Vegas Vacation!!!

After getting a deal we could not pass we made our way to Las Vegas early on Aug. 3. We arrived at Mandalay Bay about 8:30 am. We checked our bags and checked in at the front desk. They took our cell # and then we were then free to grab some breakfast and go to the pool. The pool area at Mandalay Bay was very nice. They have the beach and wave pool, the lazy river(both crowded and crazy), and several other pool areas. We chose the South Lagoon pool as our pool of choice. It did not get crowded until about 11:00, it had a laid back atmosphere, and had its own bar. We were even entertained by what we were told was an Adult Film actress posing for pictures in and out of the pool. Everyone in the pool area was making fun of her but she didn't seem to care. No pictures of her...didn't have the camera the first day.

When our room was ready(about 12:30) the front desk called with our room number 17307. Late in the afternoon we went up to our room to unpack. Very nice king size bed, view of the pool area, and a bathroom twice as big as our own at home. We changed out of our pool clothes and hit the strip. Luxor, Excalibur, NYNY, MGM. We ate dinner at the Burger Bar in Mandalay Place. Pick your kind of meat, pick your bun, pick your toppings, and they make it to order. Very good. We tried our luck at some blackjack without much success and called it quits after a long day that started at 2:30 am in Port Orchard.

Tuesday started by picking up breakfast to go at the Red White & Blue Cafe and if was off to our spot at the pool. Another relaxing day in 105 degree heat with cool drinks and the pool to cool us off. Mid afternoon we changed clothes to walk the strip. This time we hit Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, and Planet Hollywood. As we walked the strip we looked for the best future odds for the Seahawks. At the Planet Hollywood sports book we found the best odds...50-1 for the Superbowl and 18-1 for the NFC championship. We cabbed it back to Mandalay Bay to get ready for dinner. Dinner at Strip Steak was fabulous...Gourmet French Fries instead of bread to start, Lobster Fritters and Blue Crab Lettuce Cups appetizers, Filet and Cap Steaks with Asparagus and a Trio of Pureed Potato for dinner, and finally for dessert a Coconut Candy Bar and Chocolate Delice with Roasted Bananas and Cashew Ice Cream.

After dinner we cabbed it back to Planet Hollywood to watch Holly Madison in "Peepshow". While entertaining, watching Holly try to dance and act was painful. We can now say we have been to a Las Vegas dance show. But that is about it. After the show we headed back to Mandalay Bay. We tried our luck at blackjack once again and this time we came out $150 dollars ahead... winning back the money we had lost the day before plus a little bit more.

Wednesday morning started much like the day before. Breakfast, pool, and then the strip. We took the Monorail from MGM to Harrah's and ventured through The Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn, Treasure Island, Mirage, and Caesar's Palace again. We ate dinner at Joe's Stone Crab and Prime Steak. Crab Legs, Bread, Chowder and Salads. Yummy!!!! After dinner we headed back to the Planet Hollywood Sports book. Could not pass up at least betting $20 at 50-1 for the Seahawks to to win the Superbowl. We then stopped at the Paris Piano Bar for a couple hours before heading back to Mandalay Bay.

After we got back to the room Neil grabbed the chips from the day before and played blackjack until 2:00 in the morning. Only ended up $30 behind. Cheap entertainment for 4 hours of gambling.

We set the alarm for 7:30am on our last day. We thought we would try the wave pool and lazy river before we went home. There was a line already forming when we woke up. The pool opened at 8:00am. We arrived shortly after it opened, the line was gone, and we were able to find two beach chairs up in the front row of the wave pool. We tried out the wave pool and made our way once around the lazy river. We concluded that we preferred the South Lagoon over the more popular pools and continued to ask ourselves..."Why are there so many kids in Vegas?"

We ate lunch, caught a cab to the airport, and took our bumpy flight back home to Seattle. We had a great time and look forward to our next chance at a Vegas Vacation. Go Seahawks!!!!