Vegan LAS VEGAS with a 3 year old?????

[purpleelephant]

I know most of you are from USA and I was hoping for some advice!!
Well here goes!!
My brother has decided to get married in Las Vegas next year and has now gone ahead and booked up!! He has emotionally blackmailed whoops I mean gently persuaded me into going with my daughter Iona who at the time will be nearlly 3 years old!!
I guess you know whats coming!! I have never been out of Europe!! (Ahh bless!!) And when I go away I normally go self catering! there are one or two things that are on my mind.
Have any of you been and how did you get along with food, did most people understand?! Do you have any tips as to what to take along with me?!! My family are a load of meateaters and so me and Iona will be out numbered in the group! And some of my vegan friends have told me some horror stories about Las Vegas!! (or are they just winding me up??!!)
Secondly do you have any recomendations as to what to do with a toddler in Las Vegas?!! I have been reading up and I can see lots of things to do with older kids (Theme parks, musseums etc) but not a lot for the little ones!!
Off course any advice as to any unethical or animal unfriendly places to avoid will also be welcome!!
I'm sorry if I sound really silly but I have never been out of England with Iona!!
Thanks in advance!!

[Erin Pavlina]

My husband and I vacation in Las Vegas frequently, several times a year. I know exactly where you should eat, the only problem is that these are places that your family most likely won't want to go to.

The buffets in Vegas are all over the place, but in general, they are no place for vegans. You'll do much better at restaurants.

There are two raw vegan restaurants in Las Vegas that are not on the strip and are like a 10-20 minute drive away. If you can get away from your family and don't have to have every meal with them, go to these two places. They are the Raw Truth Cafe and the Go Raw Cafe. Look them up in the yellow pages in your room and call for directions.

On the strip and if you are in the hotels, here is my advice:

Rainforest Cafe in the MGM Grand
Pyramid Cafe in the Luxor
Sherwood Forest Cafe in the Excalibur
Kahunaville in Treasure Island
PF Changs (standing alone but on the strip)
The buffet at Harrah's is the most vegan friendly
The regular restaurant in the Rio (great vegan burger!)

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Good luck with all of that. As for what to do with a three year old... we've never taken our toddler there because we like to gamble and wouldn't be able to take her, so I'm probably not going to be too much help there.

The Excalibur has entertainment geared towards kids, as does Circus Circus.

[5xblessed]

I haven't been to Vegas so no help on the food but as for entertainment, I like to find a pool and wear out the little ones. They don't seem to get tired of it and it is great for them to conk out at 7:30. Of course I'd bring crayons, paper, stickers, whatever she likes at the time. And just accept there's bound to be a little whining, hey we all feel like it too, it's just 3 year olds can get away with it. ;-).
Lisa

[vegma]

The one time we took our almost-3-yo (last summer) on an overnight, we made sure we had a hotel room with a small kitchenette - at least a micro and fridge. And we made sure we knew where a natural food store was! I did an Internet search to come up with these two in Las Vegas...

Tenaya Wild Oats Natural Marketplace
7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89128
Hours: Monday-Sunday 7:00a.m.-11:00p.m.
Phone: 702-942-1500

Trader Joe's
Las Vegas
2101 S. Decatur Blvd., at the northwest corner of O'Bannon, one block north of Sahara Ave., behind U. S. Bank.
(702) 367-0227

Good Luck!

[Erin Pavlina]

Oh yes! There's a Wild Oats in Las Vegas and they have a salad bar and deli counter and pizza and such. We had a small meal there last time we were there. Look them up in the yellow pages when you get there.

Also, they were building a Whole Foods which I believe was supposed to be open in July 2003, so that might be there now too.

[VOW]

Pack LOTS of sunscreen and lightweight outfits. It's HOT in Las Vegas, hotter than you've ever been in your entire life. Also get a pair of sunglasses for the little one, and make SURE they protect against UVA AND UVB.

DO plan on paying a visit to Trader Joe's. That store is extremely unique and a lot of fun! It does carry organic meat and dairy products, but you'll enjoy seeing all the fantastic foods that are definitely Vegan-friendly!

If you are interested in Science Fiction, there is an OUTSTANDING "Star Trek-Deep Space Nine" exhibit/tour located at the Las Vegas Hilton.

There is also a very large waterpark located on the Strip, so pack your swimsuits!



~VOW

[bachlva]

Wow - thanks for the tips!! It's been ages since going to Vegas, but if we go, I'll be better prepared now! ;)