Las Vegas

Brian had to do a lot of traveling in January.  He started off in Orlando and then he flew to Las Vegas.  It just so happened that he was going to be in Las Vegas during the school break for the kids.  Brian asked me if I wanted to come with the kids.  It sounded cool.  I did some research about things to do in Las Vegas with kids.  Surprisingly there is a lot to do.  I was still torn about what to do but I thought it was a good opportunity for them to see something different.  Las Vegas is not on my top places I want to travel with them.  So unless we went now, they likely would not be going anytime soon. 

Brian flew to Las Vegas on Wednesday night and so did we.  Brian arrived about 2 hours before we did.  He stayed at the airport and waited for us.  Austin and Sydney did really well on the flight.  They watched their Kindles. Austin did a little homework.  Sydney colored her My Little Pony coloring book.  Then they watched their Kindles.  Sydney then went to sleep. I took Austin’s Kindle away from him for him to sleep a little bit later.  I woke them up once we arrived.  They walked off the plane and carried the booster seat and a back pack.  They did great walking through the airport.  We got our luggage and then Brian met us at bag claim.  The kids were so excited to see them.  We took a taxi to our hotel the Excalibur.  Brian picked us up Wendy’s and we ate that at the hotel.  

The kids were so excited and were a bit crazy but they settled down and we went to sleep.  Thursday morning Brian went to the CES convention.  We walked to New York New York and found a donut shop with very large donuts.  I let the kids share one.  We ate that then walked down the strip.  We stopped in Paris and looked the Eiffel Tower. We considered on going up in it but it was $50 and Sydney did not want to.  So we found the Monorail that took us to the Flamingo. We stopped at lots of stores along the way too.  At the Flamingo we saw the flamingos and fish and turtles.  They liked that. 

Then we took the Monorail back to our hotel to take another Monorail to Monalay Bay.  At Monalay Bay, I consider the aquarium but again the kids decided they did not want to do that.  It was so much walking!  Sydney laid down for a little break.  Austin tried to carry her but she was too big.  She would walk with her eyes closed and Austin would guide her.  We just briefly stopped at the Luxor. I was hoping to see the Blue Man Group later in our visit but it did not work out. 

We went back to our hotel for a break.  I rested and kids watched some TV.  After a hour break, we went down to the arcade.  They shared $5 and played games.  They loved that.  Afterwards we walked to M+M world near our hotel. We explored the 4 floors.  We watched a 3D movie that they loved.  They picked out the item they wanted to buy but didn’t buy anything until they made sure since it was only day one.  I let them buy ice cream bar there though. 

While eating ice cream out on the strip, they found out the characters in Las Vegas are not real.  A Mickey took off his head right in front of them. Austin was in shock but I explained we are not in Disney and these characters are not real.  He understood that and went along with it.  I am not sure Sydney put it all together so I did not push the issue of what she did or did not see.  

Brian met us back in the hotel and we went to Johnny Rockets for dinner. 

On Friday, we started our day back at the New York New York donut shop.  This time Sydney got a small donut and Austin got a chocolate milk.  They were happy.  So was I.  Then we got on the Monorail down to towards the Venetian.  We walked around there for a bit.  We ended up in Treasure Island.  We went to the MARVEL Adventures.  I did not know what to do. Austin enjoyed playing with the stuff in the store.  So I did the tour. I got a coupon on travelzoo so it was somewhat reasonable. Sydney was not a fan for most of it but went with it.  There was so cool things.  They don’t know the Adventures so it made it hard for them to really understand/appreciate.  But it gave us something to do for a bit. 

Afterwards I was going to the Mirage but Brian called and he was taking a break. We went to Denny’s for lunch. It was a nice visit with him.   Afterwards he went back to CES and I took the kids over to the Mirage.  We went into the Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden.  Austin and Sydney loved the dolphins.  We watched them for about an hour.  There was a training show and underwater area we could watch them swim by. It was cool. 

We went back to our hotel. Brian was on the Monorail behind us so we walked over to our hotel together.  We decided to take the kids to see the Bellagio Fountain which they enjoyed.  Then we raced over to see the Mirage Volcano.  They loved that too.  Then we went back to our hotel to eat.  Sydney fell asleep on the walk over and Austin went to sleep waiting for food.  Brian and I had a quite dinner.

On Saturday, we were going to Adventure Dome but decided against it based on some of the reviews.  We took a bus to The Children’s Museum.  The problem was we got there an hour early. We walked to Container Park.  It was a great outside park for the kids.  They played for over an hour.  It was only about 50 degrees but sunny.  Austin and Sydney had a lot of fun.  They played and build a fort with some blocks with other friends.  Afterwards they were hot so we let them get gellto.  They loved it.  We are likely going to Europe in the fall so it was a good start for them. 

We waked down Fremont Street.  Las Vegas is very interesting place.  A lot of different people.  I think Austin and Sydney did not notice a lot but they did somethings.  Then we took a bus back to the Children’s Museum.  That place was awesome.  Austin and Sydney loved it and did not even get to do everything.  They started in the water area which they played there a while.  Then they climbed up the big playground in the middle.  They found a ball area that you placed balls in and they went down different things.  That was their favorite.  They played there for a very long time.  They even braved a hurricane stimulator machine.  They worked on making a track for a ball to go down.  It took them a while but they did it.  They made parachutes too and tested them.  There was a royal castle there they played in.  One of their favorite areas was the supermarket.  They worked hard in there and had lots of fun.  There was also an airport and car repair play area.  It was definitely a fun place for them. 

We had not eaten all day so we walked over to a food court near by.  We had dinner.  Then we waited a bit for our bus back towards our hotel.  Austin and Sydney played airplanes running up and down a ramp near the bus stop. Brian would be air traffic control.  After the bus ride back, we went to M+M world for Austin to get his one thing.  Last night Sydney got a yellow M+M suitcase.  Austin wanted a M+M sorter.  Then he got come dishes.  The bowls were cool and I think will be great cereal bowls. 

We went back to our hotel for the kids to cash in their arcade tickets.  We also had diary queen ice cream.  Austin and Sydney got a bunch of plastic jumping frogs.  We went back to the room and they played a bit before bed. 

On Sunday morning, we got up early and went to the airport.  Brian has to go to Austin Texas for work.  So I traveled home with the kids.  It was amazing because our gates were right across from each other.  We got some breakfast then walked to our gates.  Brian left first and that was difficult for the kids.  They cried for a while on how they missed daddy.  We watched his plane take off.  Then we went to our gate and started boarding soon after. My biggest fear was they would cancel my flight.  Brian would be gone and I would still have to be in Las Vegas.  I am definitely glad we went but I don’t want to be there all alone with two little kids. 

The three days were perfect length.  We didn’t get to see any shows but that was the kids request.  I hope if we do come again we could at least see one show.  I am more familiar with things now so that helps too.  I did like the Exculibar as a hotel for us.  Austin and Sydney are great travelers.  They worked on homework and watched their Kindles on the plane.