Vegas !

There is a misconception out there that Vegas is only for imbibing soul or the gambling aficionado and if you don’t fit into either category, then Salt Lake has some vacant hotel rooms. Our last trip to “Sin City” showed nothing could be further from the truth. To give you some background I traveled to Vegas twice last year; once for business and the other for fun. The first trip was to attend a conference and besides being the designated navigator during a short pub crawl, the fun was limited to the conference hall. The second trip however was all fun.

We travelled to Vegas with another couple from Poland who was enjoying the western US for the first time. They chose not to drink on the trip, which suited us fine since we also were not predisposed to drunken shenanigans. We stayed about two miles off the strip at the Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport which had its pros and cons. The first pro was the price, since were in Vegas over the weekend the average room price along the strip was close to $200.00. Our hotel room was about half the average, and each couple got a huge room. The room would have been sufficient for a small family as it included a full kitchen, pull-out bed, huge bathroom, and plenty of space. Another pro? Free breakfast! Anytime you can get a free meal from the hotel is major plus because it saves most people an average of $20 a day. The only con of course was the distance from the action. We drove to and from the strip each day which when you include looking for parking took about 30 minutes each way. In the end however the hotel was a home run as far as price, cleanliness, and overall customer service.

Sleeping arrangements taken care of, it was time to find some fun in the city that never sleeps! If you are looking for free exhibits the first place to stop is the Bellagio. Outside you will be awe inspired by the fountain shows every 15-30 minutes. During the shows the giant lake in front of the hotel is transformed from a shimmering reflection of Bellagio grandeur to a stage complete with dancing pillars of water accompanied by classic and modern music. When you’ve had enough of the fountains, head inside for a cool stroll through the Botanical Gardens.  Trust me when I say both attractions are awesome for adults and kids.

When your eyes get tired of the vibrant colors of the gardens, take a short walk around the corner to the Jean-Philippe Pastry Café.  This is a perfect spot for mom and dad to grab an edible piece of art. We tried two different cakes, raspberry and carrot, and both knocked our taste buds out of the park. Due to the price and potential line, I would save this little piece of culinary heaven for the adults. The kids won’t appreciate the artistic nature of the café or the food. And no one wants to see a seven dollar carrot cake take a dive off the front of the stroller.

From the Bellagio we walked to Caesar’s Palace, which is by far my favorite spot on the strip. The layout of the shops looks like a European street complete with cobblestone walkways, fountains, and a myriad of Cafés and specialty stores. We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, which is situated behind a massive indoor aquarium. To our surprise we were treated to a multi-media mythological battle between the forces of good and evil, played out above the aquarium. The show incorporates smoke, animatronics, fountains, and fire. It is loud and may be too intense for the little ones, but it is cool to watch while munching down on some gourmet cheesecake.

The next day we ventured into the Luxor for two museum exhibits, “Body Worlds” and “Titanic.” Both were cool in their own way. “Body worlds” is of course a morbid trip through plasticized human bodies splayed or posed for your viewing enjoyment. If you ever wondered what you look like on the inside, this is the exhibit for you. Titanic is a somber look at the boat, the crew, and passengers who perished on the moribund cruise.  Much to the dismay of some, Leonardo Di Caprio was not found among the dead. The artifacts that survived the tragedy and years of salt water are displayed along with personal stories from both the survivors and deceased. It was very a well displayed exhibit and really brought to the light the stories of real people. Both displays are somber and may cast pallor on what would ordinarily be a festive day, so keep that in mind when you go.

On a happier note make sure to check out the M&M’s factory, and Coke store! Both are awesome for kids and adults!

This is just a small sampling of what we found in Vegas. For more family fun, or just plain fun ideas, see the Vegas section on the blog.

Enjoy, and remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!