Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

Review

Most of us go to the mall to grab the outfit we want, then leave. But the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is far from simple -- you'll want to stick around a lot longer. 

Talking statues. An exotic fish aquarium. World-renowned restaurants. Oh, and the selection of high-end retail stores isn't too shabby, either. With stores from famous designers like Salvatore Ferragamo, Gianni Versace, Dolce and Gabbana and Louis Vuitton, you won't have a problem with splurging. The Forum Shops also offers a nice blend of popular favorites. These include Guess, Gap, Express, Nike and the bargains at H&M. 

The three-story H&M will blow your mind. With its energetic music, bright colors and stylishly-dressed mannequins suspended from the ceiling, H&M feels like a party and shopping spree rolled into one. Since it carries a wide selection of men's and women's apparel, no one will stand around bored while their significant other tries on clothes. If you shop wisely, you can probably put together an outfit with accessories for less than $100. That means more money to splurge on your trip.

Love chocolate and comfort food? Just across the way, Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man is a great place to take a break during your shopping spree. Where else can you find chocolate ranch dipping sauce for your fries and onion rings? In addition to a variety of creative concoctions like Choco-Pops (hot cocoa with chocolate wafer balls) and strawberry white chocolate smoothie, you can enjoy savory bites, too. The food menu offers everything from paninis and pizzas to pasta and pancakes. Browse through the gift shop and bring some gourmet chocolate and the restaurant's signature "hug mug" home with you. 

For those with a fancier appetite, the Forum Shops' selection of restaurants is sure to please the pickiest palate. These include Il Mulino New York, Spago, Sushi Roku, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab and The Palm, among others. 

If you plan on walking through the entire mall, make sure to check out the 175,000-square-foot, three-level area featuring a spiral escalator -- one of only two in the United States. Make your home fancy with a spree at Baccarat crystal. For edgier, hippie-style decor, Anthropologie offers plenty, along with bath products, accessories and vintage-inspired women's clothing. 

Nearby, art lovers can stroll through Peter Max and Peter Lik galleries. Peter Max is known for his abstract, psychedelic art, while Peter Lik's claim to fame is his bright, digitally-enhanced photographs.  

While you're in the exploring mood, see statues "talk" at the Atlantis fountain show.  These lifelike animatronic figures include a breathtaking fire and water show. The show runs every hour on the hour. While you're here, admire the 50,000-gallon aquarium featuring more than 100 species including stingrays, flounders, puffers and much more. Free below-the-scenes tours are available Monday through Friday at 3:15 p.m. 

Last but not least, ladies can snag all their makeup essentials at Sephora. In addition to lip glosses, eye shadows and more mascara wands than you can imagine, Sephora also offers a wall's worth of designer fragrances for both men and women. Hello Kitty fans can snag some fun accessories like handheld mirrors, hairbrushes and compact mirrors. For more beauty needs, Forum Shops also offers a massive MAC cosmetics store. 

If you're in the hotel's casino area, make sure to check out the upscale shops at Appian Way as well.

-- By Jeannie Garcia