West USA Road Trip
Drove almost 6 hours from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, crossing the desert β and my arms are now officially sun-toasted π₯΅π΅ Las Vegas is truly a city built on entertainment and πΈ β so glitzy that even the 7-Eleven signs sparkle β¨. We caught two incredible shows: Rouge and Awakening β both highly recommended! Also experienced the Wizard of Oz show at the Sphere, played Texas Hold'em with my husband at the casino (and lost nearly $1,000 πΈπ ), and ended our last night with the Australian Bee Gees Show β as a fan, I was totally moved πΆβ€οΈ. Honestly, most "attractions" in Vegas are actually hotels, each with its own themed shows and performances. The ground floors are all flashy, colorful casinos π° β after three days, I developed a minor PTSD toward red and green lights π. β Sightseeing Route We returned our rental car after arriving β traffic is heavy and parking is crazy expensive. Rideshare (Lyft) and walking are much cheaper and easier πΆβοΈπ. Starting point: The Strip Welcome to Las Vegas Sign πΈ Mandalay Bay Luxor (Sphinx & pyramid) πΊ New York-New York (Statue of Liberty) π½ Flamingo Hotel (real flamingos!) 𦩠The Venetian (canals & gondolas) πΆ Excalibur (castle hotel) π° Coca-Cola Store & M&M's World π₯€π« β Shows & Entertainment We booked Awakening and Rouge in advance through a Xiaohongshu ticket agent ποΈ. Thought it might be sketchy, but we scored 40% off β way cheaper than official prices! β Sphere β Wizard of Oz A massive, immersive screen experience β like an upgraded Soarin' Over the World π₯β¨. We booked via Ctrip β Section 305 offers great views and you might even catch a falling apple π! Tickets were ~Β₯1,400 each. Budget tip: Sections 307β308 also have good views for less π‘. β Food Recommendations Hotel restaurants are pricey and mostly average β not the best value. Instead, head to Chinatown π₯’: 888 Japanese Barbecue β All-you-can-eat yakiniku + sashimi, ~Β₯300/person. We ate here twice! Also in Chinatown: solid ramen, pho, and Lanzhou beef noodles β authentic and affordable Vegas in three days: dazzling shows, iconic sights, tasty eats, and a lesson in responsible gambling ππ². Already dreaming of my next trip back β maybe with better poker luck! #US #Nevada #Las Vegas