the other side of vegas

You can combine luxury and adventure at JW Marriott in Summerlin.

By LISA ROUGHLEY

Photo: PR

When Bugsy Siegel launched the first Las Vegas casino, his pals griped that no one would ever willingly spend any time in a desert. “Fuhgeddaboutit,” Siegel said. “We’ll build the most luxurious hotel money can buy, add some classy entertainment and a gambling casino, locate the whole production under a sky studded with a million stars, and the swells will beat down the door.”

These days, while Vegas pulses day and night with several billion megawatts, Siegel’s dream lives on at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Summerlin. The casino-resort, located 20 minutes northwest of the Strip, is a 21st-Century version of the secluded escape Siegel envisioned. The Mediterranean-styled property offers 548 oversized guestrooms in a lush resort setting.

Just 10 minutes from the resort, rugged Red Rock Canyon etches a ragged line across the horizon. By day, the peaks glow rust and umber. At sunset, they turn gold and ruby. A cowboy trail ride or a mountain-biking excursion in Red Rock is one adventure that Marriott’s Personal Planning Center staff can coordinate. The Executive Golf Desk reserves priority rounds on 12 of Las Vegas’ courses.

Sun worshippers can lounge by the pool, while sensualists succumb to the enticements offered by the resort’s 40,000-square-foot Aquae Sulis Spa. With the addition of Aquae Sulis Garden, guests can partake in outdoor fitness classes, such as yoga, Tai Chi, belly dancing, and Hula. If hustle and bustle beckons, shuttles run to the Strip.

The resort has several dining options. Early risers can get the day’s first java jolt at Starbucks. Lunch and dinner choices include J.C. Wooloughan’s Irish Pub, Ceres Restaurant, The Waterside Grill (standard fare), Teppanyaki at Shizen (Japanese), The Carmel Room (fine dining), and Spiedini Ristorante (Italian).

Other adventure trips that can be set up through JW Marriott include:

• Photo safari to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, or Valley of Fire
• Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River
• Skydiving over the desert or simulated skydiving in an indoor flight tunnel
• A helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas skyline
• Hiking and horseback riding at nearby Mount Charleston
• Tours of abandoned gold mines and a Wild West ghost town
• Seasonal dinner cruises on Lake Mead aboard the Desert Princess, an authentic Mississippi paddleboat
• A visit to the Hoover Dam museum and a guided hard-hat tour of the property
• A trip to Area 51—the secret military facility celebrated in Independence Day and Steven Spielberg’s miniseries Taken.

Holiday Happenings at JW Marriott

The JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa captures the spirit of the holidays with a 20-foot tree in the center of the main lobby and decorations throughout the resort.

On Christmas morning, guests can relax to the sounds of live piano music while dining on Executive Chef Bruce Knapik’s Christmas Ceres brunch buffet. This year, the menu includes a wide selection of salads, homemade soup, an international cheese display, fresh baked breads and pastries, desserts, and meat dishes ranging from traditional turkey to garlic-crusted leg of lamb. Seating is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the cost for adults is $42 per person. Children five to 12 are $18.95, and children younger than five are free. A three-course Christmas dinner is served in Ceres Restaurant starting at $45 per person.

On New Year’s Eve, the resort presents “Old Hollywood Nights at Edge Ultra Lounge.” Doors open at 9 p.m. with a $50 cover charge and the party goes into the morning hours. Guests are invited (but not required) to wear their best “Old Hollywood” attire with a chance to win one of 10 complimentary entries to the event. The celebration features special guest DJ Mathias spinning songs, and everyone will be treated to party favors and champagne to toast 2008.

For more information about holiday festivities, or to make dinner reservations, call the resort at the numbers listed below.