Las Vegas

December 2024 was shaping up to be a big month for our family—our middle child and only daughter, GraceAnne, was turning 21 (cue the confetti!), and it was also Jamie's final year in his fabulous 40s. We figured, why not make it a double celebration and head to the entertainment capital of the world—Vegas! So, we packed our bags and kicked off what would be a whirlwind adventure. The excitement started bright and early on Friday, December 6, 2024, with our flight set to take off from Indianapolis at 10:00 am sharp. Let the adventure begin!   

As soon as we were airborne, we kicked off the celebrations with a round of mimosas—because why not start the party in the sky? After a long, but smooth flight (nothing too exciting, thankfully), we finally touched down in Las Vegas, ready to hit the ground running. No time to waste—Vegas awaited, and we were all in!   

Our first stop was the Club Wyndham Grand Desert, where we’d be calling home for the next three luxurious nights. With seven of us in total, we had two rooms: a cozy one-bedroom suite and a spacious two-bedroom suite. Talk about the perfect vacation setup! These rooms were like mini vacation homes—fully equipped kitchens, washers and dryers, spacious dining areas, huge bedrooms, and tons of closet space. The living rooms had pull-out sofas, and our suite even had a spa tub in the master bathroom—definitely the kind of indulgence we were looking for to kick off the long weekend.

The resort was just a few blocks off the Las Vegas Strip, so we were close enough to all the action but could retreat to our peaceful oasis when we needed a break. One of the perks we were excited about was the free shuttle to the Paris Hotel on the Strip. Sounds great, right? Well, it was a nice bonus—except the shuttle didn’t always run on time, and the wait was much longer than the advertised 25 minutes. Apparently, the shuttle was managed by a third party, not the resort itself, which led to some interesting waiting times. After a couple of delays, we ended up Ubering or just walking to our destinations. But hey, in Vegas, there's always something to see along the way!

After checking in and dropping our bags, we wasted no time getting into the Vegas spirit! We hopped on the shuttle and headed straight for lunch and some sightseeing—after all, there’s no time to waste in this city! The shuttle dropped us off right at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, where we took a quick tour of the iconic property, snapping pictures of the stunning Eiffel Tower replica. After soaking in the sights, we were ready to refuel, so we made a pit stop at Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay. And let me tell you—those burgers and fries? Absolute perfection! They were juicy, flavorful, and exactly what we needed to power through the rest of the day. 

The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of Vegas highlights! We strolled down the iconic Strip, checking out some must-see spots like Hell's Kitchen, Ole Red, and the grand Ceasars Palace. Of course, no visit would be complete without popping into the Forum Shops, where we treated ourselves to giant birthday drinks (because why not?) and indulged in some sweet gelato. We also caught the spectacular Atlantis Show—talk about a cool, high-energy spectacle! After a bit of souvenir shopping, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel for a well-deserved break and to regroup for Round 2 of the Vegas fun!  

After some much-needed rest at the hotel, we were recharged and ready to dive back into the Vegas action for Round 2! The birthday girl, GraceAnne, was looking fabulous in her party sash and crown, and the birthday squad was geared up with shot glasses in hand. As we headed out of the lobby to grab an Uber to Fremont Street, a sweet couple handed us an open bottle of champagne to help us kick off the celebration in style (because nothing says "Vegas" like champagne in the lobby, right?). 

A quick Uber ride later, we were on Fremont Street, and let me tell you—it was alive! The place was buzzing with energy, bands were rocking out, street performers were showing off their best tricks, and the crowd was ready to party. First things first, we grabbed dinner and $5 margaritas at Hammered Harry's (talk about a deal!). Then we popped into Binion's for a photo op with the million-dollar display—because, hey, when in Vegas, right? After that, it was time to try our luck, so we headed into The Golden Nugget for some Roulette and Blackjack action. Let the games begin!

Day 2 

Day two in Vegas was all about exploring and soaking in as much as we could! We discovered the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs from the MGM Grand to several stops along the Strip—what a game changer! Since we were just a short walk from the MGM, we grabbed some tickets and hopped on to start our morning adventure. Our first stop was the Coke Store, where we got to taste all sorts of soda flavors from around the world—some were surprisingly delicious, others... not so much. But hey, it's all part of the fun!

Next, we walked over to New York New York and made our way to Nine Fine Irishmen for some refreshing drinks and a bit more sightseeing. The energy on the Strip was contagious, and we were loving every minute of it.

We then took the monorail as far as it would go, and from there, grabbed an Uber to Chinatown for a tasty lunch. After fueling up, we headed to the STRAT to take in the breathtaking views of the city—timing couldn’t have been better as the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over everything.

Once we’d soaked in enough of the stunning skyline, we hopped back on the monorail and returned to the hotel to freshen up for the birthday dinner celebration at Buddy V's Ristorante in the Venetian. The food was absolutely delicious and the perfect prelude to the night ahead!

After dinner, we were in the mood for something a little different, so we ventured to the hidden speakeasy, 1923—right inside the Venetian. To get there, you walk down a short hallway to an elevator that looks like a bookcase, which feels like you’re entering a secret world. When the doors open, you step into a small room, and the entrance to the speakeasy is concealed behind a giant picture on the wall. Once inside, the party was in full swing, with a lively band playing and a cool vibe all around. We found a cozy spot in the back, ordered our first round of drinks, and even stayed to enjoy a short burlesque show. It was the perfect way to end the day—fun, unique, and full of memories that we'll never forget!

Day 3

The morning of day three started with a bittersweet farewell. Jaylen and Leah were headed back to Indiana, so we said our goodbyes to two of our birthday squad members. My sister and her husband had a later flight, so the rest of us decided to kick off the day with brunch at Marilyn’s Cafe at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. This place was a hidden gem! The food was delicious, and the hotel had a nice, relaxed vibe—we’ve already added it to our list for a future stay!

After brunch, we Ubered over to the Sphere, which was just... massive. It’s hard to describe how impressive it is until you see it in person. Tickets to enter were around $100, even for just a viewing or experience, so we took in the outside spectacle and decided to explore other places. We hopped on the monorail and made our way to Luxor, Excalibur, and MGM. Honestly, Excalibur didn’t live up to its exterior hype—it felt a little dated and underwhelming. But Luxor was everything you'd imagine from its pyramid shape: cool, unique, and a total experience. Afterward, it was time for Sara and Josh to head to the airport, so we said our final goodbyes to a few more members of the birthday squad.

With a bit of rest back at the hotel, the three of us—me, Jamie, and Grace—weren’t ready to call it a day just yet. We decided to hit the Strip for some sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Our first stop was the M&M Store, where Grace had some personalized M&Ms made for her boyfriend—because what says "Vegas" more than customized candy? As we walked down the Strip, we stumbled upon a water massage station. It was a random, but perfect way to soothe our sore muscles after all the walking.

As we continued exploring, hunger hit, so we made the trek all the way from the south end of the Strip to the north side for a well-earned dinner at In-N-Out Burger. The walk was totally worth it—the burger was fresh, delicious, and hit the spot. The LINQ Promenade was buzzing, so after dinner, we stopped in the Flamingo for some more sightseeing, drinks, and a little last-minute shopping.

By the end of the night, we were exhausted but happy—our birthday bash in Vegas was winding down.

The LINQ Promenade

Day 4