Casual or diehard, going to the Super Bowl is a football fan's ultimate bucket list and something that was added to our list when it was announced that Las Vegas would host Super Bowl LVIII in 2024! While Las Vegas is always a bustling and vibrant city on its own, there is nothing quite like it during Super Bowl week as Las Vegas plays host to one the biggest sporting events in the North America, (if not the world, this year, thanks to Ms. Taylor Swift!). Las Vegas always knows how to throw a party and when you're hosting the Super Bowl for the first time in a brand new billion dollar stadium, the energy is something else and an experience that is unique and amazing for so many reasons and something we will never forget!  

And while tickets to the big game are $$$$ and way above my pay grade, we managed to create our own "Super Bowl Experience" in Las Vegas, enjoying all the pre-game activities to enjoy the hype without going to the big game itself (where we can enjoy the game on a TV screen at home!)

The Strip becomes Football Avenue! 

The moment you land in Las Vegas, you feel the electrifying energy in the air. The Strip, usually famous for its casinos, nightlife and mega hotels, has a life of its own as it is transformed into a football fan's paradise. Hotel lobbies have adorned football decor, banners and team fans, and the streets and shops are filled with football enthusiasts decked out in their favourite team jerseys. 

Super Bowl Media Day

Not exactly the big game on Sunday, but the Super Bowl Media Day, also known as "Opening Night" is when the Super Bowl Week activities officially begin, kicking off the week into a frenzy. All the players and coaches from both teams meet in the stadium under a huge spotlight for whirlwind of interviews and photo ops. This is the only time before the big game on Sunday where both teams will be on the field together. 

The energy in the stadium is full of collective excitement as football fans of all ages gather soaking in the energy and hope to catch a glimpse of their favourite players in person, roam the stadium freely for food and Super Bowl-themed merchandise. 

As this is the only time before the actual game both teams will be on the field at the same time, it feels like a backstage pass to the game as you get a glimpse of things "behind the scenes" before the Big Day! 

You get a sense of how big this event really is as you see all the journalists, sports analysts and broadcasters present to interview players and coaches. You can listen to any of the players or coaches interviews through the app, and select who you want to listen to and then interviews are broadcast throughout the week of different media platforms. The questions asked were a mix of light-hearted questions that showcase players' personalities, and sometimes serious football analysis of games and plays. It's neat to hear some of the players' personal reflections on their journey to the Super Bowl and their mindsets heading into the game. It can be inspiring to hear it first hand from players as they head into the biggest game of their careers. 

NFL Fan Experience! 

One of the biggest highlights of Super Bowl week is the NFL Fan Experience, a massive football-themed, interactive theme park where football fans dive head first into the world of football. You step inside a world of nostalgia, where you can peruse through decades of NFL memorabilia, interactive displays and experience football activities like a sports star! There is so much to see and do and it's a fun experience for football fans of all ages. There are also player autograph sessions so you may even walk away with a NFL player autograph! 

You can take part in the football activities itself where you can play a game with others, kick a field goal, run the 40-yard dash and so much more! 

We opted to experience a few activities but the lines for the autograph sessions and photo ops were too long so we decided to skip many of them but there really is so much to see and do and we could easily have spent a few days there if we wanted to maximize the whole experience! 

At the Chip Strip, a stage set by New York New York, we stopped to see #43, Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Troy Polamalu! ​

Sadly, we had to head straight to the airport right after this to catch our flight home. It was the Thursday before the big game on Sunday and you can definitely feel the shift in energy and busy-ness of the hotels, traffic and crowd levels from the beginning of the week. The Friday and Saturday activities in Las Vegas were filled with so many more exciting former and current NFL players and coaches, many appearances sprinkled throughout venues along the Strip at different resorts and looking back, it would have been amazing to stay for those too! 

However, the immersive experience of the Super Bowl week activities in Las Vegas was a pretty unforgettable experience and you get to enjoy the something much larger than the game itself. Maybe someday we will get the chance to go to the Super Bowl game itself (dreaming, I know!) but it was fun to experience the pre-game activities and enjoy the live experience of that part, but get to watch the game itself from the comfort of the big screen at home! 

Who did you cheer for? 

Las Vegas isn’t usually the first place you consider for a family vacation but as the kids get older, we find ourselves looking for new and different things to see and do as their interests evolve into other activities. Our regular school life is filled with sports – football and rugby, most notably and the last couple of years has included a lot more practices and games to enjoy (and familiarize ourselves with! 

The last time we were in Vegas was in 2018, and we were looking for family fun with kids. Now, as teenagers, interests have evolved and I’ve been looked at new experiences to enjoy that continue to be unique and memorable. Las Vegas has been the “Entertainment Capital of the World” but it is quickly working on its way to become the “Sports Capital of the World”. 

Some of the neat experiences we enjoyed include the following:

1. Experience the electrifying energy of Raider Nation
 
Las Vegas welcomed a new NFL team and invested 1.9 billions dollars and built a brand new stadium opened in 2020. Allegiant Stadium is a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium that provides a unique sports experience that can only be expected from a city like Las Vegas. ​

As it turned out, the first pre-season Las Vegas Raiders NFL football game was taking place during our travel dates so we took the opportunity to take in an NFL Football game in Vegas. Enjoying a football game itself is a fun past time but anyone watching NFL football understands that the fandom in the sports world is something else so watching an NFL football game live is an electrifying experience! 

The Raiders, if you are somewhat familiar with their history, have previously been in Oakland, and Los Angeles, but moved to Las Vegas, where they were welcomed with open arms never having NFL football in its city before. With a brand new facility to house them, Allegiant Stadium is their new home, promising to bring the enthusiasm and energy to sports and football to fans from all over who come to experience what the Vegas sports experience can be. 

The spirit of the silver and black is pretty infectious, and you can even get a custom-designed jersey as a souvenir. We chose #88 as only as a lucky number, because that was Everett's first assigned number when he started playing football and he had a pretty phenomenal first year. 

2. Experience the Magic behind the Scenes at Allegiant Stadium.

VIP like a rockstar and check out how the VIP's experience an NFL football game as you go back stage with an in depth tour of Allegiant Stadium! 

Less than 24 hours from yesterday's game, we went through the Allegiant Stadium Tour and witnessed the magic of transforming the field from football to get concert-ready for an upcoming event. 

3. Soar high above the skies for a spectacular view.

Maverick Helicopters offer helicopter rides in and around the Las Vegas area for a fun and unique experience. Our ride toured The Strip so we could witness the spectacular views from above. Unfortunately, the evening of our ride was raining so the photos don't capture the experience well, but it is a neat and different experience to enjoy for sure! 

Some iconic view include Allegiant Stadium, The Strip, and the new Sphere, opening at the end of September this year, with U2 headlining the official opening for the venue for an extraordinary experience for your senses unlike anything you have seen before. 

4. All You Can Eat! 

Las Vegas is also home to the "All-You-Can-Eat" Buffet and you cannot visit Vegas without experience one of their world-class buffets! You can enjoy affordable options at Luxor, Excalibur and MGM Grand around $30 per person or splurge on something more indulgent at Bellagio, Caesar's Palace or the Wynn Resorts for $50-70 per person. 

Another option is to head off the Strip to Chinatown where we enjoyed an All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ for just as amazing of an all-you-can-eat feast! Hanu Korean BBQ was a great place to enjoy Korean BBQ with a feast that won't break the bank! 

Las Vegas is a destination that is constantly re-inventing itself and has transformed itself into a family-friendly destination and truly combining entertainment and sports into experiences for everyone of all ages. It extends itself beyond gaming and indulgence, instead now offering a perfect blend of action, adventure and entertainment. 

There is so much to see and do, stimulation for all your senses. Las Vegas is a great place for a quick getaway to escape from your reality for a change of scenery and a change of pace. There is something for everyone of all ages, and I guarantee you that Las Vegas is not the Vegas from years past. There is a lot of experience and I would love to help you plan your next getaway to Vegas! 

And as you go through the canyon, we stop often to listen to fun facts, stories and tidbits about the history of the area, and the culture and beliefs of the Navajo. The guides are very knowledgable and patient, ensuring each guest stops for their opportunity to get the perfect photo at each opportunity. 

Driving up from Phoenix to Page made for an interesting road trip in January. As we drove north, our scenery changed from cactus-filled mountains, to snow covered flat lands including a drastic drop in temperature from the southwest desert sun. Cold temperatures fill the dark air in Page. The early sunset makes for dark skies and not ideal or safe for highway driving. And even in the morning, the temperature was below zero degrees, cool and brisk air, but as the sun came out, the it warmed up during the day.  ​

Having the opportunity to head to Page to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend was definitely a worthwhile experience to deviate from the Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson parts of our Arizona trip. Make sure you add this experience to your list if you are in the Arizona area, or in the Las Vegas area next time.  

Wondering what to do with kids in Las Vegas? Here are some ideas from our trip there last time!

With each trip I take, I try to make the experience as memorable as I can so that my kids will have unforgettable memories of our travel adventures. Let me know how I can help you plan and book your trip so that you can create unforgettable memories in your own travels! 

Ah, Las Vegas.....what can I say??!! It is the place where so many people flock to for a quick getaway! Though mainly known for its reputation as "adult freedom" where "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", many do not think or realize that Las Vegas has so many attractions and activities geared towards kids and families that are either free, or affordably priced! It was the perfect excuse for us to get away after the end of another school year, and start the celebration of our summer vacation this year! 

Here are some of the fun highlights of our quick getaway in Las Vegas perfect for kids and families! 

Paris Las Vegas 

We stayed at the Paris Las Vegas for a little bit of the Paris experience! It's centrally located on The Strip, so easy to access both north and south attractions along The Strip. With the Las Vegas Monorail Pass, the station at Bally's/Paris easily connects you to many other areas along The Strip so that you don't have to walk in this crazy heat! 

And the view from the pool is one of the best! It's a great view while enjoying the serenity away from The Strip. 

Eiffel Tower Experience

​And you can't stay at the Paris Las Vegas without enjoying the Eiffel Tower Experience! The Paris Las Vegas  Eiffel Tower replica is 460 feet high, just half the size of the name sake in Paris, France and you get to enjoy beautiful 360 views of The Strip. You can choose to do it in the daytime (great views of The Strip) or upgrade to the night experience (spectacular views!), which is often busier, but sooooo much more of an experience! See for yourself! 

MARVEL S.T.A.T.I.O.N

Do you think you have what it takes to become an Avenger?? WE DO!!  ​

As huge Marvel fans in this household, there is absolutely no way we could miss out on the Marvel S.T.A.T.I.O.N experience at Treasure Island! The Marvel S.T.A.T.I.O.N stands for the "Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network" and this interactive experience recruits and trains you to become a part of the Avengers team. You go through the exhibits to learn about the history of the Avengers team members and end with the ultimate battle against Ultron. At the end, you can choose to receive a special commemorative official Avengers ID photo card to confirm your Avengers status. 

But this is what I really came for.....Sigh.....me and the mighty Thor, god of lightning...

MADAME TUSSAUDS LAS VEGAS

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas wax museum is a great place to get your "celebrity" sighting fix without meeting actual celebrities. Or fighting off The Hulk....

You may want to visit more than once as they are constantly changing the figurines to keep things new and fresh! 

M&Ms World

Chocolate fun for everyone at M&M's World for all things chocolate and M&M's! Four stories of chocolate, souvenirs, character meets and even a 3D show experience! 

Have you heard of Dragon's Breath? Apparently, I have not and underestimated its popularity online (I must be old!) as my kids had to educate me on this thing called Dragon's Breath! Tucked in at the Grand Bazaar Shops between Paris Las Vegas and Bally's is Dragon's Breath, a cereal snack (similar to Fruit Loops) is dipped in liquid nitrogen. When you eat it, the nitrogen comes out your nose and mouth (like a dragon!). It takes awhile to get the hang of it before you can actually "breathe" like a dragon, and of course our really good Dragon Breath experiences never happened when we were trying to get a good pic or video! So you'll have to settle for our word that you actually can breath like a dragon, and it looks way better than what we could catch on film! You can also order Dragon's Breath snacks in ice cream, boba tea, popcorn and several other snackery items.  

Also in the Grand Bazaar Shops, is Wahlburgers, a chain of burger restaurants owned by the Wahlberg family (think Marky Mark, Donnie, New Kids on the Block Wahlberg). The burgers were tasty and cooked to your desired perfection. Not realizing you can order your burger in different "doneness" levels, I opted for a "medium" doneness for a burger, which left the middle of the burger still pink! (GASP!) My food scientist inner self was thinking of all the havoc it would wreak on my digestive system but then realized my iron gut prevails and it's no match for a little bit of pink. I've had way worse in my earlier days....But I would highly recommend checking it out! It was not as heavy and greasy as I was expecting. Beware of long waits during the busy times. We stopped by several times each with 45 minutes to 1 hour wait times before we went there on our last day before 11:00am. By the time we left though, there was a line up outside for guests waiting to get in. 

Las Vegas is also synonymous with the "All You Can Eat Buffets" and there are so many to choose from so a buffet is always on the must do list for any Vegas experience. With allergies galore and food intolerances to be mindful of, our restaurant choices can sometimes be very iffy, and buffet options are a hit and miss. So a wide option for food choices is necessary to ensure there is something my kids can eat! We chose the Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood, and what do you think was the highlight of the buffet?? The all-you-can-eat....cotton candy. Yep, I paid Las Vegas holiday buffet prices (because it was July 4th week) so my kids could eat all the cotton candy they desired....(facepalm!) 

Which conveniently leads this momma to The Tipsy Robot, also located in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.....the robot creates perfect drink mixes each time while providing an entertaining experience to watch! 

And of course I always have to have a little bit of Asian food wherever I go, and who would have thought there would be so many choices in Paris Las Vegas?! The Yong Kang Street Dumpling and Noodle House is a little bit of Asia, combining food from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China! 

As we couldn't do it all in one trip, other notable experiences worth checking out with your kids along The Strip include the following:

FREE:
- Bellagio Fountains - every 30 minutes between 3 and 7pm, and every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight
- Mirage Volcano eruption at 8pm and 9pm each night
- Circus Circus free show
- Fall of Atlantis at Caesar's Palace - 11 minute show ever hour

COST:
- Roller Coaster at New York New York
- High Roller at the Linq 
- Stratosphere thrill rides
- Sigfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage
- Adventuredome at Circus Circus
- Shark Reef's Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

I could literally eat my way around Las Vegas as there are so many great options and simply not enough time or belly room to enjoy it all in one visit! Whether you come to Vegas for the uninhibited freedom to let loose and indulge in guilty pleasures in a place most famously known as "Sin City", or just wanting a quiet relaxing vacation by the pool, there really is so much more to enjoy if you're looking for a quick but jam packed getaway! 

Start your travel planning here at www.visitlasvegas.com for the most up to date happenings in Vegas. You may think you don't need a travel agent to help you with a quick trip to Vegas, but there is a lot of value that a travel agent can bring to your trip and it never hurts to see what deals we can find for you! Especially for a group or wedding and a bachelorette/stagette party.....Let me know how I can help! Viva Las Vegas!