Vegas!

Vivaaaaa Las Vegas! We just got back from our 4 day trip to Vegas, and it was so awesome! I had originally planned for this to be a birthday surprise trip for B, but I thought it might be just a teensy bit too risky to buy plane tix and hotel reservations without checking with him first. We've never been, and while we don't have kids and all that stuff, we might as well travel as much as we can! (At least to non-kid friendly places)

So we left on Sunday morning, and B's cousin, who lives just outside of the city, picked us up from the airport. That was another reason we wanted to go there, so we could visit with her for a few days. I was so glad she could pick us up! The line for the cabs and shuttles was redic, and isn't cheap. 

View from the plane

She took us to the Hoover Dam, where I tried to push B off the ledge, but he didn't like it too much. I couldn't believe how hot it was there, and it was only like 88 degrees! No humidity and the dry desert is a lot different than Chicago heat. I could feel myself burning without 100 proof suncreen on.

The first night, we went to the Cosmopolitan, which is the new up and coming place I guess, and it was really pretty inside and fun! B's cousin taught us about the Hangover slots (which are behind us in the pic) and how they are trying to get rid of them because they are paying out so well. So of course we played it! It was really funny, there were a lot of quotes and pictures and video clips from the movie, so that made it hilarious. 

We ended up winning a good amount from it the next day, but of course kept going and ended up losing most of it. Isn't that how people get addicted? Ahh oh well, we never gamble, so it was ok this time :)

Cool 40s/50s band at the Cosmopolitan

We had these crazy drinks at the bar - one had a flower that you eat called a Sichuan Button. It made your mouth tingle like crazy! It kind of felt numb. And the other drink had liquid nitrogen raspberries, and when you put them in your mouth, it looks like you're smoking cause they are so cold and it pours out of your mouth. Neat stuff! I kind of want to order some of the Sichuan Buttons and make people try them.

B winning or losing, probably losing

Excuse the messy bed

We stayed at the Hard Rock (I bought a Groupon, such a good deal!) and it was really nice! The decor in the room was different than your standard hotel room, which I liked a lot. We even got a corner room! Score!

I would definitely not recommend the Hard Rock to the older crowd. There are a lot of younger people that were staying there, and the pool party "Rehab" that they have every Sunday night is cah-razy. We were trying to take a nap after our flight, and it was impossible. The bass was SO loud you could hear it from every room I'm sure.

But, it's a happening hotel if that's what you're into! Pauly D was DJing that day at the pool party, but we aren't really those type of partier people, so we skipped out on seeing him.

Stocked mini bar! 

We walked up and down the strip the next day and went in a bunch of the hotels/casinos. Caesars was pretty awesome, along with all the others. We didn't get to see the Bellagio fountains, and I really wished we had! Also didn't get to Mandalay Bay or the Luxor since it's at the other end of the strip. We'll just have to make another trip!

The last day, we went to the downtown area where Fremont Street is and all the older casinos, like the Golden Nugget. We were starving, so we went to the closest place we saw - Hash Hash a Go Go. It was on Man vs. Food for the Chicken and Eggs Benedict. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles since that's close to what he had, and B ordered the Pork Tenderloin sandwich. OH MY it was HUGE! We should've split a meal for sure. But it was tasty, that's for sure. 

We walked down Fremont Street after we ate, and ran into the Heart Attack Grill! We've always seen this on Travel Channel and talked about how we wanted to go and eat there. But darn it, we'd just eaten! Maybe it was a sign? All of their food has lard in it, either lard mayo, deep fried in lard, or the butterfat shake. And anyone over 350lbs eats free! That is nuts. There was even a scale out front to weigh yourself. It looked like all the "patients" that were eating there had on a hospital gown, which is kind of funny I guess. 

Our last stop was the Gold and Silver Pawn shop from Pawn Stars. There was a line out front, but not too long. I'm sure it's longer on the weekends. The inside is a LOT smaller than it seems on TV. And the whole back part of the store is just merch, like Chumlee tshirts and stuff. I guess they might as well make a profit on it while they can!

A guy asked one of the workers if the guys on TV were in there, but of course they were traveling and doing appearances. They probably don't ever work normal hours now, only when they are filming.

We stayed with B's cousin the last night there, and she and her husband drove us (on their super fast golf cart that was a little scary) to this quiet little village area with a few restaurants for dinner. It was so nice and peaceful after being in the casinos and walking around all day. I guess Celine Dion and some other Vegas performers live up there.

I'm already thinking about our trip back! It's a great place to go for the weekend or a short little vacation and get away from work and all the normal everyday things. I was kind of in a vacation haze for the last few days, but Monday it'll be back to normal. So sad.....