Before I had kids I traveled to Vegas often. I loved to walk along the strip, and I could easily walk from Luxor (Mandalay Bay wasn't built yet) to Stardust (which was still standing tall) even on a hot day, admiring giant hotels, each having their own personality. I was impressed to see the Egyptian pyramid, Monte Carlo, San Remo, Paris, New York, etc. - all in one place. I love to gamble, but I gamble for fun, not to win. I could sit at a black jack table all night with only $40 at my disposal. I could afford to loose $40, too, because hotels were cheap and the food was cheap. A bloody mary would cost you $4, the same as a breakfast buffet.
That was then. Last time I traveled to Vegas was 7 years ago. Until last week. I came to Vegas to find that my favorite city is all changed.
Gone are the colorful parrots in Tropicana. The volcano in front of the Mirage no longer erupts. The pirates are banished from Treasure Island, just as Wizard of Oz figures from MGM. The roman gods in Cesar's Palace don't talk anymore. Almost all the free entertainment that Las Vegas still had 7 years ago is now gone. Instead, majestic giants such as Belagio, Mandalay Bay, Venetian, and the latest magic - Wynn - are now homes to the world's most expensive shopping malls and restaurants. Las Vegas is now a playground for millionaires.
The price of everything in Vegas has skyrocketed. But despite that, Las Vegas continues to impress adults and children alike.
Before I ventured to take my kids to Vegas, many warned me that there is nothing to do in Vegas for kids, that they would be bored and our trip would be a disaster. It turned out not to be the case at all. I didn't gamble this time,
because with current minimum black jack bet, my $40 would be gone in a minute. Instead, we went to Mandalay Bay aquarium, which was great. We saw a magic show, which is always a hit with kids. We went on a gondola ride in Venetian. We wondered around MGM, glanced at the lions, and generally marveled at the size of this world's second largest hotel. It is so big it needs its own public transportation running inside. We visited other hotels, too, and argued which one was the best. We thought that Luxor was the most original one, MGM was the biggest, Mandalay Bay had the best swimming pool, and Circus-Circus had the most entertainment for kids. Because I had my kids with me, I didn't much miss Las Vegas of 7 years ago, which I definitely would without the kids.
because with current minimum black jack bet, my $40 would be gone in a minute. Instead, we went to Mandalay Bay aquarium, which was great. We saw a magic show, which is always a hit with kids. We went on a gondola ride in Venetian. We wondered around MGM, glanced at the lions, and generally marveled at the size of this world's second largest hotel. It is so big it needs its own public transportation running inside. We visited other hotels, too, and argued which one was the best. We thought that Luxor was the most original one, MGM was the biggest, Mandalay Bay had the best swimming pool, and Circus-Circus had the most entertainment for kids. Because I had my kids with me, I didn't much miss Las Vegas of 7 years ago, which I definitely would without the kids.
2 comments:
I LOVE Vegas.
Ido asked me a while ago, "if you could visit any place in the world right now, which would you choose?"
I picked Vegas.
Yes, over Paris and Rome and New York and Hawaii and Alaska and New Zealand and all the other amazing places that the world has to offer.
It's just a feel-good place for me, you know?
Yes, it used to be for me too. It had so much to offer, it was one of a kind place. But now it seems to be turning into one huge shopping mall.
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