Next month, Matthew and I will celebrate our 10th (!) wedding anniversary. It seems like a pretty great reason to celebrate on a larger scale than the usual dinner out, followed by a trip to Costco.
At first we thought we would take a family vacation to Mexico. We started checking prices and, yeah. Not in our budget. We could buy a small car for the cost of taking a family of five to Mexico. The dream of a family vacation hasn’t died; it’s just been changed to encompass some sightseeing in Vancouver and a few nights in a cottage at Cannon Beach.
Matthew and I still wanted to plan something a little bigger than the norm for this marriage milestone and then my sister Dayna offered to come up and watch our kids for the May long weekend so we could get away just the two of us. We tossed around a few ideas and then Matthew suggested something brilliant:
LAS VEGAS.
Neither of us have ever been and we have a number of friends who have been and loved it. We’re not gamblers at all, but I can’t wait to walk around, see some shows and take many (MANY) photos.
We’re spending four nights at The Mirage, which we’ve been told is quite nice and is stationed in the middle of the strip. We’ll have three full days to explore and I want it to be the best! trip! ever!
Here is where you lovely ladies and gents come in. I want to know how we can make this trip amazing. What shows should we see? Where should we eat? Are there any attractions that are a must? Are there secret places that only the locals know about that will blow our mind? Are there tips for doing all of these great things without emptying our bank account?
We need your help (I always need help, but this is different). Please? *Bats baby blues*
And regardless of whether you’ve been to Vegas or not, we need some book suggestions. We have a full day of travel on either side of those three days of exploring, and need to know what books to bring along. I read The Help in January (loved it), I am almost finished The Happiness project (love it) and have started Eating Animals (So far, so good). Any books you could recommend so that we can check the local library/order them off of Amazon?
I’m looking forward to what you have to share.
I’m also looking forward to VEGAS, BABY.
*Photo circa a post from 2007. I thought it was well-suited to show what hard-core partiers we are. (Ha!)
Vegas sounds like fun! I haven’t been so have no advice for you, but I can recommend “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” as a brilliant read, especially if you like crime thrillers. Have an awesome time!!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..A few layouts =-.
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Never been to Vegas, I’m sure you’ll have fun. Our tenth is coming up in August and I’d like for us to do something. We can’t travel because we have too many pets
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I have cousins who live in Vegas, and Troy’s sister and brother-in-law used to live there, so I’ve visited many times. I’ll be honest; the only thing I really like about Vegas is the spectacular scenery outside the city.
Lake Mead is beautiful, hiking Red Rock Canyon is fun, and Hoover Dam is well worth a visit just to see the sheer size of the thing, if you feel like getting away from the strip!
.-= bethany actually´s last blog ..Annalieisms on Twitter – January 2010 (plus the end of December 2009) =-.
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I’ve been to vegas many times! I’m not a gambler either, but I love to people watch. The Mirage has a great buffet. The Mirage’s pool is also fantastic. You have to go to Freemont street (Old Vegas) one evening. They have neat light show and the Golden Nugget is located there.
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I’ve been to Vegas three times, two when I was was under 21 – so that limited my drinking/gambling abilities. Then, Matt and I stopped there on our road trip this fall, and even though we were 21+, we gambled $0.
-Hoover Dam is great for a half-day trip.
-Red Rock Canyon is lovely too.
-Freemond Street is fun too, with hourly light shows. There are a hundred souveniere shops [like everywhere in Vegas] all along the one strip, so I had a blast shopping there.
-Just to walk up and down the strip is awesome. The Treasure Island has a pirate show a few times each night, you’ll see people start to line up along the bridges. Pretty fun to watch, and for free. The Bellagio fountains go off every 15 mins or 30 mins, I can’t remember. That is my favorite. Matt and I watched two back to back, and I got some good photos, thanks to propping my camera up on my purse, on a cement pillar.
-The only shows that I’ve been to in Vegas [in like 2002] were going to the shark exhibit at Mandalay Bay and we went to a riverdance sort of show someplace I can’t remember. However, I do have a show recommendation – the Blue Man Group. I can’t remember which hotel they perform at, but if you google it, they have 1 or 2 shows a night. I saw them in Minnesota and I would LOVE to see them again. Not sure how much you know about them, but it’s a show where they play all this music on crazy instruments like PVC piping and long plastic rods that they whip back and forth, and lots of drum beats. Youtube it, I LOVED the show.
I can’t wait to see some of the pictures that you capture. Now that I have upgraded my camera, I would LOVE to go back and see what I could come up with.
.-= LauraRadniecki´s last blog ..Hope and Peace =-.
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You already got my novel of an email about Vegas but I will add this – I’ve seen several Circ de Soleil shows there and they are pretty cool. “Love”, the Beatles-themed one (which I think is at the Mirage), was my least favorite. O at the Bellagio is amazing. I really want to see Zumanity but since I’m always there with coworkers, um no. You can usually get discounted tickets right before a show starts, so if you just want to see “a show” rather then a specific show you can get a deal.
Also, if I ever had the time I would venture out to Lake Mead or Red Rock for a day trip!
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Yay for Vegas! My parents took us there when I was 14, my brother and I had the choice between Vegas and Disney – we chose Vegas. Mostly due to the fact that the sight of a Ferris Wheel 4km away makes me hurrel, so the rides would’ve sucked.
Vegas was amazing! There’s tons to see, I of course visited the CocaCola Factory, it’s on the strip and it’s fabulous! They have a room with all the different types of Coke from around the world, be warned the one from Japan is all sorts of nasty. We also took a paddle boat tour of Lake Mead (I thought the Hoover Dam was boooorrring, yawn) and there is a show at the Excaliber Hotel, the big castle that is fab. It’s a dinner show with knights and real horses and jousting. At least there was when we were there.
I think as long as you’re in Vegas you won’t lack things to do and shows to see. Just be warned, some of the magic shows have topless ladies, and my 12 year old brother found out (he wasn’t disappointed, my Mom however was mortified).
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Woohoo! So excited for you guys to go!
I’ve only been once, but it was a blast. I’d highly recommend the champagne brunch at the Bellagio. I got that advice from another blogger, and it was seriously the best. meal. EVER! My best friend and I still talk about that meal, 6 months later. LOL. I don’t even want to tell you how much champagne I drank so early in the day!
For book suggestions, I just read Everyone Worth Knowing, by the woman who wrote The Devil Wears Prada. It’s a fun, fluffy read and requires little to no concentration. I liked it a lot.
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..30 candles =-.
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I always have fun in Vegas.. if you like roller coasters.. go on them ALL!!
A couple good reads:
The Glass Castle – Jannette Walls and The Gargoyle – Andrew Davidson
Have a wonderful trip!
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My favorite breakfast by FAR is at Peppermill. I’m not sure exactly where it is, but it is across from Circus Circus next to a McDonalds. 24/hr a day breakfast! SO good! I have been to a couple shows, Friday night, the Tropicana has a comedy show, 2 tickets for $30. There are 3 comedians and it was pretty funny. I also went to the Anthony Cool’s Experience – an un-censored hypnotist – at the Paris hotel. THAT was an experience!
Whatever you guys do… it is impossible NOT to have a good time in Vegas.
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It’s worth it to buy the all day bus passes. Don’t pay for cabs.
The light show on Fremont street at night is great. And free.
I got married at the top of the Stratosphere and there is a revolving restaurant that is quite nice and fancy. If you are looking to splurge one night. There are also some freaky scary looking rides at the top of that thing. So if that’s your thing…
But most important of all… OUTLET MALL. Hit it.
The only show I ever saw there was Shag With a Twist. Not sure if it’s still around, but it was way cool. (if you’re familiar with the artist Shag you will love it)
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OMG that’s so exciting!! I’ve never been to Vegas but it’s definitely on my list of things to do! Can’t wait to hear all about it
http://www.margaritareczek.com
.-= Margarita´s last blog ..Amsterdam Dreaming & Planning =-.
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The best advice I can give is to take the most comfortable, sturdy walking shoes you have, because you will WALK and WALK and WALK some more. Have a great time!
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I have been only once and when Kamden was 3 months old. We didn’t do much (work conference for Jay) but we did see O (Cirque Du Soliel) and it blew us out of the water. ha! We went to a late show – 10:30 and it was way cheaper but really and truly worth every penny.
Next time we go we are definitely driving out of town to check out the scenery. Maybe out to the Hoover Dam.
So excited for you!
.-= Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Another Pictorial =-.
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I’ve never seen the Blue Man Group live but I’m dying to. The theatre where they perform (in the Venetian) was built specifically for their performance so definitely see them in Vegas if you’re going to see them at all. (We’re going to Vegas in September for a friend’s wedding and I was giddy at the thought of surprising Shawn with tickets …. until I found out that the Blue Man Group leaves Vegas to go on tour A WEEK before we arrive. Curses!) We rode the rollercoaster at New York New York and it was worth the $10 admission (and I don’t even really like rollercoasters.) Buying tickets to shows can be cheaper if you buy them through the show’s website (like Blue Man Group – they have a 30% discount on select shows, only through their website) unless you plan on standing in the 2-for-1 shows ticket line (which can be crazy. We paid full price for our Cirque du Soleil tickets because the lineup for 2-for-1 was over 2 hours long.)
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Choose The Highest Bidder Was My Answer When They Told Me I Was Up For Sale =-.
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Oh! Forgot to add: definitely check out the Bellagio fountains. We went at night and it was magical. Also, walk through the Bellagio lobby.
PS: The Cirque du Soleil show we saw was Zumanity (the adult-themed one.) It was a cool show but it was small – the next time I go I want to see one of the big Cirque shows.
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Choose The Highest Bidder Was My Answer When They Told Me I Was Up For Sale =-.
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Happy anniversary for May, we are May 26th (26 years ago).
We try to head to Vegas once a year, stayed at The Mirage last year and loved the pool.
But Angella, you have to go shopping at The Premium Outlets, Ed Hardy was a fave with Naomi. You will need to get a cab, about $5, it is just down the hwy from the strip.
We are heading down there pretty soon to see LOVE again, I thought it was awesome, all the Cirque shows are worth seeing. We will head to the new Aria to see the new Cirque show Elvis on our next trip.
Good walking shoes are the best tip, you will just walk and be overwhelmed by everything you see, we visit every hotel as there is so much to see and do inside each. You could eat at the Paris Eiffel Tower restaurant, (very expensive though, and may need to make a reservation for the evening). The Mirage has a good burger restaurant, pizza restaurant, and deli, good value for enormous salads and fruit etc.
Ceasars Palace shopping is fantastic. Don’t worry about a plan of action, it is impossible to stick to it.
Oh, and we took a helicopter out to the Grand Canyon for a champagne lunch, we were lucky we paid for the basic trip and got upgraded to the champagne trip.
Call ahead to The Mirage and let them know that you are celebrating your anniversary, and ask for a complimentary room upgrade. I always do and always get the upgrade. Last year for our anniversary we received chilled champagne and chocolate and strawberries in all of our rooms. Happy, happy times to you both.x
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I’ve only been to Vegas once when I turned 29 so I can’t really help you in the recommendation arena though if you get the chance to see Cirque du Soleil you should. It’s epic in its awesomeness.
You deserve to do something big- 10 years is a big deal!
.-= sizzle´s last blog ..If-ing =-.
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Another thing I forgot to mention earlier – they have In N Out Burger there!! I wanted to go for a late night burger run one of the nights we were there, but it never worked out. There’s one a few blocks off of the Strip, so you’d probably need to take a cab, but if you like their burgers it’s totally worth it!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..30 candles =-.
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Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris. Have a great time!
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I love Vegas. If you can rent a car and take an afternoon to to go the Valley of Fire National Park, your pictures will be well worth it. Amazing place.
Also, the restaurant Nine Fine Irishmen is some of the best food I’ve ever had. But there’s such good dining all over Vegas, you probably can’t go wrong.
The Bellagio brunch buffet (with bottomless mimosas) is better than the dinner buffet there, I think, and cheaper. Check out the fountains there too as I’m sure you will.
Go to the old strip, if you can. It’s fun down there and not so crazy and spread out. I think it’s kind of charming too.
There’s also this little tiny gas station tucked away inside the third level of Excalibur and the alcohol and snacks and bottled water are all gas station prices if you ever need something without dropping tons of money.
And the bartenders at Dick’s Last Resort in Excalibur are fantastic. Look for the one without teeth and ask him to show you his magic tricks (not dirty! he’s an actual magician!)
And, finally, I’d check out all the main hotels you can. They’re all different and fun and cool to walk through. Picture opportunities at every turn.
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I have to agree with a few of the above suggestions. We went to go see “O” Cirque de Soleil and it was so amazing!!!! It is a bit pricey but well worth it- best show I’ve seen. It’s at the Bellagio and then you can see the fountain show while you are there. The buffet there is awesome too. Our favorite meal was at a place called “Tao” (asian bistro) located at the Venetian (right across from the Mirage)….absolutely my favorite meal probably anywhere ever! And of course- don’t forget to hit the outlet malls! There are 2 and the one a little further out had way more deals- spent way too much money!
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Dinner at Mon Ami Gabi is a MUST. The patio sits right on the Strip, great for people watching and the Bellagio Fountains! Make a reservation! We sat right beside and chatted with David Blaine there a couple years ago when I was there with girlfriends for the big photographer’s conference.
It’s in the Paris hotel.
A trip to the Grand Canyon is necessary for you as a photographer. It’s a looong day trip but absolutely worth it. We rented a convertable Saab and drove, which is pretty awesome in itself. You can see the Hoover Dam on the way, as others have mentioned.
Red Rock canyon is cool too, did a shoot there, it’s awesome and close.
I second the advice to bring good, comfy shoes. We all want to look cute in Vegas but seriously… you’ll walk more than you ever have!!
Have a blast… Vegas is sensory overload and a ton of fun!
.-= Jennifer Kirk´s last blog ..Taking the PLUNGE, literally! =-.
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My ‘source’ told me that if you get tickets the night of the show you want to go to, you can get them for half price.
.-= Dayna´s last blog ..This and That =-.
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Ooh, I LOVED Vegas! Tao was great, and I’d make sure to walk to the Bellagio at night to watch the fountains. As others have suggested, Cirque de Soleil and The Grand Canyon are surefire winners, too. HAVE FUN!!
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There are so many great shows to see I couldnt name them, but one to avoid with a 10 ft poll is Chris Angel’s. BIGGEST waste of money/letdown ever.
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Sean and I went once and it was a great time. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary! I hope you take in a romantic dinner somewhere…I can’t necessarily recommend where to go but I do know you should bring some good walking shoes! I’ve never wandered around so much in life! I was quite excited to see Sephora there (pre-Sephora in Vancouver). I distinctly remember being in there because Sean put some $150 cream on his lips without reading what it was for (he just wanted $150 worth of cream on his face) and they went numb. Duh-haha. So caution: don’t let your hubby wander around Sephora unsupervised.
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I stayed at the Mirage last May and loved it. My tips:
-check out tix4tonight dotcom to give you an idea of shows and prices, but you can get the tickets to most shows the day of at the kiosks along the strip
-we’ve been to a bunch of shows but my fave is Zumanity. It is sensual, very coupley etc, but what I really liked is that it seemed to have the acrobatic stuff that I remembered seeing on tv for cirque shows when I was a kid. Ka was a really amazing stage and everything but not as artistically connecting to me. Also Zumanity is like the cheapest of the Cirque shows.
-The Bar at Times Square in NY NY is the best piano bar ever. $10 cover or $15 if you want a seat. Totally worth it and good for a couple hours or more of entertainment. Really good service there too. I think cover is $25 on weekends.
- The Mirage is so beautiful, i spent a lot of time in my hotel room and by the pool and just left the crazy strip alone a lot of the time. The strip in the evening/night is fun though. Walking through the hotels and such…
-if you don’t want to pay $15 a day for internet…just stop by the apple store in caesars shops…and then spend your $15 on a drink from Fat Tuesdays!
Have fun!
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Check out the Fremont Street Experience. It’s in downtown Vegas, off the strip, but oh so worth it.
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NIIIIICE!
I have never been to Vegas…but the husband is going on Sunday. (JEALOUS)
I have a few book recommendations: I am reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah right now. It’s REALLY good. Also..Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall.
.-= alimartell´s last blog ..Prizes. =-.
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We were in Vegas last July – it was during the week which was Perfect for us home-body type folks because there weren’t quite as many people (oh year, that and the h.e.a.t.!). We stayed at Harah’s and the only insider info I could offer/suggest is GO TO THE PIANO BAR AT HARRAH’S!! We spent some time there every single day we were there!! Awesomeness!
There are so many things to see for free -definitely spend sometime on Freemont – however, pray they have changed the light show – we spent most of the day waiting for the first one and it was an all night tribute to the Summer of love – frickin’ boring and way NOT worth standing around in 100 degree temps to see – meh! We did go to the Rio (free shuttle from our hotel – watch for those kinds of things or do the bus pass -way worth it) and saw their free show – super super sexy and fun.
We dropped our major money on the Richard Petty Ride Along at the LVMS – way fun – a bit of a hassle to get to the track but very worth it if you’re in for a thrill.
If you go to the Stratosphere go as soon as they open – beautiful scenery in the morning and you get there before the other crazies!!
As I was there with my DH we didn’t really shop – can’t help with that. We DID go to the go-cart track also – owned by Kyle Busch – just a couple of blocks up from the Rio – very much fun there too!
Have a great time
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Definately a Crirque du Soileil show either Love (what’s better for anniversary) made to beatles music or O in the water…. also if it is in your budget take a helicopter ride around the area… if you need a quick and funny read Chelsea Handlers new book Bang Bang just came out… if you want something more deep Water for Elephants is the book I just finished and it was good, so was the Gargoyle mentioned before.
http://polwig.com
.-= polwig.com´s last blog ..Play Dough II- Primary Colors =-.
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Oh, I just LOVE Las Vegas (as you might imagine). The atrium gardens inside the Bellagio are a must see (free) and the Dale Chihuly ceiling in their lobby. I also love Red Rock. And going to Hoover Dam is really fun too – the new bridge is spectacular.
.-= Janssen´s last blog ..Grandma =-.
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Funny how many people I know who are heading to Vegas. Here’s my two cents for you (I sent this to a friend for her trip in the fall)…
Must Dos
- Sirens of TI
- Bellagio fountain shows – do more than one, and make sure you get a night one in
- New York, New York roller coaster
- Pink Taco – Mexican restaurant @ Hard Rock http://www.pinktaco.com/
- Atlantis show at Cesears – check for a small sign just to the left of the show, you can get a really cool behind the scenes tour if the sign is there (was there the second visit, but not the first) http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/fountainshow.html
- Monorail day pass – best way to travel the strip
- Fremont Experience – go spend a couple of hours up there and catch the show on the roof. Have dinner @ Binions http://www.binions.com/dining/steak_house.php
- “The” Las Vegas sign – just south of the last place on the strip. It’s not big, so you can miss it.
- Walk through some of the casinos, they are pretty awesome. Also, walk the strip (bring good walking shoes, it’s longer than you realize)
Could Dos
- Valley of Fire – spend a couple of hours, it’s beautiful and worth it http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
- Grand Canyon West Rim – this will take an entire day, its 3 hours each way. The drive off the main road is quite wild (curvy and dirt). It will cost you almost $45 just to see the canyon beyond the landing strip.
- Stratosphere – the rides at the top. The one I did is no longer there. These are definitely for the daredevils, they’re freakin’ CRAZY! http://www.stratospherehotel.com/thrills/
- M & Ms World, Coke World
- Lion Habitat @ MGM – it’s free
- Hoover Dam
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..SWS – Ick, I’m Sick! =-.
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Ahhh, I love Vegas. My husband and I got married there almost 6 years ago and we’re heading back on Tuesday!! Can’t wait!
I hope you have a wonderful time. We love it there, for obvious reasons of course.
The things we like to do are eat at Isla in TI (Treasure Island, can’t keep it straight what it’s called these days), wander through the lavish hotels, oogle the fancy shops we’ll never be able to afford to shop in, watch the Bellagio fountain show, and see Cirque du Soleil shows (some love ‘em, some hate ‘em).
Have a great time!
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In a nutshell?
http://roydenandruth.blogspot.com/2009/01/mandalay-bay-is-bigger-then-bothell.html
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Sounds like fun. Its the place I’d want to go to if I had a few million dollars to blow.
.-= Roshan´s last blog ..s’mores frothiccino3 =-.
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I really enjoyed Las Vegas. It was a little eye opener though. You see lots of trucks driving around with ‘hot girls’ on the back. And these little spanish people try to force some naked girl pictures in your hands as you walk by them. Just ignore them and walk by like you don’t see them!
You have to visit the Premium Outlet Mall. It is near the Stratosphere and you have to take a cab. It is seriously the best outlet mall you will ever visit. There is another one at the other end of the strip, but it isn’t very good.
A book to check out that is so so awesome is called ‘Hush Hush’ by Becca Fitzpatrick. If you read the Twilight series and enjoyed that, you will love this book. Another good one is ‘Fallen’ by Lauren Kate. Love that too.
Enjoy Vegas!
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Okay, I have absolutely no advice since I’ve never been however, as far as reading materials go I’d definitely recommend a bit of fluff in there. Chatelaine, Us Weekly (etc), and some rom-com type books. Oh and if you can find any Michael Pollan books at the library then I recommend those. Food Rules was fun to read on my 16 hour journey from Winnipeg to Edmonton (and then back again) while eating McDonald’s and other assorted “not food” along the way. I found it helpful to have a variety of things to read. Oh, and I’m not recommending any particular rom-com books because there are just so many out there, pull a few from the library and go from there. If one sucks, move to the next one
.-= Elle´s last blog ..Life of Leisure comes to an end =-.
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Vegas is so amazing (and I’m not a gambler either!) I bet you and your hubby will have a wonderful anniversary trip. I recommend any show by Cirque de Soleil – they are all wonderful and awe-inspiring! Other than that just wander up and down the strip and enjoy the sights!
.-= Laurie´s last blog ..Chicken Pox and Other Fun =-.
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i’ve been to vegas several times the past few years (i’ll be in reno the first week of may) and there is so much to do it’s hard to recommend anything. like vahid, i’m fond of fremont. WARNING: if you go to a burlesque show, do not drink a lot ahead of time because they do not like you to leave for the bathroom (they may not let you back in). thank god for adult diapers.
that’s what i hear, anyway.
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No Vegas advice, but I am so! psyched for July. SO PSYCHED.
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..Good Things: Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer =-.
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Uhh.. Vegas! We got married there
Some ‘musts’ include:
1.
Cirque Du Soleil ‘Zumánity’ at New York, New York (do checkout the website first to know all about the show!). Perfect for a ten year anniversary!
2.
Check out Mn&M world! You will be sure to find presents for your kids in this 4 story building on the strip, with every kind of product you may need in you life with the M&M logo on it!
3.
Check out the Bellagio Water Show (On every half hour inthe evening) – so romantic & right in the center of the boulevard!
4.
Get a famous ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ from Serendipity located outside the Caesar’s Palace Square! A MUST!
Have a great trip
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Have a wonderful trip there! I am no help in the Vegas or book department. Lame, I know…
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