CSI: The Experience

Detective work

By Jeannie Borbe

Calling all crime scene investigator wannabes!

If you ever had the itch to become a crime scene investigator but never got a chance to test out your skills, this is your perfect opportunity.

At CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand, you'll go through a series of steps that will get you thinking like a real investigator. See how science and critical thinking combine as you piece together the clues in one of three crime scene mysteries.

Before you start, you'll be given an investigation sheet to record your observations. The experience begins with a video introduction by the show's creator, Anthony E. Zuiker as well cast members from the hit TV show.

Don't let the thought of science intimidate you. The attraction takes you through a series of steps to make it a fun and educational experience. You'll tap into everything from DNA and fingerprint analysis to forensic anthropology.

Choose from one of three crime scenes, which appear like life-size dioramas. "A House Collided," displays a car through a living room window; "Who Got Served?" shows a young woman found dead behind a motel and "No Bones about It!" shows a human skull (along with other bones) buried in the desert. Each crime scene showcases bizarre clues that you'll want to jot down.

After exiting the crime scene you selected, you'll come across a panel of photos to take notes on anything you may have missed. You'll then visit two interactive lab areas, each featuring multiple stations with touch screens and other multimedia equipment that allow you to test your findings.

In addition, you'll even have the option to record yourself explaining your observations. This footage may be used for future participants to see.

At the end of CSI: The Experience, you'll answer a series of multiple choice questions based on your scientific findings. After you complete these questions on a touch screen, you'll see a re-enactment of what really happened.

Upon completion, you can purchase a personalized CSI diploma. Or, bring home a certificate which includes a photo of yourself taken at the attraction. For this photo, you'll get to wear a CSI vest and pose in front of a green screen. The gift shop carries a variety of memorabilia, including T-shirts, mouse pads, hats and laptop bags.

If you're a true fan of "CSI" and see crime scene investigating as your true calling, this is one attraction not to be missed.