Vegas Here We Come!

I have a goal of getting back on track with my posting.  It is so easy to put it aside for a day, then another and another and before you know it, it has been weeks.  Time sure does fly.  I am loving the warmer spring weather.  It is getting into the 60's here in East Tennessee, and honestly, that is probably my favorite temperature.  Not too hot and not too cold.  As spring arrives, so does spring break for all of us teachers (and students too :)).  This is an especially exciting break because my daughter and I are going to Las Vegas.  It is just the two of us and we will be leaving on the March 26th and returning on April 1st.  This is certainly not our first trip.  Actually we have been so many times I have lost count.  We typically go around Christmas time, but this year we decided to change it up a bit and go to a cabin on the top of the mountain in Gatlinburg.  It was very different, but nice.  We definitely have that feeling of missing Vegas.  Despite its fast pace and craziness, it is a place that we truly enjoy.  None of us are really big gamblers.  We enjoy playing slots a bit and making an occasional bet in the sports book room, but that's about it. So what is the drawing card? One big perk is the shopping.  It is fantastic. Very New York-like.  They have all the designer stores (which I enjoy looking in), some unique gift shops and an incredible outlet mall that usually offers deals much better than here at home.  They also have outlet stores that we don't see in Tennessee.  Here is a picture of the stash from one of our past trips.  As you can see, knitting socks isn't the only addiction I have.  Ha!

It's always fun planning the trip.  The question of where to stay is always the first dilemna.  We research for weeks to find the best deal in the best location.  I love being mid-strip so it is quicker to walk to either end of the strip.  We have stayed many places.  My two favorites are Mirage and Paris.  The ambiance of both is wonderful.  Mirage has the most gorgeous, tropical pool area that is completely relaxing.  Paris has beautiful decor, and walking down the hallways past the casino is like being on a street in Paris.  There are sidewalk cafes that serve delicious crepes, and several other specialty shops that make it a delight. We rarely go to Vegas in March, so we weren't quite prepared for the room prices.  December is a down time, so room rates are extremely low everywhere and choices are broad when it comes to where to stay.  Not so on this trip.  We quickly discovered that no place was going to be a fabulous deal.  The best deal ended up being at Treasure Island, which is next to Mirage and has a walkway to the Fashion Show Mall (always a plus).  We have stayed there a couple of times before, and they win the award for most comfy beds and pillows, which is also a huge plus.  After a day filled with walking and shopping, the bed is a most welcomed site.

This will be my daughter's first trip since turning 21.  She is anxious to try her hand at the slots and enjoy other amenities that Vegas offers adults.  I sure hope she has better luck than me!  Now the only decision left is what to knit on the plane.  Hopefully my needles will make it past security as they have in the past.  I'm thinking it may be a scarf I'm planning to knit for a friend who is retiring (lucky gal).  I'm open to any suggestions anyone wants to offer!

Hopefully our plane will stay on the radar and it will be a safe trip.  I'll keep you posted!