Nevada
The Silver State
Welcome to Nevada: Where the Desert Is Hot, the Lights Are Bright, and Every Road Trip Feels Like a Gamble.
Younger Version
I first visited Las Vegas as a seventh grader during my first California tour, where we traveled through Southern California, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. I can still remember bits and pieces—bright lights, crowded streets, and just the overall excitement of being somewhere so lively—but a lot of the details are pretty foggy now. What I do remember clearly is that I had a great time, even at that age.
Even as an adult, and going back, I saw tons of families with their own little kids walking around the Strip, Fremont Street and other parts of Las Vegas so it is definitely a family friendly place worth visiting if you want to bring your little ones. The things below were some things I remember and experiences I felt, but warning, it is foggier reflection LOL.
The experiences I share below come from both trips—some clearer than others—but all part of what made Las Vegas such a memorable place for me.
Enjoy the best views and rest at the Stratosphere
Not only it the Stratosphere a comfortable hotel we stayed at, it shows just how exciting Vegas is! At the top people were zip lining down from a towering height of 305 meters.
Lots of good food too from the Strat. With options from buffets to fancy restaurants, you can find a place catered to your vibes.
When Night
Falls
When the sun goes down, the city truly does not sleep, but is more energized. The strip had lots of shops, casinos (that I obviously did not go in), and places to get some food. The strip also has an outgoing vibe, with lot’s of street performances. We approached a magician, and my brother got to be a part of his act!
Show Business
Our tour also provided us with tickets to a night show. There was a diverse range of acts including ice skaters (who used roller skates), contortionist, and dog acts! Performing and entertaining is at the heart of these shows and it was incredibly exciting to watch. It honestly sparked my interest in going to shows in the future!
We got VIP tickets from the tour, and the MC at the beginning gave a shoutout to my hair (check Arizona page for what it looked like then) and I got a photo with the ice skaters! There are tons of acts as the skies the limit, so there is something for everyone!
Mini Countries
Adding to the spectacle of Las Vegas, we got to tour the Venetian, which is its own Venice in Las Vegas. Who would not want to go to the beautiful city after this? Maybe next on the bucket list…
Check out the Venetian Here
Like with this structure:
The Luxor hotel too! We usually don’t even have a reason to travel to hotels as a tourist destination. With Las Vegas doing, it really combines entertainment and living. You can really do so much during your stay (in the hotel).
Food…and more food
Vegas is famous for its food and restaurants by celebrity chefs! With such a diverse choice, you have tons of options when someone asks: “What are you feeling for dinner tonight?”
From buffets to sit down classy restaurants to street food, there is something fun for the family. I remember eating a slice of pizza on the strip, and an all you can eat buffet which I don’t quite remember the name of.
For the buffet, I remember each section representing different parts of the world. There was an Italian section, Asian fusion, and a grill. So many choices! Another buffet I have watched videos on is the one in Caesar’s Palace. It is possibly the most expensive AYCE buffet in the US.
Source: Trip Advisor
A More Mature Version
Here we go! I went back to Las Vegas as in March of 2026, 10 years after I first went. (Wow, now that I am typing this up, that is insane to me that these photos are a decade apart).
I went pretty spontaneously, and did this more so as a solo trip for my birthday. I will give you a day by day insight to what I did!
Friday: Red Rocks Trip!
I landed 1 AM on Friday, and I had a Red Rocks hike planned. Safe to say, I tried to get as much sleep as I possibly could. But let me tell you, Red Rocks is absolutely beautiful! The views were amazing and there is so many trails you can take!
The Calico Tanks Trail is a moderate 2.3 mile hike that the photo besides show. If you want a more advance hike, Ice Box Canyon Trail is something to check out. If you want a more chill trip, a 13 mile scenic drive is perfect and there are some amazing lookout spots along that drive. There really is something for everyone!
Beep beep, here is the Pink Jeep!
I needed a way around the park, so Pink Jeep Tours is how I got around. Super cool way to get around the park, and our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable on the flora, fauna, and history surrounding the park and the city of Las Vegas.
Our tour guide had some stops to discuss the specific wildlife, and history as well. We had a relatively small group, so it was super comfortable, and they were all incredibly nice, it was fun making friends. And here is a link to book them if you are interested!
The Red Rocks Photo Gallery
Take a look! And hover on the photo for a caption describing the views I saw!
More Pictures!
As you can tell I love photography, here are some more pictures of me at Red Rocks!
The Bellagio
The Bellagio is a huge hotel. You know the famous fountain everyone takes photos at? That is the Bellagio fountain. But if you ever have gone inside, just know there is a beautiful themed garden they rotate sometimes. One of the people I met on the Red Rocks tour wanted to go too, so we ended up touring the place together. Again, it looks the like Bellagio garden rotates its plants and themes. For this month it was an enchanted garden with lots of spring imagery.
The Excalibur
You know the strip has some cool hotels! I wanted to try the buffets that the strip has to offer. I did not want to splurge on a lavish experience, so I was glad the Excalibur hotel offered a more budget friendly option! They had regional specialties and some REALLY GOOD BRISKET!! I asked the chef to put heaping piles of it for my third round. Your standard buffet food if you are looking for something to eat.
I got some photos of my three rounds for you all below!
Afterwards, I walked around the strip and took in the sights! Lot’s of other cool hotels to check out as they all have their own casinos, spas, restaurants, and attractions!
Afterwards, I wanted to keep exploring and doing things, but I got so tired from waking up early. I headed back to my Airbnb and NAPPED. It was the deepest cat nap I have had in a while, and it was needed because…
Evening run in the neighorhood
I had to keep up my running! Especially because I had a race coming up. The sunset was gorgeous, but be prepared to drink tons of water. It is hot and dry in Vegas. Very different than running in California, by the beach.
Saturday: Fremont Street
I woke up Saturday prepared to go to Fremont Street because I had a reservation for a Zipline! More on that below.
I took the RTC (the bus system in Vegas) down. Here is a good reddit post I used to download the app and add funds! 10/10 on using public transportation in a new place.
WHOOSH
When I was younger, I saw people ziplining down what I now know is Fremont Street. I knew one day I had to go back and try it, and so I did. I went through the company Slotzilla. Book tickets here if you are interested!
The staff were super nice, helpful, and it made the whole experience fun. I will say though, if you are looking for an adrenaline rush, this is NOT the ride for you. It was a nice zip down the street, but that is all it is. I would recommend more sky diving/bungee jump -esque attractions if you are looking for that adrenaline rush. (but maybe that is because I love super fast roller coasters).
A little drink
I am not typically one to go for drinks, I don’t love alcohol, but I wanted to enjoy the views while sipping on a cold pina colada slush! Bar and info in the photo.
Walking
Running really has warped my perception on distance. I felt like I could walk 6 miles to my next destination easily, and I walked, but I don’t think it was that easy after drinking a pina colada that you told your brother was a little too strong.
Anyways, here is a selfie I took (maybe a little tipsy) while I was walking down Commerce Street to reach the next area.
Area 51…no wait Area 15!
Area 15 is super cool! Nothing I have experience before. It is an immersive playground for art, entertainment, and creativity. Think of it as a giant warehouse filled with interactive experiences, glowing installations, and rooms that feel like you’ve stepped into a different world.
It’s great for all ages too—families, groups of friends, or even just walking around solo. Whether you want to spend hours diving into exhibits or just pop in to look around, AREA15 feels like a completely different side of Las Vegas that’s less about gambling and more about creativity and experience.
OMEGA MART
The main highlight is Omega Mart, a surreal, interactive “grocery store” created by Meow Wolf. At first glance it looks normal, but once you start opening doors and exploring, it turns into this maze of hidden rooms, secret passages, and trippy art installations. It’s the kind of place where you don’t just walk through—you explore.
The Outside
Walking up to Omega Mart, it honestly just looks like… a grocery store. Like, a slightly off-brand, quirky grocery store, but still normal enough that you might second guess if you’re even in the right place. The sign says “Omega Mart,” there are shopping carts out front, and from the outside it feels oddly familiar—almost too ordinary for something inside AREA15.
But if you look a little closer, things start to feel just slightly off. The branding is weird in a way you can’t fully explain, like it’s trying to imitate a real store but doesn’t quite get it right. It gives off this subtle uncanny feeling, like you’ve walked into a version of a grocery store from a different universe.
Here are some cool photos of the outside market before we head inside. Some of these things you can actually buy! Like ramen sticky notes, or stash cans that look like cans of beans. Take a look at the branding for some more examples.
Let’s head deeper into the mart. This is my favorite entrance of them all, but there are a few ways to enter the deeper parts of the mart!
The Belly of the Beast
The deeper you go, the less it feels like a store and more like you’ve stepped inside a story. There are clues, hidden messages, and entire environments that feel like different worlds stitched together. It’s not something you just walk through—you explore it, get a little lost, and slowly piece things together as you go. The extra 4 dollars is worth it for the more immersive experience. Uncover more clues and do a scavenger hunt by yourself or with others!
Sunday: I saw the Sign…and it opened up my eyes
Last Day! I, of course, had to make a stop at the sign before heading back to the airport. Thank you to the photographer who took my photo, you are amazing!
I wanted to use this space to talk about what I learned from my solo travels, in case you want to do a solo travel on your own! I did a one thorn, two roses approach (one maybe not so good, and two great things).
- I think for big cities, it is more fun to have a friend. If you enjoy hiking or being in nature, I think a solo trip is worth it on that front. However, there were a few times I wanted to share what I saw with someone or had someone take a photo for me. Especially because I love taking photos and doing shoots, I wished I had someone with me.
- Traveling solo lets you meet tons of people! I met some really cool people traveling on my own, especially the group I toured Red Rocks with! It was awesome connecting with others you might not think you would connect with.
- Traveling on a budget on your own is incredibly fun! You find ways to enjoy the area you are in in a more intimate way. Definitely would recommend balance when it comes to trips, some more lavish, and some more conservative. Such as taking the bus. It was kinda cool feeling like I was a Las Vegas resident, navigating the city on my own.
