We just got back from a week in Vegas early yesterday morning. We’re all still very jet lagged, but I’m putting my photos together from the trip. I’m splitting them into a couple of posts just to spread them out a little.

A week in Las Vegas with a three-year-old is a very different animal than a week with just adults. The last time we were there was almost exactly 4 years ago, also on spring break, with my mother- and stepfather-in-law. This trip was very different, but so much fun.

We stayed longer, and in a big suite with a kitchen, washer, and dryer. I think we’ve decided this is the best possible way to go on vacation with H, at least until she’s a little older.

She had a queen pullout couch all to herself, which she thought was pretty epic. We stayed at Vdara, sister hotel to ARIA where we stayed last trip. Vdara had no casino and was no smoking, and that was pretty perfect with a preschooler. We spent a lot of time at the pool, even though it wasn’t quite as hot as we’d hoped. It was still warmer than back home in NJ!

Queen of the hotel suite.

Pretty nice view, too.

We spent more time off the Strip than on it, but we did do some really fun, kid-friendly stuff on the Strip. Like Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, which was a big hit with H.

We saw the Easter flowers at the Bellagio.

We also saw the Bellagio fountains. This was the only selfie I could get in before Adam and H both told me to stop so she could enjoy the show. Don’t they know how modern day vacationing works?

We walked around Caesar’s Palace, taking in the artificial skyline. We had drinks and gelato at Trevi by the Trevi Fountain, too.

We had some great meals on the Strip, too. Our first real night in town we did the Wicked Spoon buffet at the Cosmopolitan. That hotel was a little heavy on the bros, but the buffet was definitely yummy. This was part of the dessert station.

I mean, seriously.

We also got more pastries from Jean-Philippe Patisserie at ARIA, which was our favorite breakfast place last trip. Cinnamon rolls and these insane dulce de leche and Nutella brioches that you must try if you’re ever there. ZOMG.

H grabbing a quick muffin from Vdara’s downstairs cafe.

We had delicious but very overpriced burgers at BLT Burger at the Mirage.

Adam and I did manage to get out for one date night. A friend of mine from grad school lives in Las Vegas, and she recommended her wonderful babysitter. H was in good hands, and we walked from Vdara to the Venetian, stopping at casinos for drinks and penny slots. That was the only gambling we did on the trip.

We had dinner at the phenomenally good DB Brasserie. It had been on our list the whole trip. They put a tomato confit on their caesar salad that I could not stop talking about the whole dinner…I need to learn to make this now. And I also had duck confit, with skin so light and crisp it was almost like a flaky pastry. And then, these mini madeleines. A great size to share after a giant meal, and they were crisp and chewy and light. Perfection.

Oh, that meal. It was a great date night, and a lot of great time hopping around all the hotels.