is that worth a jaune?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah? Dip into Vintad, Las Vegas. This is where the
first bursts of blazing Neon and casinos were established. It
does have a ced vibe, to be honest, but there
are a lot of cheap thrills, like that slot Zilla
zip line experience. So you can actually fly right above
the original cluster of casino hotels and Fremont Street, and
(06:28):
the whole thing has been encased by this massive canopy
which stretches for four blocks along Fremont Street and around
the clock. That canopy sort of sets the stage for
a very trippy sound and light show. So yeah, a
lot of cheap thrills downtown in Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And if you're into museums, we is good for a nosing.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Two super quick tips. The Mob Museum is a cracker.
It's writ large with macarbon sights into the vice like
grip the Mob had on Vegas and maybe still does.
And I do adore the Neon Museum. Jackets, iconic hotel
signs go to die, laid to rest and freshly lit
(07:11):
before the buildings are demolished, like the Mirage Hotel and
my Volcano.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Very good. That sounds like a lot of fun. Yeah,
I've got to get there. I haven't been there in oh,
probably ten years, as well as probably ten years since
I was lasting Vegas. I feel like Vegas is like
great for forty eight hours. You know, it's near place
to spend two weeks or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But a quick dip is good.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yes, quick dip is a way to do things. And
now with the sphere, I really must get there. I
would love to see that. Yeah, yeah, thank you so much, Mike.
We'll put all of Mike's tips for tripping the best
of new and old in Las Vegas up on the
News Talks.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
He'd be website for more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame.
Listen live to News Talks he'd be from nine am Saturday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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