Middle Stage Made Fun in Vegas!

Contributed by Kristin Stoneman, The Hive Overland Park

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Middle Stage is a Great Time to Check Out “What’s Happening” in Las Vegas!

Las Vegas has evolved in the last 10 years just like you and I! Gone are the cheap buffets, free drinks and smokey casinos and in are 5-star restaurants and star-studded residencies. If you haven’t been to Las Vegas in a few years or have never been at all then you are in for a surprise because what the city has to offer for a quick weekend getaway is fantastic! Vegas is the perfect destination for Middle Stage Made Fun!

I have been traveling to Las Vegas regularly for over 20 years on memorable trips with my husband, friends and family. Seeing Celine Dion at the Coliseum at Ceasars Palace with my mom and sisters and celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday were a few of the trips with great memories.

My husband and I have explored Las Vegas through the years and have watched it “age” gracefully just like us. (Just to clarify we always skipped the party clubs and bottle service and chose getting to bed at a reasonable hour and then hitting the casino or strip with our walking shoes on bright and early instead.) 

We did occasionally hit a late-night buffet back in the early days and celebrated a fantastic New Year’s Eve with several couples. Spilling into the streets from the hotels and casinos might be the closest thing we’ll experience to being in Times Square. Las Vegas at New Years is pure fun!

Here are tips to think about as you plan a Las Vegas adventure and explore Sin City in your Middle Stage.

Dress for Comfort - Bring your best walking shoes- especially for the daytime. It might be fun to dress up for a show or nice restaurant, but you can skip the cocktail dresses and high heels because Las Vegas (LV) has gone casual.

Gambling is Secondary - No need to be a gambler to enjoy Las Vegas but if you do, there are unending games and sports books to entertain everyone. The smokey casinos are gone but so are the “free drinks” while you play so be prepared to pay if you like to indulge. Most everything is electronic now and there’s no nostalgic coin cups for the slot machines. They do still take your bills. Just realize you can easily drop $20 in a two-minute game of Wheel of Fortune and not even get a spin! I’d prefer to spend my money on shopping or even better, on a nice meal or show.   High-end shopping is plentiful if you are into designer brands. Vegas has so many designers to choose from – Think Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace.

Plan your Transportation - You can easily navigate Las Vegas with no car. Ubers are affordable, convenient and most are modern and super clean with friendly drivers. LV doesn’t offer much in the way of public transportation, but they do have a monorail that runs along the strip. It is affordable, fast and saves you a few steps.  

Enjoy the Pools and Spas - If gambling and shopping aren't your things, then spending a little time poolside is another fun alternative.  Many hotels offer some incredible pools with cabanas, wait staff, etc. – just watch the weather. Vegas in the summertime can be unbearably hot but you can still enjoy pools in early spring and into late fall.  I’d also recommend a treatment at one of the hotel spas! They often amplify your spa treatment with before and after experiences such as relaxation rooms, dipping pools, saunas, and more. Call ahead for a reservation as they quickly book up and we all need a little "me-time".  Two spas I’d highly recommend are Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian and The Spa at Trump International Hotel.

Experience Live Music and Entertainment - Beyond people watching in Vegas, you can’t go wrong in seeing one of the many Cirque Du Soleil shows.  My favorite is one of their longest running shows Mystere but all Cirque shows have incredible performers with live music.

Artist residencies have emerged as what Vegas is known for in the last 10 years, with a growing number of performers having short-run and long-standing shows. Many performance theaters have also popped up and offer a variety of seating capacities and arrangements allowing fans to experience a show with one of their favorite artists in a new way!  The Coliseum at Caesar’s Palace (with Adele currently in residency there – she’s on my bucket list) and the venues at Resorts World, Planet Hollywood, and Park Place MGM each host incredible shows.  

The Sphere that opened in late 2023 with U2 in residency, is the newest performance venue and has quickly become one of the notable Las Vegas visual icons. The venue, with a capacity of up to 20,000, stays lit 24/7 with very entertaining digital graphics that play. Thousands of U2 fans from around the globe, including myself and friends, flocked to see one of our favorite bands at this incredible venue with sound and visuals you must experience to believe.

For someone in the middle stage, this is a good venue as most people stay seated because it is quite steep in the upper levels. We experienced U2 twice there and when we went a second time we decided to try out the floor seat experience. For U2, these were standing only but we old timers sat down until the show started and had the best experience. On this second trip to see U2 we also decided to see Barry Manilow and what a delight to sing along to all his great hits. Note – You are NEVER too old to enjoy your favorite band.

Here is a great site to check out current and upcoming Las Vegas residencies – book your tickets first – plan your trip around it! Just do it.

Free Experiences + Excursions worth paying for! Vegas does have many free things to experience including the fountains at the Bellagio, which is a must see- don’t forget to step inside and check out their Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – also free. Old downtown Las Vegas or Freemont Street is worth a visit with cheaper food and drink plus great people watching. You don't want to miss a gondola ride at the Venetian, the roller coaster at New York New York, or the observation deck at the Stratosphere – They are not free but are all affordable.  One more experience I would highly recommend is a ride on the Higher Roller Ferris Wheel which gets you up above the LV skyline and is quiet and peaceful.

There are also many excursions I’ve experienced just outside of LV that are worth the money. A bus trip to Hoover Dam was really cool but by far, my best adventure in Las Vegas was a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon with lunch there! What a thrill to fly over the strip and out of the City - all in the comfort of a beautiful chopper with a great pilot and music piped in headphones the entire way.  That excursion hurt the wallet but was worth every penny.

Food - Finally, if you love food you’ll love LV.   With 5-star restaurants in many of the hotels along with bars, cafes, and marketplaces (think food courts everywhere) mixed throughout, there is a broad selection of food options to choose from. Everything is quite expensive so don’t be shy and like us, you can opt for the famous In-N-Out Burger joints for an affordable but satisfying burger, fry and shake option. Carver’s Steakhouse at Resorts World and Buddy V’s Restaurant at the Venetian are two winners I would recommend. For all nice restaurants, remember to book on-line using Open Table or call for reservations.

Whether a first-timer or a regular visitor to Las Vegas, I believe Sin City will continue to offer a variety of experiences to visitors in the middle-stage of life and beyond. You’re never too old for Vegas and sometimes a weekend in Vegas is just what we need!