Vegas!!

Last weekend, I embarked on an exciting getaway to Las Vegas with my mom and sister, Julie. 

After work on Thursday, I drove to Regina. It rained pretty much the entire time but it wasn't enough to dampen my excitement!

Dad drove me and Mom to the airport at 4:30 Friday morning. We breezed through security and had breakfast at Tim Hortons. Soon enough it was time to board. The flight was smooth, as smooth as one of those propeller planes can be. And I'm not the best flier! Every bump and jolt sends a flash of panic through me!! But we landed safely and with enough time to grab a sandwich and wait for Julie's flight to arrive. 

The plane to Vegas was packed especially with all the Oilers fans going to Vegas for the game!

After landing safely (with so much turbulence my nerves were shot!!) we grabbed an Uber and raced off to our hotel. We dropped our bags and headed south on the strip. There was something at nearly every casino/hotel that we wanted to see. I was so impressed with New York New York. And by that time we needed some lunch. Our goal for eating was to eat something new and exciting that fit the theme of where we were. So of course we had to have pizza!

They say that the casinos are like mazes designed to keep you inside as long as possible and that is no lie. As long as were outside, we knew where we were, but once inside, it was difficult to navigate! Amazingly enough, we really only got lost once. We went into the MGM Grand and thought we could just cut through to get back to the strip. So naïve. We got so turned around we ended up coming out the back of the hotel and had to walk all the way back to the strip!

We also went into the Hershey store and M&M store with its four floors and the Coke store where we sampled beverages from around the world. 

We finally made it back to the hotel, our step count for the day already reaching an impressive 20,380. Now it was time to have some supper. Keeping up with the theme, we picked a seafood restaurant called Oceans One. Mom had the striped bass, Julie had the scallops, and I had the teriyaki ahi tuna. 

                                        

After supper, we made our way to the Bellagio to witness the mesmerizing fountain show. The illuminated Eiffel Tower provided a stunning backdrop as we soaked in the magical spectacle. Our step total for the day: 24,772.

Saturday morning I was a little stiff but it didn't matter! We headed over to Paris for breakfast at La Creperie. Though the line was long and we had to wait, but it was worth it.

Our first stop was the Flamingo hotel, where we marveled at the vibrant flamingos and soaked in the beauty of the Promenade. Then it was over to the Venetian and then over to The Fashion Show mall where we explored the Lego store.

After that it was a short walk (by Vegas standards!) to Caesar's Palace. By then it was time for lunch so we got a table at the Cheesecake Factory. We all choose the Margherita pizza and house salad. Our exploration continued as we ventured through the upscale shops at Bellagio, taking in the luxurious ambiance. The Conservatory within Bellagio was a delight, featuring breathtaking floral displays. As the scorching Vegas sun beat down, we made our way back to the hotel. Step count: 16,182 so far - not bad. 

What a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend!!

A well-deserved nap rejuvenated us and before we knew it, it was time to get dressed for The Chicks show!! The whole reason for the trip!! We needed to grab some supper so again, we chose a spot that seemed appropriate - Gordon Ramsay's Burger. He has at least 4 different restaurants here and I gotta say, I don't know if I've had a better burger!!

Eager for evening entertainment, we lined up for a show, engaging in a friendly conversation with Steve, the security guy. He even took a picture for us!! The concert was amazing. The talent and musicianship was outstanding. It's not a surprise they are my favourite band. They played some old familiar songs but most from their new album. I think my favourite part was when they did their acapella version of James Taylor's That Lonesome Road. It was spectacular!! So simple and stripped down but the sound filled the entire concert hall.  

Sunday marked the end of our unforgettable Vegas weekend. We got up at 5:30 am and rode an Uber to the airport. After navigating through security, we encountered a brief moment of suspense when the moldable soap I had bought for my daughter caught the attention of the authorities, requiring a thorough check for explosives. Thankfully, all was well, and we continued on our way.

We found a cute restaurant and had a breakfast of granola with fruit and yogurt, fueling us for the day ahead. The plane ride was smooth and around noon, we landed in Calgary, smoothly passing through customs.

Once we landed in Clagary, there was time for one last meal of the trip - at Chili's. 

Then it was time to say goodbye to Julie as she departed on her flight home. Mom and I walked to our gate, ready to embark on our journey back to Regina. Our arrival was greeted by my dad, who picked us up from the airport. I took a couple minutes in Regina to grab the stuff I had left there, grabbed a snack and a bottle of water, and drove home. It was a quick drive and I made it home just in time to give everyone their souvenirs and tuck the kids into bed.