tip
If you're driving from Southern California, stop off in Barstow for a midway break. It's one place where I love to go to McDonald's. The McDonald's is built from old train cars, and now includes other quick food stops, such as Quizno's, Panda Express, and a central candy store that I've been getting fudge from since I was a little girl.

 

date night

Do I really need to list all the choices here? What you and your partner may have done in Vegas B.C., you can do again - but you'll probably come home at a much earlier hour. And if you decide to really try and relive those days, at least you'll remember the person that's next to you when you wake up in the morning. A good date night out for my husband and I is going to a "fancy" restaurant, and maybe sitting at a blackjack table for a few hands. Oh yes, and that's without the kids. Vegas is really a great place to dine, and I'm not even going to attempt to list all the options. But a few of our favorites are Circo at Bellagio, Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian, and Shanghai Lilly at Mandalay Bay.

 

Vegas really does provide a range of activities for the entire family. There's plenty for a week long vacation, or the one-night stop at the end of a road trip. And there's nothing wrong with just staying poolside, reading a book and enjoying the peace and quiet - until of course your kids start arguing about who was first swimming across the pool, and you were supposed to be watching. But as soon as we were packing to go home, we were already thinking about when we would return. We're thinking the holidays - does Santa deliver to Vegas?

 

tip

Bring the grandparents! They will enjoy the getaway with the family, plus they make trustworthy babysitters for a parent's night out on the strip.

 

off the strip: a red rock oasis

Just about 10 miles away from the strip is a family resort by the panoramic Red Rock Valley. As you drive there, you're wondering where is there a casino resort in this cookie-cutter developed area. But then you enter the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa and you're transformed into thinking, wow this is a magnificent, contemporary oasis. Not only is the decor stunning, the resort offers everything for a family vacation.