A funny thing happened on the way out of McCarran the other day: We found the McCarran Air Strip, a cleverly named, great little kiosk on the toe of the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, itself on the second floor above the baggage-claim area.
McCarran Air Strip is essentially a shop supporting the unusually located aviation museum. Interestingly enough, we are a city rich in aviation history: Howard Hughes; the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School, now Nellis Air Force Base; and the Thunderbirds Jet Demonstration Team. This legacy is likely to continue as Nellis keeps growing and Clark County plans for the new airport at Ivanpah near Jean. Then there's the importance of McCarran International, formerly McCarran Airport, and before that, McCarran Air Strip. Officials estimate about 38 million passengers passed through there in 2004.
It is fitting that the McCarran Air Strip kiosk includes a large selection of collector-quality, ready-built models of aircraft with ties to some of that history, along with model-making kits and toys.
The most interesting find is Frank Wright's Desert Airways: A Short History of Clark County Aviation 1920-1948, which explains the Howard W. Cannon collection on display in the museum.
Of course, if airplanes aren't your thing but you still want to shop at the airport, other unique spots include signature souvenir shops from Bellagio, Mandalay Resort Group and Caesars Palace. Cosmetic manufacturer L'Oreal just opened a store near the PGA Tour Shop and Brighton Collectibles. Simply Unique Gifts is a souvenir rat's dream destination. Cigar aficionados will delight in Havana Honeys Cigar Shop; not only is it well-stocked with fine tobacco, smoking accessories and flasks, it also carries candles—yes, candles.
Don't forget the unmentionables at Mr. Boxer Ltd. We're not sure what its tag line, "Under Your Wear," means exactly, but it does have a decent selection of playful boxers, panties and camisoles. And if it's periodicals and gum you are after, Hudson News has you covered.
Anne Kellogg is a native Las Vegan with a thing for purchasing stuff. E-mail her at
[email protected]