Eight hours in Vegas

That's on the strip*.  Prepare to be overwhelmed!

At least you're next to Bellagio, so you can watch the water show. That's my favorite strip "to do."

*edit: I see that's a half block back, which in Vegas takes about 10 minutes to navigate...

Not having a car is a big deal.  Red Rocks, Charleston, and the Dam are great, but not worth the rental and drive time just to spend a couple hours tops there.

I would stick to the strip.  Get a good meal, see the Bellagio Fountains AND their garden.  Just walk through some of the casinos and people watch.  Shop at the forum shops or Miracle Mile shops.

There are interactive things you can pay for.  Shark Reef is one.  The wife got tickets from groupon for her and I to do the interactive CSI experience.  Can't believe I have lived here for almost 10 yrs and still haven't done that - it being one of my favorite shows and all.

Check out a sports book if it's the weekend.  They should be on fire with the NFL playoffs and basketball.

If when someone slaps a piece of paper on their hand and tries to give it to you while walking on the strip, take every one of 'em....

You mean all the free passes and invitations to church socials?  Yeah, those are good.

Last time I was there it seemed only the men with me got those free passes and invites.  I felt pretty left out.

This. And I'll even recommend a restaurant or two, depending on time.

During daytime...go sit on the patio at Mon Ami Gabi, a French restaurant attached to Paris. The patio is the absolute best...right on the strip, yet elevated, so you can watch the people without being IN the people.

Their bloody mary bar is to die for. The food is phenomenal. It's reasonable. And it's directly across from the Bellagio fountains, so you'll see them do their thing every 15 or 30 minutes (forgot the schedule). Has patio heaters, so no problem there. 

During nighttime...go to Yellowtail in the Bellagio. It's an upscale sushi joint that you access from the Bellagio casino, but if you can get a table on the balcony, you'll be outside looking over the Bellagio fountains at relatively close range. It is the best spot to see the fountains in town, period. And the food, once, again, is phenomenal. Has balcony heaters, so no problem there either. 

Three other things:

1) City Center is a must-see, if you're into amazing architecture and art. It's the central shopping area that connects Vdara, Veer, the Cosmopolitan, and Aria....You'll see a stunning space, some incredible displays. There's a gallery, too, that has some amazing stuff. 

2) If you can sneak over to the Palazzo (I think that's where it is), the lobby chandelier is a lot of Dale Chihuly blown glass - and there's lots more Chihuly hanging everywhere. Stunning, and last but not least, 

3) If you're going anytime around Chinese New Year (last week in Jan?), you've got to go to the Wynn. They turn the swankiest place on the strip into the most amazing celebration of Chinese culture you can imagine. Caesars is a close second. Both worth the walk (Caesars) / quick cab (Wynn). 

PS. Vdara is absolutely phenomenal. Enjoy.