Wild winter fun

Though Las Vegas may not be synonymous with the delights of snow and ice, the city and its surroundings offer some unlikely winter wonderlands. Here are a few seasonal attractions in the midst of the Mojave Desert.

MINUS5 ICE BAR

For an insta-Siberian Sin City experience, huddle into Minus5 Ice Bar. Everything inside Minus5 (named for its constant frosty temperature) is made of ice, from the walls and the bar itself to the seats and even the glasses in which its signature vodka-based cocktails are served. But fear not: Admission, which starts at $17, includes Eskimo-esque cozy clothing, and the ice couches are draped with critter-friendly faux fur pelts. Minus5 guests can explore and caress handcrafted ice sculptures and have their experience captured by the bar’s roving photographer. Created in New Zealand, the original stateside Minus5 is at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, with a sister location at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino.
www.minus5experience.com

MOUNT CHARLESTON LODGE AND LAS VEGAS SKI & SNOWBOARD RESORT

An immersive alpine experience amid stunning forest scenery, it’s hard to believe that Mount Charleston Lodge is just 35 minutes from the glitz of the Vegas Strip. Perched at 7,700 feet above sea level, with mesmerizing views of soaring Charleston Peak, the Lodge is made up of 23 romantic log cabins and a restaurant-lounge serving three hearty meals daily (from banana rum French toast to half-pound Paul Bunyan burgers) and imaginative, warming cocktails such as Mt. Charleston Coffee (Drambuie, brandy, coffee and milk). Get closer to the snow with a day at the nearby Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, which boasts 212 inches average annual snowfall and 30 trails — something for everyone from first-timer skiers to hardcore boarders.
www.mtcharlestonlodge.com, www.skilasvegas.com

WINTER IN VENICE

The Venetian and the Palazzo Las Vegas get into the holiday spirit through Jan. 5 with Italian-inspired festivities including a skating rink, nightly entertainment and specialty food weekends. The Venetian’s outdoor skating rink is created from a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly material (cleverly dubbed “ven-ICE”) that requires no refrigeration. Three times each evening, the Winter in Venice Holiday Spectacular energizes the Venetian’s Doge’s Palace plaza, featuring jaw-dropping 3-D projections, a 65-foot LED Christmas tree and strolling characters and musicians. La Cucina Italiana Food & Wine Festival (Dec. 5 to 8) includes celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali, while Culinary Clash Weekend (Dec. 13 and 14) features an appearance by Emeril Lagasse.
www.venetian.com/winterinvenice

THE ICE RINK AT THE COSMOPOLITAN

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has once again tastefully transformed its iconic Boulevard Bowl, overlooking the Strip, into a winter playground centered on a real ice rink. Open through Jan. 5, the Ice Rink’s skating area has grown this year, and there will be fresh cocktail and culinary offerings to enjoy around flickering fire pits. Themed programming adds to the carefree aura, including Date Skate Mondays, featuring screenings of suitably seasonal movies such as “A Christmas Story” and “Elf” on the Cosmo’s 65-foot digital marquee; top Vegas deejays on Wednesdays; and Throwback Thursdays, when music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s should bring out some rainbow leg warmers and day-glo headbands.
www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

—Paul Rogers, Brand Publishing writer