Another vacation has come and gone, but with near perfection having been rendered in the process. I was driving out of Vegas the last morning and I thought to myself “Thanks for another set of happy memories Las Vegas.” Anyway, here’s the whole tale, from the beginning.
Day 1
My buddy and I arrive at the airport and begin the process of waiting for the flight. We did something new on this trip and visited two cities in a week, Memphis and Vegas.
After an early arrival in Memphis, we secured our rental car and made for our first meal of the trip.
Corky's is a Memphis institution, but ironically it's also one of the younger BBQ joints in town. There is a fair amount of debate as to what the best type of BBQ is. Some prefer wet, some dry, some prefer ribs, others pulled pork. Corkys offers all of the above, plus more, but I always get the same thing. A full rack of the dry rub ribs, with slaw and beans. It was fabulous as always, and was finished with a magnificent Pecan Pie. Corkys is the only place I even consider getting these items, so so so good.
We continued with an evening visit to Graceland. Graceland is, for the most part, a daytime destination, but it's fun to see at night too. We began with a visit to the wall, and peeked at the house all lit up and quiet, which is really cool to see. We continued with stops at the Sirius XM DJ booth and the Lisa Marie airplane. I couldn't wait to return tomorrow, but realized that we still had a lot of fun planned for the evening ahead. We also headed across the street to visit a souvenir store, but found nothing of interest.
Our journey continued to Tunica, the Vegas of the south. The dynamics of Tunica are so strange. Large resort casinos spread out over a 10 mile radius, with nothing, and I mean nothing around or near them. One wonders where all the staff comes from. Anyway, we managed to get a great rate at the best place in town, the Gold Strike.
Gold Strike is owned by MGM, but I'm not sure who built it. It's a beautiful property, with soft comfortable beds, nice fixtures in the bathroom, flat screen TVs, and soft carpets. The lobby has a dramatic glass sculpture and very nice furnishings also. Finally, like everybody else you meet in this part of the country, the staff at Gold Strike is warm and welcoming. They seem truly pleased to have you stay with them.
Having stashed our wares in the room, we ventured out to explore a bit more of Tunica while we still had the chance. Our first stop was Sam's Town, which we went in and out of. We continued with a stop at Resorts, which used to have a $1 craps table. It has since been changed to a $5 table (oh well.). While at Resorts, we saw something neither of us has ever seen before. We saw a woman getting very frustrated by losing on a machine, culminating with her punching the machine so hard that it shattered. To our disbelief, she was able to calmly get up, grab her purse and get out the door before security could grab her.
The evening continued with a stop at the Fitz. The Fitz will always hold a special place in my heart. It was at the Fitz that I was given a free meal for almost nothing when I was staying in Memphis during the American Idol auditions all those years ago. I'll never forget how it went down. I sat down at a blackjack table, made my first $5 bet on a $20 buy-in, and timidly asked what it take to get a discount to the buffet. The dealer said "Honey, you in Tunica, we gonna feed you." I was so happy and grateful. I even won a little money that night. The Fitz is showing her age, but still looks as friendly as she even did. There is a chunk of the Blarney Stone that can be posed with. We grabbed some chips and headed for the door, always good to see the Fitz.
Feeling weary, we made for the Gold Strike, and settled in for a little gambling. I found the latest Elvis machine, and managed a bonus round. We didn't win much, and called it a night early, as we had a very aggressive day ahead of us.
Day 2
We awoke early, as we had a lot to get to. Skipping breakfast, we headed in the direction of Graceland, but with a slight detour to see to first. Despite my best efforts, I'd managed to forget something, and had to get to a Walmart to purchase some underwear. From Walmart we went to the hotel we were staying at and convinced them to allow me into the lobby restroom to get changed. I wonder what I'll forget on the next trip, lol.
From there, we finally descended upon Graceland. I've been to Graceland 6 times now, but this was the first time in 4 visits that I wasn't rushed. You see, I'm usually getting there about 3 or 4 hours before a flight. To see everything properly requires about 5 or 6 hours. It was so nice to have the luxury of a full day there.
The mansion and grounds are so much fun to visit of course, but the new stuff on this occasion was the most meaningful for me. We happened to be there for the debut of the new Elvis in Vegas exhibit, which was very cool. It featured several jumpsuits, programs, even the original contract that Col Parker insisted on writing during opening night in 1969 on a tablecloth of all things.
The Elvis in Hawaii exhibit was equally cool, and included several items related to his movies in Hawaii, as well as the Aloha From Hawaii concert. The highlight of this exhibit was probably the crown that Elvis was given at the end of the Aloha show, which I didn't even know they still had.
The rest of the tour is a lot of fun too, and we thorough enjoyed the planes, cars, and 68 Special exhibit. It's really neat how EPE keeps finding new things to display. Against my better judgement, I shelled out $30 for a special edition of "Live from Elvis Presley Blvd.". I'm a junkie for the "Jungle Room" material, so I suppose this release is a must. I'm really glad I picked it up, wonderful stuff. It was hard to leave Graceland, but I know I'll be back.
Our day continued with a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum in downtown Memphis. This was an unexpected stop, but one that I'm really glad we made. The museum is heavily under reconstruction at the moment, but the key features are all still available. These include the actual hotel room at the Lorraine where Dr. King was staying when he was shot. You can also visit the archives across the street, which induce the snipers nest, rifle, and various other artifacts. The museum does a good job of examining the various conspiracy theories also, which I thought was important. Overall, it's a very worthwhile stop.
From there it was a very short ride to Beale Street to continue our night. We started at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was a lot of fun, as always. There were live entertainers, including an adorable 6 year old who sang beautifully. HRC makes a mean turkey burger, and their drink menu is terrific. I always enjoy my meal there. The Memphis location has a ton of great memorabilia, including the guitar that Elvis played during the "sit down sessions" portion of his 68 comeback special.
We did a bit of walking along Beale, but not too much. There is a terrific indie record store on Beale that specializes in Blues music that I enjoy visiting, and there is always a ton of great live music. Beale St really has a pulse, and it's a lot of fun to visit.
After such a wonderful day, it was hard to call it a night, but we had another early start ahead of us...but with a lot of fun behind it. We settled into our Holiday Inn Express room just outside the airport and closed our day with some ATHF.
Day 3
Making a morning flight is always nerve racking, and its doubly frustrating when one or two things don't go right.
Our journey to the airport started on time, but we lost time attempting to get gas at a station that wasn't working, later by being fully, and I do mean fully searched by security at the airport. Why we were both picked is beyond me, but it happened.
From there, the journey to Vegas went without incident. We arrived and quickly got our car and were on our way to Laughlin. It hardly seems possible that a full year had gone by since I'd last seen my brother, but it had.
After a quick stop in Searchlight, we were descending on Laughlin. Laughlin seems almost stuck in time, but doing better every time I visit her. If you trace the last three or four visits I've had with my brother, the Laughlin casinos have been fuller and more busy with every visit. Obviously, I'm pleased, because this only means that my brother won't have to worry about another layoff anytime soon.
We began with our usual visit to Black Bear for breakfast/early lunch. I've said plenty about this place in the past, but the food is really terrific. However, for the first time, the service was a little slow. I suppose they can't all be winners. I know my brother and I will be back there again someday.
Our day continued with a stop at the Grapevine Canyon and the famous Indian Petroglyphs therein. This is a great stop for the adventurous outdoors person in all of us. You can scale the wall, which we did, and go deep into the canyon, which we sort of did. It was awesome to sit there in the peace and serenity of the canyon and just enjoy the company of such wonderful people. We started trading stories and laughing like hell.
We had time for a bit more, and so we made for the Riverwalk and walked quite a bit of it. This is something you just can't do in too many places. Again, the laughs were coming one after another, and we were just having a grand ole time. We were also able to see River Rick all lit up, which I've never seen before.
It was finally time to drive my brother home and return to Vegas, which went without incident. We pulled off at Flamingo, and pulled into the Valet at Monte Carlo to get checked in. We wouldn't see the car again for a full day, but wouldn't miss it either.
Checkin at the Monte Carlo went quickly, but the $20 trick did not work, as they were sold out that night. However, my gesture must have done something, because we got a nice high floor with a wonderful view of the Strip. We could see NYNY, MGM Grand, Polo Towers, Tropicana, and the Hard Rock Cafe.
The room itself was wonderful. I think I may have finally found my home base hotel. I loved the location, size of the casino, the beds were perfect, the bathrooms well appointed, and the staff charming. The level of luxury is very high, and the value is also very strong. I may very well stay there on my next trip.
It was finally time for dinner, and there was no doubt where we going. We jumped on the tram to Bellagio, walked out the lobby and made for the Cosmopolitan and the Secret Pizza Place. The pizza is so good, I thought about going back for more later in the trip, but never made it. Two slices of White Pie went down very good that night.
We continued with a visit to the Book and Stage bar, where I consumed three Stunning Man cocktails in a little over an hour. They don't even make that drink anymore, but the bartender on duty remembered how to make it. Too bad they don't offer it on a regular basis, because its a great drink! I was quite the chatty, giggling idiot most of the rest of the night (so I was told.)
The rest of the night included a rather uneven gambling session, including a rather bitter session of craps at Bellagio that was somewhat redeemed by a good session of Blackjack. I walked up to the room with around $80 in my wallet, which would come in handy the next day. Another wonderful day had come and gone. Unbelievably, the trip was a little more then halfway done.
Day 4
We took full advantage of our ability to sleep in, resting until almost 10:30. However, this made the planned breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi impossible. A quick check of the Vegasmate app revealed that the Monte Carlo's own cafe was both open for breakfast all day and very well reviewed.
Breakfast ended up being quite enjoyable that morning, with several highlights. I ordered eggs and had a very interesting accompaniment, Chicken Apple Sausage. I've never had it before, and enjoyed it thoroughly. My buddy had Carrot Cake Pancakes and indicated they were great. The Cafe is well run and very pleasant to visit. Service was quick and attentive. I'd recommend it for breakfast for sure.
From breakfast, we continued along Las Vegas Blvd and secured tickets to the Lobarace show, then on to the Mirage to get our Love tickets. We even managed to catch a Fountain show while en route.
It was nice to be able to take our time and just enjoy that wonderful feeling of being in Las Vegas. We played a little here and there, but didn't win much.
As we passed through the Mirage, we noted that Gale Sayers was signing autographs in one of the stores. My buddy got very excited, and payed $150 for an autographed helmet and photo. I had no idea that Mr Sayers was such a big deal to my pal, but I was happy for him.
We continued with a planned visit to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. This was an item my friend had secured through the Facebook app. It ended up being one of the true highlights of the trip for me. The habitat does some wonderful stuff with the Dolphins, and you're able to get very close. I'd consider doing trainer for a day or the painting stuff that they do also. Like a lot of people. I suppose I'm fascinated by dolphins. We also enjoyed seeing the various tigers, panthers, and other big cats in the garden. The alpha male Lion, Secret, managed to give me a good scare when he jumped up and snarled at me. We spent nearly 3 hours all together, and I enjoyed every bit of it. My buddy was good about not rushing me, and it was so nice to just relax in a lounge chair and watch night slowly descend upon us. I even managed to get most of my shopping for the kids done in the gift shop.
We decided it was time to leave, and slowly made our way though Bellagio to the tram, stopping at Jean Philipe Patisserie for a treat. There is a Key Lime Tart available there that might be the best Key Lime anything I've ever had, anywhere. It was too cool to be having dessert before dinner, hey why not?
We returned to the room and set about picking a restaurant for dinner. We needed something convenient to Planet Hollywood. Once again the Vegasmate app proved invaluable, and we selected Olives at Bellagio based on the reviews, as well as the indication that the dress code was "casual."
Olives ended up being a bonafide home run. For starters, we were put in one of the best seats in the house, right out on the patio along the wall facing the Strip and the Fountains. I had a perfectly magnificent drink in their 18 K, a delicious blend of Grey Goose L'Orange Vodka, various juices, and gold flake. It made me feel like a real big shot to be sitting there with my drink in full view of the fountains. The only problem was the fountains weren't performing just yet due to high winds. No matter, as dinner was promptly brought out and well received. I enjoyed an excellent Salmon with Risotto and lovely asparagus. The balance of sauces, freshness, and presentation was flawless. It was easily the most enjoyable meal I've ever had in Las Vegas.
We decided that a second dessert was in order, and I ordered a Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry drizzle. As dessert was served, the fountains began to perform! What a glorious way to conclude a perfect meal.
Feeling like a million bucks, we headed across the street and into the Planet Hollywood theater for the Cee Lo Green Lobarace show. I think the reviews of this show have been a little harsh, and a little unfair. Yes, it needs a little tightening up, but on balance, it's a great show. Cee Lo is a great talent with a wonderful voice. There were many good laughs, and they use the video screens in the back of the theater to great effect. Songs included Crazy, Dontcha, and Do you really want to hurt me? We sat in the back for $60, and felt very entertained. Go see it for yourself.
After so many happy moments that day I suppose I should have known the gambling wasn't going to go so well. I tried Blackjack at Bellagio, and lost in an ugly way. It was one of those nights where it seemed the dealer was always one step ahead of me. Oh well, it had been a truly memorable day, bad luck at the end notwithstanding.
Day 5
The last day of the trip began with another wonderful breakfast, this time at Overlook Grill at Cosmopolitan. It seemed funny to see Chicken Apple Sausage on the menu again, but there it was. I paired it with a Red Velvet Waffle, which was good, but not as good as others led me to think it would be. The Overlook Grill sits next to the pool, and the space is very pleasant. They're only open til noon, so get up early if you're so inclined. As we were waiting for Valet to bring the car around. I noted how Cosmo has art on the walls in the valet waiting area. It occurred to me how Cosmo put so much effort into making every single inch of their property pleasing to the eye. It really is an incredible property to visit. I hope they find a way to start making a profit someday.
We decided we were finally ready to leave the Strip, and headed to the Pinball Hall of Fame on Tropicana. The last time I visited, they had just moved into their new building and were still getting settled. They're fully set up now, and its just a helluva lot of fun to visit. We spent nearly 2 hours enjoying the pinball and other fun to be had, concluding with a game of hockey on one of the old fashioned plastic dome fussball style tables (I won!). Highlights included the AC/DC, Family Guy, and Orbiter 1 pinball games.
We continued downtown and headed to the Mob Museum. I had no idea how long it would take to visit this attraction, but I wish we'd had another hour or so to do it properly. There is a wealth of information on the history of organized crime and its relationship to Las Vegas. There are a number of interesting artifacts also, including the wall from the St Valentines Day Massacre, John Gotti's suit, and several Tommy Guns. The centerpiece of course is the courtroom that the Kefauver hearings were held in. You're able to sit in the actual benches and imagine what it all must have been like.
It was time to check into the last hotel for the trip, and so we checked in at the D on Fremont Street. I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately I didn't. Despite the fact we were on the 28th floor, the noise from Fremont Street was very noticeable, and we were able to hear every conversation being held in about 3 other rooms. The beds were comfortable enough, but the noise was a real deal breaker for me. Perhaps others would feel differently.
However, the casino was a lot of fun to visit, as their Party Pit was in full effect. We also noted the D has a rather interesting fleet of limousines. These included a stretch Excursion, a rather large bus, and a massive truck of some sort. They all looked like a lot of fun to be driven around in.
We had originally planned on having dinner at India Oven, but decided we were actually in the mood for something else. The Vegasmate app came through one more time, and we found a great little Italian restaurant at Golden Nugget called Grotto. Turns out Grotto is part of a national chain (which I should have realized given the fact that Landry’s owns the GN.) The food was very tasty, and not badly priced. I opted for a Chicken Piccata, paired with some wonderful Italian Bread. It wasn’t a bad final meal at all.
We returned to the Strip and I decided I wanted to have that Key Lime Tart from Jean Philippe Patisserie, just one more time. I got one, and took it with me to the Mirage, where our show awaited us. My pal played for Silver Strikes on a machine bearing Terry Fator’s face. He won four of them, three of one, and one of another.
It was finally time for Love, which had been included in the room we booked with Monte Carlo. We had perfect seats, higher up and enabling us a perfect view of the show. The sheet routine is incredible to watch when you’re not under it. I’ve never seen a Vegas show a third time, but I would definitely see Love again.
We returned downtown, and I settled in for my last gambling session. I told myself I would stick to craps and play at the D. For once, I had a great roll, and made a $60 profit. It was a lot of fun to call the rolls as I was throwing them, and to be right once in a while (lol.) I enjoyed the pit area at the D very much, and felt very lucky in there. We also visited the retro slot area with the coin-in machines and sigma derby machine. The D has done a great job of making the Pit area a lot of fun to visit.
After a quick visit to the Four Queens to enable my friend a chance at some more Silver Strikes, I decided I was ready for bed. We’d packed a lot into the trip, and I had an earlyish flight to catch.
Yet another wonderful day had concluded.
Day 6
I awoke early, and left the room just a bit early. There were a few things I wanted to do before it was time to go.
My first stop was the headquarters of Huntington Press/Las Vegas Advisor. It was very easy to find, and I was pleased to find a copy of “No Limit” waiting for me.
I got to the airport, checked in, and quickly made for the Ethel M store to get some candy. I guess the price doesn’t bother me as much as it did last year, it’s still the best candy I’ve ever had.
From there it was time to fly home, ironically I was sitting next to a cousin of my wife’s who offered me a ride home. One last little piece of good luck on a nearly perfect trip.
This was a great trip, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it. Thanks for reading this far, hope your next trip is fun.
Day 1
My buddy and I arrive at the airport and begin the process of waiting for the flight. We did something new on this trip and visited two cities in a week, Memphis and Vegas.
After an early arrival in Memphis, we secured our rental car and made for our first meal of the trip.
Corky's is a Memphis institution, but ironically it's also one of the younger BBQ joints in town. There is a fair amount of debate as to what the best type of BBQ is. Some prefer wet, some dry, some prefer ribs, others pulled pork. Corkys offers all of the above, plus more, but I always get the same thing. A full rack of the dry rub ribs, with slaw and beans. It was fabulous as always, and was finished with a magnificent Pecan Pie. Corkys is the only place I even consider getting these items, so so so good.
We continued with an evening visit to Graceland. Graceland is, for the most part, a daytime destination, but it's fun to see at night too. We began with a visit to the wall, and peeked at the house all lit up and quiet, which is really cool to see. We continued with stops at the Sirius XM DJ booth and the Lisa Marie airplane. I couldn't wait to return tomorrow, but realized that we still had a lot of fun planned for the evening ahead. We also headed across the street to visit a souvenir store, but found nothing of interest.
Our journey continued to Tunica, the Vegas of the south. The dynamics of Tunica are so strange. Large resort casinos spread out over a 10 mile radius, with nothing, and I mean nothing around or near them. One wonders where all the staff comes from. Anyway, we managed to get a great rate at the best place in town, the Gold Strike.
Gold Strike is owned by MGM, but I'm not sure who built it. It's a beautiful property, with soft comfortable beds, nice fixtures in the bathroom, flat screen TVs, and soft carpets. The lobby has a dramatic glass sculpture and very nice furnishings also. Finally, like everybody else you meet in this part of the country, the staff at Gold Strike is warm and welcoming. They seem truly pleased to have you stay with them.
Having stashed our wares in the room, we ventured out to explore a bit more of Tunica while we still had the chance. Our first stop was Sam's Town, which we went in and out of. We continued with a stop at Resorts, which used to have a $1 craps table. It has since been changed to a $5 table (oh well.). While at Resorts, we saw something neither of us has ever seen before. We saw a woman getting very frustrated by losing on a machine, culminating with her punching the machine so hard that it shattered. To our disbelief, she was able to calmly get up, grab her purse and get out the door before security could grab her.
The evening continued with a stop at the Fitz. The Fitz will always hold a special place in my heart. It was at the Fitz that I was given a free meal for almost nothing when I was staying in Memphis during the American Idol auditions all those years ago. I'll never forget how it went down. I sat down at a blackjack table, made my first $5 bet on a $20 buy-in, and timidly asked what it take to get a discount to the buffet. The dealer said "Honey, you in Tunica, we gonna feed you." I was so happy and grateful. I even won a little money that night. The Fitz is showing her age, but still looks as friendly as she even did. There is a chunk of the Blarney Stone that can be posed with. We grabbed some chips and headed for the door, always good to see the Fitz.
Feeling weary, we made for the Gold Strike, and settled in for a little gambling. I found the latest Elvis machine, and managed a bonus round. We didn't win much, and called it a night early, as we had a very aggressive day ahead of us.
Day 2
We awoke early, as we had a lot to get to. Skipping breakfast, we headed in the direction of Graceland, but with a slight detour to see to first. Despite my best efforts, I'd managed to forget something, and had to get to a Walmart to purchase some underwear. From Walmart we went to the hotel we were staying at and convinced them to allow me into the lobby restroom to get changed. I wonder what I'll forget on the next trip, lol.
From there, we finally descended upon Graceland. I've been to Graceland 6 times now, but this was the first time in 4 visits that I wasn't rushed. You see, I'm usually getting there about 3 or 4 hours before a flight. To see everything properly requires about 5 or 6 hours. It was so nice to have the luxury of a full day there.
The mansion and grounds are so much fun to visit of course, but the new stuff on this occasion was the most meaningful for me. We happened to be there for the debut of the new Elvis in Vegas exhibit, which was very cool. It featured several jumpsuits, programs, even the original contract that Col Parker insisted on writing during opening night in 1969 on a tablecloth of all things.
The Elvis in Hawaii exhibit was equally cool, and included several items related to his movies in Hawaii, as well as the Aloha From Hawaii concert. The highlight of this exhibit was probably the crown that Elvis was given at the end of the Aloha show, which I didn't even know they still had.
The rest of the tour is a lot of fun too, and we thorough enjoyed the planes, cars, and 68 Special exhibit. It's really neat how EPE keeps finding new things to display. Against my better judgement, I shelled out $30 for a special edition of "Live from Elvis Presley Blvd.". I'm a junkie for the "Jungle Room" material, so I suppose this release is a must. I'm really glad I picked it up, wonderful stuff. It was hard to leave Graceland, but I know I'll be back.
Our day continued with a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum in downtown Memphis. This was an unexpected stop, but one that I'm really glad we made. The museum is heavily under reconstruction at the moment, but the key features are all still available. These include the actual hotel room at the Lorraine where Dr. King was staying when he was shot. You can also visit the archives across the street, which induce the snipers nest, rifle, and various other artifacts. The museum does a good job of examining the various conspiracy theories also, which I thought was important. Overall, it's a very worthwhile stop.
From there it was a very short ride to Beale Street to continue our night. We started at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was a lot of fun, as always. There were live entertainers, including an adorable 6 year old who sang beautifully. HRC makes a mean turkey burger, and their drink menu is terrific. I always enjoy my meal there. The Memphis location has a ton of great memorabilia, including the guitar that Elvis played during the "sit down sessions" portion of his 68 comeback special.
We did a bit of walking along Beale, but not too much. There is a terrific indie record store on Beale that specializes in Blues music that I enjoy visiting, and there is always a ton of great live music. Beale St really has a pulse, and it's a lot of fun to visit.
After such a wonderful day, it was hard to call it a night, but we had another early start ahead of us...but with a lot of fun behind it. We settled into our Holiday Inn Express room just outside the airport and closed our day with some ATHF.
Day 3
Making a morning flight is always nerve racking, and its doubly frustrating when one or two things don't go right.
Our journey to the airport started on time, but we lost time attempting to get gas at a station that wasn't working, later by being fully, and I do mean fully searched by security at the airport. Why we were both picked is beyond me, but it happened.
From there, the journey to Vegas went without incident. We arrived and quickly got our car and were on our way to Laughlin. It hardly seems possible that a full year had gone by since I'd last seen my brother, but it had.
After a quick stop in Searchlight, we were descending on Laughlin. Laughlin seems almost stuck in time, but doing better every time I visit her. If you trace the last three or four visits I've had with my brother, the Laughlin casinos have been fuller and more busy with every visit. Obviously, I'm pleased, because this only means that my brother won't have to worry about another layoff anytime soon.
We began with our usual visit to Black Bear for breakfast/early lunch. I've said plenty about this place in the past, but the food is really terrific. However, for the first time, the service was a little slow. I suppose they can't all be winners. I know my brother and I will be back there again someday.
Our day continued with a stop at the Grapevine Canyon and the famous Indian Petroglyphs therein. This is a great stop for the adventurous outdoors person in all of us. You can scale the wall, which we did, and go deep into the canyon, which we sort of did. It was awesome to sit there in the peace and serenity of the canyon and just enjoy the company of such wonderful people. We started trading stories and laughing like hell.
We had time for a bit more, and so we made for the Riverwalk and walked quite a bit of it. This is something you just can't do in too many places. Again, the laughs were coming one after another, and we were just having a grand ole time. We were also able to see River Rick all lit up, which I've never seen before.
It was finally time to drive my brother home and return to Vegas, which went without incident. We pulled off at Flamingo, and pulled into the Valet at Monte Carlo to get checked in. We wouldn't see the car again for a full day, but wouldn't miss it either.
Checkin at the Monte Carlo went quickly, but the $20 trick did not work, as they were sold out that night. However, my gesture must have done something, because we got a nice high floor with a wonderful view of the Strip. We could see NYNY, MGM Grand, Polo Towers, Tropicana, and the Hard Rock Cafe.
The room itself was wonderful. I think I may have finally found my home base hotel. I loved the location, size of the casino, the beds were perfect, the bathrooms well appointed, and the staff charming. The level of luxury is very high, and the value is also very strong. I may very well stay there on my next trip.
It was finally time for dinner, and there was no doubt where we going. We jumped on the tram to Bellagio, walked out the lobby and made for the Cosmopolitan and the Secret Pizza Place. The pizza is so good, I thought about going back for more later in the trip, but never made it. Two slices of White Pie went down very good that night.
We continued with a visit to the Book and Stage bar, where I consumed three Stunning Man cocktails in a little over an hour. They don't even make that drink anymore, but the bartender on duty remembered how to make it. Too bad they don't offer it on a regular basis, because its a great drink! I was quite the chatty, giggling idiot most of the rest of the night (so I was told.)
The rest of the night included a rather uneven gambling session, including a rather bitter session of craps at Bellagio that was somewhat redeemed by a good session of Blackjack. I walked up to the room with around $80 in my wallet, which would come in handy the next day. Another wonderful day had come and gone. Unbelievably, the trip was a little more then halfway done.
Day 4
We took full advantage of our ability to sleep in, resting until almost 10:30. However, this made the planned breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi impossible. A quick check of the Vegasmate app revealed that the Monte Carlo's own cafe was both open for breakfast all day and very well reviewed.
Breakfast ended up being quite enjoyable that morning, with several highlights. I ordered eggs and had a very interesting accompaniment, Chicken Apple Sausage. I've never had it before, and enjoyed it thoroughly. My buddy had Carrot Cake Pancakes and indicated they were great. The Cafe is well run and very pleasant to visit. Service was quick and attentive. I'd recommend it for breakfast for sure.
From breakfast, we continued along Las Vegas Blvd and secured tickets to the Lobarace show, then on to the Mirage to get our Love tickets. We even managed to catch a Fountain show while en route.
It was nice to be able to take our time and just enjoy that wonderful feeling of being in Las Vegas. We played a little here and there, but didn't win much.
As we passed through the Mirage, we noted that Gale Sayers was signing autographs in one of the stores. My buddy got very excited, and payed $150 for an autographed helmet and photo. I had no idea that Mr Sayers was such a big deal to my pal, but I was happy for him.
We continued with a planned visit to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. This was an item my friend had secured through the Facebook app. It ended up being one of the true highlights of the trip for me. The habitat does some wonderful stuff with the Dolphins, and you're able to get very close. I'd consider doing trainer for a day or the painting stuff that they do also. Like a lot of people. I suppose I'm fascinated by dolphins. We also enjoyed seeing the various tigers, panthers, and other big cats in the garden. The alpha male Lion, Secret, managed to give me a good scare when he jumped up and snarled at me. We spent nearly 3 hours all together, and I enjoyed every bit of it. My buddy was good about not rushing me, and it was so nice to just relax in a lounge chair and watch night slowly descend upon us. I even managed to get most of my shopping for the kids done in the gift shop.
We decided it was time to leave, and slowly made our way though Bellagio to the tram, stopping at Jean Philipe Patisserie for a treat. There is a Key Lime Tart available there that might be the best Key Lime anything I've ever had, anywhere. It was too cool to be having dessert before dinner, hey why not?
We returned to the room and set about picking a restaurant for dinner. We needed something convenient to Planet Hollywood. Once again the Vegasmate app proved invaluable, and we selected Olives at Bellagio based on the reviews, as well as the indication that the dress code was "casual."
Olives ended up being a bonafide home run. For starters, we were put in one of the best seats in the house, right out on the patio along the wall facing the Strip and the Fountains. I had a perfectly magnificent drink in their 18 K, a delicious blend of Grey Goose L'Orange Vodka, various juices, and gold flake. It made me feel like a real big shot to be sitting there with my drink in full view of the fountains. The only problem was the fountains weren't performing just yet due to high winds. No matter, as dinner was promptly brought out and well received. I enjoyed an excellent Salmon with Risotto and lovely asparagus. The balance of sauces, freshness, and presentation was flawless. It was easily the most enjoyable meal I've ever had in Las Vegas.
We decided that a second dessert was in order, and I ordered a Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry drizzle. As dessert was served, the fountains began to perform! What a glorious way to conclude a perfect meal.
Feeling like a million bucks, we headed across the street and into the Planet Hollywood theater for the Cee Lo Green Lobarace show. I think the reviews of this show have been a little harsh, and a little unfair. Yes, it needs a little tightening up, but on balance, it's a great show. Cee Lo is a great talent with a wonderful voice. There were many good laughs, and they use the video screens in the back of the theater to great effect. Songs included Crazy, Dontcha, and Do you really want to hurt me? We sat in the back for $60, and felt very entertained. Go see it for yourself.
After so many happy moments that day I suppose I should have known the gambling wasn't going to go so well. I tried Blackjack at Bellagio, and lost in an ugly way. It was one of those nights where it seemed the dealer was always one step ahead of me. Oh well, it had been a truly memorable day, bad luck at the end notwithstanding.
Day 5
The last day of the trip began with another wonderful breakfast, this time at Overlook Grill at Cosmopolitan. It seemed funny to see Chicken Apple Sausage on the menu again, but there it was. I paired it with a Red Velvet Waffle, which was good, but not as good as others led me to think it would be. The Overlook Grill sits next to the pool, and the space is very pleasant. They're only open til noon, so get up early if you're so inclined. As we were waiting for Valet to bring the car around. I noted how Cosmo has art on the walls in the valet waiting area. It occurred to me how Cosmo put so much effort into making every single inch of their property pleasing to the eye. It really is an incredible property to visit. I hope they find a way to start making a profit someday.
We decided we were finally ready to leave the Strip, and headed to the Pinball Hall of Fame on Tropicana. The last time I visited, they had just moved into their new building and were still getting settled. They're fully set up now, and its just a helluva lot of fun to visit. We spent nearly 2 hours enjoying the pinball and other fun to be had, concluding with a game of hockey on one of the old fashioned plastic dome fussball style tables (I won!). Highlights included the AC/DC, Family Guy, and Orbiter 1 pinball games.
We continued downtown and headed to the Mob Museum. I had no idea how long it would take to visit this attraction, but I wish we'd had another hour or so to do it properly. There is a wealth of information on the history of organized crime and its relationship to Las Vegas. There are a number of interesting artifacts also, including the wall from the St Valentines Day Massacre, John Gotti's suit, and several Tommy Guns. The centerpiece of course is the courtroom that the Kefauver hearings were held in. You're able to sit in the actual benches and imagine what it all must have been like.
It was time to check into the last hotel for the trip, and so we checked in at the D on Fremont Street. I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately I didn't. Despite the fact we were on the 28th floor, the noise from Fremont Street was very noticeable, and we were able to hear every conversation being held in about 3 other rooms. The beds were comfortable enough, but the noise was a real deal breaker for me. Perhaps others would feel differently.
However, the casino was a lot of fun to visit, as their Party Pit was in full effect. We also noted the D has a rather interesting fleet of limousines. These included a stretch Excursion, a rather large bus, and a massive truck of some sort. They all looked like a lot of fun to be driven around in.
We had originally planned on having dinner at India Oven, but decided we were actually in the mood for something else. The Vegasmate app came through one more time, and we found a great little Italian restaurant at Golden Nugget called Grotto. Turns out Grotto is part of a national chain (which I should have realized given the fact that Landry’s owns the GN.) The food was very tasty, and not badly priced. I opted for a Chicken Piccata, paired with some wonderful Italian Bread. It wasn’t a bad final meal at all.
We returned to the Strip and I decided I wanted to have that Key Lime Tart from Jean Philippe Patisserie, just one more time. I got one, and took it with me to the Mirage, where our show awaited us. My pal played for Silver Strikes on a machine bearing Terry Fator’s face. He won four of them, three of one, and one of another.
It was finally time for Love, which had been included in the room we booked with Monte Carlo. We had perfect seats, higher up and enabling us a perfect view of the show. The sheet routine is incredible to watch when you’re not under it. I’ve never seen a Vegas show a third time, but I would definitely see Love again.
We returned downtown, and I settled in for my last gambling session. I told myself I would stick to craps and play at the D. For once, I had a great roll, and made a $60 profit. It was a lot of fun to call the rolls as I was throwing them, and to be right once in a while (lol.) I enjoyed the pit area at the D very much, and felt very lucky in there. We also visited the retro slot area with the coin-in machines and sigma derby machine. The D has done a great job of making the Pit area a lot of fun to visit.
After a quick visit to the Four Queens to enable my friend a chance at some more Silver Strikes, I decided I was ready for bed. We’d packed a lot into the trip, and I had an earlyish flight to catch.
Yet another wonderful day had concluded.
Day 6
I awoke early, and left the room just a bit early. There were a few things I wanted to do before it was time to go.
My first stop was the headquarters of Huntington Press/Las Vegas Advisor. It was very easy to find, and I was pleased to find a copy of “No Limit” waiting for me.
I got to the airport, checked in, and quickly made for the Ethel M store to get some candy. I guess the price doesn’t bother me as much as it did last year, it’s still the best candy I’ve ever had.
From there it was time to fly home, ironically I was sitting next to a cousin of my wife’s who offered me a ride home. One last little piece of good luck on a nearly perfect trip.
This was a great trip, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it. Thanks for reading this far, hope your next trip is fun.
