You guessed it…Las Vegas. Elvis Presley once said, “Man, I really like Vegas,” and we couldn’t agree more with the King of Rock and Roll.
Every time we get to this 24-hour wonderland, the concept of time escapes us. Sleep is nothing but an idea, and energy flows incessantly throughout our bodies. This is the only place where we willingly run on empty.
This visit, we stayed at Park MGM on the strip. Park MGM is located where the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino used to be, until October 3rd, 2016, when it closed it doors. Going further back in time, it also sits on part of the land that used to belong to the Dunes Casino. Park MGM is an upscale hotel that is the first of its kind. It is smoke and vape free throughout, including inside the casino. The hotel theme is to embrace nature; however, some find Italian and Central Park, New York, influences. In our opinion, this is one of the best hotels on the strip. Due to its price point and smoke-free environment it maintains a better atmosphere. Although very much our perception, we found that there are less hooligans, and a more respectful crowd. The hotel is cleaner, quieter in the rooms, and feels safer. If we had to pick something negative about this hotel, it would have to be the room size. We found the room to be on the smaller side, but still, it did not bother us.
While here, we embraced the overly popular pool scene and rented a day bed. Like most hotels, Park MGM offers lounge chairs, daybeds, and cabanas along with poolside service for drinks and food. We thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine, the strong drinks, and the generous order of chips, salsa, and guacamole that we ordered. When traveling to Vegas in the warmer months, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the vast pool options in the area. If spending additional money is not in your budget, keep in mind that pool use is included the resort fees, so as long as you arrive early, you will still be able to secure one of the free chairs for the pool.
As mentioned in our previous Vegas post, each time we travel here, we are looking to try new foods, experience new adventures, and find new gems to share. With that said, some of the notable finds this time around are…
~ Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil – Located at Mandalay Bay, this production is by far the best Cirque show that we have seen to date. Although Michael Jackson’s personal life can be quite the controversial topic, no one can deny the immense musical talent that he possessed. Set to his biggest hits, you will see performers shoot through the sky, show off acrobatic genius, mimic the iconic moves of MJ, dance alongside his holograph, and shock you with a touch of pyrotechnics. It doesn’t matter if you are Black or White, this show is quite the Thriller, and you will be begging that the show doesn’t end so you don’t have to Beat It.
~ Virgin Hotel Concert – Situated off the strip, at the former location of the Hard Rock Hotel, the Virgin Hotel opened in March of this year. Although there has been lots of hype regarding this hotel, we were not all that impressed. The location of the hotel felt dangerous and there was not much activity within it, however we did not visit any of the rooms, so we cannot completely form an opinion. In any event, there is one thing for sure…seeing a concert here is a MUST! The intimate theater creates a setting that is perfect for a phenomenal show. We were lucky enough to see Lady A, Carly Pearce, Niko Moon, and Tenille Arts at this venue. For those of you that don’t know, we are HUGE country music fans, and these are some awesome artists! This concert was one for the books and we were so close to the stage! Do yourself a favor and see a concert here.
~ Candy Martini Bar – This sugary bar is on the second level of the I Love Sugar store at the Linq Promenade. If you want a buzz, are always looking for that gram shot, and want to gamble your chances at a cavity, then come to this spot, spend $42, and get a giant candy martini! Definitely large enough to share, this alcoholic cocktail comes out heaping with candy and smoking from dry ice. It will set the stage for memorable photos and get you in the mood for a night on the town. We ordered “Thee Gummy Bear,” which has apple vodka, strawberry liquor, grape liquor, watermelon liquor, green melon liquor, and sprite. It is topped with oversized gummy bears and rimmed with orange pucker powder. Goodbye liver!
~ Fly Over Vegas – The newest experience on the strip and the ultimate flying ride. Board this simulator flight, where your feet will dangle as you are suspended in front of a 52-foot-wide spherical screen. Prepare to explore land, sea, and sky, as mist hits you in the face, gusts of wind blow your hair, and scents transport you into your visual surroundings. Visit the American West or Iceland and feel the rush of flying in these 8–9-minute experiences. Created by the same people that brought you Soaring Over California, later Soaring over the World at California Adventure, this experience has newer cutting-edge technology. USA Today says, “it makes riders feel like they’re flying,” and Travel + Leisure describes the experience as a “mind-blowing trip!” Tickets are $34/per person for a single ride or $54/per person for a double ride. Before or after your flight you can also visit the Fly Over bar and lounge called The Lost Cactus. This mini bar has an artificial twinkling star night sky! We chose the Real Wild West experience and really enjoyed it.
~ Van Gogh Immersive Experience at Area 15 – Let us start by saying that Area 15 is incredible. We will do a separate post to go over the details of this awesome spot and share our previous visit showcasing some of their best exhibits, Omega Mart, and Wink World, but for now, we will focus on the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. This is considered a temporary event and is a 360-degree digital art exhibition that is described as a one-of-a-kind VR experience. This is what others describe it as…we describe it as boring, underwhelming, and overrated. Unfortunately, we were extremely let down by this experience. It feels like you are in an audio book. A story is told, and pictures slowly move around you, but they do not come to life as we had hoped. There were a few cool photo opportunities, but we would not call it immersive. There was nothing to get lost in. All in all, visit Area 15, but nix this activity.
~ The Henry – This restaurant is in the Cosmopolitan Hotel and is depicted as a “modern American eatery with casual upscale charm.” Plan to make a reservation as this place fills up quickly. Open all day and night, this spot offers many dishes and an assortment of sophisticated cocktails. We decided to eat breakfast here as their signature dishes are featured on that menu. We ordered:
-Signature Short Rib Benedict – Braised Short Rib, Soft Poached Eggs, Hollandaise, and Hashbrowns.
-Warm Signature Donuts – Bananas Fosters Filling with Salted Caramel Glaze.
Do yourself a solid and get this breakfast. Our cousin said, taste this and you’ll never be the same. She was not wrong! This may just become a regular stop on our Vegas getaways.
~ Allegiant Stadium – No matter what your team may be, if you enjoy the sport of football, it is always neat to see other’s home turf. Although Raider’s fans like to say, “What happens in Vegas, started in Oakland, “it doesn’t change the fact that the Raider’s now call Las Vegas their home. The stadium was set to have an opening performance by Garth Brooks, but all plans were postponed due to the lovely Covid-19 pandemic. The first event wound-up taking place on September 21, 2020, for a Monday Night Football game against the Saints. The stadium is now open for spectators and has a capacity of 65K. We checked out this 10-story, dome stadium, and it is definitely something to see. Although the Raiders are not our team, the area was impressive, and the perk of a climate-controlled game is a good reason to see a game here!
~ Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat – Although Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn have both passed away, their legacy lives on at this zoo like oasis. Located within the Mirage Resort & Casino, this sanctuary is home to bottlenose dolphins, tigers, lions, and panthers. We have mixed feelings about this place. At $25/per person, we found it incredible to view dolphins flip around and see big cats up close, but we also felt sad for the animals. The dolphins have a decent amount of swimming room, but the felines are kept in small cages separate from one another. They have ZERO room to run and be active as their genetics call for. All in all, it’s a cool sight to see, but we do feel that the animals need far more space.
As you can tell, we had an activity packed vacation. As much as it feels good to be home with Remi, and in our own bed, we are also sad our trip is over. It’s time to plan another one!
Feelin Lucky,
TnT
PS – The Fall display at the Bellagio Conservatory was up and it is the best one we have seen to date! You know we visit this free exhibit every time we are in town! Check it out!
