Traditionally, you would imagine that a new college graduate would be celebrating this milestone in Sin City with a group of girlfriends. However, I have the coolest mom and as a graduation gift from my parents, I was given the present of a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada with Mama Samra as my travel companion. To kick off the new year, mom and I traveled to this fabulous city in January of 2018. To all of my readers - at least once in your lifetime you should go on a trip solely with your mom. I can't recommend it enough!
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The hotel:
We arrived to Las Vegas at night time, where we took an Uber from the airport straight to The Venetian, a 5 star hotel located on the strip. The interior of this hotel will make you feel like you're in Italy, as the fountains and gondola rides give tribute to the European country.
Entering the lobby feels like you've stepped into The Vatican. Here is my cute mom ready to show me a good time! Her and my dad have visited Vegas plenty of times throughout their lives, so she was the perfect partner for my first time visit 🤩
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The Itinerary
The Venetian
The first order of business was to explore the grand hotel which we were staying in. I quickly learned that smelling cigarettes was inevitable in Vegas due to the casinos and party nature of the city. Attached to our hotel was a casino and shopping mall full of boutiques bordering a man made canal to resemble Venice. We dined at a delicious Italian restaurant located in the Grand Canal Square, where we also enjoyed opera singers in the courtyard and gelato for dessert.
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The Strip
This is where we spent the majority of our time while in Vegas, as all of the excitement is located on this 4.2 mile stretch. The hotels each have a unique theme to their name and contain casinos, delicious dining, and entertainment. The majority of our days were spent walking while exploring, so ditch the heels and opt for something comfortable. We made visits to most of the hotels, as each one offers a whimsical experience.
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Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas is a replica of the original that is based in Paris. We purchased tickets to visit the top at night time, as it offers a gorgeous view of the strip lit up in all its glory.
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The visibility here is unbeatable, as you've got a bird's eye view of the strip. Down below is the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas - the city that never sleeps.
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Omnia Night Club
While walking along the strip during the day, we were given free tickets to attend The Omnia, a lively nightclub located at Caesars Palace. Given that I had never been to Vegas before, I wanted to experience the scenery. Who better to do it with than my mom? 😆 We had the best time, as we observed the party goers dancing, flirting, and drinking the night away.
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Magic Show
Watching a famous magician in Las Vegas is a must! My family and I love the competition show America's Got Talent, so we had to watch Mat Franco, season 9 winner, perform live! We visited the Mat Franco Theater, located at The Linq. He is a world class magician, with tricks that will make your mouth drop in wonder at how he did it 🤔 ♠️ ♥️
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Trevi Fountain
I was reminded of my high school choir trip to Italy when visiting this fountain. The Trevi Fountain in Las Vegas is identical to the one in Rome. Mom and I closed our eyes and made a wish while tossing our pennies in the pool.
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The Grand Canyon Day Tour
Craving nature scenery, we booked ourselves a day trip bus tour to The Grand Canyon via TripAdvisor. Along the way, the tour made several stops at historical sites. The company we used picked us right up from our hotel ground floor garage in the early morning and dropped us back off in the evening. Breakfast and lunch were provided, as we had a long journey ahead and a jam packed itinerary.
Hoover Dam
The first stop on the tour was the Hoover Dam, located between the borders of Nevada and Arizona. The dam is based along the Colorado River and was constructed during the era of The Great Depression.
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Route 66
The Disney Pixar animation Cars is based off the historic Route 66. I was stunned to see the original main characters of Mater, Lightening McQueen, Sheriff, and Fillmore all featured at the original site of inspiration behind the film.
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A man with two horses invited us to hop on and pose with cowboy hats and rifles - we really felt like a part of the wild wild west! 🤠
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Grand Canyon National Park
The view looked like a green screen, given just how earthly and beautiful the rock formation was. We roamed around for two hours, stretching our legs from the long drive through the desert and taking in the stunning view. My mom bought me a sweatshirt from the gift shop. However, we sadly forgot it on the bus and I never had the chance to wear it 😩 I'll hold onto our photos to commemorate this trip.
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The Bellagio
My mom treated me to dinner at The Bellagio, where we had the most prime seating. There is a selection of beautiful restaurants here, including Lago. It features a gorgeous view of the strip and the fountain show. We enjoyed chicken parmesan, fig prosciutto flatbread, champagne, and chocolate cake to celebrate my newly earned Bachelor of Science degree.
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Cirque Du Soleil
Following our fancy dinner, we had reservations to watch the Cirque Du Soleil 'O' show at The Bellagio. The theater was located in close proximity to the restaurant we had dined in. This stunning performance featured a water-themed stage production with acrobats twisting, dancing, and turning. The 'O' show was jaw dropping and mesmerizing to witness.
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Titanic Exhibit
Given that Titanic is my all time favorite film, I knew we had to visit the museum located at the Luxor Hotel. The exhibit features ship artifacts and the recreation of the Grand Staircase. Photos are not allowed in the exhibit, so here we are in the Luxor lobby, excited to take our tour.
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The Mirage
This hotel features a nightly erupting volcano show, featuring fire and music. The show is free and is located at the main entrance. The Mirage also features Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, a zoolike animal sanctuary featuring lions, tigers, and bottlenose blue dolphins.
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Tao Asian Bistro and Lounge
Located in the Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of sushi and shrimp. The restaurant features a large Buddha statue with a fountain for an added grand ambiance.
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Flamingo Hotel
Anyone who knows me will quickly learn that flamingos are my absolute favorite animal. They hold personal sentimental value, as I have loved this breed of birds since I was four years old. My mom gifted me a Big Beanie Baby flamingo named Pinky for taking my blood test as a child, which I was naturally frightened to do being a tiny human. Pinky was a very large part of my childhood and to this day, flamingos are my forever treasured animal 🦩My parents always brought me back a souvenir from this hotel.
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The Wynn
This hotel is full of elegance and charm. The intricate details will make you feel lost in wonderland. There is a delicious Michelin star Chinese restaurant located here named Wing Lei, serving high end classical dishes. My mom treated me here on our last evening of the trip.
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We spent our last evening walking the strip, lit up in all of its glory and liveliness.
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My first visit to Las Vegas was full of magical card tricks, acrobatic performances, fountain shows, and exquisite dining experiences. My mom and I spent quality time with one another as she showed me the dreamy and one of a kind city. We witnessed earthly views, historic artifacts, and were fully entertained at all times. I will forever cherish this trip with my mama ❤️