People-watching in Vegas

One of my favorite pastimes in Vegas is people-watching. It's another free thing to do, and it can be done almost anywhere there are people present. Yes, there are places - even in Vegas - where you might get a funny look and not want to obviously (or secretively) watch someone. So don't pry if it seems too private.

I love watching people interact with one another - or with no one in particular - and human nature just makes me want to see what's going to happen next. From the awe on the faces of first-timers in Vegas to the little old man or woman feeding single dollar bills into the penny machine next to me, I find that Vegas is ripe for people-watching moments. All I need is a comfortable place to sit back and watch humanity unfold before my eyes...and maybe a free drink in my hand.

I've seen fights, a whole lot of public displays of affection (PDA), some sad and touching moments, and things that are just downright funny. You never know when your next Vegas people-watching moment will be upon you, either, so it's not like you can prepare or anything.

Here's a listing of some of my favorite people-watching locations in Vegas:

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is a favorite place of mine because the area is so HUGE! The shops themselves are beautiful to look at, and because of the mix of high-end and regular retailers and restaurants found within its more than 700,000 square feet of space, there's a great deal of people of all classes to watch. One of my favorite places to sit is by the main fountain, as it is a central access point for the shops and also leads to the Forum Casino inside of Caesars Palace, so there are a lot of people passing by on a regular basis. While you're people-watching, you can window shop, too, and watch as the sky overhead changes from dawn to dusk and back again over the course of an hour. Subtle, but pretty cool. Check the mall maps if you get lost, because it's entirely possible.

The patio at Mon Ami Gabi Restaurant - Paris Hotel. If you're doing your people-watching from here, you are probably eating breakfast, lunch or dinner at Mon Ami Gabi - or at least enjoying a glass of wine and an appetizer or dessert. In my opinion it's one of the best places to relax and people-watch in Vegas because you can enjoy a meal, check out the people on the Strip, and watch the fountain shows at the Bellagio all at the same time. It doesn't get much better than that for me in Vegas...

Carnaval Court at Harrah's. Because of it's prime, mid-Strip location and open seating area, the Carnaval Court is a great place to people-watch while you're listening to the bands perform on stage. There are times when an overly drunk girl will attempt to get up on the bar to dance with the flair bartenders, but they are (usually) discouraged and helped down before they can manage to hurt themselves. Also, because of the great music and flowing alcohol, watching the people in the audience dance (or at least attempt to) is a very entertaining diversion.

The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. There are about 150 shops in this horseshoe-shaped assortment, and it really is a mile from one end of the shops to the other. While these shops are not quite as high-end as the Forum Shops, there is still quite a bit of humanity walking around on a daily basis. Lots of small, informal restaurants and eateries to park yourself at while you watch the world go by, too.

Fremont Street Experience and downtown Las Vegas. Because the casinos are so close together, and because there are lots of bands and street performers there every night of the week, a chance to get downtown to Fremont Street and the surrounding area will net you a lot of interesting people-watching experiences. Being downtown brings the added element of the homeless and down-trodden, so don't be overly obvious while people-watching; you don't want to bring too much attention to yourself and possibly become the watched instead of the watcher.

The poker rooms at Bellagio, Wynn, and The Mansion at MGM. Now that No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker is so popular, you can watch the big boys and girls play, but they are sometimes obscured behind a bit of frosted glass for their privacy - and so you won't have to worry about spilling your free drink on them! These poker rooms are the most popular for the famous gamblers and the not-so-famous who would love to beat them, and they don't seem to mind people watching them play. Some are even gracious enough to give an autograph when they pass by. These are not the only poker rooms in town by any means, but they are some of the best for day-to-day people watching on a grander scale.

The Rio Poker Room. The Rio Poker Room is in a class by itself because of one thing: the World Series of Poker (WSOP). For six to seven weeks out of the year (late May to mid-July), The Rio hosts the 50-some-odd events of the World Series of Poker. During this time, it's not just famous poker players you'll see, but celebrities of all types who come out to watch - and sometimes play in - the most famous poker event around. Expect a crush of people if you go, though; it is such a popular event that they only allow people in for X amount of time, but you can go back and get in line again and again if you really want to see the action on the tables. If you're lucky enough, you might even score one of the coveted seats in the viewing area, which will allow you to stay and watch a little longer.


I hope you find some good people-watching opportunities! Seeing an "only in Vegas" moment makes for a great story to tell your friends and family when you get home.

Enjoy!