The Big 5-0

When my 40th birthday sucked big time, I decided I was going to go on a fun trip for my 50th. That's a pretty darn big milestone and I didn't want to let that just go by. Since I wanted my sister, Terri who is my BFF, to come with me, I rattled off the list of places that were in the running for the BIG 5-0 trip. Based on Terri's response, we decided it would be a trip to Vegas.

My dad said he would love to go and so did my brother-in-law, John. We decided to we would be the fabulously fun four! All the arrangements were made (thanks to Pat Hand with Dancing Moon Travel Agency, pet sitters Katherine Caceres and Kate Crawford, and to my mom who helped hold the forts down for the family in Ohio). We departed Jan 29 and came home Feb 1. Just a few days which was just the right amount of time.

Off we went. We stayed at the GORGEOUS Wynn Hotel thanks to Pat & Dancing Moon Travel.

Dad near the lobby at the Wynn

We were actually in the Encore Tower. My dad and I shared a room, and my sister and her hubby John had another room.

Below is the night time view from our room

Night time view from Encore room

And this is the day time view

Here's my Dad's and mine actual room. It was super nice.

We had fun walking around to see the different hotels and sights. Here's me and my dad at the MGM Grand. And the other photo is my Dad in the Luxor Hotel.



Many of meals were eaten at the Encore's Society Cafe. We just loved the food there.

John & Terri goofing off at the Society Cafe

On my actual birthday, Terri and I got tattoos of a greyhound running. She got hers on the top of her left arm. I got mine above my ankle. We had them done at King Ink at the Mirage Hotel. Terri's didn't hurt. Mine, ah, well, mine did. The artists doing ours said hands are feet are 2 of the more sensitive places (other than the obvious other sensitive places). It wasn't horrible, but it did hurt. It was about what I expected. I am glad we finally did it. She and I have been talking about getting them for awhile.

Kathy's tattoo right after getting it done.

We went out to a SUPER DUPER nice dinner at the Lakeside Restaurant on the Wynn property. Terri and John treated us. It was probably the best (and unfortunately most expensive dinner I have ever eaten). It was so nice of Terri and John to do that.

The restaurant overlooked the "Lake of Dreams" at the Wynn which is a cool waterfall where they put on a show over a span of 4 hours with different vignettes every 30 minutes at night. This the waterfall in the daytime.

The next day, we went to the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, location of the TV show Pawn Stars. My dad really wanted to see the store. We went early to avoid the long lines and crowds.

After the pawn shop visit, we headed down to Freemont St. We found this hilarious restaurant, Heart Attack Grill. They have a scale out front to weigh yourself. We decided it best NOT to eat lunch there ;)





The four of us decided to throw caution to the wind and we did the zipline down Freemont St. This is my 73 year old dad ziplining for the first time!

Needless to say we had a blast on the whole trip.

Meanwhile, back at home, Blaze and Cori had fun at Camp Greyhound (Kate Crawford's Many Hounds Inn).

The rest of Team Zero Gravity lazed about at home with their favorite pet sitter, Katherine.

The trip was fun, but it was good to get home. I will definitely always remember my 50th birthday in a good way. I guess I could even say that it pretty much cancels out my terrible 40th :)

I would go back to Vegas again if given the chance. There's still lots to see. We never did make it to Hoover Dam, nor did we even finish seeing the rest of the strip. Viva Las Vegas ;)