I didn’t realize it until today, but this was my sixth time visiting Las Vegas. We had, originally, decided we would just skip The Strip, since Ray and I had been there several times before, and we didn’t know about taking the girls. But, then we decided it would be okay just to see a few of the popular sights that are kid-friendly. So, we took them to see the flamingo habitat at The Flamingo, the fountain show at Bellagio, and the moving statues at The Forum Shops at Caesars.
Honestly, they were far more impressed with the three hours we spent at a Las Vegas Chuck E. Cheese yesterday, but I think they were a little enamored by the princess at the Forum Shops (It turns out they no longer have the moving Caesar statue, but now it’s a whole Atlantis-themed 10–minute show… Guess things have changed in the decade since I was last there).
Also, they were less than thrilled with all the walking, but they hung in there like champs! I think they enjoyed seeing Hoover Dam and Lake Mead far more than strolling along Las Vegas Boulevard. I told them I would take them again when they were 21, and they’d like it much more, because then they would understand that it’s like a huge Chuck E. Cheese for grownups.
Anyway, now I’ve been to The Strip without gambling at all. I did manage to have one margarita at the food court in the mall with dinner. It’s a different scene with the kids.
About Lake Mead Recreational Area: Talk about some beautiful views! The colors are just amazing. We spent some time at the Visitors Center so the girls could do some Junior Ranger activities and get “sworn in.” Then we took in some views, before going down the road to the Hoover Dam. Ray and I had done the tour before, and we just weren’t in the mood for any of the “This Dam Tour” jokes; plus, we didn’t think the kids would be all that interested at this point in their lives. So, we opted just to walk across the Mike O’ Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to see it from a distance.
While in Las Vegas, we stayed at Nellis Air Force Base (at the Desert Eagle RV Park), and our RV site was right next to the playground. This was likely the highlight for the girls. They played at that playground for a couple of hours the first day we arrived, and they met another homeschooled girl to hang with. We were also able to update our military IDs while at Nellis (to retired status), so it worked out well being on base.
We are California-bound tomorrow! It has been almost 10 years since I was in that beautiful state. I am so ready to see the West Coast again!
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