VIVA LAS VEGAS
THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO SIN CITY THAN JUST GAMBLING AND WILD PARTIES
From the moment I jetted into Las Vegas for my 50th birthday with my teen daughter Ava, I instantly fell in love with the dazzling lights of Sin City. But if you think Vegas is all about gambling, think again. It’s bursting with fun for all the family.
SLEEP AMONGST THE STARS
After a 14-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, followed by an effortless hour flight to Las Vegas, we made the quick taxi ride to our hotel, New York-new York. Situated in the heart of the world-famous Vegas Strip we loved the hotel’s Insta-worthy Manhattan skyline, including replicas of the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.
Our room was spacious and sparkling clean, but there was too much to do to stay in. We headed straight for a thrilling ride on the Big Apple roller-coaster, which hurtled through the middle of the hotel before soaring high above Vegas. It’s not for the fainthearted – I had my eyes shut for most of it!
With a great pool, casino, nightclubs and bars, the hotel is a destination itself. Standouts were Gonzalez y Gonzalez for gastronomic Mexican delights, and sumptuous steaks at Gallagher’s Steakhouse.
SEE THE SIGHTS
Keen to explore, we took the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour along the Strip. Tickets start from around $85, and it’s a great way to take everything in.
For a bird’s eye view of Las Vegas, the incredible High Roller is a must. Standing at a towering 167 metres, it’s the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.
Next, we visited The Venetian, which is based on Venice, Italy. It has its very own Venetian canal, complete with gondola rides. Gliding through the water, I truly felt like I was in Italy. We finished with a delicious gelato in the expansive Grand Canal Shoppes.
A big fan of the movie The Hangover, Ava was thrilled to get a photo outside Caesars Palace, where the film was set. Movie buffs should also plan a stop to check out the world-famous Bellagio Hotel – seen in the
movie Ocean’s Eleven.
And as a family of chocoholics, we loved the huge M&M’S shop, and were blown away by the four floors filled with M&M’S of every colour and flavour. We even printed our personalised M&M’S!
Hoping to nab a bargain and beat the 45-degree heat, the next day we shopped ’til we dropped at the South Premium Outlets mall with over 100 stores.
Come nightfall, trendy downtown Fremont Street is the place to be. Packed with cafes, bars and restaurants, it also has a huge TV screen on the roof of the covered pedestrian strip and regularly hosts free shows and buskers. You can even do a zipline high above the crowd!
SHOWTIME
Las Vegas is famous for its huge array of shows and concerts by world-class performers, so make sure to take advantage of what’s on offer. We grabbed seats for O by Cirque du Soleil, which was simply stunning. The sheer skill of the acrobats as they performed aerial tricks above, before diving into a vast pool of water took our breath away.
Don’t leave without catching the best free show in town – the fabulous Fountains of Bellagio. Consisting of over 1000 fountains choreographed to sway in time to music and lights, it’s truly magical.
EAT LIKE A CELEBRITY
Sin City is the place to splash out on indulgent, gourmet fare, so book in for dinner at ultra-glam Delilah’s at Wynn Las Vegas. The sumptuous retro art deco restaurant is a celeb hangout for Rihanna, Kendall Jenner and Justin Bieber. We spent dinner star-spotting as we tucked into delicious wagyu steak.
DAY TRIPPING
One of the highlights of our
trip was the full-day bus tour to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. Stretching a staggering 446km long and nearly 2km deep, you can’t help but be struck by its sheer size and beauty.
We took to the skies with Maverick Helicopters for an unforgettable helicopter ride over the canyon. “I’m scared of heights,” I told the pilot. “Good, so am I,” he joked, instantly putting me at ease. Soaring into the canyon to the tune of ‘Danger Zone’ was a true bucket list moment.
Afterwards, we enjoyed the Grand Canyon Skywalk – a transparent walkway suspended over the canyon. Hot tip – be prepared for long queues.
On the way back, make sure to stop for a photo at the Hoover Dam. Standing at an impressive 21 metres high and containing 3,360,000 cubic metres of concrete, it’s an incredible sight.
While Las Vegas has a reputation for being a city of excess, you don’t need to love the slots or leave the kids at home to enjoy this exciting hotspot of fine dining, culture and natural wonders. There’s so much to see and do. Viva Las Vegas – I’ll be back soon!