Experience the lights and excitement. In the evenings before and after the Expo (or for the spouse and kids while you attend), there is a wealth of extravagant hotels, entertainment spots, shopping, and casinos to visit, and many have spectacular shows to see. http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/index.jsp (even the Motel 6 there has a flashy sign!).

From the Missus, a Tip on how to get around - if you want to go from casino to casino, the best and least expensive method is The Deuce Bus Route which is a double-decker bus that travels from Fremont Street (where the Plaza Hotel is) all the way over to Mandalay Bay, only two dollars per trip or five dollars for a 24-hour pass - a great value either way!

For more fun ideas check out the "Ultimate Unabridged Las Vegas Area Attractions Directory".

Here are some ideas we thought of:

Just a few miles from the Fremont Street Experience, in downtown Las Vegas!

1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas

In the evenings after CommVex or the night before, get your retro arcade fix at the Pinball Hall of Fame, a working pinball museum by the members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club to house and display the world's largest pinball collection open to the public. You can play pinball on hundreds of classic pinball machines from the 1950s to the 1990s (just 25 to 50 cents per game, proceeds benefit local charities) including some the the classic videogames you remember! There are also some rare prototype pinballs, a couple handfuls of classic video games, and some vintage arcade mechanicals.

If you are interested in pinball or arcade games, it's well worth the visit.

Hours: 11am till 11pm, Sunday to Thursday & 11am till Midnight, Friday and Saturday

http://www.pinballmuseum.org/

Learn about atomic testing without getting burned!

ATM permanent exhibits have been under development since 1997. NTSHF trustees, volunteers and members, led by the Canadian design team of Andre & Knowlton Associates from Victoria, British Columbia, have worked with DRI and DOE personnel, the national laboratories and museums such as the Smithsonian to create the Atomic Testing Museum's galleries and exhibits.

ATM permanent exhibits portray world history as community history through varied representations of the story of the NTS and its programs, first-person narratives, large iconic artifacts, authenticity of text, environmental re-creations, theatrical devices, interactive elements for personal exploration, multiple viewpoints expressed in multi-media presentations and stunning graphics, many not seen before.

http://www.atomictestingmuseum.org/

July 26-29, 2012 at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

DEF CON is (possibly) the world's largest annual hacker convention, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Attend DEF CON while in Vegas visiting CommVEx or vice-versa. http://www.defcon.org/

July 25-29, 2012 – the Riviera Resort & Casino

Also the same weekend as CommVEx is the roller derby convention - RollerCon! Fancy watching or even participating in down 'n dirty roller derby action?! Then http://www.rollercon.net is the event for you. There will be classes, training, social events, and challenges.