I’ve had some memorable times in Las Vegas over the years, as Sin City has always been about creating over-the-top experiences with all the gambling and wild nightlife. But on this last trip I tried something new and exhilarating that I’ll remember for years!

I was invited to check out the all-new Machine Guns Vegas (MGV), a unique attraction that will soon be on most to-do lists for guys visiting Vegas. MGV combines a VIP ultra lounge setting with the ultimate firearms experience. The selection of guns you can shoot will blow your mind, so it’s perfect for gun enthusiasts along with first-timers who want to feel the thrill of firing these powerful weapons.

I’m the latter. I’d never shot a gun before even though I’d always wanted to try it. Now I’d get my chance, but it wouldn’t be with a simple handgun. I was going to shoot three badass, fully-automatic machine guns, and I couldn’t wait to try it.

As soon as you arrive at MGV you enter into a spacious and comfortable lounge area where you can relax and get ready. The staff is very professional and you can pick all sorts of packages for your experience. Guests are matched with a shooting host who uses interactive multimedia displays on an iPad to showcase each of the shooting experiences offered. Long lines are not an issue here as you can relax in the lounge while you pick your experience and wait your turn. My experience would consist of three machine guns – the M4 5.56 (US), the MK-47 (Russian) and the HK MP5 9MM (German).

After talking to my instructor, we decided to go with the biggest gun first, the M4 5.56 carbine fully automatic machine gun. The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, sharing 80% of the parts, but it’s still a beast. It’s used by the U.S. military and is slated to replace the M16 for many combat units in the army. The instructor explained the proper way to shoot the gun. The stance is critical, as you don’t want this thing to knock you back when you fire. Balance and leverage is important as you keep your right foot back and prepare yourself to lean forward as you press the trigger. The instructor then sent out the target and I was ready to go.

It’s hard to describe the rush I felt the first time I pulled the trigger and let loose a blaze of bullets. My form was good but the gun pushes you back and the front end naturally rises up and to the right as you shoot. But the more I practiced, the more I got the hang of it, and each round I unleashed got easier to handle. I don’t think I’ll win any awards for accuracy but you hardly need to be a sharpshooter to do serious damage with the M4!

Next we turned to the infamous AK-47. The original AK-47 was one of the first assault rifles to be manufactured six decades ago and it’s still the most commonly used assault rifle in the world. It’s been manufactured countries all over the world and has been used by various armies, revolutionaries and terrorist organizations. More AK-type rifles have been created than all other assault rifles combined. I was shooting a fully automatic Russian version. While it wasn’t didn’t feel as big or powerful as the M4, it still had some serious kick to it. But after the M4 I was able to control this one much more quickly while still experiencing the awesome power of shooting a badass machine gun. I was having a blast!

The last gun was the HK MP5 9MM submachine gun. After the first two guns I almost felt like a pro shooting this one. It was much lighter and easier to handle, and from the beginning I was very accurate with this model. I felt like I could keep shooting it all day. I had brought along one of our Bullz-Eye models, the beautiful Brittany Myers, and she wanted to give it a try as well, so I had her shoot some rounds with this last gun. She didn’t have the advantage of starting with the heavier guns, but she did great as she tore into the target with a flurry of bullets.

As we walked out of the shooting area, we both left with huge smiles on our faces. The experience is truly exhilarating, and regardless of your experience level you can’t help but have a great time.

Our hosts then showed us the VIP areas, which were even more luxurious as you can see from some of the photos above. It’s a great option for corporate events or bachelor parties as you can have total privacy.

Whether you get the VIP package or not, the overall experience is a great option for anyone coming to Vegas. The ambiance of the MGV is great either way, but it all comes down to the amazing shooting experiences, and there are so many more I want to try on future visits. You can shoot popular firearms like Rambo’s M60 machine gun or Bullet Tooth Tony’s .50 Caliber Desert Eagle Handgun from “Snatch.”

There’s a WWII experience that includes the 1911 pistol, a MP 40 submachine gun and the M3 submachine “Grease Gun.” The Mafia package includes the .22 Suppressor, the infamous Thompson submachine gun from the Prohibition era along with shotguns. There’s also a SEAL Team VI package that includes the firearms they used in the covert operation that took out Osama bin Laden. Guests are issued 20 rounds with a .22 Suppressor, the HK MR556 rifle and the choice of a squad automatic weapon (SAW) or a M60 machine gun.

You can imagine how much fun you can have here, whether you’re with a large group, a couple of buddies or even a date. Set up an appointment and they’ll pick you up in a shuttle at your hotel for the short ride from the Strip. MGV is the perfect addition to Las Vegas, as it’s extreme and luxurious at the same time. Check out their website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Book some time there and it will likely be the highlight of your trip.

I’ve been going to Las Vegas for over 25 years, so I’ve stayed in every type of casino Sin City has to offer, from the high end resorts to the $25 per night temporary motel rooms behind the old Stardust when they were renovating it years ago. No matter where you’re staying, Vegas has so much to offer that you’ll always have a blast. But my recent weekend in Vegas staying at the amazing Aria Resort & Casino was a very pleasant reminder that a first class weekend in a luxurious hotel makes all the debauchery Vegas has to offer that much more enjoyable. It’s also so much easier to nurse a hangover in a comfortable bed in a beautiful room where you can shut the curtains and get total darkness with the press of a button from your bed!

Bullz-Eye was invited by Aria to cover the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational that was being held at Shadow Creek. Naturally I jumped at the opportunity to cover MJ and his celebrity pals while experiencing a weekend at Aria with everything it had to offer. I was lucky to have a fun and beautiful companion with me so everything was teed up for a great weekend.

The first thing I noticed about Aria was the amazing architecture and design. Everything about this place has been meticulously designed with a modern and original look. Of course Vegas has always featured upscale resorts and hotels, but they always had that gaudy Vegas feel. Instead of going with a themed hotel, the style of Aria is much more like a trendy, luxury hotel. The amount and different types of glass used at Aria is just stunning. The Jean Philippe Pâtisserie is just one of many things that stand out, with the artistically packages chocolates and gourmet pastries in an ultra modern corner of the casino. If you’re with a date the visual stimulation alone will set the mood for a memorable trip.

Like many of the large resorts in Vegas, Aria has practically everything you could need from an entertainment point of view. The pool is amazing and the attached shopping mall offers the best shopping in Vegas. The spa also offers a perfect getaway for couples, with the “Ganbanyoku” heated-stone bed and “Shio” salt room, outdoor therapy pool, Las Vegas’ only co-ed balcony with a stunning view of our beautiful pools. Your wife or girlfriend will love it!

The casino is also laid out nicely and I like the vibe on the casino floor. The beautiful venue definitely attracts the beautiful crowd! Having a nightclub like Haze at Aria also helps as gorgeous women in tight skirts and heels invade the casino around the midnight hour. Of course we also ventured out and indulged in the debauchery that Sin City has to offer, from a strip club to a cheesy after-hours lounge for late night food and more alcohol. But we always came back to this fantastic casino and resort where we could party some more or relax in the luxury rooms.

With all the amenities at the Aria, the restaurants stood out as some of the most impressive spots. We had the opportunity to try out many of them throughout the weekend as we indulged in a wide variety of incredible dishes. We started out the first night at Sirio Ristorante for some Tuscan-style Italian food created by chef Sirio Maccioni. We were tempted to go with one of the incredible veal or beef dishes on the menu, but we knew we had a big weekend ahead and we didn’t want to start off with serious food coma. So we ordered some delicious appetizers of jumbo prawns and seasonal oysters along with seafood entrees, including a pan-fried breaded Maine lobster that was incredible. If you’re a wine lover you’ll appreciate the selection of Italian vintages.

Sirio gave us the perfect start to the weekend and we were ready for our first night of heavy drinking. By lunch the next day we were ready for our first recovery meal, and lunch at Lemongrass was the perfect remedy. This modern Thai restaurant was incredibly comfortable and offered a variety of dishes. After some great appetizers including delicious pot stickers, we stuck with our seafood strategy and order several lobster dishes, including a special prepared by the chef. I can never get enough lobster so I was more than happy with this light lunch, and the specialty cocktails helped get us back in fighting form.

On Saturday night, after shooting machine guns (more on that in a later post) and getting a much-needed nap, we had dinner at American Fish by Micheal Mina as we geared up for Viva ELVIS and another night on the town. Our seafood diet was treating us well, and now wasn’t the time to change things given the name of the restaurant. We started out with succulent Tuna Tartare and I went with the Daily Shellfish entrée. Throw in some fun sides like Truffled Mac & Cheese and specialty cocktails and the entire meal was perfect.

We were full and buzzed and ready for our Elvis experience. Cirque du Soleil has had a string of hits in Vegas, and Viva ELVIS is their latest show. If you’re into Elvis’s music then I highly recommend it, as they covered his entire career from his early years, to his military service, to the movie years to the later years with the jumpsuits and the lamb chop sideburns. The show was visually impressive as we’ve come to expect from Cirque du Soleil with incredible acrobatics, and it’s in its final season so Elvis fans should be planning their trip! After the show we stopped for a cocktail and 80s music at The GOLD Lounge as we geared up for another late night. The lounge features a concept and décor that pays homage to the celebrated life of Elvis Presley. You can’t miss it with all the gold monkey imagery (Elvis was a fan) and it’s just another of the visually stunning venues in the Aria.

By our last night in Vegas we were completely spent, but we rallied to make it to dinner at Sage, which was one of our favorite places from the weekend. I knew I was probably going to pass out soon after dinner, so I went with the Snake River Farms New York Strip as switched from seafood. We also ordered the Wagyu Beef Tartare as one of our appetizers, which may have been my favorite dish of the trip! You’ll love the New American menu of Chef Shawn McClain’s first Las Vegas restaurant, which spotlights seasonal ingredients from neighboring California, just-picked produce, artisanal meats and sustainable seafood. The décor in Sage is also stunning and it’s located near the entrance of the resort.

You should check out the Aria whether you want a high-end place to party with your friends or a weekend that your wife or girlfriend will never forget. Located in the heart of the Strip, everything you could want is either in the resort or close by. You’ll definitely be able to party in style!

Well, this seems like a pretty good fit!

Mötley Crüe is one of the few bands that can actually add to the decadence of Sin City, so kudos to The Joint at the Hard Rock for landing the gang for an extended run in 2012. I can’t imagine a better venue for Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars and the fans should love it. Now they can go from a wild concert to a wild party just by walking a few steps out of The Joint and into the Hard Rock casino.

Here’s a list of the scheduled dates:

Friday, February 3
Saturday, February 4
Sunday, February 5
Wednesday, February 8
Friday, February 10
Saturday, February 11
Sunday, February 12
Tuesday, February 14
Wednesday, February 15
Friday, February 17
Saturday, February 18
Sunday, February 19

The highlight has to be Super Bowl Sunday, and then they’re playing on Valentine’s Day and President’s Day as well. can you imagine partying all day for the Super Bowl in Vegas and then topping it off with a Mötley Crüe concert?

Tickets, starting at $45 (plus applicable service fees) will be available Saturday at 10am at the Hard Rock Box Office, Motley.com, TheJointLasVegas.com, Ticketmaster.com. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is also offering ticket and room bundles via Hardrockhotel.com.

Also, check out our recent interview with Nikki Sixx where he discusses his recent book. He also talks about the band:

I love being in Mötley Crüe. I love Mötley Crüe. I’m so grateful to Mötley Crüe. There’s something magic that happens when the four of us get together. You know, we have had such highs and we’ve had lows. It’s, like, I get to live and breathe every fantasy I’ve ever had because of those other three men being with me, and all of us foraging the fucking road together and creating all of this amazing music. And being a creative person, when I’m not doing Mötley Crüe, I’m doing something else creative. You know, I’m in this other band, Sixx:A.M. James (Michael) and DJ (Ashba) are two of my best friends, and we create all of this amazing music. And I do the radio show. And I’ve got a great partner with Kelly Gray and our clothing line, Royal Underground. That’s doing fantastic. And it’s all positive energy. I mean, I feel like I can infect everybody around me with positive energy. And I do. ‘Cause I want everybody to be successful.

These guys should put on some incredible shows so head to Vegas and check them out.