This September, I got the chance to take a rare Fall vacation out west. Thanks to my better half’s day job, we got to travel to Las Vegas which marked both of our first times west of Texas. Immediately, I was captivated by the landscape of Las Vegas. I’ve seen it hundreds of times in movies and shows, but nothing truly captures the vastness of the desert completely surrounded by mountains. For the first few days, we stayed 15 minutes off the strip at a Holiday Inn to save a few dollars while we explored all of the nearby outdoor attractions. We did all the cliché Vegas things like visiting the welcome sign and making our first stop at In-N-Out after picking up our rental car. I got the Animal-Style fries per the internet fanfare, but hate to report that I’m not sure all the hype is worth it.
In those first days, we ventured out to the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon. We only had a limited amount of time due to Alan’s job (the real reason we came), so we did mostly driving visits with a little bit of exploring on foot. Even dry heat felt exceptionally hot, but there is nothing like deep canyons, tall mountains, and blue water to make you feel small and in awe of the world. I only brought my small travel camera with me on this trip to save space and immediately regretted it when I saw how beautiful the landscape truly was. In a way, however, it was kind of nice to just take it all in and take a few pictures here and there without feeling compelled to get a perfect shot. We’ll go back every four years for the same work trip with Alan’s company, and I hands-down would take another day or two just to spend time on the outskirts of the city walking trails, snacking next to the water, and snapping photos.
I have so few photos from the rest of our trip after we moved from the outskirts down to the Las Vegas strip because the rest of the week was a blur. I was completely overwhelmed, but likewise fascinated by how much there was to see and do in such a small stretch of road. We stayed at Caesar’s Palace on the trip for the rest of our time thanks to Alan’s work conference. Since this was our second vacation of the year and following a first home purchase, we chose to keep things as affordable as possible and didn’t attend any shows or have super fancy meals to save funds. Vegas is an expensive city, yet even on a budget, I still felt like I did so much throughout the week. At the same time, there is still so much I want to do and see.
I secretly love playing slot machines, so the hotel casino was a hotspot for me. I only play cheap ones – under a dollar bets – and got super lucky on this trip by turning $20 into $200 over the course of a few days. I think I was most shocked at how busy the high roller areas of the casino stayed and at what all crazy hours people would both drink and gamble. Vegas is the real city that never sleeps. We ate at the various casinos for almost every meal, but only one sit-down dinner. We frequented taco shops and pizza stands at hotel food courts and it was the best decision ever to keep costs low and because we never had to wait. If you visit, La Gloria has DELICIOUS Mexican food and the cheapest, tastiest margarita I saw all week. I’m not one to stay up very late or to really enjoy wild places, but the one night we attended a networking event at a club – Drai’s Beachclub – was so much fun to actually remember what nightlife feels like, dance, and meet the people Alan works with so closely. The two photos below are the only cell phone photos I snapped on the trip and I think they do a great job showcasing my genuine happiness to explore and adventure with my best friend.
On our last full day at Caesar’s, several other girls on the trip with their husbands and I rented a pool cabana together and it was the best decision to recharge and relax. The cabana included snacks and beverages in addition to a private space to nap all day poolside. After Alan’s conference ended for the day, we got to spend the whole afternoon talking with friends, relaxing in the cabana two things we don’t typically prioritize at home. After a quick shower and refresh, we got to attend a private concert with Styx and Kelly Clarkson at UNLV’s stadium. Something so nostalgic to round out a trip with so many new experiences was a night I’ll never forget. The best part? I get to go back every four years with this guy by my side.
Thank you to JamesC Boutique in Lexington for outfitting me with this perfect and playful look for the most fun night out at the casino that allowed me to take a little bit of the Bluegrass to the west. Shop my top here.
