Home | Who's Who? | Short Walkies - Out and About| Meet Family and Friends | Wedding Bells in Florida | Special Events | Very Long Walkies - Holidays | Puppy Pawtraits | How to Contact Us
We set off to Manchester Airport so that we could stay overnight at the SAS Radisson Hotel. We travelled by train and on the way there we found... a stowaway! Teeny Tiny Teddy had decided to sneek into our luggage and join us on a big adventure to Las Vegas.
We spent the day travelling. First stop was Chicago where we got caught up in a storm so it was just like sitting in a plane on an amusement park ride. There was lots of turbulence which meant that one runway was shut down so we joined a huge queue of planes to leave Chicago.
Finally we arrived in Las Vegas where it was a cool 47 degrees centigrade. We took the airport shuttle bus (very good value at $4) to our hotel - the Aladdin. The tourist guide books informed us that the Aladdin was in receivership so we were a little worried. We needn't have because it was a lovely hotel. We had a quick look round our first ever Casino which was huge, then wandered round the Desert Passage shops where there was a thunder storm every 30 minutes. After eating a burger at the Zanzibar Cafe in our hotel we fell into bed exhausted.
We went to the Boardwalk for a buffet breakfast and then went off to explore The Strip. Adam decided to collect the Casino cards from each of the hotels (and any freebies that came with them). First stop was our own hotel, the Aladdin, then it was off to the Boardwalk, Monte Carlo, New York New York and the MGM Grand. We stopped at the MGM Grand for a while to watch the Lions before they settled down for their 22 hour nap. Then we enjoyed a smoothie at the Rainforest Cafe. Fully refreshed we set off walking down the Strip again.
Next stop was M&M World where we bought...some M&M's. We watched a free 3D Cinema film which we really enjoyed. Next it was Gameworks and the Coca Cola shop where we met the Coca Cola Bear, isn't he a cutie.
After a quick break at our hotel we headed off again and visited Paris, Bellagio and Ceasars Palace where we bumped into Cleopatra.
In Ceasars Palace we went to the Forum Shops. We already had Patrick and P.J. the Puppies from FAO Schwarz in Florida (Who are the Puppies) but now we wanted to adopt Penelope the Puppy. We headed straight for the FAO Schwarz toy shop and were met by bundles of bright pink Penelope puppies. We couldn't resist so we bought a small one and called her Penny. Penny then came with us to watch the animated fountains (Neptune and Bacchus) before we headed back to our hotel stopping off at Hurrah's and the Barbary Coast hotels.
We set off to explore more of The Strip with Adam collecting casino cards along the way. We stopped off at O'Shea's , The Venetian, Treasure Island, New Frontier (anyone for a spot of mud wrestling and bingo!), Stardust, Westward Ho and Circus Circus.
Adam found a Disney Rave DDR in Circus Circus so he was more than happy.
The heat was taking its toll on us and so we decided to get the trolley bus back to the hotel. The sign said 'it was a memorable experience' and it certainly was. We were stood up on the bus and were thrown around as it went round corners very fast and went over all the speed bumps as it went from one hotel to the next. It was truely a great experience and a must do in Vegas. Back at our hotel we decided to try our luck in the Casino. We were only brave enough to try the slots as we had never gambled before but it was great fun especially the Austin Powers slot machines.
After having breakfast at Denny's we went to the Flamingo Hotel to see the penguins being fed. It seemed strange watching penguins when it was so hot but they didn't seem to mind. Next it was off to the Hilton to visit the Star Trek Experience. I'm not a Trekker fan myself but I really enjoyed it. Adam also had his photo taken in the Captain's Chair. I wasn't allowed on the bridge of the Enterprise as I wasn't having my photo taken. We really enjoyed having cocktails in Quark's Bar afterwards. The cocktails were gorgeous so we tried a few but it meant that I didn't get round to trying the bright red coloured lager or the 'smoking' drinks. Ah well maybe next time.
It was the hottest part of the day when we eventually left Quarks so we hopped on a bicycle carriage and felt really sorry for the guy who was peddling in the extreme heat. They work for tips only so we decided to be generous as I was having problems just sitting in the heat never mind exercising in it! He took us to Circus Circus where we played a few circus games and won some teddies and a flower. Adam spent some time on the DDR's (I am a DDR widow!) then it was back to the hotel for dinner at the Merchants Harbour and another go at the Casino. We headed for the slots again and enjoyed playing Pick n Pop, Austin Powers (my favourite), and Flip Flop.
We were picked up at our Hotel by limosine and taken to Sundance Helicopters, who were fantastic. We flew by helicopter over Las Vegas, Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam before arriving at the Grand Canyon. The views were stunning as we flew along the Canyon before landing for a picnic lunch. We flew back over the Mountain of Fire and saw Long Horned Mountain Sheep. It was about a 45 minute journey back to the Strip. When we arrived back we were given our souvenir video and photo before being taken back to our hotel in the limo. It was an excellent trip.
Back on the Strip we headed off to New York New York for a ride of a different kind on the Manhatten Express Rollercoaster. The rollercoaster starts inside the hotel and then travels around the outside. It was a thrilling ride! Afterwards we went to the Excalibur hotel which was like King Arthurs Court with very dramatic entrance music. This hotel is connected to the Luxor (the pyramid shaped hotel). The atrium was very impressive and very big. It was very strange being inside the pyramid and I found it a bit eerie but I guess that's how it should be inside a tomb. On top of the Luxor is the brightest light which you can see from space (allegedly). We then headed out between the giant paws of the Sphinx to the tram which took us to Mandalay Bay.
That night we headed to Treasure Island with thousands of other people. We wanted to see the pirate battle outside the hotel and only just found out in time that it was the last night before the battle stopped for several months. There were thousands of people and we were stuck solid in the middle of the crowd and couldn't move. We saw the odd glimpse of pirate and heard the explosions but we didn't see the full effect. Sounded impressive never the less. On the way back to the hotel we stopped outside the Mirage to watch the volcano erupting.
Today we ventured off The Strip and went on a short taxi ride to Belz Factory Outlet. It was a bit disappointing so we just spent a few hours there and headed back to The Strip. In the afternoon we set off to the Rio as we had tickets to see the Penn and Teller Show in the evening. The Rio Casino was very busy and there was a free show on with suspended boats, balloons and a head! There was lots of dancing and girls with not a lot on. We then headed to the Penn and Teller Show. Before the show began Mike Jones played piano and invited everyone to look at the boxes on stage. The show was very good except for the part when they put a cute fluffy bunny rabbit in the shredder! After the show we didn't feel like walking back to the Strip so luckily we discovered there was a free bus to take us back to Hurrah's, hurrah. Then it was a quick walk to Bellagio to see the last Fountain show of the day.
It was the 4 July, America's Day of Independence. We hadn't planned it that way, it just happened. Las Vegas was absolutely heaving with thousands of people. We headed off to the Barbary Coast for breakfast and then headed to The Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace. We went back to the FAO Schwarz Shop an this time adopted a baby Patrick the Puppy and a baby Penelope the Puppy. Our family of Patrick's and Penelope's was growing larger and confusing so we named these two Elvis and Priscilla. This way there would always remind us of Vegas as Elvis Presley and Priscilla were married in our hotel's predessesor - strangely enough also called the Aladdin.
Puppies like donuts!
Next we rode on the 3D Imax Ride - the Race for Atlantis, which was excellent but a bit too short for your money. We then had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory which was absolutely scrumptious. We didn't have room to fit in any cheesecake though but luckily enough they let you take it home with you. We had a piece of Chocolate Tuxedo and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle - it was heaven. We also went to the free tour behind the Atlantis Aquarium which we really enjoyed.
Next it was off to the Bellagio to look at the amazing lobby ceiling by Chihuly, the Conservatory, shops and the fountains again. Independence Day is a popular day to get married and everywhere we went were the most gorgeous brides and grooms. Some photo's were being taken on the steps of the Bellagio leading down to the Conservatory. It all looked wonderful.
We returned back to our hotel via Bally's and Paris for a quick rest before the bus came to pick us up to take us to Sundance Helicopters for the last time. We had booked a trip to see Las Vegas Strip by night. After a glass of champagne we were on our way. Although the trip was short it was wonderful. Vegas looked stunning all lit up and also as it was 4 July there were fireworks going off all around it. The trip lasted just 20 minutes but became one of our favourite parts of the holiday.
Today we went for a ride in a gondola at the Venetian. It was expensive but just something you had to do, not sure about the singing though! Next we went to the Mirage to see Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat where we saw an elephant, white tigers and white lions as you do in the desert! Later that night we went to see their show. It was very expensive but very Vegas. It was a spectactular show and our only grumble was that it was table seating and we were at the back of a long line of people seated at the table so we didn't get to see as much as the show as we would have liked to.
Today we passed through New York New York to the Excaliber where we took the tram to Mandalay Bay. We went to visit the Sharf Reef which was very good and we got to see jellyfish, rays, crabs, sharks and a sunken ship aquarium. Adam got to stroke rays in the petting pool which he loves doing. Next it was off to the Tropicana where we had won some free tickets to the Casino Legends Hall of Fame on the one armed bandit outside the hotel. It wasn't somewhere we had thought of going but seeing as it was free we gave it a go. It was really interesting reading how quickly hotels were built, blown up and rebuilt.
After a week of melting temperatures we decided we deserved a cool treat and we went to see Charlies Angels Full Throttle at the Cinema so that we could take advantage of the air conditioning for a few hours. We really enjoyed the film and the cool temperature.
Our first stop was Bugsy's deli in the Flamingo for a bagel breakfast. Then it was off to Circus Circus where we went on the Canyon Blaster roller coaster in the Adventure Doom which was a great coaster. Then we went on to the Stratosphere Tower. We went up (21 mph) in the lift and were amazed at the fantastic views of the Strip. We then went on the HighRoller Roller Coaster which wasn't as scarey as I had been expected being over 1,000 feet up in the air. We stopped off for cocktails in the bar and then went back to get our $1 tickets which meant we could go up the tower again at anytime that day. We returned later that night when the Strip looked amazing from the top of the tower lit up against the night sky. It was stunning and I stayed up there admiring the views for a long time while Adam went on The Big Shot (45 mph straight up). Adam thought the ride was fantastic and recommended it to everyone when we returned home.
Today we headed for the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace to the 3D Cinema Ride. We opted for a 6 Pack Feature (Race for Atlantis, Space Adventure, Snowboarding, Haunted Graveyard plus 2 Coaster rides). They were pretty good as one person had to leave part way through and one kid was violently sick. I must have a better stomach than I thought, must be all these roller coasters Adam keeps taking me on! Next stop was lunch at Planet Hollywood as everywhere we went we were given money off vouchers for the place so we thought we would take advantage of one. Fantastic burgers! We then stopped off at the Cheesecake Factory to take home a slice of Linda's Fudge Cake and a piece of Key Lime Cheesecake which were scrumptious.
Next stop was the Tropicana where we watched the free Air Play Show over the casino. Some very nicely toned men doing aerial acrobats plus the usual dancing, singing showgirls. Hey where did my husband go?
In the evening we went to see the Folies Bergere at the Tropicano. When in Vegas you just have to see this show with girls, glitzy costumes and dancing. It may be an old show but it is a great one.
Adam spent a lot of the day collecting $1 casino chips from every casino (pity he hadn't thought about this earlier when we had visited them all for cards!). We went to the Imperial Palace which we hadn't visited before. We had a free photo taken with the Blues Brothers and then got free tickets to see the Auto Collection. Not our cup of tea but still good to have a wander round. Next it was back to Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the Excaliber where we had a fantastic ice cream to share from the Cold Stone Creamery. We also saw a puppet show and Adam had his age wrongly guessed by a jester so that he would win a fluffy crab!
In the evening we caught the bus and headed downtown to Freemont Street. The hotel worried us by telling us to get a taxi back and implied it was a dodgy place to go. I thought we'd be mugged, murdered and everything but I neeedn't have worried as we kept to Freemont Street and it was full of tourists all having a great time. The street had a fantastic atmosphere with live bands, entertainers and stalls. The highlight was the canopy roof which turned into a light show to music. There was also a famous cowboy! It was amazing.
Adam and I split up for the morning. Adam headed off to collect more casino chips and managed to fit in the Speed rollercoaster at the Sahara which he really enjoyed especially as he was the only one on it and he got to sit at the front. We met up later for lunch and decided on the Aladdin Spice Market buffet. There was tons of food to choose from. There were lots of different countries to choose from too and it was difficult to decide what to have.
After so much food we didn't want to do anything too strenuous so we went to the Cinema to see Pirates of the Carribean which I loved. Johhny Depp was a dream... Next it was another stop at the fountains of Bellagio (one of our favourite things to do) and then we headed back to the hotel. After a few Krispy Kreme donuts we went to see the show in our hotel called 'X - An Erotic Adventure'. I didn't know where to look but Adam enjoyed having a nearly bare bottom being wiggled in front of him! The contortionist made me cringe and cross my legs but apparently she did not have the same affect on my husband!
Our last day so we tried to fit in all the last minute things and visit any hotels we had missed. First stop was a bagel breakfast at the Flamingo, then we caught the shuttle bus to the Rio. Next was the Palms and Gold Coast which we hadn't visited before. The buffet lunch at the Rio was excellent, tons of food as usual and the staff were very friendly. After getting the shuttle back to the Strip we then did some last minute shopping and went to Ceasars Palace to the Forum Shops and the Aladdin where we had our photo's taken as Elvis and a showgirl amongst other things. Then it was our last go in the Casino, last look at the Fountains at Bellagio and our last Ben & Jerry's ice cream at New York New York. Our holiday had been fantastic. Viva Las Vegas!
Back Home... Penny, Elvis and Priscilla met Patrick and P.J. (our Floridian) Puppies.
Home | Who's Who? | Short Walkies - Out and About| Meet Family and Friends | Wedding Bells in Florida | Special Events | Very Long Walkies - Holidays | Puppy Pawtraits | How to Contact Us