Las Vegas

JB and I have a tradition of taking our grandkids and nieces and nephews anywhere they want in the USA when they turn 16. We were a year late with our 17 year old Ryan, but finally, off we went. We're not sure why, but he chose Las Vegas. This would be his first time out west.

 We were determined to create a lifetime memory for him. We didn't know that would be true for us too, but it was. I booked us at Circus Circus for three nights, remembering how cool it was when I took my Jess when she was in 6th grade. It has an inside giant amusement park, with laser games: I figured Ryan would like that. Wrong. The hotel was a pit. And the kids were little, not teenagers.

So we moved immediately. We ended up at Planet Hollywood, in the middle of all the action on the Las Vegas Strip. It turned out there was a piercing convention there when we were: probably 300 or more attendees plastered with piercings and tattoos from head to foot. They were a great group: psyched about the new techniques they were learning, all ages, and fun to chat with.

We had adjoining rooms with Ryan. He loved having his own space and we had a total great time. We had the fabulous buffet at Ceasar's Place (omg!) lunch at Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen (also omg!); we saw the Bellagio Fountains and a Cris Angel Magic Show (a disappointment); we rode the giant High Roller at midnight (it took 30 minutes to go around one time.) We all agreed that the show at the 360 degree theatre at the Sphere was the highlight of our trip: a 50 minute immersive experience about planet earth, in a circular space where birds flew overhead and our seats shook and elephants thumped toward us and the forests and the mountains and oceans evolved right in front of our eyes. It was phenomenal.

We did a wholelot more, but the bottom line was how special it all was. No casino slot machine playing because of Ryan's age, but 10 minutes before we taxied to the airport, he gave JB $ 60 of the $100 she had given him to spend however he wanted, and asked her to put it all on black on the roulette wheel. She did, and he pocketed $ 120.00. A fitting end to an awesome trip. 

I hope our Ryan remembers his time with Gram & BB forever. I know we will. xoxoxo