The Night We Showed Our Kids the Las Vegas Strip February 28, 2011
Posted by Emily in : Family, Trips , trackbackLast week, I attended a conference in Las Vegas called, “Wedding & Portrait Photographers International” (it’s known as WPPI). It’s where professional photographers meet for a few days to network, teach, and learn. We also get to see what’s new and up and coming in the in digital and print world. It was very helpful to talk to other industry professionals, and can I just say how much fun I had at the Nikon booth? Talking to an actual Nikon representative is a much more informative experience than talking to an employee at the local camera store. After listening to the Nikon rep speak geek to me about the Nikon D3s, I’m 100% positive that is the next camera I need.
POSITIVE.
I’m not sure how/when that will be happening, but I NEED it. :) (Too bad it’s like a million dollars!)
David and the kids accompanied me, and by “accompanied me” I mean, they spent some quality time at the hotel while I attended the conference.
We stayed at the MGM Grand, and I had high hopes the weather in Vegas would be warm. Does 50 degrees sound warm? It did to me initially, so we got in the heated pool (it was heated to 75 degrees, which is NOT that warm by the way) and after 10 minutes were all suffering from mild hypothermia.
Mother of the year I tell you. :)
I’ve been to Vegas more times than I can count. I used to fly to Vegas every other weekend when I was a district manager for Allyse’s. One of our bridal stores was in Vegas, so I got to know the city pretty well, but it has been a few years since I’ve been there and it was the first time my kids had ever been.
I’d never really thought about it, or realized it, but Vegas is a very adult place. :) I’m not talking about the obvious reasons either, I mean everything is catered to those 18 years and older. Needless to say, we stood out like tall blond Barbies in the middle of China, walking around with our kids and STROLLER.
Music was playing everywhere, and naturally my kids had to dance in the middle of the hallway, with hundreds of people dodging them. (I have a fun video of this . . . the looks on peoples faces is priceless!)
Among David’s many talents, he is also known as the “toddler whisperer.” He got our kids to take a three hour nap in the hotel room (this was a huge feat considering how much Dallin LOVES sleeping in foreign places!) which allowed us to show them the strip!
Our kids are so innocent, they loved all the lights and had no idea they were in “Sin City.”
The lights at the Louis Vuitton store were very cool, (I’ll post a video from our phone if I can figure it out. I’m technically retarded in some areas.) and guess who was there selling their stuff? THE GIRL SCOUTS!
Oh, how we love Girl Scout season! We bought a box of Samoa Cookies and we enjoyed their deliciousness during our jaunt down the strip.
Do you see this table?
It is hand carved. AMAZING I tell you.
This chair was in the same store, and it was too interesting not to photograph.
Look! We’ve seen the Eiffle Tower!
The water/light show at the Bellagio is a MUST. The water dances so beautifully with the music, it was the highlight of our walk. (Buying Girl Scout cookies was our second favorite event that night!)
The kids were enamored with the water show. It is incredible. Really. (I have a video of it and I will post it if I can figure out how to.)
This is the Venetian Hotel which is also really beautiful. Each hotel is like a city: massive and self contained.
The artwork in the Venetian is really incredible. Walking the strip is a must at least once in your life. Just know that Vegas was made for walkers, not for strollers, so you might spend some time looking for elevators.
The highlight at the end of our walk was finding the tram and letting our kids take a train ride. They were BESIDE themselves and I was SO HAPPY I didn’t have to walk our overly tired kids back to our hotel which was like 10 miles away.
I have a couple of funny stories to share still, but they will have to wait till tomorrow. Come back! 
Comments»
The good thing about Vegas is that there are so many cool things to see, you really don’t have to spend any money.
I think it is really neat that you are pursuing photography so much. I hope your wish comes true and you get that camera. What are your plans with MD?