When most travelers think of Las Vegas they picture blackjack tables, roulette wheels, flashing lights and 24/7 liquor stores.
Every year nearly 40 million tourists arrive in Las Vegas from all corners of the world ready to drop their hard earned cash on the plethora of restaurants, shops and casinos that keep Vegas kicking.
Most folks probably don’t give much thought to Sin City around Christmas time, but the city really comes alive with beautiful scenes in each casino.
I packed the Blonde Bombshells into the car and headed toward the Venetian and Palazzo on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We’re pretty blessed with options as far as entertainment here. Twenty minutes to the south and I’m on the Strip. Twenty minutes to the north and I can be skiing and hiking beautiful mountain trails.
The Venetian and Palazzo always have some of the most beautiful decorations throughout the year that make the properties feel human and warm which is no small feat given that they’re casinos. You can shop some of the finest stores, eat at some real high quality restaurants like Sushi Samba and Once, and take an inside or outside gondola ride.
Our daughter had never seen the real live flamingos they have at the Flamingo Las Vegas casino so we made our way down the block. It’s a free attraction that finds you outdoors and surrounded by coy fish, tropical birds and, of course, flamingos. They sometimes have handlers outside with the birds giving short, educational shows about eating habits of flamingos and stuff like that which can be interesting.
We walked across Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip’s official name) for a quick trip to Caesar’s Palace, which is always recommended because it’s an old school Vegas casino and the buildings and layout are still beautiful.
A quick walk found us at Bellagio Hotel and Casino, home of the world famous Bellagio Fountain Show. Inside you’ll find the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which year round are crafted to fit the holiday or special events.
They really are majestic and the small details show how much time, energy and care from the casino and its staff go into creating and maintaining this amazing feature. A worker here told us they craft the flower features from nearly scratch every two weeks so the flowers stay fresh and the art looks its best. Wow!
An official image from the Bellagio website Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Christmas 2018 picture
We made one more quick walk across the Strip again to the Paris Las Vegas to fill up on some delicious Chinese dishes at the Yong Kang Street Chinese Restaurant, which is my new favorite place to grab some quality Chinese cuisine in a casual atmosphere.
You can spend tons of time in each casino, letting the minutes and hours pass, but we knew we wanted to end the day on one specific note.
More specifically, we wanted to show our daughter she hasn’t seen before: the Las Vegas Strip from 450ft in the air via the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck.
Rise above the frenzy of the Strip at one of Las Vegas’ premier attractions with amazing views. Eiffel Tower tickets are available for purchase at the Box Office located across from the Total Rewards center next to the main Las Vegas Blvd entrance to Paris. An icon of the city skyline, the high-altitude attraction is located 46 stories up and is a half scale replica of the world-famous Paris, France landmark.
The observation deck features 360 degree city views and knowledgeable Ambassadors point out Las Vegas landmarks.A popular spot for weddings, the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck is especially romantic at night.
paris las vegas website
We timed it so we could be on the observation deck right at sunset, when the Sun was starting to disappear behind the Red Rock Mountains. Plus, every 30 minutes the Bellagio Fountains do their thing so it’s really a unique experience. (The fountain shows pick up to every 15 minutes after 8pm)
[Side note: locals can bring their IDs and get two-for-one tickets and students who bring a school ID get cash off their tickets as well — so do that!]
When you’re standing there, 46 stories in the air, looking out over millions and millions of lights, it really makes you appreciate Las Vegas for so much more than card games and magic shows.
This city is one of my favorite places on Earth and I love living here. The people are a mix from every country in the world, all brought together by different backstories: some tragic, some happy, but all the same — we all wanted something just a bit different.
I spent 30 years in Texas, and I’ll always appreciate those times, but Las Vegas is my home.
And it’s a damn gorgeous home.
#VegasStrong
Catch the Bellagio Fountain show from 46 stories up! The Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower lit up A look at the Northern end of the Strip! Those Las Vegas lights!
