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RockStarMom Recommends :: Free Family Friendly Attractions in Las Vegas

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Enjoy the excitement of Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip without busting your travel budget. As a local mom of four under the age of 10, I am often asked about exploring the Strip with my kids. We are down there quite a bit, too, and they ask to do the same stuff over and over again. Here is a list of free family friendly attractions in Las Vegas.

1. Blue Man Group Procession This energetic and intellectually stimulating show is right on the mark for family entertainment in Las Vegas. If you are undecided on whether or not to splurge for the tickets, take advantage of the Blue Man Group Procession that happens daily throughout the casino floor of the Monte Carlo. All ages welcome, and encouraged – and so is audience participation! The procession takes place at 6:15pm, except for when the show is dark.

2City Center Fine Art Collection Art Tour Download the App (it’s free!) by the same name: City Center Fine Art Collection Art Tour, and begin a self-guided tour of the 20 different public art pieces throughout City Center and Aria Las Vegas. The tour will guide you through both indoor and outdoor areas, so don’t forget your sunglasses and hats. The app itself is remarkable in the sense that it gives detailed description of each work of art, materials used, the meaning behind it, and why it was selected for the City Center Fine Art Collection. The app will also locate the the pieces on a GPS map.Ride the Aria Express

3. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden and Chihuly Fiori di Como No matter how many times you see it or the slight differences in display each quarter, it is hard to ignore the beauty of the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden. Did you know that between 10:30 – 11:30am daily inside the Conservatory, Mr. and Mrs. Green Thumb are available to provide tips and answer questions about gardening? In case you are like me, and were born without a green thumb, step over to the lobby where world reknown Italian artist, Dale Chihuly, created the magnificent Fiori di Como piece with over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers.

Free Family Friendly Attractions In Vegas

4. Downtown Container Park The latest and greatest project occurring in Las Vegas is the revitalization of the Downtown area. And, the center of it all, Downtown Container Park. A public space created with the vision of community colliding and collaborating, the park is made up entirely of old shipping containers. Inside those containers is a unique business ran by locals. The center of the park contains the Tree House, a gigantic play space for kids of all ages. Slightly beyond that is the common grassy area where life-sized legos, building blocks and huge bouncy balls inspire creativity. Parents can lounge on the couches or bring a blanket and enjoy the sounds of local musicians who play daily on the main stage.

5. Take a Ride on the Aria Express For some reason, this is one of my children’s favorite things to do. Could be the neon lights, or the scenic views of City Center below. Either way, it keeps them occupied for about 15 minutes. Grab the tram at any stop inside the Monte Carlo, Bellagio or at City Center. It is also a great way to get around without having to fight the crowds on the ground.

6. Visit the World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain Located at the Bellagio between the tram stop and the Bellagio Conservatory is the French bakery, Jean-Philippe. In no way is that free, but it is free to window shop. The inside walls of the bakery are lined with impressively decorated cakes, many of recognizable character themes your kids will love to see. Look above the center work station to view the latest creation representing the season, all made of chocolate, and all made by hand. Over to the right is the World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain a la Willy Wonka, churning and mixing over 2100 lbs of milk, white and dark chocolate all day long.

 

 

 

Summer Cocktails at Four Seasons Las Vegas

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The mojito may be the ultimate summer cocktail, but poolside at the Four Seasons Las Vegas is the ultimate place to enjoy them. This summer take a seat at Press, the hotel’s new chic indoor/outdoor bar with a relaxing atmosphere which sometimes includes live music. Veranda offers patio seating overlooking the pool, shaded by lush landscaping. One of the most alluring attributes to both venues is the locally sourced and handcrafted cocktail program. Every summer boasts of a new must-have drink, made with ingredients found within 100 miles of the city of Las Vegas. This summer treats include Rumskey and Vodka from the local Las Vegas Distillery. Get a sneak peak below at some of the exciting new summer cocktails at Four Seasons Las Vegas this season.

Verandah

Red Rock Sunset
3 lime wedges
3 kumquats
1.5 oz local honey syrup
2 oz Las Vegas Distillery Vodka
A splash of club soda
Method: Muddle honey, two lime wedges, vodka and kumquats. Add ice, stir and fill glass with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Mojitos

PRESS

Rhubarb Mojito
2 oz. Las Vegas Distillery Rumskey
0.5 oz rhubarb rock candy syrup (see recipe)
½ fresh lime cut into quarters
1 sprig of fresh mint
1 tbsp fresh rhubarb
Rhubarb Dry Soda
Crushed ice
Rock Candy Syrup
1 part water
2 parts sugar
1 bunch rhubarb
Rock candy syrup method: Place all ingredients in a pan and simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the rhubarb is cooked through. Puree and strain.
Cocktail Method: Muddle mint, lime, rhubarb, Rumskey and rock candy syrup with crushed ice. Pour into glass. Garnish with a slice of rhubarb.

You know where to find me this summer! Enjoy!

 

Instagram Travel Thursday :: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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Follow me on Instagram @RockStarMomLV

Vancouver, British Columbia is a metropolitan city only 2 hours and 43 minutes by plane from Las Vegas, right across the friendly US/Canada border. My husband and I took our two older children to experience Vancouver and Whistler for the first time. It was my daughter’s first experience traveling outside the US border, and I highly recommend a simple across the border trip as a first time going international with children. There are direct flights from Las Vegas to Vancouver, which also made the experience that much easier for us. We chose to fly WestJet, which has a daily direct departing at 1:45pm and arriving in Vancouver at 4:25. WestJet is one of our preferred airlines when flying into Canada. Friendly staff, televisions with satellite, and food carts offering a selection of actually healthy and tasty treats. I, personally, had the hummus and pita chips both ways, but I’ve heard the chicken soup is pretty yummy when available. Customs was easy peasy and as soon as we had our passports stamped, we were on our way into this metropolis of the north west.

WestJet Airlines

We stayed at the fabulous Fairmont Pacific Rim. Beautifully designed to appeal to the modern eye, yet with a hint of comfortable sophistication, the silvery colors set in a natural ambiance creates an air of approachable luxury. Location is perfect- situated downtown, across from Canada Place, around the corner from Stanley Park, and within walking distance of trendy Robson and Burrard Streets. Food, amazing. And, very family friendly. Next to the Four Seasons hotel group, this is now one of our favorite hotel groups to vacation with.

Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel Details

fairmont pacific rim pool area

There are plenty of sites to see in Vancouver. We started our first day with a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium and a drive through Stanley Park. Having been to several aquariums throughout the US, I was confident I would not be overly impressed with this one. And, I am eating my words. I was. So were my kids. They loved it. Educational on every level- visually and through docents and detailed signage- we all walked away feeling we learned a little more, not only about marine life, but how to be apart of an efficient and effective eco-system. At my kids’ school, they have a biosphere, which teaches them the importance of the rain forests and how to help preserve their nature and the support the elements it creates. At the Vancouver Aquarium there is a whole section dedicated to the animals of the rainforest and educational information. Much of which my kids were familiar with or already knew (my son is a docent at his school’s biosphere). I also loved how “hands-on” the Vancouver Aquarium is with moving exhibits and opportunities to touch and feel.

Vancouver Aquarium

Van Aqua RSMLV

Later, a drive through Stanley Park brought us to the famous Hollow Tree where, in 1888, it was a popular tourist attraction- often known as the first tourist attraction in Vancouver. People would stand inside the now, over 700 year old Western Red Cedar to have their photo taken. Though you can stand in front of it, there is an act to preserve the tree, and is guarded from actually standing inside. We passed familiar spots like the children’s farm, and petting zoo and parts of the sea wall. We even stopped for lunch at Prospect Point Cafe with locally brewed beers, salads, soups, and a kid’s menu to boot. We sat overlooking the Lion’s Gate Bridge and NorthShore Mountains, offering us a most spectacular view at lunch time.

Prospect Point Cafe Vancouver

Hollow Tree Vancouver

One attraction we were the most excited to see was the Torch from the Winter Olympics 2012. Lucky for us, the Torch is located right across the street from the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Canada Place. After having just watched the olympics together this winter in Sochi, it was really neat to show the kids an Olympic Torch in real life. Not to mention, Canada Place overlooks Coal Harbour where, given it is the right season, is a great place to spot whales and other marine life.

Olympic Torch Vancouver Winter 2012

Shopping and great meals is also a serious must have for us on our trips. We enjoyed some pretty spectacular restaurants like Coast on Alberni Street. The freshest oysters I’ve ever had, and a lobster poutine dish that I am still craving today. The restaurants at the hotel were pretty spectacular as well. We enjoyed giovanne cafe + wine bar immensely, especially for their hand crafted espresso drinks. And, right next door is Bella Gelateria, winner of the 2014 North American Gelato World Championship. Ah-mazing! My kids opted for a single scoop on a cone. But me? I’ll take the dark hot chocolate with a scoop of nutella flavored gelato, please.

Vancouver_Food

There is still so much more to do and see that the 48-hours we had there was just not enough. We headed up to Whistler to get in some snowboarding, skiing and tubing for a few days, which was another fantastic time in itself. Definitely cannot wait to get up there again with the kids to explore the city some more.

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Instagram Travel Thursday :: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is linking up with the Instagram Travel Thursday community today. Visit other interesting and desirable places through the eyes of fabulous travel story tellers on Instagram using #IGTravelThursday. This series is sponsored by Skimbaco Lifestyle. Follow me on Instagram @RockStarMomLV.