What we did in Las Vegas

In September, my husband had a work function in Las Vegas and when we found out in June that he would be attending, I knew there wouldn't be anything that could stop me from tagging along. I've always wanted to visit Las Vegas, not for the gambling but for the shows! And the people! So far, I would say my best people-watching experience was in Las Vegas. We went on a budget (with a few pre-chosen splurges) and were still able to have an awesome time!

Here's a rundown of our trip:

This was hands down the best place to get breakfast in Las Vegas. We didn't discover it until our second morning (the first morning we ate brunch at a bistro in Caesar's palace) but I was so glad we did. We were able to get so much food for less than half the price of a typical restaurant on the strip. They had 15 bagel choices plus a full array of traditional breakfast options (eggs, bacon, etc). This place is off the beaten path so if you didn't bring/rent a vehicle it may be difficult to get to, but it is definitely worth it.

Michael Mina ($$$)

This restaurant is definitely NOT somewhere I'd eat on any regular occasion, but we knew we wanted to have a nice dinner one night (our first choice was Gordon Ramsay Steak but we couldn't get reservations) to celebrate our anniversary and Derek's upcoming birthday. the drinks were good and the food was better - the only thing I wish was that the restaurant would have had views of the Bellagio fountains.

The rest of our meal experiences were neither here nor there, we usually just picked the nearest place when we started getting hungry. We really didn't have a bad dining experience during the entire trip.

Freemont Street at night is a definite must-see! They have the worlds largest LED screen, which actually goes over the street, that has a light show every hour after dark until about midnight. There are several restaurants and bars to choose from, but the real entertainment is in the people and street performers.

You can actually (kind of) see the light show above our heads.

We bought a couple of beers from a street vendor and walked the length of the street a few times and had a blast. There's also a zipline going down the length of the street if you're in to that. We skipped it, but it looked like the people on it were having tons of fun.

Poolside lounging (usually free at your hotel)

Ever since the show Rehab aired on TV, I wanted to spend a day poolside in Las Vegas. While we were at the Planet Hollywood pool rather than the Hard Rock, and we didn't have our own cabana, it was the perfect afternoon to spend by a rooftop pool with margaritas in hand.

My one requirement while in Las Vegas was to see a Cirque show. Originally we were going to see Mysterie, which is more of the traditional acrobatic show, but we ended up choosing Zumanity. All you need for this show is an open mind and maybe a drink or two before hand. Without giving too much away, it's a mix between a comedy, a drama, and a drag show. and it was easily the highlight of our trip. If you're not scared of seeing a nipple or two, and have a sense of humor a little on the crude side, then this show is definitely for you.

Deuling pianos. That's all there is to say about that.

OTHER MUST SEE/DO:

-visiting the Las Vegas sign at the end of the strip (pictured below). There's usually someone there that will take your photo for a small tip.

-walking through the casinos - our favorites were Ceasar's Palace and the Wynn (the flower gardens were AMAZING at The Wynn)

-the Bellagio fountain show

-riding to the top of the Stratosphere. I actually didn't get to do this, but my husband did with his coworkers - one of them even did the bungee drop from the top!

We had an awesome trip, but I feel like there was so much we didn't get to do. There will definitely be a return trip in our future, with more time for exploring and less flying next to two dudes who didn't sleep (or shower) prior to boarding the plane.

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? What was at the top of your list of things to do and see?