There's no doubt that Las Vegas is a fun town, but sometimes you just miss that true, city feel.
Crystals is like its own metropolitan city. With its stunning architecture, gardens, water displays and shopping selection, Crystals is a day trip on its own. Have your camera phone handy. Aside from the high-end retail shops, you'll have plenty of photo ops in front of snazzy looking fixtures.
Take the water features, for instance. Created by WET Design, these fixtures will blow your mind. One water feature includes tubes with neon lights and water twirling on the inside. The other water feature displays color-changing columns of ice with crackles that change each time the ice comes up to the surface.
The sightseeing doesn't stop here: Crystals features a real aloe tree, a colorful, living flower "carpet" and even a tree house fixture where diners sit and enjoy a meal. Take a peek outside and check out the "pocket park" between Crystals and Aria hotel. Enjoy a quiet moment among the trees and Henry Moore's "Reclining Connected Forms" sculpture.
We haven't even touched on shopping yet.
Get your credits cards ready. Crystals offers some of the largest designer stores in the city. It's not everyday you see a two-story Louis Vuitton store. In fact, this is the largest Louis store in the country. Imagine the selection of purses you can choose from! This store also carries a wide selection of clothing, shoes and accessories.
Speaking of two floors, Holly Golightly would have loved the mall's two-story, 10,000-square-foot Tiffany & Co. Within this massive space, you'll find bracelets, diamond rings, necklaces, earrings and everything sparkly.
If you need fresh air after looking at all those jewels, Gallery Row is located outside to the right of Tiffany & Co. Catch stunning views of the surrounding hotels as well as Claes Thure's towering piece, "Typewriter Eraser." Marvel at Dale Chihuly's work at The Gallery at CityCenter, as well as The Art of Richard McDonald, Rodney Lough Jr. and Centerpiece.
Crystals also features a fine selection of high-end retailers including Jimmy Choo, Versace, H. Stern, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford and Prada, to name a few.
The mall has five entrances, including a sky bridge leading to Mandarin Oriental hotel. If you want to hotel hop, take the tram that goes to Bellagio and Monte Carlo and back. The tram station is located on the third floor. If you're staying at MGM Grand, hotel guests can take a shuttle to Crystals. Driving? Aria offers a free parking garage.
--By Jeannie Garcia
