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Mermaid and Cactus Joe's! Two of my favorite places!
The Mermaid Restaurant and Lounge is one of my favorite places in Las Vegas. Why? Well, its because one of the best aquariums in Las Vegas is part of Mermaid! People gather at the Aquarium everyday, just to relax and watch the fish. The aquarium is state of the art and real mermaids swim in the water and feed the fish. Mermaids in a desert is something that most people cannot fathom, but this is Las Vegas!
The Silverton Casino has a very nice rugged outdoor lifestyle theme. Extensive rustic stonework and waterfalls adorn the interior of the casino. There is a huge Bass Pro Shop that is loaded with fishing, hunting and camping gear. The buffet has the look and feel of a modern mountain resort. The mountain lodge them of the Silverton is the only place of its kind in Las Vegas. If you are into the great outdoors, then the Silverton Casino is the place to be!
The Silverton Casino is located by the intersection of I-15 and Blue Diamond Road. Dean Martin Drive runs along the west side of the casino. The Silverton is only a couple blocks aways from the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Silverton Casino takes pride in how well the food is prepared in each of their restaurants. The food quality is a notch above most of the other casinos in the valley that cater to the locals and visitors that want a down home atmosphere. The chefs and cooks at the Silverton are known to be held to a higher standard. Quality is what the food at the Silverton is all about. I have done the Silverton buffet a few times in the past and I was very pleased with the quality and presentation of the food. The Silverton Casino also has one of the highest rated steak house restaurants in Las Vegas.
The atmosphere at the Mermaid Restaurant and Lounge is very relaxing and comfortable. It is almost like being at a lounge that is in an underwater cave! The Mermaid menu offers sandwiches, snack food and lighter fare.
While at Mermaid, I simply ordered a beer and an appetizer of calamari. A beer and fried squid was a great choice of food, while I sat and watched the fish in the aquarium! Fish are not the only creatures that like to eat squid. I am a real fried squid fan!
I found myself sliding down into my seat, as I stretched my legs out and went into a relaxation mode. I was totally relaxed and comfortable, while sipping on a beer and eating finger food next to the aquarium with a great view of the fish!
The calamari was perfectly cooked and they were served with marinara and garlic caper aioli. Calamari was a nice light snack to munch on, while relaxing at the end of my day!
The service was great and the atmosphere was second to none at Mermaid! The dining area was very clean and comfortable. The casino staff was very polite and the down home outdoor feel of the Silverton really added to my relaxation mode.
I don't know about you, but when I watch fish in an aquarium for a while, I kind of start imitating the looks on the fish's faces with my lips, just like a kid. Some of the fish make funny faces. Not to worry! That imitative gesture seems to be a subconscious thing that many people do, so you won't get strange looks from passers by! That is what is called cheap relaxing entertainment.
I highly recommend Mermaid at the Silverton Casino for anyone that wishes to enjoy a pleasant relaxing atmosphere and great food!
Cactus Joe's Blue Diamond Nursery!
Cactus Joe's Blue Diamond Nursery is a one of a kind place. Cactus Joe's is a destination that should be on the list of places to go for locals and visitors of Las Vegas. This is no ordinary cactus nursery garden shop that I am talking about! Cactus Joe's is an experience!
Artistic and visionary are two good descriptions of Cactus Joe's. Some say Cactus Joe's is a destination for the soul and mind. Some say it is a great place to find bargains on cactus and artistic garden decor. Some say it is a religious experience. Everyone says this nursery is a great place to relax and stroll, while casually shopping for one of a kind items.
People have been known to spend an entire day at Cactus Joe's. There is no fee or cover charge. Making a purchase covers the price of admission. The staff at Cactus Joe's are so polite, that even the hint of a sales expectation is not mentioned, but sales is what keeps the place in business.
If an item is damaged or sun faded, the staff usually offers a discount on the item voluntarily. That voluntary notion is rare in this modern world! The staff really does care about cactus and they lovingly nurture sick cactus back to health in a "cactus hospital" garden. The Cactus Joe's staff is second to none when it comes to cactus knowledge and they are happy to answer any questions.
The artwork, ceramics, iron works and pottery are beyond interesting. The theme of the artistic items, while I was there a few days ago, seemed to have an Anasazi theme. There were even rustic ladders reproductions of the same ladders that the Anasazi used to access their cliff dwellings. Plenty of Native American and Mexican style artistic pottery and metal works were up for sale. Many of the items were one of a kind!
Something new at Cactus Joe's was a rock maze! The rock maze is great for children and adults can enjoy the maze too. Semi precious gems, geodes and petrified wood can be found at the rock shop. Fine jewelry can be found at Cactus Joe's shop by the rock maze. Artworks and pottery can be found on the entire site. During the winter months, the cactus are housed to protect them from the cold. In the summer, the cactus are placed around the entire site.
If you are visiting town and you purchase large items at the nursery, arrangements can be made to have the items shipped. The staff is very helpful with loading cactus and large items into vehicles too.
Cactus Joe's is at a higher elevation at the base of the Spring Mountains. During the hot summer months, this nursery is a great place to visit, because it is about fifteen degrees cooler than the valley and a mountain breeze pops up often. Cactus Joe's is a great place to chill out!
Cactus Joe's Blue Diamond Nursery is located west of the Silverton Casino, off of Blue Diamond Road. (Route 160) Where Blue Diamond Road intersects with Route 159, follow Route 159 a couple blocks toward Red Rock Canyon and you will see Cactus Joe's on the east side of the road. Route 159 runs between Blue Diamond Road and Charleston Boulevard. Route 159 runs the entire length of Red Rock Canyon and it is a very pretty scenic drive.
I have been doing business with Cactus Joe's for many years. There have been times when I have gone there just to take a leisurely stroll and soak up the interesting sights. Even though shopping was not on my mind, I always found something interesting to purchase and bring home. During the weeks before I did my chemotherapy a few years ago, I spent a lot of time at the nursery gathering my thoughts.
I have also had an extensive cactus garden of my own and the healthy cactus were purchased at this nursery. The pretty cactus flower at the top of this blog entry page was one that grew on a cactus that I brought home from Cactus Joe's!
I highly recommend Cactus Joe's for many reasons and I am sure that you will find reasons of your own. Like the old sign says "Thru These Gates Walk The Greatest People In The World"! ... Shawna
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