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Category Archives: Fun

Tips and Tricks for Wet N Wild Las Vegas

02 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Fun

≈ 2 Comments

Like they didn’t know it was coming? The crowds and response to the new Wet N’ Wild Las Vegas Water Park was met with an overwhelming amount of excitement last weekend. Well, duh. The Las Vegas community has been waiting for something like this to re-open for the last 20 years! People were seriously camping out in the parking lot weeks leading to the soft opening that took place over Memorial Day Weekend. With the Grand Opening to the public actually happening Monday, June 3rd, the operators at Wet N’ Wild Las Vegas are working diligently to help keep crowds at bay by offering some tips and tricks on how to enjoy a fun filled day at the park vs. waiting in lines that wrap around the block.

Be sure to check these out before you finalize your plans. I, personally, won’t be heading there any time soon. I’m pushing it until about end of July/August. If you go, report back and tell us how it went, and if you followed the suggestions below.

The highly anticipated Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas opened Memorial Day weekend for Gold Pass holders and continues to operate for Season Pass and Gold Pass holders through June 2. The park reached capacity on Grand Opening Day, but continued to operate without reaching capacity the remainder of Grand Opening Weekend and throughout the first week. As expected with most new water park openings and particularly in Las Vegas which has been without such a park for so long, visitation is expected to be higher than normal during the first few weeks of operation than typical summer operating days.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas offers the following tips and answers to frequently asked questions for guests who want to visit the park during this time.

1. Visit Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas during the week.
Monday – Thursday attendance tends to be lower than the weekend and is a great way to experience all the thrills and chills of Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas. Guests who can visit during the week are encouraged to do so to avoid potentially longer lines that occur on weekends.

2. Make it an afternoon trip to Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas.
The majority of guests come to Wet ‘n’ Wild when it opens and leave in the middle of the day. Visiting the park in the afternoon and early evening allows you to skip longer lines in the morning while still providing ample time to experience your favorite slides or chill out in the Colorado Cooler lazy river. Consider hitting the snooze button one more time and come to the park a little later in the day.

3. Parking
Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas has two parking lots for guest use. The first is located immediately in front of the park’s main gate. The second is located a short walking distance on the north side of the park. Both lots typically open one hour prior to the park opening. During busier days, the front lot may become full and all vehicles will be directed to our secondary lot. In an effort to be respectful to our neighbors, please park in water park parking lots only.

4. Can we process our Gold Pass and Season Pass at the park?
Guest may process their passes at the front gate ticket windows during park operating hours. During busier days, we may invite all guests to enter the park with the eTicket prior to it being processed in an effort to decrease the amount of wait time. We ask that those guests visit our front gate ticket windows as they exit to process their passes.

5. Can I bring my own floatation device or life jacket?
No external flotation devices are permitted inside the park. Life jackets that have a Coast Guard approval printed on them may be used within the park. The park provides tubes without cost for each attraction that requires a tube to participate. With the arrival of additional tubes this week, personal convenience tubes that can be used on most attractions are available to rent just inside the park’s main gates. Life jackets also are available for guest use free of charge and are located at the entrance to Colorado Cooler (lazy river) and Red Rock Bay (wave pool).

6. Can we bring our own chairs and shade?
The park provides lounge chairs and shade structures throughout the park. However, guests may bring in their own chair and shade structure for use in our grass areas if they are able to be properly secured. At times when winds may be higher than normal, park management may ask for these shade structures to be taken down until the winds subside.

7. How do we rent a cabana?
Soon guests will be able to book cabanas online. Currently guests may call 702-979-1600, email info@wetnwildlasvegas.com , or visit the park’s ticket windows during park operating hours to make a reservation. Reservations are booked on a first-come, first -served bases, and cabana locations are assigned upon arrival and are also first-come, first-served.

For more information, visit www.wetnwildlasvegas.com.

Holsteins Shakes and Buns

29 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Fun

≈ 3 Comments

By George, I found it! I found another hip spot to eat on the Las Vegas Strip with the entourage. It’s a fun-tabulous little gourmet burger spot called Holsteins Shakes and Buns located at the hippest hotel on the Strip, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The restaurant is on the 2nd level, and you know you found it when you make eye contact with the pink and white Holsteins cow, proudly displayed through the main entrance. I am determined to find a selection of cuisine that tempts the palates for everyone in my entourage- even the pickiest eaters. Holsteins Shakes and Buns just made my list!

holsteins_burger

Why I loved Holsteins for a family friendly place

It’s noisy. Be prepared. It’s loud in there. Don’t go with the expectations of having an intimate family meal and conversation. That’s not going to happen. But, if you have little ones who are noisy, they will for sure not bother the other diners. Holsteins also plays great music, fun for the whole family.

They have a Kids Menu. So exciting! Love it when I find places on the Strip that offer Kids Menus. Those places rock. The menu rocks, too. Easy stuff like burgers, hot dogs and grilled cheese served with French Fries, drink and a small sundae.

Holsteins_Kids_Menu

It’s entertaining. Every where you look there’s something to look at. The kids loved the puns created through the artwork on the walls.

holsteins

Good stuff for mom and dad, too. The shakes are pretty much the bomb. Order them with or without alcohol, and they are the soda fountain kind that come with the extras in the aluminum shake cup.

holsteins_shakes

Variety of menu options is key. Every once in awhile I crave a good burger, but generally, it’s not my thing. The menu at Holsteins Shakes and Buns had an array of items to choose from non-burger like, and you can even switch out the patties for a veggie, chicken, salmon, or kobe burger. Holsteins Shakes and Buns is also a fun spot without the little entourage, and great share plates and appetizers, too, like the Buffalo Chicken Dip. Yum!

hoslteins_chick

The kids loved their meals, and even my husband didn’t complain. Reservations are suggested, and because we had some, we were able to walk in and out within an hour on a Tuesday night.

For Las Vegas food aficionados, the one thing I recently discovered about Holsteins Shakes and Buns is that is apart of the Block 16 Restaurant Group. The same group that also boasts of infamous Vegas spots like The Barrymore, LBS Burger Joint, Pink’s Hot Dogs, Public House and Urth Burgers and Natural Foods. Great info to know when looking for great dining off the Strip.

Reserve Your Table at Holsteins Shakes and Buns:

To reserve a table for parties of 12 or less: Call toll free 702.698.7940. To reserve a table forparties of 13 or more: Email us or call 702.866.2159.

Happy Eating!

Express Style

24 Friday May 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Fun

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#lucky, luckymag

When you think of Express, what comes to mind? Teen-agers? Limited Brands? Maybe your wardrobe from college? I know for me, when I was invited to come tour and shop at the newly re-designed concept store at the Fashion Show Mall, I was a bit confused. Why me? I’m a late 30-something with 4 kids; not so sure I would be able to find a style or size to fit this new mama body I’ve been rocking. But, I was delightfully surprised at what learned, saw, tried-on and bought during this fashionably fun event.

Let’s answer some of the above questions:

1. Is Express for teen-agers?

Actually, no. It is designed for both men and women with the 20 to 30 something in mind. The store itself is now located on the 2nd level at the Fashion Show Mall, near the new Macy’s Men store, and it is one of the only concept stores currently open in North America. What was fun about the new Express store at Fashion Show was the eye catching facade drawing attention to the mall passer-bys. A brightly lit store front with a party atmosphere definitely encourages the younger set to pop in. Once inside, the logistics and design of the store makes you realize there is more to it than the Vegas Club scene. I did grab something from the party room, I headed straight back to the more sophisticated casual section, perused through the office contemporary pieces (perfect white pants for ladies who lunch at non-profit events in the summer!), and made my way to the Denim Lab. The Denim Lab is just pure awesome. As a 30-something, I’m always a bit intimidated by all the different styles and functions and looks of what denim has to offer. The new Express stores feature high tech iPads that allow you to browse and discover the look for you, so you know which styles you want to take back with you to the fitting room.

Express_Jay_Broman

VP of Creative, Jay Borman, talks about the tech savvy system to show off the Denim Lab options.

2. Is Express owned by the Limited Brands, Inc. company?

Not anymore. In fact, they have not been apart of the Limited Brands, Inc. family for over 5 years. Express has been pulling away from the parent company and working on creating style all of its own. New York City is the inspiration, and the goal is to get back to its roots of delivering a style and sense of fashion that only a Sidewalk Runway store could bring.

“Getting back to the core of who we are- our design studio is in NYC. That’s where the heart of fashion is, so we feel we need to take that and bring it out to the masses.” – Jay Borman, VP of Creative, Express

After Express went public two years ago, the company now has a great opportunity to really make a name for themselves in the retail world. They want to do it right and make a statement, and so they did by introducing a 15,000 square foot concept store in the heart of fashion, right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip in one of the most demanding retail centers in town, the Fashion Show Mall. In addition to the store at Fashion Show, Express concept stores have been making their way throughout North America, Latin America, the Middle East and onto Europe.

Express Denim Lab

3. Am I going to look like I’m trying to re-live the 90’s with my college wardrobe from Express?

Again. Nope! I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised to find and fit into so many different styles. Cute, sexy, functional, trendy and fun. Express is looking to accomodate an age range in women from 20’s to early 30’s, but I still managed to find a great t-shirt top, sexy boyfriend cropped jeans and a casual day-time dress. The price point is slightly higher than what a college student would be able to afford…$80 for cropped jeans is a tad steep even for me when it’s not designer. Still, it’s obtainable. I could see though how Express is looking to elevate their brand and clientele through image and price. Which totally makes sense for the men’s line. Focusing on a upper 20’s to mid 30’s kind of guy who has recently graduated from college, just getting started in their career and wants an affordable look that is style and quality. I loved the newly released gentleman’s watch collection with a price point of $60-$200. Having been through that period with my husband when we first started dating and his starting a career where he needed to wear a suit and tie very day, I loved that opportunity for guys to look effortlessly cool and professional at the same time.

express_watches

What do you think? Would you shop at Express? And, what do you think about the styles I chose?

express_dress Express_fit express_jeans

This event was sponsored by the Express Stores. I was invited as media to tour and shop the new concept store at Fashion Show Mall. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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