This column is the second in a reoccurring series about LGBTQ+ family travel. For a preview of this travel column, CLICK HERE.
Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving last week? Somehow, Christmas is nigh and my family is franticly preparing for C-Day. We are staying put in Long Beach this holiday, but for those traveling to big cities with their little ones, here’s a quick review of how “LGBTQ+ Family Vacation Takes on Las Vegas” went for my family during Thanksgiving.
10 Things We Loved and Hated About a Holiday in Las Vegas
1. WE LOVED – There were so many family-friendly options we were able to find in the day! There’s more to Las Vegas that “Hangover”-style debauchery, and I think we found the jackpot.
2. WE LOVED – For example, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Have you ever been to a wax museum? It is such a fun experience! Have you ever taken a child to one? Even better! Our 8-year-old was absolutely delighted, trying to recognize the dozens of celebrities and mimicking their poses. It was a cool and interactive way to spend the afternoon!
3. WE LOVED – All that MGM had to offer the whole family. From all the rides at the Adventuredome, to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, it was enough to keep our family busy for several days.
4. WE LOVED – All the Food! For foodies like my partner and I, Vegas is a great food destination – and the holidays are no exception. We had a prix fix dinner at STK in the Cosmopolitan hotel. Let me tell you, they pulled out all the stops! Our dessert was lit on fire, people! Does it get any more lit than that?
5. WE LOVED – There’s so much to do off the Strip.We were able to take a local bus from our hotel to both the Smith Center to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and to the Discovery Children’s Museum right next door. The Museum might have been our daughter’s favorite part of the trip — she’s already asking when we can go back.
6. WE HATED – I know it wouldn’t quite be Vegas without all the cigarette smoke, but this was by far the most unpleasant adjustment for the trip. Even family hotels reeked of stale smoke. Our daughter began holding her breath trough the casino portions of hotels. Not the most fun.
7. WE HATED – This probably goes without being said, but as soon as the sun goes down on on the Strip, the daytime family-friendliness quickly recedes too. Be advised.
8. WE HATED – Where did all my gambling money go?! You sneak off to the slots inside the White Castle – of all places – for literally five minutes, and suddenly all your pocket money is gone. Oh, well – such is Vegas.
9. WE HATED – We thought we were being clever by avoiding the peak season of Sin City, but as it turns out, SO MANY other people had the same idea. Everything was so crowded, all the time. So hang on tight to your little ones and be ready to do some expert stroller weaving.
10. WE HATED – Going back to reality is always a mixed bag. Yes, we couldn’t wait to see our kitties and sleep in our own beds, but are you ever really ready to face the daily grind again? Until the next LGBTQ+ Family Vacation it is!
This column is the first in a reoccurring series about LGBTQ+ family travel. For more information, please email amy@thepridela.com
