Las Vegas? You won’t find me in the club!
Ok, so I’m not going to lie—usually when someone asks me if I want to go to Vegas, I can find 10 quick ways to answer “No.” Birthdays, girls trips, family trips, couples trips—-I’ve done Vegas at least 8 times. It’s loud, smoky, dirty, overpriced, and everyone is just there to get drunk!
But this time was different.
My husband and I went to Vegas to meet up with two of our closest friends in celebration of a birthday. We had a totally different experience. Well, if you don’t count the flight over where the person sitting next to me was definitely intoxicated and made my flight miserable by invading my personal space, but that’s another story.
We stayed at the Wyndham Grand Desert which is an awesome place to stay. Our room was upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite which included a fully stocked kitchen, living room, dining room, and soaking tub. The resort had a lot of amenities including free shuttle rides to the strip, family pool, adult pool, quick service food, 2 bars, a playground, movie theater, gym, and a small 24 hour market. You could rent a cabana and sit poolside or participate in some of the daily resort activities. Staying at a resort off of the strip definitely set the tone for a fun and relaxing weekend.
We had the opportunity to visit Play Playground inside the Luxor resort. Essentially there are 13 games and challenges that you can play against your friends. It takes about two hours to get through all of the experiences. During the whole time there’s a live DJ, adult beverages, and just plain fun.
Then there was the food. Oo EM Gee. I just have to share about two of our stand out food experiences.
My mouth is still watering thinking about brunch. If you want great soul food, chicken and waffles, dirty rice and a bunch of sides, Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles is it! The drinks are more on the sweeter side than my taste (yes, they have a big ol’ cup of red Kool-Aid), but my friends loved them. The throw back R&B playlist had us singing, swaying, and humming with every bite.
The second standout was brunch at the Marina Bistro. This restaurant provides a unique Mexican culinary experience with the glamor of Vegas. We initially arrived at the beginning of brunch and were a little hesitant because the restaurant is in the middle of a mall area and it was extremely quiet. I didn’t see a line to get in like we usually see in California when a brunch spot is really good. We didn’t have a reservation so I was anticipating a long wait, however, we were able to put our names on the list and we’re seated before we had the chance to order something at the bar. When you enter the restaurant, you’re transported into another place. it’s colorful, vibrant, lively, and just beautiful. The decor is eclectic, but intentional and glamorous. There are large television screens that are synced to the DJ playlist. But the music isn’t too loud that you have to yell to hold a conversation. The drink menu is expansive. I had a lavender lemonade martini that was just amazing. It was smooth, subtle, and tangy at the same time. I wish I got another one of those or tried additional drinks instead of the bottomless mimosas I ordered. For the mimosas, they are not pre-mixed. The sparking wine is left chilled on your table and you can add whatever essence of juice to fit your mimosa style. What can I say about the food? I ordered steak and chilaquiles. My husband had burria tacos. We also shared the very fresh ceviche and banana foster French toast. The birthday celebrations are over the top coming with a DJ shout out and coordinated dance by the staff, a dessert, and a flaming sparkling candle. Before our brunch experience ended, we were enjoying our meal and experience so much that we couldn’t resist getting up and dancing with other brunch goers!
All in all, I had a wonderful trip. The only thing I did wish I planned ahead was a spa experience. I wanted to try the new coed spa at Fontainebleau but at this time you have to be a hotel guest to visit the spa. Vegas is no longer crossed off of this bougie mom’s vacation spot list. I guess we will save the spa for our next trip!
