Viva Las Vegas, An Empty Nesters Guide

The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio: My husband and I love it here. While there are always lots of people, it still is peaceful. My recommendation is to see it during the day and then come back later and see it at night. The lighting makes everything look different. The garden displays are changed five times a year. I’ve yet to see a repeat!

Bellagio Water Show | Fountains of Bellagio: Seeing the fountains at Bellagio is a rite of passage for every visitor. You will not be alone in acting out the iconic scene at the end of Ocean’s Eleven! View it from outside so you can hear the music. It’s not the same without it. Definitely more dramatic at night.

People Watch: Find a seat at a bar, which has a good view of the entrance and perhaps the casino. Count how many brides or brides-to-be you see. Our record for a weekend is 22. Sip on some bubbles while you imagine the backstory of all the people you see streaming though. I suggest The Petrossian Bar & Lounge at Bellagio.

Absinthe at Caesar’s Palace: All the Spiegelworld shows are worth your time, though Absinthe is our favorite. Burlesque-ish, Circus-y without animals, a little bawdy and lots of fun! All seats have a good view, so don’t worry about getting the “best”.

See a show at The Sphere: What can I say? Everything you’ve heard about it is true - amazing, gorgeous, fantastic sound. If you can swing it, find a show you want to see and GO! At the very least, watch the show they put on for free on the outside. The yellow face reacting to the golf shots on the adjacent golf course at The Wynn is priceless!

Catch a Show at the Wynn Encore Theater: This is a great theater to see a show — comedy and live music. We’ve seen Ali Wong, Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan and the one and only Lional Ritchie. Good sight lines. Good sound and a solid bar.

My clubbing days are long behind me, though the 20-somethings tell me the Encore Swim Club and The Marquee Day Club at the Cosmopolitan are the places to see and be seen.

I will make a plug for The Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan: Three stories, original drinks (ask for The Verbena, it’s a secret cocktail not on the menu). If you want to go in the evening, make a reservation. The hotel’s namesake drink is delicious.

The Aft Cocktail Deck at the Wynn: Another favorite cocktail bar with yummy drinks, and if you are there after sundown, a fun multimedia show.

Sadelle’s at Bellagio: This is my favorite brunch place. I recommend the Vegas Breakfast with a Bloody Mary. Hubby recommends the Scottish Smoked Salmon. It comes with a bagel and all the trimmings.

Jaleo and China Poblano by Jose Andres: I’m a big fan of Jose Andres as a person and as a chef. He has two restaurants at the Cosmopolitan that we try to eat at on each trip. Jaleo is Spanish tapas. Get the chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing. You’ll thank me. China Poblano is Mexican and Chinese — not fusion. Both cuisines are on the menu. We love the BBQ steamed buns and the carnitas. The best part is the margarita with salt foam. Yum!

Speaking of the Cosmopolitan, Secret Pizza is a speakeasy for pizza. Good NY-style pizza. Grab a pie and have a low-key evening in your room. You’ll think you need a secret word to get in, but you don’t.

Eataly at the Park MGM: Good casual dining hall to grab breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also a couple of sit-down restaurants as well. I’m a big fan of the breakfast sandwich. Good choices of cocktails and wines as well.

Javier’s at the Aria: Our very favorite Mexican restaurant. Higher end with a fantastic tequila and mezcal selection. You will need a reservation. There’s a line out the door when it opens at 11:30 am!

Lago at Bellagio: Gorgeous Italian restaurant with fountain views. Great for special occasions. They also have a great bar where we sat and grabbed lunch and watched the people. Very good and knowledgeable bartenders as well.

Matteo’s at the Venetian: They make their pasta in house. You can watch them make it at the back of the restaurant. I love the agnolotti. I also suggest the blood orange martini. They also have four different negroni’s and a good wine selection.