As with many of our trips, I tagged along with my husband to a work conference in Las Vegas. He would be busy during the day, and I planned to explore the city on my own.
This trip took place in August 2023, right before my birthday. It also happened to coincide with Hurricane Hilary, which was causing serious flooding in California. I assumed the weather in Vegas would be unpleasant as well. When we landed, the sky was gray and overcast, so we decided to stay indoors, enjoy lunch, and wander through the shops at The Venetian. As it turned out, that was the right move, it rained for the rest of the day and well into the night.
Settling into our suite didn’t feel like a lost evening at all. It was gorgeous, comfortable, and came with an unforgettable view of Las Vegas’ newest attraction, The Sphere. Its exterior shell is a massive programmable LED display, 580,000 square feet of digital magic. It can project anything from a beating eyeball to the entire galaxy. We spent hours watching it from our window, sipping wine and relaxing in the living room. Honestly, it became the highlight of the night.
The next day started with a walk along the Strip and an early dinner at a lively piano bar. They featured dueling pianos, always guaranteed entertainment. My husband eventually left for the conference, so I treated myself to dinner at Señor Frogs, one of my longtime Vegas favorites. There’s always something wild, loud, and memorable happening there.
When it was finally time for my solo adventure, I walked the Strip with a giant margarita slush in hand to beat the summer heat. I love taking in all the replica architecture, New York New York is my favorite. The only downside was the aggressive street performers who try to rope tourists into paid photos. Still, they’re just doing their job, and some of the costumes were impressive. After a long walk in the sun, I relaxed by the pool until my husband finished work. Later, we had dinner under The Venetian’s painted sky and enjoyed a drink in the casino.
On the final day, I spent most of my time lounging poolside. My husband had a short workday, so we later met up with some of his coworkers for dinner at New York New York Casino. A huge thunderstorm hit during the meal, strong enough to cause part of the casino ceiling to collapse. Terrifying, to say the least.
For three days, I packed in a lot. Even without catching a show, the trip had plenty of entertainment and unexpected moments. My biggest complaint? The prices. Everything feels overpriced, especially food and drinks. A poolside slushy drink cost $39 which is absurd. But that’s Vegas.
This was my fourth time visiting, and at this point, I’m not sure I’d return. For the same price, I feel like I get so much more in Europe, Mexico, or South America. Maybe I’ve just had my fill of Vegas, and that’s okay.