Wow! What a trip! We are finally recovered from a fun getaway to Las Vegas a few weeks ago! It was a place we both have always wanted to visit and one neither had ever been! To say we had an amazing time would be an understatement! We really weren’t sure what to expect out of Vegas but we left wanting to go back again! It truly is a fun city and a great place for a kid free getaway! I loved where we stayed and will be sharing what we did, where we ate and more for anyone wanting an escape from the everyday and a quick getaway with their spouse!
WHERE WE STAYED: Per a few friend’s suggestions, we stayed at the Aria Resort & Casino. I loved its location on the strip. It was pretty centrally located, right next door to the Cosmopolitan Hotel and a few blocks from the Bellagio Fountains. It is a newer hotel and we loved its hip and modern vibe. You honestly didn’t have to leave the hotel if you didn’t want to! It had so many nice restaurants to eat in, great shops {and an upscale shopping center right next door} a really nice pool and spa and more. The staff was amazing, we actually got upgraded and I would definitely stay here again.
WHAT WE DID: Besides relaxing by the pool, enjoying nightly cocktails, walking The Strip, which is an attraction in and of itself, stopping to watch the Bellagio Fountains, on the daily, we did rent a car for the day and took a mini road trip to the Hoover Dam. Our hotel had an onsite Avis so it was super easy to rent a car. You could certainly take a tour, but we wanted the flexibility to leave when we wanted to, not be rushed and explore other places. The Hoover Dam wasn’t too far from the Vegas Strip, about a 45 minute drive. We left right after breakfast and beat the crowds. After exploring the upper part of the dam, we did take a tour of the powerplant. They run every 30 minutes or so all day and it gave you an inside view of the dam and lots of history. I definitely recommend it if visiting the Dam. On the way out, we did stop and walk the Memorial Bridge which overlooks the dam. It is worth the stop for the amazing views.
On the way back to Vegas, after stopping for lunch we did one more pit stop and drove to the Red Rock Canyons. It is only a short drive outside of Vegas and literally gorgeous! It is definitely worth the drive. The landscape was one we hadn’t seen before and we loved the spending the late afternoon exploring and driving around. We spent maybe an hour here. No major hiking or rock climbing for us, but you could certainly do that if you come prepared.
On our last night, we did take in a show! Aaron is a huge Beatles fan and seeing that we were there to celebrate his 40th birthday, The Beatles LOVE show seemed fit! It was at the Mirage and we ended up scoring great seats to a 9:00pm show. I loved the music and the experience as a whole. It is a show I highly recommend in catching if you ever have the time in Vegas!
WHERE WE ATE: I honestly was in awe at all the great restaurants Vegas had to offer. We did not have one disappointing meal! I would go back here just to eat!
Bouchon at The Venetian: We ate here on our first full day in Vegas for brunch. It was delish and the beignets took me back to our trip to New Orleans a long time ago. I loved the setting with the mosaic floor tiles and antique light fixtures.
Catch: This restaurant was located right in the lobby of our hotel and we had drinks here our first night and then went back for dinner on our last night. The entrance is worth visiting alone. You literally walk through a tunnel covered in greenery and flowers. It’s gorgeous! We loved drinks and apps and dinner even more! This was my favorite restaurant in Vegas!
LAGO by Julian Serrano: We ate dinner here on our first night in Vegas. It’s located in the Bellagio and we asked for patio seating which is a must! The patio overlooks the Bellagio Fountains. Just that view was worth eating here alone! Its small tapas style plates and we truly just enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant.
Ghost Donkey: The day we road tripped to the Hoover Dam, we didn’t really make any dinner plans. We headed over to The Cosmopolitan Hotel, which was a short walk from the Aria and ended up getting drinks and nachos at Ghost Donkey, a tequila bar in the hotel. We can never pass up a good margarita and some Mexican food BUT this place is super hard to find. After walking around for a good 15 minutes, I finally asked a hotel employee where this place was. It literally is a “ghost” in the hotel, located behind a door with a donkey on it, next to an emergency exit. It was small but a super cool place and we had some great drinks and food. A must!
Milk Bar: Another must is you have a sweet tooth like me! A piece of milk bar pie or “crack pie” from Milk Bar. It is so delish, one piece will do! A must have dessert in Vegas!
The Henry: We ate here for brunch one day and loved it! Located in The Cosmopolitan hotel, it’s great, classic American food served in a fun atmosphere. It’s a great spot for dining and was quick and delish!
Herringbone: Located inside our hotel and next to the pool, this place had a fun, California coastal vibe with fresh eats. We had lunch here and the patio is poolside so its a great spot for lunch or drinks.
The Chandelier: A beautiful bar located in the center of The Cosmopolitan hotel, it’s a definete spot for pre-dinner drinks. Its three levels with a gorgeous chandelier hanging down the center. We stopped here for drinks on our last night in town before dinner at Beauty & Essex.
Beauty & Essex: This was recommended by our hotel concierge and I am so glad he did! Besides Catch, this was our other favorite restaurant in Vegas. Hidden behind an actual pawn shop in The Cosmopolitan hotel, it has such a fun, edgy vibe inside. It’s like NYC meets Vegas glam! A must spot for drinks and dinner, maybe some celeb sightings we had a delish dinner here and it was a fun place to end our Vegas vacay!We truly had a great time in Vegas! A vacation {and celebration} we both will not soon forget! Whether its a quick weekend getaway with your spouse or a fun weekend with friends, Vegas was a fun spot full of great dining and entertainment! We loved it and can’t wait to go back!
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