Experience The High Roller in Las Vegas
Category: Travel
In February 2014 The High Roller began taking guests 550 feet high giving them a remarkable view of Las Vegas from the sky. Compared to the famed London Eye, which tops out at 443 feet high, The High Roller is currently the tallest Observation Wheel in the world. It takes approximately 30 minutes to make the journey from the wheelhouse and is virtually motionless. If you get motion sickness, you most likely will not experience any adverse reaction to this ride. If, however, you are afraid of heights, you might want to skip this and wait for your family and friends on the ground.
The High Roller operates daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., so you get your choice of a daylight view of the strip and the city, or a nighttime view. Those who say Paris is “the city of lights” haven’t experienced The High Roller after dark. Las Vegas is lit up with all colors of lights. In every direction you see lights, lights, lights.
Inside each of the 28 cabins, music plays and an announcer informs the occupants of the progress. Plus, a monitor counts off the feet going up and coming down.
For a different experience, they have a “Happy Half Hour” with an open bar, a “Chocolate Tasting” ride with Ethel M Chocolates, “Yoga in the Sky” hour-long yoga class (2 rotations) with an instructor and up to six guests, and the cabins can also be reserved for special occasions like birthdays, parties, events, and even weddings. Each option is a different price so check with the website for days/hours/prices.
The High Roller is lit up at night with a light show that fits right into the city. From The LINQ Promenade, nightly at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 the fountains, observation wheel, and surrounding buildings at the LINQ Promenade celebrate the city with syncopated lights/music for everyone on the ground. So, even if you don’t ride the wheel, you can still get in the spirit of this attraction.
Having never experienced an Observation Wheel before, I didn’t know quite what to expect. After all, I get queasy in regular Ferris Wheels. I had no problem with The High Roller. The speed, or lack thereof, is motionless. The only way I knew it was moving was the fact that we kept getting higher, slowly but surely. And oh, what a view!
I know if I ever get to London I will definitely want to go on the London Eye, and most likely the other great Observation Wheels around the world. After experiencing The High Roller, I know that the views from the top are outstanding. The 30 minutes went by too quickly.
The High Roller is definitely a unique experience in Las Vegas and one I highly recommend.
About the Reviewer
Francine Brokaw writes about travel, products, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
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