I live in Southern California, and for me, Las Vegas is only a short 3 hour road trip. Over the years, it has become our family’s “quick getaway” vacation spot when we need a change of scenery. Yes, we take the family – my two daughters are now fourteen and sixteen, but I think they were about eight and ten when we took them to Las Vegas for the first time.
Now, you might be wondering why we’d take our children to Las Vegas – which is also referred to as “Sin City”. I’m sure there is a whole lot of sinning going on somewhere in the city, but Las Vegas has become such a family-friendly place to visit that it’s the perfect place for us to spend a few days together. There are a ton of shows to see, and we’ve seen everything from magicians, hypnotists, variety acts, concerts, ventriloquists, and even a few Cirque du Soleil shows. At night, as you walk down the main Las Vegas strip, there are many hotels that put on free shows for tourists.
The Bellagio has a magnificent water show like nothing else I’ve ever seen, with hundreds of 
spouts spraying in tune to various songs. Treasure Island has a fun pirate act that keeps both adults and kids entertained. Out in front of the Mirage, there is a volcano that erupts every ten minutes, with enough fire and heat to make you believe you’re standing in front of a real volcano!
The Venetian offers gondola rides, and tourists who are hoping to get a glimpse of a celebrity can visit Madam Tussauds Wax Museum where the newest attraction is Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Baby Shiloh. There are also hotels that have amusement rides and roller coasters, 
along with elaborate water parks and slides. There’s the M&M factory, shopping galore, and even rock climbing. I’m telling you, there is enough to keep a family busy for a couple of weeks!
Then there is food. Lots and lots of food. Restaurants and buffets everywhere you look! If you’re craving something in particular, I can guarantee you’ll find a restaurant in Las Vegas that can fulfill your request. Most of the buffets are great . . . and huge in their selection of food items, and there are restaurants that range from lavish 5 star dining, to $1.99 steak and eggs.
This past weekend, we took off for one of our Las Vegas getaways. Usually, we stay in a hotel that is centrally located to everything, but this time, we decided to stay in The Orleans Hotel, 
which is located off the main strip where all the activity is happening. The Orleans is a wonderful hotel that features 15 different restaurants, a 50 lane bowling alley that’s open 24 hours, and a movie theater offering 16 different shows. Considering the temperature in Las Vegas was 118 degrees in the shade, we decided to spend most of our time in the hotel, instead of walking from hotel to hotel on the main strip.
We were in Las Vegas for three days and two nights, and we had a fun, relaxing time with the girls. My husband and I don’t gamble when we take the kids, so instead we went bowling the first and second day we were there, for a total of five games each. It had been years since any of us had bowled, and we all laughed a lot at all the gutter balls and our less than stellar form. We all managed to get a strike or two, but it was all pure luck. However, out of the five games we played, I beat my husband four of those games. He’s demanding a rematch in the near future, LOL!
We also caught a movie. MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND. I have to say that for as corny and unbelievable as the premise of this story was, we laughed a whole lot. It was cute and funny and we did enjoy it. We were hoping to catch TALLADEGA NIGHTS, but it wasn’t playing at the theater. My husband works for Wonder Bread, and he loves the fact that Will Ferrell wore a NASCAR uniform with Wonder Bread as the sponsor, along with a car with the Wonder Bread logo. To date, Wonder Bread has never sponsored a NASCAR team, and it was Will Ferrell himself who insisted on using the Wonder Bread brand!
The second day/afternoon, we hit a fabulous seafood buffet, then headed over to the Mandalay Bay Hotel where we had tickets to see MAMMA MIA. My husband and I have seen 
the play before, but our daughters never have, though they do enjoy Broadway plays. What’s funny is that MAMMA MIA integrates most of ABBA’s most popular songs (Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, The Winner Takes It All, etc.) and my girls had no idea who ABBA was. However, they recognized all the songs and were able to sing along because about five years ago a new group called the “A-Teens” put out a CD with all of ABBA’s greatest hits, and my girls loved that CD. It was a fun night, and my daughters thought it was one of the best plays they’d seen.
The next morning, after breakfast, we drove back home. So, despite how quick our get-a-way was, we managed to cram in a whole lot of fun and family time, which was the whole point of the mini-vacation.
When you want to escape and get-a-way from it all, what do you do? Do you have a special place you visit or go back to time and again?
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
Sounds like a fabulous time, Janelle! I’ve never been to Vegas, but you make a great case for trying it sometime.
Hubby and I like to spend weekend getaways in Savannah, GA. It’s close to home for us, and absolutely gorgeous.
Comment
Awesome trip! I have a love hate relationship with Vegas. Hate the smoke, the crowds and the noise. LOVE the shopping, LOL. Our quick getaway this year is Atlantic City. We’re going in a week or so with the girls. Same type of trip! :)
Comment
Sounds like a great trip. I’ve never been to Vegas and am dying to go. Shopping, shows, and even some light gambling (not a heavy gambler) sound like my kind of weekend. :)
My best and most loved place to go for a quick getaway is the beach. I live in Florida and the beach is almost in my back yard but still to me there is nothing like sitting out on the balcony late at night listening to the waves and waking up to the beautiful moring on the beach. Awww…peace and relaxtion got to love it.
Comment
Now that sounds like some good clean fun. We live that close to Myrtle Beach and head down there a few times a year to unwind. In fact, my hubby is headed down there next weekend for a fishing trip / bachelor party. It’s amazing what we do to keep us sane, somehow it usually involves laughing. A Lot!
Comment
We never get a chance to escape just for quiet time. It always involves heading for NYC to visit one of the kids and grandkids. I will, however, grab a book, pillow and cold drink and head to the backyard swing for a day of doing nothing. Hubby is a workaholic, even though he is reitred. he went back to work again.:thumbsdown:
My other favorite thing to do is hop in the car and head for vermont- about 20 miles away. The either take pictures or go shopping in Manchester. Thank god for credit cards!!:thumbsup:
Comment
Our quick trip away from it all is to the White Mountains in North Conway New Hampshire. My sisters and I are gathering up all the kids (there are 5 total between the three of us.) and our husbands and going in 10 days!! Now this will be our first trip with all of us staying in a house we rented. I just hope there isn’t too much chaos. Because we are all going away again in December to my favorite vacation spot…..Walt Disney World in Florida. Did I mention the kids ages?? The oldest is 4 and the youngest won’t be 2 until October. 8O What have we done…I have a feeling the adults are going to need a vacation after this vacation. :happy2:
Comment
It sounds like your family had a great time!:cooldance:
The last time our family went away it was to Atlantic City and that was about 20 years ago.:violin: Now a get-a-way for me is sitting on the back deck reading a good book since I usually read in my bedroom.:lol:
Comment
Thanks for the post! I feel like I just had a getaway just from reading about yours!
Comment
would love to go to vancouver bc again and montreal. also hawaii and lay on the beach. las vegas to gamble:thumbsup2::cooldance:
Comment
Janelle, your trip sounds like fun. I have sort of a love/hate thing with Vegas. I enjoy sleeping too much when I getaway to enjoy all of Vegas. That picture of Brad, Angelina and Shiloh still creeps me out (why would anyone make a wax figure of a baby…I would love to know the reason, if anyone knows).
When we get away for a couple of days, it is usually child-centric, meaning we go where there is an aquarium or other things for my little adorable boys (had to get that in, you know). Hubby and I try to get away separately for a night or two (I always need a little ‘down time’ every once in a while…peace and solitude and all that).
Comment
It sounds like a blast! I’ve never been to Vegas or AC (in spite of the Jersey girl Factor) … But you’ve added another list of reasons why LV is on a place to go list!
Comment
Sounds like you had a great time. We usually go to Ohio or Tennessee. We did go to Myrtle Beach once and I loved it. I have been wanting to go back. I would also like to go to Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Australia.
Comment
The coast has always been my getaway spot & I can just go for the day. I’ve been saying for many years that it restoreth my soul.
I’m trying to make plans to go to Las Vegas later this year if I can get one of my friends to go with me. I’ve never been there & most of my friends have been several times so it is no big deal to them. For me Mother Nature’s beauty is a big attraction & have been calling to me for years. Places such as Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Wy., & the Grand Tetons, the Grand Canyon are all places I want to see, the sooner the better! :) Oh yea, then there is Hawaii, Sedona, Az., Washington D.C., are all on my list also!! I would just love to be able to do some traveling! :)
Comment
Well, since I live in Nevada, my visits to Las Vegas are to visit family. My favorite weekend places to go is either to Bodega Bay on the Northern California coast or the Napa/Sonoma area.
Comment
Someday I’ll visit Vegas…I’ve always wanted to go!
But, I shouldn’t complain. I live in Florida, so I have plenty to choose from when I want to get away. Beach, Disney, outdoorsey stuff…lots to do.
Comment
They ARE auctioning off that Wonder Bread car, Janelle…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220014658117
Comment
Makes me want to go back to Vegas ~ haven’t been there since ’99. I always loved the outside shows the hotels have ~ especially the watershow.
When we want to do some gambling, my husband I go to Niagara Falls, Canada. We usually go 3-4 times a year and combine it with a coin show in Buffalo.
Comment
I have always wanted to get to Las Vegas and you have made it sound so exciting……..I am not a big gambler, but the shows, and things sound like just the thing.
For a getaway for me is to travel to the interior of B. C. to Radium Hot Springs and to Fairmount Hot Springs……….although in truth it has been awhile since I was able to do that……..but soon again.