Two HOT Spots — Vegas and Cabo

I have a guest author with me in today's post.

The Las Vegas Experience

by Kendra Thornton

Las Vegas - The Family Friendly Way to Fun

After all of the glitz and glamour clears away, Las Vegas has a treasure trove of family friendly sites to see and things to do. The best news is that Las Vegas is very economically doable for the family budget. Las Vegas is a special treat for any. Instead of the same old family vacation, we’re going to give our family a vacation in Las Vegas that is sure to be filled with fun and interesting things to see and do.

Plan a Las Vegas Holiday Vacation

This specific trip for our family was planned well in advanced. To do this, created an itinerary that fills each day with the most unexpected sites Las Vegas offers families. Give the family something interesting! Book a hotel in Las Vegas that provides unique menus as well as other entertainment options. We chose light shows at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Culture and Scenic Beauty in Las Vegas

The picturesque scenery surrounding Las Vegas is a great opportunity to infuse a vacation with views of nature. For instance, at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, children can enjoy the museum as well as hiking the trails in the preserve. Hiking is more fun when the family can take photos of the natural wonders or create memories by making lists of all of the flora and fauna they observe as they hike. Las Vegas is endowed with a culture base of museums, music programs and the renowned Nevada Ballet's rendition of the Nutcracker Suite, a family favorite. These are inexpensive additions to an action-filled Las Vegas holiday vacation.

Las Vegas Overflows with Things to Do

Thanks to a great climate, your family can enjoy a number of fun activities. Lake Mead is a must-see for families. There's plenty of ways to have fun at Lake Mead. Rent a small craft for a sunny afternoon or a houseboat for a truly interesting vacation. Dive into a western mood at a ranch at Red Rock Canyon National Preserve where the family will feel right at home on the trails. There are special child-oriented activities here that add to family fun at reasonable prices.

Don't Miss the Grand Canyon

The nearby Grand Canyon is another one of the activities that fill parents and children with awe and wonder. Families can introduce themselves to the Grand Canyon in all its glory. For children, the Grand Canyon provides an experience they can share with their fellow classmates for Show and Tell. The views at the Grand Canyon are startling and breathtaking. This is a great way for families to commune more closely with nature.

Hotels and Family Fun

Be sure to review the various options available at Las Vegas Hotels. Sites like Gogobot allow you to read these user reviews and get a true feel for where you will be staying. Most families are surprised at the wide range of activities each hotel offers their guests. Las Vegas hotels aren't just for casino lovers. Each hotel in Las Vegas has a signature form of entertainment for guests. Choose those that are most family-oriented.

>> Kendra Thornton is a mother of 3 who lives in Chicago, Illinois. Before being promoted to the full time position of mom, she was the Orbitz Director of Communications where she was able to travel a great deal. Her travels now mostly deal with family, which is her number one priority in everyday life.

Cabo – Land’s End Has it All

by Stuart Gustafson

Los Cabos – Two Great Towns in one Area

When most people think of Los Cabos, the town that generally comes to mind is Cabo San Lucas. But “Los Cabos” literally means “The Cabos,” as in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Whether you’re heading to the tip of Baja California for a week or for a month, there’s plenty to keep you hopping or just plain relaxing.

Getting to Cabo

A few adventurous people, as well as those with a lot of time, might drive the highway out of San Diego, down Federal Highway 1 over 1,000 miles to reach Los Cabos. It’s a pretty trip, but flying into Los Cabos International Airport (airport code: SJD) is how most people get there. Modernization projects continue to improve the airport, and the infrastructure has greatly increased, partly due to the G-20 Conference held there in 2012.

Narrowing your List of Activities

As with any fantastic place to go, you won’t be able to do everything on just one trip. Start with a little research, write down the possibilities, and then shorten the list to only one-half of what you’d really like to do! At the bottom of the list, add “Make plans for Cabo for next year” because you ARE going to want to come back. Plan a variety of activities; in other words, don’t make every one of them a highly active one. Para-sailing and zip-lining are fun, but no trip to Cabo is complete without some beach time!

Satisfy Your Cultural Craving

One of my favorite things to do on Thursday evening is to attend the weekly Art Walk in the San José del Cabo Art District. This compact four-block area has a wide variety of art galleries, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Some of the galleries offer you a glass of wine, and you don’t have to feel pressured because you are amongst hundreds of other “art walkers.” Art Walk takes place from 5 PM to 9 PM Thursday evening from November through June, which is when most tourists are in town.

Water Activities are Abundant

Have you ever wanted to swim with the dolphins? Well, you can do that on your Cabo trip whether you’re in San José del Cabo (Puerto Los Cabos) or in Cabo San Lucas (Dolphin Aquarium at the marina). Whale watching is also a very popular item in February/March and in October/November – you can go out on small boats or on the larger “arty boats” with a couple hundred of your closest friends! Medano Beach is the most popular swimming beach in Cabo San Lucas, and it’s also home to numerous restaurants and bars that are literally on the beach.

Night Life Can Last All Night Long

If you’re young at heart, or if you just want to part with the in crowd, downtown Cabo San Lucas is where you’ll want to spend your evenings. One of the most popular cantinas is Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo, where the legendary rocker makes occasional appearances, both announced and unannounced. Right across the street is the infamous Gigglin Marlin, whose motto is, “If our Food, Drinks and Service aren’t up to your standards, Please lower your standards.” You’ll find people doing all sorts of crazy things to earn a free round of beer for their friends. While you’re downtown, you can also find a Hard Rock Café, El Squid Roe, and dozens of other places where you can eat, drink, and party all night long!

>> Stuart Gustafson is an author, world traveler, speaker, and he has the U.S. Registered Trademark America’s International Travel Expert^®. He’s’ been going to Los Cabos each year for the past 13 years, and he never gets tired of it. Visit his website www.stuartgustafson.com to find out more about him and how to connect with him on social media.