So Sin City concentrated on families, making you believe it could be a kid-friendly town. After about a decade of touting its new excess β newly erected monolithic hotels, pools, shopping centers and an exploding food scene, much of it driven by celebrity chefs β the campaign proved successful and the number of tourists dramatically increased.
My mother-in-law loves Las Vegas. But all Joanne wanted for her 70 th birthday was to spend a few days with her daughter, my wife, in Las Vegas. How about we come too! Luckily security was a breeze at Newark Airport. We arrived at the off-Strip Orleans Hotel β located only four miles from the airport but 45 minutes by airport shuttle kids ride free! The moment we walked into the lobby, I quickly realized why I despise this town: the smoke. The rancid scents of Swisher Sweets, sulfur-released matches and flatulents from the free drinks and the all-you-can-eateries was a punch in the face.
Most would think the late arrival, lack of in-flight sleep, going to bed late and time change would cause a child to sleep in. Not ours. Every day started the same: rise and shine by 7.
The over 2, animals β saw fish, endangered sea turtles, octopus, jellyfish, golden crocodile, komodo dragon, piranhas and 11 different sharks β were all swimming in harmony. Our first taste of nightlife was at the Excalibur. But before that we hit up the Fun Dungeon, a carnival-style arcade. The dinner theater wants you to eat, drink and be merry.
We embraced all three. That spoonless bowl of tomato soup was really good for a Las Vegas dinner theater show. After a night of such merriment, how could this trip get any better? It did despite the side of my mouth being so dry it felt like I ate too many potato chips. Wait, did I? Taking the High Roller is best done at night to see all of the lights β and to take part in a slowly moving happy hour β but you still get a birds-eye view of all of the hotels and the mountains beyond the desert during the day.
