Day 10 Exploring the Las Vegas Strip: Bright Lights, Rollercoasters and Illusions

Two must-see attractions at the Bellagio that were high on my list: the Bellagio Conservatory and the world-famous Fountains of Bellagio.  Stepping into the hotel lobby, we were immediately swept up in the sheer scale and bustling atmosphere.  However, our first attempt at sightseeing hit a snag.  Instead of the lush floral displays I'd envisioned, the Conservatory was a hive of activity with cranes and cardboard boxes – we'd unfortunately arrived during their seasonal changeover!  Note to self (and to you): always check for planned maintenance!  You can find our more about their seasonal displays here. 

Undeterred, we headed outside, eager to witness the magic of the Bellagio fountains.  We were unsure of the schedule and didn't want to hang around waiting so we decided to postpone our viewing and make sure we returned in the evening for the full spectacle.  Upon checking it's a good job we didn't wait around as the fountain shows only start at 3pm during the week.  You can check here for the full schedule.

With the fountains on our "to-do later" list, our exploration continued as we strolled over to the sleek and stylish Cosmopolitan Hotel. We couldn't resist a peek inside at the breathtaking Chandelier, a multi-story masterpiece of light and design.  A quick caffeine fix at Starbucks fueled our onward journey as we passed by the sleek Aria Hotel and the ultra-high-end boutiques at Crystals.  Let's just say some of those price tags were firmly in the "window shopping only" category for us!

Our next destination was the unmistakable New York-New York Hotel & Casino.  Lunch reservations awaited us here, but the real priority for Charlie was a ride on the Big Apple Coaster.  We figured tackling this before food was the wisest strategy.  We'd been savvy enough to pre-book our tickets and managed to snag a 2-for-1 deal! (Want to know how we did it? Click here for more information.  

Stepping inside the New York New York Hotel was like stepping straight into the vibrant streets of Manhattan.  The boys were instantly captivated by the detailed theming.  We headed straight upstairs towards the arcades where we found the Big Apple Coaster and to our surprise, there was no queue.  Mark and Charlie were strapped in and soaring through the air in no time.  Louie and I didn't have long to wait before they returned, clutching a hilarious souvenir photo capturing their thrill-filled expressions.

The wait had only amplified Louie's excitement, as he'd spotted the bright lights and enticing sounds of the arcade. We loaded up a game card, and the competitive spirit was immediately ignited.  Both boys were determined to outscore Mark, but Louie emerged as the undisputed champion in the Mario Kart racing game – much to his delight!

With appetites well and truly worked up, it was time for our much-anticipated lunch at Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant inside the New York-New York Hotel. Chinese food is a family favourite for us, and Chin Chin absolutely blew us away! The food was incredible – bursting with flavour, beautifully presented, and accompanied by fantastic service and drinks. We all agreed it was probably the best Chinese meal we'd ever had! (Read our full, delicious review here)

After lunch, we continued to explore the New York-New York Hotel and made a sweet stop at the Hershey's Chocolate World before heading across to the iconic Coca-Cola Store.  Here, we indulged in the Around the World drink trays, opting for the double tray offer which included both drinks and floats.  It was great fun trying to guess the different flavours and a reasonably priced and enjoyable activity for us all to share.

Our next adventure took us to the mind-bending Museum of Illusions.  This place was packed with interactive exhibits and endless photo opportunities – an engaging experience for all ages.  We've put together a full review of our visit here.  We all had an absolute blast!

To fill some time before our evening meal, we wandered through the bustling Miracle Mile Shops and stopped at Blondies Sports Bar for a drink.  We'd heard good things, there's every sport that you can think of shown on the many big screens around the bar, but the atmosphere was a little quiet during our visit.  Drinks were OK but very expensive, it would have been much cheaper for us to order a bucket of beers than the 2 pints of lager each that we had.  

Our evening reservation was at the highly anticipated Sugar Factory.  We had been invited to try their influencer menu and had been sent the menu in advance, so our excitement was high.  However, upon arrival, we experienced a bit of a surprise. After a short wait, we were led to the top floor, which was decked out in full St Patrick's Day decorations. It turned out they were hosting an invite-only influencer event that evening to showcase the St Patricks Day Menu and we felt a little under dressed with everybody turning up embracing the theme.  The menu we were presented with was entirely green-themed – a far cry from the one we'd been expecting!

Our initial impressions of the vibrant green menu weren't the best, but we decided to try a variety of dishes to get a good overview.  While the food and drinks looked visually impressive (very green!), the taste unfortunately didn't quite live up to expectations.  We left feeling a little deflated, as it hadn't been the culinary highlight we'd hoped for.  You can read our full, honest review here.  

Thankfully, the magic of the Las Vegas Strip soon lifted our spirits.  As darkness fell, the dazzling lights came alive, transforming the already vibrant street into a breathtaking spectacle.  And finally, we made our way back to the Bellagio and were rewarded with the unforgettable sight of the Fountains of Bellagio in full, illuminated glory.  It was the perfect end to a fun-packed day.

Day 10 in Las Vegas was a whirlwind of iconic landmarks, thrilling experiences, a few unexpected twists and ultimately, unforgettable memories.  By the time our heads hit the pillows, we were well and truly ready for a good night's sleep after another incredible day on our USA road trip.