Mother/Daughter Las Vegas Trip
Yes! You CAN take your Mom to Vegas! And it doesn’t need to involve Fat Tuesday daiquiris, DJ Pauly D, or hangovers. Despite Vegas’ reputation as a hedonistic playground, I promised my Mom I could curate a trip that was fun and mom-approved. Now, I share with you, dear reader, how to plan a fun, food-filled, and slightly glam trip to Las Vegas with your mom (or any travel companion who prefers Cirque to throwing up in the pool).
Things to Do in Las Vegas
O BY Cirque du Soleil
Seeing Cirque du Soleil while in Vegas has to be the most Mom-approved activity ever. I picked O, the water show, because my mom is basically an amphibian — the most graceful swimmer you’ve ever seen. But I still couldn’t have anticipated the sheer scale and talent involved in this show! THIS SHOW IS INSANE. I have seen a LOT of theatre and this was definitely one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life… possibly THE best. I’d go back to Vegas just for this.
Michael Jackson ONE
This one was... INTENSE. The pre-show was fun — they broadcast fake tabloids with candid pics of audience members, but the show itself was loud and chaotic. We were upgraded from the back row to the 10th row (thanks, ushers!), but I almost wished I was still in the back row because I found the show so overwhelming. If you love MJ’s music and don’t mind sensory overload, you might enjoy it!
Bellagio Botanical Gardens
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are always worth a visit! The stunning indoor botanical gardens were done up with an Easter-theme since we visited during Easter (and during Wrestlemania… but no Wrestlemania theme, shockingly). It’s a nice way to spend 30 minutes wandering around in admiration.
Walk the Las Vegas Strip
It’s basically a requirement to walk the strip in Vegas. The daytime is hot, crowded, and depressing, without the entertainment of all the drunk people, but we still had a nice time exploring the various hotels and checking out the random artwork scattered everywhere. Plus the Bellagio Fountains are spectacular at night!
We walked through Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, and the Venetian. I used to think the Venetian, with its indoor/ outdoor canals, was incredible BUT it’s starting to show its age... It was worth the trek though because we met some weird men from Thunder Down Under (or just random shirtless men in cowboy hats) who took pictures with us for a mere $40 tip! Capitalism, baby!
Get Your Makeup Done
We got our makeup done by an absolute pro, Chantal Perry, recommended to me by a friend. She came to our hotel room with a full kit and made my mom feel like a star. Highly recommend hiring her if you want to feel glam without having to leave your room. People kept coming up to us telling us how nice we looked, so she clearly did something right!
Grand Canyon Tour
On both my Mom and I’s travel bucket list was the Grand Canyon and we booked an INCREDIBLE two-day tour of the Grand Canyon, which also stopped at Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Route 66. I highly recommend booking with MaxTour for a fun and super well organized tour of nearby nature attractions to Las Vegas. Dedicated post coming soon.
Spa Time: Bellagio & Vdara
We didn’t end up hitting the spa but both the Bellagio and Vdara spa were recommended to me. This is a great option for anyone who wants a break from the chaos of the Strip.
Where To Eat in Vegas
Lago (Bellagio)
For that classic Vegas dining experience, I knew we had to dine at a restaurant with a view of the Bellagio Fountains. You can pay for a reserved patio table ($150+ minimum order per person), but I opted to RISK IT ALL and request a window table at the 5 PM seating (before our Cirque show). We got lucky and had an incredible fountain view the entire meal!
We ordered the focaccia, cacio e pepe stuffed pasta, and the shrimp tagliatelle. Everything was great, especially the cacio e pepe, but the shrimp tagliatelle was CAPER-FORWARD. You have been warned.
I loved that the waiters were old Italian men so it felt somewhat authentic. I’d definitely eat here again! Reserve a month in advance.
Carbone (Aria)
Home of the infamous spicy vodka rigatoni! I was excited to try it, but it was… just OK. :(
Gorgeous ambiance, great music with Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra playing, and some fun free starters (especially the pickled cauliflower with rosemary). But the tableside Caesar was drenched in dressing and the lobster ravioli had chewy lobster pieces. Also no non-alcoholic drinks available besides soda (a theme in Vegas, LAME). Worth visiting if you want to feel fancy, but come for the vibes and not the food! Reserve a month in advance.
Mon Ami Gabi (Paris)
People rave about this French spot so I reserved it a month in advance. My mom had the scallops (small but rich), and I got the avocado and green bean toast (nice and light with the lemon vinaigrette). Both delicious! Reservations recommended, especially if you want a patio table. Bonus: this restaurant has a Bellagio Fountain view!
Amaya (Cosmopolitan)
What an unexpected gem! We had a super early dinner at Amaya before our show, and it turned out to be one of our favorite meals of the week. It’s a stunning space and the servers were incredibly kind. We ordered chips and salsa, lobster enchiladas, and fish tacos. My Mom said the chips were the best she’s ever had and she also loved her enchiladas and decaf coffee. I was slightly obsessed with the beans that came with my fish tacos. This is definitely worth a visit in the Cosmo.
Wicked Spoon Buffet (Cosmo)
I made reservations in advance for $47 for a 90-minute slot at 10AM so we could sample both breakfast and lunch items. I find buffets to be a waste of money because of my inability to eat much food in one sitting, but the crab legs alone justified the cost. There was no wait, great service, and yes — I had crab legs and coffee for breakfast. Pro tip: use chopsticks to help push out the crab meat (thanks to our waitress for the tip)! The gelato was also excellent.
Quick Bites
Lardo (Cosmopolitan Food Hall) - When we arrived back into Vegas after our jam-packed Grand Canyon tour, we were craving something quick and easy. The “Beeria” grilled cheese at Lardo in the Cosmopolitan Food Hall hit the spot. Perfect if you’re tired, hungry, or hungover.
The Juice Standard (Cosmopolitan) - We stopped here a couple times for protein smoothies. There was rarely a line, unlike the chaos at Eggslut next door. The smoothies are massive (24oz!), the Snickerdoodle is delicious, and the Protein Power tastes earthy (if you’re into that).
Bellagio Patisserie (Bellagio) - We stopped in for gelato and a pastry while wandering between the Bellagio and Vdara. A nice spot for a sweet treat, though TBH the gelato was pretty mid. Fun fact: they are the proud owner of the world’s largest chocolate fountain!
where To Stay In Vegas
If you want a non-smoking, non-casino hotel in Vegas, Vdara Hotel & Spa is a quiet, mom-approved choice. As of 2024, it has a new indoor walkway to The Cosmopolitan and Bellagio, which made it easy to explore without having to walk outside and wither away in the blazing dry heat of Vegas.
We booked a Studio Two Queen room which came with a kitchenette. It had a microwave, stovetop, and coffee maker, but you have to call down for any cooking supplies or utensils. Also PSA: the coffee on the counter that looks like it should be used for the coffee machine is $16!!! So don’t drink it. Or even touch it. It’s on sensors!
The bathroom was massive: double sinks, a soaking tub, and a separate shower. We did request robes but never got them. :(
The pool was very chill, with plenty of available loungers and waiters circling around with food and drinks. Definitely not Vegas party vibes. Other hotel amenities include a small market, a bar, and a Starbucks (highly recommend doing a mobile order cuz those lines were ROUGH!). There’s also a spa and fitness center, though we didn’t visit either.
