Day 2 in Las Vegas started with some flamingo watching at The Flamingo 🙂 Ben and I got up early to explore our hotel and stumbled upon a whole lagoon type area filled with flamingos, exotic birds, ducks, turtles and fish…it was practically a zoo!
Photo op 🙂
While continuing our hotel exploration, I stopped to get a breakfast bar at one of the many gift shops. I saw this baby and snatched it right up. Ummm Vanilla Yogurt bar with 11g of protein? Sign me up!
This was crunchy, sweet and creamy, so delish. Plus, I was stuffed – yes, stuffed – for a really long time! I had never even heard of these bars before, but they are awesome!
After that we headed to the pool to wait for the rest of the crew to get up and at ‘em. Ben and I are early vacation risers…well I should say, I’m an early vacation riser and being the excellent husband that he is, Ben now is too 🙂
After sunning ourselves for the duration of the morning, we headed to Margaritaville, which was attached to our hotel, for lunch. Honestly, a lot of times places like this are kind of just “meh” but our meals here were SO good!
Mmmm, I got a giant plate of nachos 🙂 When in Rome…
These were homemade tortilla chips, piled high with chili, 3 kinds of cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream and HEAPS of jalapenos! They tasted just as good as the look and I shared with the whole table 🙂
This is Matt. I told Matt I’d give him $2 to eat a GIANT glob of sour cream. He almost did but decided at the last minute that it probably wasn’t in his best interests. I agreed.
Our lunchtime view of Caesar’s Palace (I’m obsessed!)
We felt like a good long walk was in order after lunch, so we strolled down to The Venetian hotel after we were done eating. The Venetian is famous for having an Italy inspired canal running through the middle of the hotel, that you can take gondola rides on!
For dinner on Day 2, we headed to a hole in the wall…literally. Self-proclaimed “Hole in the Wall” Battista’s Italian Restaurant” is where we dined!
This place is SO awesome – the menus are on the wall and each meal comes with soup or salad, REAL garlic bread studded with roasted garlic cloves, an after dinner cappuccino (the best cappuccino I’ve ever had – don’t worry I have the recipe!!!!) and FREE white and red house wine!
Ben and I split the Seafood Fettuccini. This was fresh fettuccini, giant scallops, tender mahi-mahi and mouth-watering shrimp. All in a homemade red sauce – to die for!
Oh – Battista’s resident accordian player. FABULOUS!
After dinner we all hopped in a limo and headed down to Old Vegas. Think Freemont Street, Golden Nugget, Binion’s and 4 Queens. Old Vegas definitely doesn’t have the glamorous feeling that the Bellagio, etc. has, but is perfectly “authentic” – I just loved it!
We have a winner! It wasn’t me though…
The boys played many rounds of craps and black jack in Old Vegas 🙂
Don’t worry – I got it on some of that Black Jack action too!
The street that a lot of the old vegas casinos are on – Freemont Street – is covered by an overhead canopy type covering that they play light shows on. Aren’t these cool??
Pose!
Ben got artsy and took these – he’s a great photographer!
Day 2 in Vegas was so much fun and just like Day 1, we did SO much in just one day!! I miss it already… Day 3 re-cap coming soon! 😀
this looks amazing. I’ve heard different things about vegas. but your recap definitely makes me feel like i should check it out!
I’ve been to Vegas 7-8 times! I love it!!!
I can’t believe you ate at Batistas! We go there everytime and I love the accordian player! 🙂 He does a mean Ohio State Fight song…although I bet he knows just about every Big Ten University Fight song!
We were just in LV in June and your pictures are making me CRAVE it! 🙂
OMG – that is awesome!! He was so great! 😀
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats https://iowagirleats.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/iowagirleats
Looks like you’re having a great time! I LOVE that orange/red dress that you’re wearing in the last few pictures!! So pretty!
What an amazing trip. Vegas may have just moved up notch or two in my list of places to visit…but I do not want to take my kids!! So, I’m sure it will be a few years! Looks like a blast though!
Looks so fun! I want to go to Vegas!!
Fun fun! I’ll have to try that Italian restaurant.
I’ve always been really against Vegas because like you, I thought it was a little seedy & ONLY for people who were into gambling but after reading your posts & specifically – seeing your pictures, which are awesome – I actually have an itch to go check it out now!!!
Did you go for a ride in a gondola? I think I would INSIST on it, if we ever go. Which now, we may! Thanks for helping me love Vegas! Hope you had a wonderful trip & I ADORE your blog!!! 😀
I didn’t – I REALLY REALLY wanted to – but it was like $100 a pop!!!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats https://iowagirleats.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/iowagirleats
What a fun trip! So jealous 🙂 Looks like you guys had a blast (also – my mouth is watering looking at those nachos – DEFINITELY when in rome) 🙂
aww sounds like you are having a fabulous time!!
that casino looks so pretty too!
Ahhh! Your trip looks amazing! so much fun 🙂
Wow! Awesome pictures!!
Found this on Google blog search. Really enjoyed reading it (and great photos). Always nice to see how a visitor sees our city.
The gardens in back of the Flamingo are by far a best kept secret! Few know that you can escape the hustle and bustle and all the crowds just by going out the back doors of The Flamingo (near the buffet).
Speaking of Buffett (with two t’s), worth the wait to get a good seat outdoors overlooking The Strip (although… do it for lunch during the summer before the temps hit triple digits).
Battista’s is amazing! Not sure how you found it (usually people don’t head down the side streets unless they are headed to the Westin) but another one of Las Vegas’ best kept secrets.
Downtown is always great, and many don’t know that downtown has looser slots (for real… according to Gaming Board reports) and usually better table game odds. A big mall with gambling and drinking.
Thanks again for the great read!
Ted Newkirk
Managing Editor
http://www.accessvegas.com
Iowa Girl — This is Great! Looked at Day 1 & now Day 2. I’m enjoying YOUR vacation as if it were my own! I found your blog thru an e-mail letter I get monthly called “AccessVegas” (.com) by Ted Newkirk. He featured your blog in his letter! I’ve gotta tell ya, your friend Matt -> “Wimpy!” (and I say that jokingly) – Had I been there, I would’ve EASILY eaten a full 16oz. tub of sour cream for $2 !! Ha! (actually I’ve done it at home for $0 !). I’ve also seen that nice Flamingo Garden, whilst eating at the buffet there! … Nice Blog! Enjoying it thoroughly! … Curt, in Tampa, Fl. Now on to Day -3 !! ….
Iowa Girl — Really Cool Blog! Have enjoyed viewing the first two days thus far! Going to see day three here shortly. I’ve gotta tell ya that your friend Matt, –> “Wimpy!” (I say that jokingly) I would’ve eaten an entire 16oz. tub of sour cream for $2! (I’ve done it at home for $0) Ha! I found your blog thru “AccessVegas” (.com) a monthly e-mail letter I get from Ted Newkirk. He featured your blog there! – Also, I’ve seen that nice Flamingo garden too! Ate at their buffet. … Curt, in Tpa, Fl. Vegas Baby! Vegas! …