Ashley's Tip

Forget the salad bar, if you want the most bang for your buck, head straight to the proteins. Hotels will distract you by putting all the cheaper, filler foods first, so if you want the ultimate buffet hack, skip the lettuce and carbs and have your steak and seafood first. Don't ever just grab a plate and start loading, always do a pass through to see everything offered before you dig in. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

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Ashley's Tip

I hosted a business dinner at Nicco's, and the guys who ordered the bone-in filet mignon said it was the best steak they'd ever had in their lives. They're all foodies from Manhattan, so I'll be having that next time. Order the Golden Osetra caviar service before dinner and ask for a champagne pairing. The accouterments that come with it are great, but the buttery caviar with salty potato chips is even better. The chips are made in-house, so order an extra helping, they won't last.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

This is one of the only restaurants in Las Vegas that has been awarded more than one Michelin star (even though Michelin doesn't rate Vegas anymore), and that’s partially because of Julian Serrano’s meticulous standards on ingredients, like the Ibérico de Bellota. It's one of the finest jamónes in the world and is an add-on to the prix fixe, so order it. And ask to be seated outside if possilbe, it's like dining with your own private showing of the Bellagio Fountains and is an experience you won't get anywhere else in Vegas. Picasso is still deserving of those Michelin stars and is the perfect place for a milestone celebration.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

Most people don't know this, but the Wynn employs marine biologists to keep their seafood alive and healthy, ensuring it's of the utmost freshness before it hits your plate. So don't be afraid to eat the seafood on this buffet. Forget the salad bar, if you want the most bang for your buck, head straight to the proteins. Hotels will distract you by putting all the cheaper, filler foods first, so if you want the ultimate buffet hack, skip the lettuce and carbs and have your steak and seafood first.

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Ashley's Tip

Durango is changing the game with flawlessly blended indoor/outdoor spaces, and Bel-Aire is no different. There's a retractable glass wall and when it's open, it's the best place to sit to enjoy the view of the sophisticated bar inside and the sparkling pool outside. They also have a billiard table. Typically, you associate playing pool with a dark and grimy bar that smells like a stale ashtray. But not at Bel-Aire. The pool table here matches the light, bright and airy vibe, and at night, is surrounded by sultry mood lighting.

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Ashley's Tip

While this is a trendy place to brunch, it's also kid and dog-friendly (on the patio). And the best part is, they have actual breakfast and lunch menus for kids, not just chicken fingers and fries!

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

This is the only place in Henderson you can get Certified A-5 Kobe Beef so if you're a local with an elevated palate, you're welcome!

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

They have an impressive and whimsical cocktail menu, but the real flex comes from the brains behind the bar. Give the mixologist an idea of your favorite flavor profiles and let them make a one-of-a-kind, off the menu cocktail just for you!

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

With its West Coast vibe, the fresh seafood and avocado-on-everything mentality make it a better lunch spot than dinner. The portions are huge so you’ll want to order the pizzas and salads for the table. And while you're at it, get the salmon poke nachos on crispy wontons, they're one of the best dishes on the menu. When the restaurant is busy (read always), it can get extremely loud, so ask for a table on the terrace or behind the bar seating for something a little more intimate. Skip dessert at the table and stop by the cookie bar on your way out. You'll pay about $5 for a single cookie, but they are huge and made to share.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

Everything is organic and made-from-scratch, even their cocktails. And you don't have to choose one on the menu, the mixologists have no problem whipping up a jalapeño blood orange margarita with mezcal for me. So get creative and ask for what you want.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

The octopus and Peruvian ceviche were my absolute favorite appetizers. The octopus is sourced off the coast of Baja and slowly roasted to a charred and tender perfection. The restaurant is crowded because it’s so popular, which means it can get loud too. If you're looking for an intimate evening where you can talk over dinner, ask to be seated on the patio. Stop in the speakeasy after dinner, but I'll bet you 20 bucks you can't find the door. Just ask someone, it's worth stopping in for a cocktail and enjoying the intimate and much quieter vibe.

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Ashley's Tip

Plan to get there a little bit early and sit at the bar. It's a scene with locals and visitors alike! Begin your dining experience with a comprehensive caviar experience, explore the evolving pasta selections, and of course these are just additions to the main attraction, the steaks! You have to order the caviar service, the presentation is wonderful, whimsical and utterly delicious. If you're a carnivore, order the Chateaubriand for two, it's 16 ounces of succulence and the presentation is dramatic and perfect for your social feeds.

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Ashley's Tip

I could give you a food recommendation, but honestly order anything, it’s all good. What’s truly unexpected is the wine selection. The owner, Bank Atcharawan, is the chef and the sommelier and is known for perfectly pairing old world wines with spicy Thai cuisine. He curated the award-winning wine program everyone raved about at Lotus of Siam and has turned his focus to Riesling, Champagne and Chablis for Lamaii. Ok fine, I'll give you a food rec, order the Gang Pu with spicy crab curry and vermicelli noodles.

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Ashley's Tip

This is a super unassuming restaurant that looks like a hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. But once you step inside, it's elevated from start to finish. Order the Molcajete, it's delivered in a beautiful volcanic rock bowl (a molcajete) and bubbling over with panela cheese, shrimp, steak, chicken, cactus, stuffed peppers and all kinds of other goodies. It's the best rendition of all their protein offerings and is best washed down with a mezcal or tequila cocktail. My favorites are La Llorona and Besame Mucho.

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Ashley's Tip

I feel like this is a secret spot in Henderson. The specials are always excellent, but the pappardelle filetto with its filet mignon tips, cremini mushrooms and marsala wine cream sauce is "close your eyes and tip your head back" good. Their selection of regional Italian wines is excellent, especially for a neighborhood restaurant, so it’s a great place to stop in for a glass of Super Tuscan after a long day at the office. They don't have a kids menu, but they'll make something special for your little ones. All their pastas are fresh and made in house.

Recommends

Ashley's Tip

Order any of the sandwiches on soft, pillowy Challah, they make it in house daily and you can get loafs to go. If your meal doesn't come with the pickle spears and tomatoes, order a side of them. They're homemade and not the over-processed mumbo jumbo you find at the grocery stores. They arguably make the best bagels and homemade cream cheese in Henderson, but most people will order the pastrami and chicken noodle soup (for good reason).

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Ashley's Tip

This is my go-to pizza place in town. It's authentic Neapolitan pizza, which means they're held to a strict standard on how they make the pizzas and they ingredients they use. The entire process is protected by a governing body in Italy, which basically means it's out-of-this-world delicious. The wine selection is on point and on warm days, I sit on the patio and have an Aperol Spritz.

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Ashley's Tip

While classics like Schnitzel & Sausages are front and center, their grand selection of beer compliments almost any meal you choose, to say nothing of their surprisingly delicious vegan/veggie options. The quaint bar in the front before the main dining hall is a great spot to catch a game if you want a non-smoking place to chill. October is a particularly great time to visit as they have some delicious seasonal menu items and an official Oktoberfest beer.

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Ashley's Tip

If you're ever intimidated by cooking your own meal at Korean BBQ, this is the place for you. I'm always afraid of undercooking or overcooking squid, but the staff at Hobak take the guesswork out of it for you because they cook it at your table. And honestly, this is one of the highest quality meats you'll find at a Korean BBQ in Vegas, so let the experts handle it.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

It's not easy finding this quality of live music in a small venue in Vegas, but this is hands down the BEST house band in town. Even if you don't get lucky and see Bruno Mars or the Hooligans, the musicians playing every night are so talented, I'd pay to see them. Plus, the music is still hand-curated by Bruno Mars, so you can't go wrong. Grab a glass of Perrier-Jouët from the bar and soak in the vibes.

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Ashley's Tip

One of the best helicopter tour providers in Las Vegas, Maverick has a swanky terminal on The Strip and promises once-in-a-lifetime experiences and memories. Take a nighttime flight over the glittering Las Vegas Strip or land on the floor of the Grand Canyon for a champagne picnic, this experience is a must-do.

+ 1 Recommend

Ashley's Tip

If you aren't an early-riser, you're probably going to struggle a little. It's a sunrise flight and they pick you up two hours beforehand. But get your butt out of bed, it's definitely worth it! Plan for about 6 hours away from your hotel for your full experience. You'll be in flight for anywhere between 45 minutes to a little longer than an hour depending on weather. This goes without saying but bring your best camera or phone to capture your flight! And be sure to secure it so it doesn't fall out of the basket. With safety being number one, flights could be canceled with the high winds we experience in Vegas! They do their best to forecast in advance.

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Ashley's Tip

Most tours are around five hours, so when you get back to your hotel in the afternoon, do something easy like lay by the pool. They'll pick you up at almost any Strip hotel 30 minutes prior to departure, so you don't have to worry about rideshare or parking.

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Ashley's Tip

Wear a long-sleeve white shirt, even if it's hot. The white reflects the sun and keeps you cooler while protecting you from dirt and gravel that flips up from the riders around you. The last thing you want to do is be in the middle of the desert in the summer, so do this tour if you're here in the cooler months. There are plenty of photo ops, but keep your phone in a backpack instead of your pocket. Good luck finding it if it falls out.

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Ashley's Tip

Fine Company is one of my favorite farm-to-table places for lunch, but most people don't realize it's quietly harboring a powerhouse Strip chef. Chef Roy Ellamar, previously of Harvest at the Bellagio, is the creative genius behind this neighborhood eatery. There are so many fun seasonal events, but my favorite is the outdoor ice skating rink. If you go in early December, it's warm enough to skate in short sleeves. The nearby Las Vegas Ballpark is a fun place to spend a Saturday night during the baseball season. It's equal parts sports and Vegas-style entertainment, so head to the club seats and enjoy a real wine list with celebrity chef-driven menus. The Las Vegas Ballpark hosts special events like neighborhood night-outs, movies on the mound, and my personal favorite, the Savannah Bananas. Snap up those tickets immediately because they tour the country and play to consistently sold-out crowds.

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Ashley's Tip

The Aquavana wave room is scientifically proven to increase strength, remove toxins, and helps increase feelings of well-being and relaxation. But if I'm being honest, it's also just super cool.

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Ashley's Tip

Docents are posted at the one entrance and one exit, plus there are pretty good sightlines. So you know what that means, your kiddos can safely run all their energy out without you having to constantly chase behind them. The upgraded VIP experience just means you get a small poster and a commemorative souvenir cup. Unless you really need another plastic cup, just buy the basic family tickets and call it a day. If you are driving or getting dropped off, use the Crystals valet for the closest entrance.

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Ashley's Tip

Make sure your kiddos are in play clothes and non-slip shoes. There's a fun water table room, and even though they'll be given raincoats to wear over their clothes, they still inevitably splash water everywhere. Let's all agree that the hundreds of children running around are all adorable...but let's also tell the truth and admit they're gross, too. Bring wipes for everyone's hands; they crawl all over the floor, find unknown sticky substances, and spill their snacks. You don't want to keep going back and forth to the restroom. Don't forget your local ID, you get a discount on your tickets.

Recommend

Ashley's Tip

You can get to the Colorado River from Nelson, but much of what you see today is all that's left from a devastating flash flood in the '70s. Be extra careful if you go down to the river during monsoon season (typically July & August), you don’t want to be caught out there in a fast moving storm.

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