Laid Back Las Vegas
The idea of “laid-back” does not typically translate to Las Vegas. But if you don’t gamble (I do not) and there are not many shows back in business, this trip to Las Vegas proved to be quite mellow. This trip was planned for last October, but had to be postponed, so Gayle, my best friend from high school, and I decided to celebrate her birthday there. If you are interested in things to do besides gambling and want to hear about some of our favorite restaurants, then read on!
As you can probably tell from the first picture, we decided to splurge and stay at the Wynn Hotel. I typically stay at The Venetian, so I was a bit dubious about the Wynn; however, the room was lovely, we had a spectacular view and the service was very good. Las Vegas is experiencing the same staffing shortage as the rest of the country so the service wasn’t perfect. But under the circumstances we were treated well.
A fun way to spend an evening is to visit the Neon Museum. This museum has curated some of the most iconic Vegas signs, often from an historic perspective. Signs that are associated with Las Vegas from its’ earliest days are all represented: the Stardust, Sahara, Moulin Rouge, and so may more! Your tour will be led by a guide who can explain the history of the signs, as well as give interesting information about Vegas from its inception to the current day evolution. It was a relatively short tour, so we were able to finish and head back to the strip for a casual dinner at Allegro in the Wynn.
We started out early the following day. We really had no specific plans so set out to find a yummy breakfast spot. Believe it or not, that was actually a bit challenging but we ended up at the Bellagio at Sadelle’s. It was crowded, but worth the wait. The Eggs Benedict was decadent, the lattes yummy, and the service was good. And you can’t leave the Bellagio without touring the spectacular center court. The atrium, the sculptures, stunning floral arrangements, and the remarkable Chihuly glass work are worth taking time to explore.
What would a trip to Las Vegas be without a bit of retail therapy? Although we visited Caesar’s Palace Shops as well as those in the Bellagio, our biggest scores came from Fashion Show, just across from the Wynn. As you are probably aware, retail stores are not stocking product to levels experienced prior the pandemic, but we were still able to do some damage at Saks!!
It only seemed fitting that we should celebrate Gayle’s birthday at Sinatra Restaurant. How much more old Vegas can you get? I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Great martinis (of course!), a wonderful wine list, and an extensive menu with an Italian influence. Although known for their meat dishes and their pasta, I was very pleased with the Salmon. Gayle loves beef dishes; that evening she enjoyed a beautiful steak. The downside: it is noisy, and also expensive! But if you can get past those problems it is a wonderful experience!
To say the Spa at Wynn is spectacular would be an understatement. I had an amazing massage; however, inexpensive it is not! There are signs everywhere telling you to not take pictures so my photo isn’t great. But if you are in Las Vegas, a trip to the Spa at the Wynn spa is worth the time and effort. Plan on spending several hours there as the sauna and steam rooms are exquisite!
Finally, our last night we decided to splurge at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant, Hell’s Kitchen. To be honest, it was a bit more casual than we expected so if you are looking for an elegant atmosphere, this is probably not where you should chose. But the famous truffle lobster risotto was on the menu as was the Beef Wellington. We finished with the Sticky Toffee Pudding which was decadently delicious!
We packed a lot into three days. Probably on our next trip we will see shows, maybe drop some money at a black jack table, and try some new restaurants. But in the meantime, “laid-back Vegas,” was perfect for the times we are currently living through.