[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by MR77

We ended up stopping by Bonnie Springs, which was fine. My mom loves peacocks and they had a bunch of them there just strolling around. It was certainly not a bona fide ghost town. Both my parents and my sister had a nice time, and I sort of got a new perspective on Vegas while showing them around. I spend so much time here as a resident, I had forgotten how much fun it is for tourists. There is so much for them to do. I took the week off from work and got swept up into all of it. I sat pool side, gambled (and won, on the strip!), drank lots, and did a lot of walking up and down LVBLVD.

The highlight for my parents was when they met Wolfgang Puck in the elevator at Caesars. My folks are big food people and apparently he was very engaging nice to them. They are still talking about it.

They also really loved the Bellagio atrium and going up to the top of the Stratosphere.

We ate in many great restaurants. Had an awesome time at Mesa Grill. Wonderful food and fantastic service. It was a great time for them. I've often wondered why people would spend their hard earned dollars to come here for a week and swelter in the heat, lose money on bets, get ripped off on bottles of watter, etc... but now I get it. It was a complete escape for them, and a hell of a trip.

That's what Vegas is all about isn't it? Where is the Mesa Grill? What kind of food? It was probably discussed before but I don't remember.

Anyway, if you enjoy walking, it's really fun to do a Strip hike once in a while. It's amazing the things you see that you might not have been aware of.

BTW: Did we tell you about Spring Mountain Ranch which is next door (sort of) to Bonnie Springs Ranch? Nevada Division of State Parks - Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

[MR77]

Mesa Grill is in Caesars. Its a Bobby Flay (food network star) place and specializes in southwestern cuisine.

Yep, I knew about Spring Mountain Ranch, but we took a drive through the Red Rock Loop and later on, up to Mount Charleston where there was still a lot of snow. We ate at the Mount Charleston Lodge... very scenic experience for them. I recommend the Nachos if you are ever there. Some of the best I've had.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by MR77

Mesa Grill is in Caesars. Its a Bobby Flay (food network star) place and specializes in southwestern cuisine.

Yep, I knew about Spring Mountain Ranch, but we took a drive through the Red Rock Loop and later on, up to Mount Charleston where there was still a lot of snow. We ate at the Mount Charleston Lodge... very scenic experience for them. I recommend the Nachos if you are ever there. Some of the best I've had.

Mt. Chas. Lodge is a good place for breakfast too, and it used to be good for dinner but I haven't been there in the evening for a long time. They have had, at various times, world class chefs that created excellent dishes, and plain old cooks that made great hamburgers. It's hard for them to keep good people because it's too far to commute, especially in the winter, and not many people that live up there to draw from.

I'd like to try Mesa Grill, but after working in Santa Fe and Laredo it's hard to impress me with either Southwest food or Mexican. "Southwest" food was invented in New Mexico, especially Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and is a combination of Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Gringo. It's hard to get the right ingredients here. Coyote Cafe is famous in Santa Fe but when they opened one here they didn't get good reviews.

I don't know what the nachos are like on the mountain, but in Laredo when you ordered Nachos it wasn't a basket of chips out of a bag with cheese whiz poured all over them like most places around here give you. The chips were homemade, and each one was placed separately on a tray with a square of good cheese and a slice of jalapeño on top. Then they were baked in the oven. They weren't piled on a plate all stuck together with no cheese or chili on some of them. My mouth waters thinking about them. The twin cities of Laredo, TX & Nuevo Laredo, Mex., have the best Mexican food I've ever had. Other cities in Texas or even Mexico can't compare. Good eating is a national pastime down there.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by MR77

I've often wondered why people would spend their hard earned dollars to come here for a week and swelter in the heat, lose money on bets, get ripped off on bottles of watter, etc... but now I get it. It was a complete escape for them, and a hell of a trip.

I feel as tho a light has been turned on and another doubter has been saved...... welcome to las Vegas and be sure to come back soon to visit your money