Summer At The Bellagio Conservatory

By now you know that I love Las Vegas and so many of the free things it offers. It's a great way to spend less on activities, so you can spend more on food (or, more likely, on airfare). One of the things I always get to on any trip to Vegas is the Bellagio Conservatory.

Each season, the magical horticulturalists of the Bellagio create an awe-inspiring tribute to flowers and plants with a different theme. The Bellagio Conservatory is large and bright and totally free. It's open 24-hours a day and any time is a good time to see what has been created from different plants. Often there are fish in the pond and sometimes birds in an aviary, but it's always spectacular.

This trip provided us with a visit to a jungle paradise packed with amazing animals. The vast room was packed full of tropical birds and flowers, lions, zebras, monkeys, giraffes, and so much more. I absolutely loved it.

The name of this gorgeous little boat is Monkey Business

Since it is open 24-hours a day, you can spend as much or as little time there as you want. It's fantastic for kids, it's air conditioned, and there are always the best photo ops to be had there. If you're lucky, you'll get to see a gardener or two watering and/or replacing plants to keep the scenes vibrant and fresh.

Make sure to walk all the way around the space. Sometimes, behind the main focal point is something wonderful. In this case, it was a big lion butt and tail, but even other angles can give you some fantastic views or interesting shots. Sometimes I like to see what everyone else is taking a picture of and try to do something entirely different. And sometimes those popular shots are the best for showing you how amazing the Conservatory is. 

There's also a large picture frame that's awesome for selfies. It always has a themed backdrop. Last time they also added wings so I could pretend to be a fairy.

Want to see something else cool? Go around the corner and see the world's largest chocolate fountain or head into the lobby to see a massive Chihuly on the ceiling. There's also the famous dancing fountains in front, but these are better for beating the heat and you don't have to struggle to see them.

Do you have a favorite attraction in Las Vegas?

The Future of Transportation and Travel

There has been a lot of talk about new travel, like space hotels and flying cars and hyperloop trains, and it looks like many people believe in futuristic travel coming soon. I love seeing this, but I also remember we thought we'd have flying cars by 2022. Let's look at some of the things travelers are expecting:

photo credit

Considering airfare is skyrocketing and I can't even fly across the country for less than $900 right now, what I hope we'll get sooner rather than later is high speed trains. I would rather be able to travel in comfort for cheaper and in less time than having to spend a bunch of money in order to get a decent long-range electric car. I also think it will save a lot more for travelers and the environment. (I'm not saying that electric cars aren't important. We do have one in our household, but it's not our main car, because of the limited range.)

I know a lot of people are interested in space travel, too. I'm not in that group. Personally, I like going outside and doing things and I think space travel seems very monotonous, while also highly unaffordable for most people. 

What kind of future travel and transportation are you looking forward to seeing?

A Bookstore, a coffeeshop, and...Artificial Bird Sanctuary?

We have come back from our (mostly) annual trip from Las Vegas and we found some really cool stuff on this visit. One such place is The Writer's Block, a gorgeous bookstore that also has a coffee shop, because books and coffee just go together. What sets this shop apart from all other bookstores is the decor. It's like stepping into the outside, but better.

I already knew that I wanted to support this unique bookstore before ever setting foot in it. Here's the book I decided was going to be interesting and also small enough to fit in my bag going home. This whole shelf was full of A Short Introduction books of all subjects. 

The outside of the shop is standard and really gives you no indication of what's in store for you inside.

Walking in, you are immediately greeted by this huge birdcage full of literature. One side is the coffee shop, and the other is where you check out with all your fantastical goodies.

Everyone raves about bookstores like The Last Bookstore in LA, but then there are hidden gems like this. I wish more people knew about them, but also don't want them to get too popular and crowded. 

This is one of those places that you can visit over and over and still not see everything. Every inch of the space is packed with amazing stuff. It is touted as an "artificial bird sanctuary" and this was probably the best part to me, because each section has a signature group of birds overhead and smaller versions of those birds that you can "rescue". Those blue tags you see are attached to birds available for rescue for just $8.

Each section is small, but full of gifts, decor, artificial foliage,  books, games, and educational items.

Not sure what to read? That's okay. There are tables full of bestsellers, new books, and staff picks.

My absolute favorite part of Writer's Block are the tiny library-like offices that are so full of wonderful things. This is where employees sit and can offer you help and suggestions. They look like little holiday spots and must be lovely to work in, because you're out of the way, and have your own teeny oasis that you get paid to hang out in.

I took a few videos walking around the store, but I guarantee that you still won't get a sense of just how awesome this shop is. 2 steps in, I already knew I'd be back. It's also on a nice quiet street in Downtown Las Vegas, with free parking in the back, or affordable street parking all around. 

And of course I had to "rescue" a little bird as a take-home souvenir. Their stories are hilarious and you can read Jazmin's autobirdography here. She's pretty full of herself. I can't wait to go back and rescue more. 

At the end of your visit, above the register, you can read the pledge you should take before leaving with your new rescue(s). Eric was very disappointed that they didn't make me recite it when I paid.

What are some of your favorite bookstores, either where you live or from your travels?