Ever wondered what goes on behind the neon curtain of Las Vegas? Think your clients have?
While Sin City isn't about to let them in on all its closely guarded secrets, there are a few select tours that offer a glimpse behind the scenes of some of the Strip's most popular attractions.
The Jubilee Backstage Tour at Bally's Las Vegas provides unique insight into one of the longest-running showgirl productions in Las Vegas, "Don Arden's Jubilee!"
Jubilee showgirls take groups behind the scenes for a one-hour tour exploring costumes, lighting, hair and makeup, and set design. Tours explore the nooks and crannies of Jubilee's 15-story, 190-foot stage, and visitors learn stagehand lingo.
Guests learn that Jubilee showcases 1,000 Bob Mackie designer costumes ranging in value from $7,000 to $20,000; that the show employs nearly 10,000 pounds of jewelry; and that the costume department spends nearly 15 hours a day mending fishnet stockings.
For more on the Jubilee Backstage Tour, call (702) 967-4567 or visit www.ballyslasvegas.com.
Final backstage frontier
The Experience: Secrets Unveiled tour takes visitors behind the scenes of "Star Trek: The Experience" at the Las Vegas Hilton, a multimedia attraction featuring two state-of-the-art, three-dimensional rides employing live actors and the largest permanent collection of Star Trek props and costumes in the world.
Tour guests learn how characters' makeup is applied, explore the inner workings of the rides, visit the backstage memorabilia and autograph wall, and hear backstage anecdotes regarding "Star Trek" the TV show and "Star Trek: The Experience." Call (888) GO-BOLDLY (888-462-6535) or visit www.startrekexp.com.
The Atlantis Aquarium Below-the-Scenes Tour in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace explores the field of marine biology, through a visit to the nether regions of the mall's 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Guests see the shark and ray pool, a coral reef aquarium and touch tanks, fish acclimation areas, the tank's complex filtration system and the tank's private kitchen, where fresh fish food is prepared. Best of all, these tours are free. Call (702) 893-3807 or visit www.forumshops.com.
Track Tours of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway visits garage areas, the main infield, a luxury race suite and nine of the facility's racetracks, including the Superspeedway and the drag strip. If the main track is available, guests take a lap or two in the tour van, stopping for photos at the finish line. For more information, call (800) 644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com.