When you think of Las Vegas the first thing that pops into your head is usually about gambling, partying, acrobatic shows and other types of entertainment that isn’t the norm anywhere else. But Las Vegas isn’t just about that, there’s also a mellow, family-friendly side of it. Not too far from the strip is a 320-acre artificial lake known to many as Lake Las Vegas Resort and it is conveniently located at Henderson, Nevada. It’s my favorite place in Vegas that offers a much-needed R&R. 🙂 I’ve had the chance to stay at two of the three resorts in the area and both experience have been nothing but excellent.

My husband and I stayed at Loews Lake Las Vegas (now Westin) in 2011 during Memorial Day weekend. The second time we went there was in early spring two years later but we stayed at Aston Montelago Village Resort, another beautiful family-friendly resort that makes you feel like you’re in Italy because it is Italian-themed. I’ll talk more about our stay there next time. 🙂

Las Vegas is a five-hour drive from  where we live and since it was a long weekend, we didn’t want to get stuck in traffic heading there so we left at midnight and arrived at around five in the morning. Although we requested an early check-in, the hotel can’t accommodate us until at least 11 AM. So we took a nap at the parking while the sun rises. After a much-needed power nap, we drove around Las Vegas Strip then headed to Green Valley Casino for brunch before going back to the hotel. It was a seamless check-in and we were excited to see our room and the view. Once we got in we weren’t disappointed. It was charming, spacious and clean with a beautiful view of the beach where you can see people paddle boarding, swimming, kayaking, paddle boating and doing other water activities. The hotel also has a pretty good-sized pool, cabanas and jacuzzi where you can lounge while sipping your favorite drink, munching some “Cho Cho Tacos” and enjoying some live music from the resident DJ. There is also a spa for that ultimate R&R and a golf course is within the area for the golf lovers out there. 😉 Fine dining on-site is available as well as a cafe, bar & grill and a lounge but if you just feel like vegging out in your room then room service is the best option for you. 🙂

We pretty much stayed at the resort on our first day and decided to check out the strip the next day since we wanted to see what’s new in the area. We’ve heard about the “high-tech” Cosmopolitan Hotel so we decided to check it out for ourselves and we also wanted to try Wicked Spoon, the hotel’s sleek, high-end buffet. We’ve tried the buffet at Bellagio, Treasure Island and Ceasar’s Palace before but I have to say that Wicked Spoon is my favorite. I have yet to try the buffet at Wynn though. I heard it’s the best in town. We’ll see! 😀

After dinner, we went to the Venetian and Palazzo just to walk around and people watch. We needed to burn all that food that we ate at the buffet. Hahahaha!  After a couple of hours or so, we headed to downtown Las Vegas to watch the Freemont Street Experience Light Show. The light show that weekend was a tribute to the men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice. You’ll see all their names in the screen including some photos. It was truly moving and a wonderful way to honor and remember them. It’s hard not to get emotional while watching the light show because I have family and close friends in the military and have witnessed their sacrifices as well as their families. I have nothing but respect and gratitude to all of them. ❤

So, if you ever plan to visit the Sin City but also want an option for some peace and quiet, I highly recommend staying at one of the resorts in Lake Las Vegas. It’s relaxing and enjoyable. Plus, if you want to see a show, gamble a little, eat at some fancy restaurant, go dancing or shopping, the strip is only 30 minutes away. 😉 By the way, they also have concerts and fireworks at the nearby Aston Montelago Village Resort and it is open to the public, an added bonus to staying at Lake Las Vegas. 😉

Here’s a better way of describing how our non-traditional Memorial Day weekend in Vegas went!

Thanks for watching and have a safe Memorial Day weekend with your family and friends! 🙂