Vacationing With Kids! Top 10 Things To Do In Las Vegas With Kids!

Well I was wondering....Can you take kids to Vegas?

The answer is YES YOU CAN! There is a dark side to Vegas but there are so many things to do and see with the kids the good outweighs the bad. We had a GREAT time in Las Vegas. The kids LOVED it and were BLOWN away. My kids are 7 and 9:)

Here's my TOP 10 Things To Do With Kids In Las Vegas!

1) SEE MYSTERE-

The first Cirque Du Soleil show and definitely the best. The kids were blown away. We sat up close but any seat in the Treasure Island theater is worth it because the show is ALL AROUND you. It's gorgeous, breath taking, sweet, heart warming and FUN. Worth every penny but look for my next post on discounts in Vegas and how to get a great price on tickets!!

2) PET A DOLPHIN-

And get a picture of it to boot! The Mirage Hotel has Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden. It's a little oasis where you can see Dolphins, White Tigers, Jaguars, Leopards and Lions UP CLOSE. Well manicured and cared for this is a GREAT experience for kids. It's small enough that you aren't exhausted walking around. Get there when it opens at 10am so you can see the first Dolphin training with less of a crowd. This is FREE. They do many Dolphin trainings throughout the day. The Mirage offers many different levels of Dolphin experiences. You can be Dolphin trainer for the day, have a Dolphin meet and greet, have a Dolphin paint you a picture and more. The regular admission price is $17 for kids and $22 for adults and believe me you see a lot just doing that! But if you want to pet and take a picture with the Dolphins don't pay FULL PRICE! Stay tuned for how to save!

I don't love animals in cages BUT the lions and tigers are very well cared for and the property is beautifully maintained. They swap animals out to give them breaks as well. The animals were playing, sleeping, wrestling....it was good to see.

3) GO INSIDE THE EIFFEL TOWER-

Seeing the Paris Hotel Eiffel Tower up close is mind blowing. It's HUGE. You can go up to the top but we decided to have a drink at the restaurant which has a GREAT VIEW and is mid way. Make sure you FIRST take a picture at the base of the Eiffel Tower on the street outside the hotel near the restaurant Mon Ami Gabi.  Get down low and shoot up! Amazing shots!!

Then go inside and take the elevator (not the first one you see, ask for restaurant) to the restaurant. You can sit in the lounge area and watch the sunset or get an afternoon break. Gorgeous and great for pics. Dress the kids up and make it fun. We did this before dinner and went to dinner at Mon Ami Gabi (a much less expensive option) after wards (my review is coming!). You can also eat there but it's $$$$$.

4) TAKE A GONDOLA RIDE-

The Venetian is an enormous place so finding the gondolas is a little bit of a feat! You can do an indoor or outdoor ride weather permitting. We did an indoor ride. Get there early and make a reservation so you don't have to wait long. This was a nice, mellow, fun experience for the kids and US. Ask them to sing. They are well trained and make it fun! Ask questions about Venice too.

5) SEE A VOLCANO ERUPT-

We thought the nightly volcano eruption at The Mirage would be hokey but it was spectacular!!! The music, the drama! We stood inside the circle drive next to the hotel and could feel the heat from the flames! It's very well done. They can't do it if it's too windy and they usually do it once at 8pm and once at 9pm so call the hotel and ask on the evening you want to go! FREE!!!!

6) EAT BREAKFAST AT THE MOST GORGEOUS BUFFET EVER! (and see the gardens too!)

I am NOT a buffet fan but this buffet at the Wynn Hotel Las Vegas is MIND BLOWING.

The flowers are beyond belief!!! And the food is to die for! The breakfast is $22 a person but kids are half price! Omlettes made to order, pancakes made to order, bagels and lox, sushi, dumplings, pasta, it had everything you can imagine! Not just breakfast! Great value with all the other more pricey restaurants. The dessert bar was amazing and is open at breakfast too!!!


7) GET YOUR PERSONALIZED M and M's! 

I will admit the M and M World Store (4 stories!!!) is a little chaotic but take the escalators up to the 4th floor and work your way down!! They have a 3D movie that plays every 20 minutes, lots of places for photo opps....

And I think best of all and most fun, make your own personal M and Ms!!

So cool!!!

8) SEE THE BELLAGIO GARDENS AND FOUNTAINS AT NIGHT!

The Bellagio has a garden in the lobby that changes seasonally and is great to take the kids to. We happened to witness the Japanese Spring Celebration and Tea Garden. It was beautiful!

And the gorgeous Bellagio Fountains.

The Bellagio Hotel is gorgeous. Watching the fountains at night is even more spectacular. They go off every 15 minutes at night and you can stand anywhere along the wall to see.  Did I mention it's FREE?

Don't forget to visit the chocolate fountain too! (just past the garden exhibit)

9) RIDE THE MONORAIL- 

 The monorail goes up and down one side of the strip and is nice and fast compared to walking or a cab! The kids really loved it.

10) SEE THE SHARK REEF AT MANDALAY BAY-

In addition to seeing sharks and turtles in the main shipwreck exhibit, you’ll also find crocodiles, Komodo dragons, jellyfish and octopus. Seeing the piranha being fed is a highlight. There’s a chance to get interactive with rays, sharks and fish in the touch pool. Adults pay $18, kids 5-12 $12 and under fours are free!

Stay tuned for how to SAVE BIG IN LAS VEGAS!!!
 

Best Family Friendly Hotel- The Omni Homestead!

While we were camping in Virginia my Mom had the brilliant idea to break up the week by heading to the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. It did not disappoint!

I had been to the Homestead years earlier and remembered the gorgeous grounds and southern charm.

They have a spa that looked to DIE FOR!!!!!

But since I was with the kids we had more of a family experience. There are waterslides, a lazy river, a kids club, a kids camp, mini golf etc!!!!

They even had a duck race while we were there! So cute!!!!

 

There are so many things to do here. Golf, shooting, fly fishing, horseback riding and horse and carriage rides!

The restaurants there are top notch as well. We had a fabulous birthday dinner for my mom in the grand ballroom complete with dancing to the band. It was heaven.

The service in the hotel was impeccable and the kids had a ball! The perfect family friendly hotel! Did I mention the brand new arcade and bowling!!!!???

Five On Friday- My Top Five Most Popular Blog Posts Of The Year

I got this idea from September Acres, who has a fabulous blog herself! Of course this Friday Five I am connecting with these amazing ladies who all seem to be pregnant!! It's in the water look out! LOL

Here are my top five most popular blog posts of 2013. Let's do it David Letterman style to make it more suspenseful!

5. The Five Best Thanksgiving Ideas From Pinterest- My Friday Five!

Well of course. These ideas are amazing. Especially this!!!

4.  RIP Lilly Pulitzer- Anythings Possible With Sunshine and A Little Pink

Lilly Pulitzer is not just a brand. It's an attitude. Read on!

3.  March is National Reading Month With Levar Burton!

I am so happy that this is a popular post! Reading Rainbow is back in a big way!

2.  The Best Hotel In Santa Barbara- The Montecito Inn!

And I feel that the love is mutual because they send me a Christmas Card! LOL

And the most popular post of 2013 is.......


1. The Going Rate for The Toothfairy. How much do you give?

This was a controversial post! Weigh in!!!

Thanks for a great year!!!!Looking forward to a fabulous 2014!!!!

I Fell In Love With New York Again- What to do in NYC

My weekend away in NYC for my High School reunion was eye opening to say the least! I loved seeing all my old friends and catching up. There was a lot of talk about what things are like when you've been married 10 or 15 years. I mean what it's REALLY like. That's for another post. I'm still processing all of it!

I grew up mostly outside of NYC so it was a surprise to me when I fell in love with it all over again! Especially the meat packing district where we stayed. We stayed at the Hotel Gansevort (which I thought was okay but not great) but nearly died when I caught site of The High Line NYC Standard!

It's literally right on the Hudson river and the meatpacking district is so cool. Cobble stone streets and cafes everywhere!

We looked at this restaurant and nearly died. So cool.

We stopped for lunch.

The weather was perfect and so was the company. I had forgotten the history of New York. All the little shops have been around a while and the architecture of the new and old buildings together is stunning. The High Line, where you can walk and see stunning views, is a completely different side of New York. I am definitely staying there next time!

We also had brunch at Pastis:

and dinner at Gemma at the Bowery Hotel:

It was the perfect Fall New York Weekend!

The Outer Banks- 23 years of friendship

Our trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina was amazing. We stayed in a town called Corolla, which is just past Duck. I liked Corolla. It's not too touristy or built up. Just my speed.

We rented a fabulous house on the beach with 4 of my girlfriends from college, each sorority sisters (Kappa Alpha Theta!), and their families. Ryan, who was the president of our sorority, brought the Theta flag to hang on the house. I die. (Ps there's my husband setting up the umbrellas!)

Ryan also brought these fabulous hot pink terry tunics for us! I'm taking mine to the monogrammer TODAY.

It's hard to boil down this trip to a blog post but here are some highlights.

We went to see the wild horses of Corolla. This was something on my bucket list. I will never forget Nicoles husband driving like a maniac so we wouldn't get stuck and us following one of the horse tours so we could find the horses! We are tour stealers!!

I have never been in, or climbed a lighthouse. The Currituck Lighthouse was gorgeous and the view was incredible. It was HIGH up though!

My husbands favorite thing on earth is Blue Crabs. Even though no one else wanted any, I got him his own dozen and he was so HAPPY!

We saw so much wildlife while we were there! Deer on the beach, a fox in the dunes, sting rays, crabs, and....

Jelly Fish. Which can also be used for breast enhancement. LOL

Husband loves to cook and was happy to share two of our favorite recipes. Maralago Burgers and Cilantro Ginger Salmon! Both were huge hits!

Landon celebrated his birthday there. Complete with mini golf and bumper cars!

We took a road trip to the Lilly Pulitzer store in Duck called "Lifes a Beach!". It was so cute! I got this fabulous "Adriel" dress. ON SALE of course!

One night the kids did giant sparklers on the beach. It was magic.

Best of all, I had deep, meaningful, hilarious, heart felt, fabulous time with these women I adore. Each of them has been, and continues to go through lifes challenges, but these ladies handle it with grace and dignity.