Have a big birthday coming up? I say “Go Big”! Try something you’ve never done before.
How about stepping off a perfectly good building?
To celebrate my 50th in 2012, I reached out to two couples living in San Diego asking if they might be interested in meeting up in Las Vegas for a weekend to celebrate my big day. Both couples readily agreed. Friend Kristin didn’t want to miss out. When neighbors Dee and Murray said they were going to also be in Vegas at the same time, we suddenly had a party!
Using Trip Advisor, I spent hours looking at each hotel on the strip trying to figure out which one would suit my needs. I wanted a view, luxury, and a separate living room area to host cocktails each evening for my friends. Trip Advisor came through —as usual.
Travel Tip : Trip Advisor (TA) has never failed me folks. After using the site for over 10 years, I can verify that this travel planning website is extremely useful in helping you design your own best trip.
Wynn’s Encore Hotel seemed to have everything I needed, except a coffee maker. If making a cup of joe first thing in the morning while lounging in your pjs and slippers is important to you, do your homework. Fortunately, I learned about Encore’s lack of “in room coffee maker” amenity in advance (from a fellow traveler on TA) and bought a travel sized maker at Target to bring along.
Going to Vegas is the closest to being “beamed up” to anywhere you want to go within minutes. To name a few, you can “experience” Paris, Egypt, Venice, a medieval castle, Hollywood, swashbuckling pirates, or the Big Top all within a couple of miles on the strip. Best yet, if you have an inner daredevil, you can go all "Mission Impossible" by jumping off a tall building into thin air.
Which is exactly how I decided to start the big “50”.
You jump from that little bitty platform way at the top of the hotel
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to free fall 829 feet, the STRATO hotel’s Skyjump is your ticket to ride. In mere seconds, Skyjump lets you experience falling at a rate of more than 40 mph before being slowed to a safe landing 108 floors below. If you are not acrophobic, I highly recommend taking the leap. The word unforgettable is truly apropos.
All smiles after our jumps
Vegas is perfect for friends to gather and forget about the rest of the world for a few days. Pete visited the Erotic Heritage Museum with. not me (I chose spa day instead), but with another of my adventurous girlfriends. They reported it was quite the eye opening experience and VERY informative. Still laughing hours later, they said the best fun was telling the ticket lady, “We’re not together”, to which she replied, “I hear that all the time”.
Pre gaming cocktail parties in our suite proved to be a perfect way to prepare for our evenings out exploring the strip. After arriving at the airport, we asked our taxi driver to take us to Vons grocery store to purchase cocktail party goodies and beverages. Travel Tip - many hotels try to restrict the amount of alcohol you can openly bring in with you upon arrival. Be discreet to avoid any hassle with the bellmen.
Feeling Fabulous at the Barrymore
To cap off a fantastic weekend, we dined at the Barrymore, located very close to the Encore. Folks, this restaurant is fabulous. Besides possessing a very retro ambiance, this eatery has it all: beautiful atmosphere, wonderful food, and excellent service. The chef even worked with me to create a personalized menu for my guests. We all dressed a la “1962”, making for the best “Mad Men” birthday party ever.
Vegas is where you go to play, escape, party, be anyone you want to be. It can be crowded so plan early.
Travel Tip: When we returned to Vegas in 2014 for a family Thanksgiving we learned that the least crowded days in the city according to our taxi driver are: Thanksgiving Day (but only the day, visitors pour in on Friday) and Super Bowl Sunday (go figure).
The only place I’ve ever gotten lucky (at cards) was in Vegas. Impersonating famous movie and music stars, dealers at the Imperial Casino made playing blackjack extra fun. With his helpful advice, my dealer, “Roy Orbison” helped me walk away from the table with winnings for the first time ever. Unlucky for Roy and his fellow dealers, the Imperial closed three weeks after my big birthday bash. It seems like Vegas hotels are constantly changing their identity, being imploded or expanded. Nevertheless, I can guarantee you, there is definitely a hotel that will fit your desires and budgets no matter when you visit.
Do you have favorite experiences, hotels or recommendations? Please share on the comment page or forum.
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