Bright Lights and Late Nights

We rolled into Las Vegas at 11 pm. The lights were bright, the town was buzzing and we were exhausted. I do think the best time to arrive in Vegas is at night; that’s when it’s lit up in all its glory, but after a full day of packing up for the biggest adventure of our lives, spending four hours at the storage unit, and then six hours on the road, we weren’t about to hit up the hotels, casinos and shows. A quick drive down the strip to hear the oohs and ahhs from the kids in the back seat was the perfect way to kick off our new life on the road. Then it was off to our first Airbnb to stretch our legs, use the bathrooms, unpack, and get some much-needed sleep.

The Maiden Voyage House, aka The Magic House

Before this adventure, we had only stayed in a couple of Airbnbs, but little did we know this would be the first of MANY. We chose an Airbnb off the strip instead of a hotel on the strip for a couple of reasons: first, we didn’t know how crazy the strip would be for the kiddos. One of our kiddos gets easily overwhelmed with too much constantly going on, and we didn’t want that for him. Second, we thought we might need a break from all of the smoke in and around the casinos. Coming from California, we are not used to much smoking in public spaces, and I am particularly sensitive to it. And third, we needed a house for the cats to roam freely without the stress of constant noise from the hallways and surrounding rooms, and without worrying if housekeeping would come by and accidentally let them out.

Thankfully, the house we picked was great. It was a two-story, very spacious, clean and fully stocked home with everything we needed. It was in a great neighborhood and only a 15-20 minute drive to the strip, so we could stay out late and return to sleep during the day without any extra noise. They even had an Oculus and video games for the kids to play, so they were pretty happy with that. They also allowed pets, cats in particular. We had no idea how challenging it would be to find homes that allowed cats!

It seems obvious that Airbnbs would allow service dogs, but did you know many, if not all, also allow miniature HORSES? HORSES!!!! But, requesting to bring a cat or two... is not always accepted. According to Airbnb, the host cannot deny service animals unless they pose an ‘undue burden’, which can be the case for a host renting out a room in their primary residence. So, if you have a mini horse or dog that is a service animal, you can bring it to most Airbnbs, and the host cannot charge you a fee for it. Because we, however, had our cats with us, which are not documented service animals (though I don’t think Airbnb requires documentation for this), we were charged extra pet fees at nearly every Airbnb we stayed in. This is something to keep in mind when traveling with pets and picking your locations.

Hotels, Museums, Magic and the SpeedCubeShop!

As we all know, Vegas is primarily for the adult crowd, but don’t worry if you are traveling with kids; there is plenty for them to see, do and experience as well. To begin with, every hotel is uniquely themed. The kids loved seeing the different architectural elements and unique features at each hotel.

Of course, the fountain show at the Bellagio was a huge hit! I recommend watching Ocean’s 11 as a family movie night before coming here. It will make it even more awesome for the kids. But don’t just stop to see the fountain show. Step inside to see the incredible Chihuly blown-glass exhibit adorning the ceiling, as well as the beautiful botanical garden, which is themed differently for each season. It’s absolutely stunning! I could have spent hours in here alone.

The Venetian was another fantastic hotel because it literally has a river with gondoliers inside the building! They have painted the ceiling to look like the sky outside. It’s just incredible. We were all in awe. It really feels like you’ve been transported to another place entirely when you step into this hotel.

The Luxor hotel is very different from when I was a kid. I remember there being a Nile River and numerous Egyptian-inspired elements within the hotel itself. Of course, it is still in a pyramid shape, and the elevators do travel up an incline, which is quite impressive. However, I was slightly disappointed in how they have changed the interior over the past 30 years. What made this time more exciting was the addition of the museum exhibits. Since we are a homeschooling family, and now a bit more of a roadschooling family, I am always looking for fun and unique ways to engage the kids with the material they should be learning and keep them connected to the world as a whole. The Luxor was the perfect spot for this. They had three incredible exhibits: King Tut’s Tomb, Bodies: The Exhibition and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. All three were incredibly well-put-together, engaging, and unforgettable experiences. I could not have asked for a better way to kick off this roadschooling adventure. If you plan to visit Luxor, check first to see what exhibits are currently on display.

Another wild site in Las Vegas is Area15. This place is next-level amazing. It’s a 35-acre property unlike anywhere on earth, with some of the most unique experiences you can imagine, all in one place. I will say, if you have sensory issues or have kids with sensory issues, this might be too much to take in. However, if you do not, you really shouldn’t miss it. There are numerous experiences to choose from, including axe throwing, indoor golf, ziplining, a haunted house, a laser maze, immersive storytelling, VR experiences, gaming, an escape room, bars, restaurants, arcades, and our favorite, Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. Meow Wolf (with locations across the country) is huge and complicated to describe without simply experiencing it for yourself. Imagine stepping into your most fantastical dream sequence. One minute you’re in the most bizarre grocery market you’ve ever seen, and the next thing you know, you are walking into a freezer that takes you through a portal and into a psychedelic cave experience with lights and sounds spinning all around you. Next, you might find yourself in a room filled with computers and desks, where you need to solve a task to help complete the mission you are on to find a missing person, and then all of a sudden you’re climbing a staircase to a room full of circut boards, TVs and twisty slides only to find yourself walking down a hallway that takes you back to the market wondering what just happened. It’s wild! Not a single detail was left out. The creativity is top-notch in this place. Plan on spending a full day at Area15; you could easily spend four to six hours in the Omega Mart alone. If you live within a day’s drive or visit Las Vegas, I would absolutely make the trip. If you live in a city or visit a city with a different Meow Wolf, I recommend stopping in. Definitely check them out if you don’t have sensory and/or light sensitivity issues, as it might be too much for people dealing with these challenges.

Next up was the SpeedCubeShop! Our kids have become really into Rubik’s Cubes over the past year, thanks to their parkour friends. I had no idea how popular these ‘toys’ had become. When we realized that THE SpeedCubeShop was in Las Vegas, there was no question that we would stop in. Holy smokes, it did not disappoint! There are so many different kinds of speed cubes. 2x2s, 3x3s, 4x4s, 9x9s, pentagons, pyramids, giant ones, tiny ones, mosaics, DNA cubes and more. This place was pretty sweet. They also host competitions, so if you’re a cuber or your kid is a cuber, you should totally check this place out. After admiring the shop, the kids purchased some new cubes and timers, then we headed back to The Strip to get ready for our big surprise for the kids.

Finn had been performing magic online and doing small shows for the neighborhood kids shortly before we set out on the road, so the big surprise to kick off this adventure was VIP tickets for the family to see Limitless, the magic show featuring Shin Lim and Colin Cloud at The Mirage (I believe the show has now moved to the Venetian). What an incredible show it was! Both performers were fantastic. The kids were in awe. Finn did say he knew how almost all of the tricks were performed, but the rest of us were stumped by most of them. After the show, we got to attend a meet and greet with Shin Lim himself! The kids were stoked! After signing autographs and taking photos, Shin Lim offered Finn some valuable tips on being a magician and performer. It was a perfect night and the perfect way to wrap up our first stay!

Next up, Cedar City, Utah!