Back To The Real World...

We drove through eight states to get to Las Vegas - which has always been one of our favorite vacation spots. I'd guess that we've gone there over 50 times in the past 20 years! I think we've stayed at practically every hotel on the Strip, off the Strip and downtown, with the exception of the newest hotels built in the last few years. You know that you've visited there too often when some of the hotels that you've stayed at have been imploded!

The pictures above include scenes from the Rocky Mountains, Utah and Arizona. Driving through the Rockies is one of the things I really love about the trip, and I can't wait to do it again. The scenery is so breathtaking that words cannot describe it.

We stayed at New York New York - a hotel that we've booked several times before and have always enjoyed.

Where else would you find a jellybean Statue of Liberty?

At New York New York, of course!

A visit to Las Vegas for us always includes a walk through Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The flower displays are spectacular.

We came across these gorgeous chocolate flowers on display in Aria - one of the newest hotels and part of the City Center project on the Strip.

Nothing beats starting your day earlier in the morning when everything is a little quieter!

I snapped this picture of my husband Steve, stepson Kyle and his friend Josh as we walked up Las Vegas Boulevard.

Josh and Kyle were first-timers to Las Vegas, so we showed them the sights. We also took them to see World Class Magician Lance Burton at Monte Carlo and the Broadway play "Jersey Boys" at Palazzo. "Jersey Boys" was fantastic and we all loved it. Lance Burton is finishing up a 15-year run at Monte Carlo. It's hard to believe that we first saw him nearly 20 years in one of those "imploded" casinos - the old Hacienda where Mandalay Bay is now.

Steve and I also went to Cher at Caesars Palace. What a fabulous show! I've always been a big fan and saw her (and Sonny) in concert in the early 70's at the Minnesota State Fair. For being 64, she's still amazing and looks fantastic! I can only hope I'll look as good!

No visit would be complete without a few drinks of course! I had more than a couple of Chocolate Martinis and Mojitos and loved every one of them! The boys liked drinks that were a little less exotic and ALOT bigger!

I was going to try to do a blog while I was gone, but I was never in one place long enough to take the time. Besides...it was vacation!

Of course, I had to check out a few stores - including an awesome scrapbook store called Scrappin' Time. It wasn't on the Strip, but I think they should have something like it there for tourists. The store had just moved to a new location and it was layed out beautifully. It even had a sitting area for my husband. There was so many products to select from! Many of the things I bought were items I've only seen online because they aren't available locally where I live. I can't even remember everything I bought because I haven't even had a chance to go through it all yet. I'm going to make a book with the supplies that I bought there. When I'm finished I'll be sure to post it on my blog. The two ladies that were working were so nice and friendly, and I really enjoyed my visit there.

I'm definitely ready to go back to Las Vegas! I love it there because there are no clocks and you never run out of things to see. We love going to the shows and the people watching is always more than interesting. It's certainly not reality, but sometimes that's exactly what a person needs!