Vegas with the Rents?

Who wouldn't want to go to Vegas with their parents?! It is clearly the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Vegas.  Okay, probably not normally, but after our trip there last week it is definitely no longer unheard of or unthinkable.

To back up, last year my dad and I had an epic night at the AC/DC concert in San Francisco.  And after that night we began compiling the concert bucket list for us to check off.  Elton John was at the top of that list and next to take down

So a year and a half later, I landed in Vegas to meet my parents on a Wednesday afternoon for dinner and a show.  After a half day at work and a quick flight down, I met them at Caesar’s Casino and Hotel; our home base for the night.  It was parents first time to Vegas so I was excited to introduce them to the City of Sin and see how they liked it so far: my dad’s the initial reaction: “this place is nuts, I need a nap.”

And nap my dad did while my mom and I took a hot lap through the forum shops and a quick stroll outside for some fresh air. 

I dropped my mom off at her hotel room to get changed and check in on work.  We met up just an hour later for appetizers and drinks before the show.  We spent a few minutes figuring out the game plan and trying to decide where to go among all of the various restaurants in Caesars.  My dad was extra excited about Rao’s, the famous restaurant in New York City that is impossible to get a reservation for, especially since we could get a table for the three of us, no waiting in Vegas… it might have also been because it was 5 pm on a Wednesday night.  However my dad commented that he didn't want to eat there and be full and tired for the show.   But further remarked “man if I come back I would do dinner at a nice restaurant one night and then a concert or show the second night.”

We opted for Mr Chows where we enjoyed the fancy Chinese dumplings and sipped on expensive champagne.

With the show starting at 7:30, we wrapped up our pre-show drinks and made our way over to the Coliseum for Elton John’s Million Dollar Piano show.  We arrived early enough to find our seats, grabs some drinks and take in the fact that the place was packed even though Elton John plays there at least four nights a week and has been for over two years.  We enjoyed the show (me singing along to the few songs I knew) and both me and my dad drinking our massive Vegas sized beers….I was not secretly pregnant like the last concert and neither my dad nor I were afraid to miss a song with a bathroom break.  When leaving the show my dad commented “That show was awesome.  I can see how this place grows on you.” 

After the show we stopped by the Old Homestead Steakhouse for after dinner drinks and dessert.  We talked about the show, the family, and life in general while enjoying our decadent apple crisp and berry tart and 15 year port (or Don Julio tequila for my mom).  It was during this dessert, while talking about Oskar, that my dad started rummaging around in his wallet looking for something.  A few seconds later he pulled out this amazing gem.  It was taken over 33 years ago and he has carried it with him since.

It was also during this time that my dad started making plans on whom would join him and my mom on their next trip to Vegas.  I think they settled on getting the cousins together for a few nights in Sin City. His exact words to my mom “Do you think your cousins would like this place?  We should get a weekend planned with them.” 

We said good night and good bye that night around 11:30.  Unfortunately I had a 6 am flight to catch the next morning to make it to work while my parents had the day to explore some more of the Strip. 

It was less than 24 hours in Vegas but it was perfect.  We had a proper meal, saw a great show and I had some serious bonding time with my parents.

As a side note: I love how my dad's first experience of Vegas went from cold to hot with him not sure about the place at first to planning his next trip before the night was even over.  Conversely my first time went from hot to cold…with me thinking it was the most amazing place in the world to oh man, this place is crazy, followed by I can only manage two nights, and wrapping up with the need for a shower and my own bed and vowing to never return.