If you’re like me and no longer own a “club shirt,” weekdays in Vegas are way better than weekends. It’s still a ridiculous place on any given day—that’s a compliment—but weekdays are cheaper and less crowded. The five of us just went to Vegas as a family for the first time since 2019. As my kids say, “It was lit, you long face ahh jit!”
We caught a Sunday evening direct flight with Southwest from Columbus to Vegas. It was like $250 per seat and nearly empty. We could have had our own rows, but Amber and I did skin-to-skin contact with the kids at birth and they still like to be near us.
Our flight was delayed two hours. Nothing was wrong; Southwest wanted to wait for a VIP employee who was arriving late and needed to get to Vegas. At least they were honest. We got to Vegas around midnight and walked the quiet Strip. All good. We were tired and it was still 100 degrees. We ate Shake Shack and called it a night.
We stayed at the Park MGM on The Strip. Two rooms (unfortunately not adjoined but on the same floor) for three nights ran us $750. Well, $600 because I opened a credit card with Wells Fargo and had a $150 Expedia credit after spending $1,000. Of course this was before those damn resort fees, which were $50 per night, per room.
MGM gave us $150 in dining credits, which we used to buy rich ni^^@ food, like a lil’ seafood salad for $30. The rooms were nice but not as nice as the casino itself. Still, it’s the only non-smoking casino hotel on The Strip and it was cool to return home cancer-free.
We spent Monday afternoon at one of Park MGM’s three pools. It’s a family atmosphere. You can order liquor and be served by thong-wearing waitresses (not pictured, fellas).
We saw Cirque du Soleil Mystère later that night. I didn’t fully understand the story, but outside of Teen Wolf the performers are some of the greatest athletes I’ve ever seen. Tickets are half off most nights because the economy isn’t as good as your president (not mine!) says.
After the show, we walked around the Venetian and threw down at In-N-Out Burger. I’m biased as a former Californian, but it’s the best $5 burger on Earf.
We gambled for a bit when we got back to Park MGM. I lost $10 in 13 seconds and security told the kids to step off the gaming floor.
After a big back breakfast at Blueberry Hill, we spent almost all of Tuesday at NBA Summer League, watching five games. I highly recommend. You won’t know most of the players unless you’re a hardcore basketball fan, but man, those young boys were playing hard and fighting for jobs.
Amber was a trooper. She stayed the entire time and held spots in the autograph lines. The kids also met Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s dad, Vaughn Alexander. Cassius (my middle kid) reminded me that “SGA was in his (Vaughn’s) balls!!!”
We spent the rest of our last night in Vegas walking The Strip. The Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens were interesting. That’s some serious topiary. Just check out the sexy zebra.
After three nights, our trip was over. I usually try to avoid more than two nights in Vegas, but I wanted the kids to have a memorable experience. Nah, I’m lying. It was cheap. Might as well stay an extra night.
-Dewan Gibson
1 comment
Dang Mr. Gibson, glad to see you and your family are doing good, you still look the same as when you were teaching at SDSU. Salute.