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Article:
A Mom Looks at Vegas
Our family of five did, however, have an incredibly wonderful weekend in Las Vegas. I owe our enjoyment in part to the luxurious oasis resort we stayed at in nearby Henderson, NV, and in part to the balance of time spent at the resort and on the Strip. Had we focused our entire stay on the Strip, we would have suffered from circuit overload. Landing in McCarran Airport, we instantly felt the buzz and excitement that is Las Vegas. One-arm bandits are stationed just feet from the gates, and the entire airport is inviting. From the airport, we could see the casino resorts lining the Strip just a short drive to the west. The drive to our resort was about 30 minutes to the east, but made for a relaxing drive. Pulling up to the resort, we were mesmerized. Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas is every bit an oasis in the middle of a desert, its Moroccan theme contrasting elegantly against the adjacent lake and sand dunes. The Valet service was genuinely friendly, even to self-parkers (not like with other valet services, where you'll be ignored if you aren't a tip resource). The kids (Duncan 12, Caitlin 9, and Lindsay 2) raced to discover every fathomable amenity in our generously appointed room, and then begged for a walk around the resort. Ten minutes at the resort, any travel fatigue had dissipated. We lingered outside, watching the sunset until the cool December air chased us back in. Once inside, we wandered the lobby and public areas, admiring the impressive collection of Moroccan and Middle Eastern appointments. The formal settings of the hotel's two sit-down restaurants looked too imposing for our rambunctious crew, while the coffee house's sandwich fare looked too meager. We opted instead for room service. One bite of the Seared Scallops and I was in heaven. My husband's Lentil Chili dish, with exotic Middle Eastern spices, was scrumptious. Room service was cheerful, and the guys even threw in some decadent chocolate-covered strawberries. Room service menu offered discounted children's selections. The next day our two older kids were committed to an engagement (the purpose of our trip, actually), leaving me, my husband, and our 2-year-old free to explore the Strip. Never having been to Vegas, we weren't sure what to expect. My idea of gambling is buying diapers without a coupon, so I was a bit hesitant. We parked at the Bellagio, and headed for their famous weekend brunch buffet. The $21.95 per person price was a bit steep, but it was worth it. Children 3 and under were free. The buffet was colossal -- peel & eat shrimp, made-to-order omelets, pickled herring, smoked salmon, roast beef, salad, and every imaginable pastry and dessert (the list, of course, goes on and on). After three plates of food, I surrendered without having explored the entire buffet offerings. The buffet at Bellagio was also kid-friendly -- attentive service and ample highchairs -- despite Bellagio's reputation for not being family oriented. After our feast, we wandered out of the buffet, through the massive casino, and through Bellagio's upscale mini-mall. Following foot traffic, we walked over the pedestal bridge to Caesar's Palace next door. The first three minutes past the casino/main entrance at Caesar's, we walked out. The smoke fumes were overwhelming, and the maze of stairs was too daunting for a stroller. In truth, we both felt out of place in an environment where drinking, gambling, and smoking was the norm, and where a stroller was foreign. Walking the bridge over Las Vegas Blvd., We headed for a friendlier-looking Paris Casino. Once in Paris, we relaxed. Athought we entered in the Casino, maneuvering to the shops was not a problem. The Paris theme was clever and delightful, and we lingered in all the shops. Paris reminded me of France in Epcot's World Showcase, and I was in heaven sampling perfumes and perusing the art shop. We steered into Aladdin's mall, Desert Passage. The designers of Aladdin were kind to families, providing easy entrance to the mall without having to traverse the casino. The mall is huge, and we found some familiar shop names (along with some unusual finds). That evening, with all kids in tow, we braved Hyatt Regency's sit-down restaurant Cafe' Tejane. Service was spectacular, with a jovial and downright pleasant wait staff. The meal was scrumptious and I ordered the beef brisket while my husband tried the salmon dish. The kids had familiar mac & cheese and spaghetti ordered from the kid's menu. We had originally planned on an outdoor outing to Hoover Dam on Sunday, but a cold front moved in that evening, and the sky was threatening to rain on our desert surroundings. With no coats and hats packed we returned instead to the climate-controlled Strip. We parked at The Venetian and wandered through their elegant shops. We certainly weren't shopping for Fendi or Gucci, but window shopping was lots of fun, and the canal winding its way through the resort was elegant and exotic. I was disappointed to discover the price of a gondola ride ($45+ for our family size), and opted out (to the kid's disappointment). We walked across the street to the Mirage, following signs to the dolphin exhibit through the smoky and hustling casino. Again, to our disappointment, the attraction had a steep fee, and we headed back out the casino maze. I read in the hotel's in-room magazine that Caesar's Palace has an impressive shopping center, and this time we approached the resort with an understanding of the layout. Headed the right direction, we managed successfully to enter their shopping center (it's not easy). We found lots of shops, and the three-story FAO Schwartz motivated our 2-year-old to test drive toys for almost an hour. Thirsty, we refueled at the Food Court at Caesar's Casino. With kids relaxed at the table, my husband and I took turns away from the family as "big time gamblers," plunking the equivalent of a roll of quarters into slot machines. Refreshed and with the gambling bug safely at bay, we headed for Paris Casino, this time curious about the brunch buffet. There prices were around $22, but a whopping $19 for kids. I decided against a $90 lunch investment, and we instead lunched at the neighboring cafe` (still in Paris). The kids shared a burger (no kid's menu available) and we were content munching on sandwiches. The meal was standard, but the service was stellar, and the atmosphere a delight. While Vegas can be fun for families, the feeling we were out of place never left us. On the Strip, I never felt families were really welcome, but instead permitted. Everywhere we went, the adult nature of Vegas pervaded. From the casinos that had to be traversed in order to get to "safe grounds," to the absence of kid's menus, to the alcohol on the breath of nearby party animals, the Strip isn't nearly as ready for families as I had hoped. And while the Strip boasts of many attractions, I wouldn't cancel the summer trip to Orlando just yet. Las Vegas is a curious spot for families, but it is best mixed with truly family-oriented destinations such as the Grand Canyon. We
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