What to Do in Las Vegas When It’s Raining

a close up of a flower shop: Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio

Sure, the casinos and shows in Las Vegas are all inside, but if you’re visiting, you probably also hoped to do outdoor things like see the Bellagio water show or lay by the pool. Rainy days might dampen those plans. (Although they are rare: Las Vegas averages 320 days of sunshine and less than five inches of rain a year.)

Luckily, there are plenty of indoor things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling. Here are a few of them.

The Mob Museum

a close up of a street in front of Mob Museum: Dennis K. Johnson/Getty Images © Dennis K. Johnson/Getty Images Dennis K. Johnson/Getty ImagesAlso known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas tells the history of organized crime and law enforcement through interactive exhibits and insights from both police and mobsters. You can sit inside a courtroom to learn about the first Senate inquiry into organized crime or look at the variety of weapons used by gangsters.

The Bellagio Conservatory

This is an indoor option when the water show isn’t working out. The 14,000-square-foot indoor courtyard at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden is filled with flowers and plants that reflect the season. Horticulturalists and designers work on the displays, which change completely with each season and for the Chinese New Year.

Dolphin Yoga at the Mirage

You can start your day with a relaxing yoga class with the dolphins in the underwater viewing area at the Mirage hotel. The class is in a sheltered spot out of the rain. You can also check out the rest of the fitness center and book a session with a personal trainer, or explore the rest of the dolphin habitat.

Mermaid Swims and Shark Reef

Other indoor aquatic activities include the 117,000-gallon aquarium inside the Silverton Casino Hotel. You can look at thousands of tropical fish and catch real life mermaids swimming by. Also check out Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, where you can walk through a 1.3 million-gallon shipwreck with an almost 360-degree view of sharks and fish. You can also visit the Touch Pool, where you can put your hands on sharks, rays and crabs.

High Roller Observation Wheel

a close up of a logo: George Rose/Getty Images © George Rose/Getty Images George Rose/Getty ImagesThe views might be cloudy, but you can still be indoors in the fully-covered pods on this giant ferris wheel. It goes 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip, and takes 30 minutes to complete one revolution. Cabins have special treats, including a Happy Half Hour open bar, yoga classes and wine or chocolate tasting.

Shopping

There are endless options for shopping in Las Vegas, including at The Shops at Crystals, The Forum Shops at Caesars, The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, The Shoppes at The Palazzo, and The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Try Grand Bazaar Shops outside of Bally’s Las Vegas, which is modeled after the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. You can walk under a tiled roof in this two-acre outdoor walking mall with more than 80 boutique retail spaces. Or go to Fashion Show, a nearly 2 million square foot mall with department stores and more than 250 shops and boutiques. The mall also has an elevated runway for fashion shows and events.

Gordon Ramsay’s favorite place to travel is one you’ve never heard of

Pole Position Raceway Indoor Carting

Grown ups and kids over 4 feet tall can take to the track at this go kart racing arena. Show up and join in races that last about 10 minutes, or rent out the entire facility for big groups.

Take a Class

Several of the hotels have classes you can take. Try a cooking class at Jaleo inside Cosmopolitan, where you can learn to make paella or tapas. Or take courses from master chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, hair stylists, makeup artists and DJs at The Wynn. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can learn first hand from Cirque du Soleil performers at Cirque SPARK sessions. In the classes, you can try your hand at Cirque du Soleil arts, working on the equipment next to the acrobats and artists.

Save Some Green With St. Patrick’s Day Deals From Aer Lingus, Norwegian, Las Vegas

Source – ( http://www.forbes.com)

St. Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of St. Patrick, commemorates the Saint who helped bring Christianity to Ireland, and celebrates Irish heritage and culture in general. In the US, St. Paddy’s Day occasions celebrations of all sorts, including parades from New York to Las Vegas, the wearing of the green and a bit of tippling to wash down green bagels or corn beef and cabbage.

Now a pair of airlines are joining this March celebration, offering St.Patrick’s deals that will help you “save the green” when booking a trip to Ireland.

Norwegian Airlines is offering a tempting package to go across the pond for St. Patrick’s Day. The sale, launched this week and ending on March 17^th, will take flyers to Ireland via Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports starting at $99 one-way including tax. The $99 flights to Ireland depart from Stewart International (NY) and T.F. Green International Airport (Providence, RI), each near US Irish-American strongholds NYC and Boston. Flights to Dublin from Hamilton International Airport (Toronto, Canada) start at $199.

The travel period for these sales begins on March 30 and ends on June 23, 2019.

A Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 landing at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport, the Netherlands. Photocredit: NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGETTY

And in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, the flag carrier airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus, has launched some airfare deals for spring. Aer Lingus says that throughout the entire month of March, cross-Atlantic flights to Europe for trips between April and June 15 will start at $499. (Some restrictions apply.)

Flights departing from the New York area, Seattle and elsewhere in the US will provide what Aer Lingus calls “a fun and frugal gateway” to Europe,an cities including Dublin, London, Barcelona and elsewhere.

Aer Lingus also partners with a number of other airlines in terms of frequent flyer loyalty, including Air Canada, KLM, Etihard, United, JetBlue, FlyBe, British Airways and Alaska Airlines.

With these flight deals not starting until the end of March, , what are you options for St. Patrick’s Day in the USA?

In New York’s Hudson Valley, The Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast (voted one of the top 25 bed and breakfasts in the US) is pushing the “luck of the Irish” by offering guests a scratch off lottery ticket from one of many lucky local sellers. The beautiful Valley area may not boast any leprechauns guarding pots of gold, but apparently it’s home to more than 25,000 New York Lottery tickets winners since 2012!

But everyone will walk away a winner after a full Irish breakfast feast on Saturday, including egg, beans, Irish sausage, Irish bacon, tomatoes, black and white pudding and Irish Soda Bread. On Sunday breakfast will incorporate Irish treats and locally-made Irish soda bread. Guests can sample the wares along the nearby Shawangunk Wine Trail or walk a few steps from Caldwell house to the local Irish (naturally) pub. Package cost starts at $185/night; Irish breakfast only available on March 16-17, 2019.

Las Vegas, not necessarily known as a home of Irish culture, is getting into the St. Patrick’s spirit as well with the annual O’Sheas BLOQ Party. The party will take place in the LINQ Promenade area near the giant observation wheel, and will feature the annual parade, food and drink specials at various bars and restaurnants, a weekend-long crawl and live entertainment.

Yes, there will be bagpipers, Irish dancers, and Darby O’Gill, billed as an “Irish drinking band.” As for food, Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar will feature green nachos, green tacos, green burritos and green beer . And at Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen + Bar, the topical menu will include Guy’s “Killer” Corned Beef and Cabbage (8-day brine, cabbage, carrots and buttered potatoes) served with spicy mustard and creamy horseradish sauce for $24.50. Sprinkle Cupcakes will offer green cupcakes and ice cream cones.

And the Linq High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel, will be lit up in shades of emerald as well.

The BLOQ St. Patrick’s Parade in Las Vegas, March 2018.THE LINQ PROMENADE

Trips Led by and for Women, to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Source – ( http://www.nytimes.com )

The number of agencies and tour operators specializing in travel tours for women have grown significantly in recent years. Here are a few special destinations.

What better way to commemorate Women’s History Month, in March, than by taking a trip for women, led by women? As an another motivation to book such a getaway, International Women’s Day falls on March 8.

The popularity of such trips seem to have increased since the #MeToo movement. Annette Youngbauer, a travel agent from Delafield, Wis., who specializes in women’s group tours around the world, said that her sales of these trips have increased 200 percent since #MeToo. “Whether it’s a Caribbean cruise or hiking in Macchu Picchu, these trips are a lot about bonding and sharing each other’s struggles and passions,” she said.

If that sounds good to you, here are four to consider.

Self-improvement in Hawaii

Kelly Lewis, founder of the travel-guide company Go! Girl Guides and the chief executive of Damesly, a boutique travel company, is leading a trip to Honolulu, her hometown, from May 17 to 23.

The theme of the trip is “finding yourself,” and participants will engage in self-identity work through workshops led by a life coach. Other activities include hula-dance classes, lei-making lessons, surfing, paddle boarding, snorkeling and rainforest hikes with picnic lunches ($2,800 a person, with accommodations, some meals and activities included).

A cultural exchange near Calgary

In Canada, Wild Women Expeditions is offering a cultural retreat, from July 8 to 13, at a ranch near Calgary. The trip will introduce participants to the culture of the Cree, the indigenous people of the area, and is led by Tracey Klettl and Brenda Holder, two sisters with Cree heritage.

Guests stay in canvas tents in the forest, and will be taught traditional Cree beliefs and skills including traditional plant medicine and archery ($1,895 Canadian dollars per person, approximately $1,430 U.S., with accommodations, transfers, meals and activities included).

A polar bear expedition cruise in Norway

Organized by Natural World Safaris, the “Women of the Arctic” expedition cruise will sail in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard from Aug. 10 to 20. A naturalist named Kate Humble is leading the trip, with other female naturalists are on-hand as guides.

The World’s First Floating Museum Has Docked In Paris

Fluctuart, a three-story, sustainable, floating building with transparent walls and flexible spaces and entirely dedicated to urban art has docked in Paris, and the art world is in thrall.

To be inaugurated in May, France’s first center for street art and graffiti and the world’s first floating museum will open its doors in the heart of Paris , on the banks of the Seine River at the foot of the Pont des Invalides (the Invalides bridge) facing the Grand Palais.

The museum will be “at the same time a place of creation, experimentation and exchange,” according to the center’s website. “Everything about urban art in its most open definition, from street art to contemporary art and with an offer of cultural events, exhibitions (at least three per year), workshops, a library and a rooftop bar with a direct view on the Grand Palais.”

Free and open all year, the floating art center will bring together street artists from all backgrounds, including young newcomers, historical pioneers and world-famous contemporary masters.

The Invalides Bridge where Fluctuart is docked and preparing to open in May.FLUCTUART

French and international artists from the urban scene will have carte blanche to create works in situ in the entirety of Fluctuart spaces, explained Nicolas Laugero Laserre, artistic director, an expert in urban art and one of the founders of the project.

“Paris is the world’s capital for urban art,” he said. “Here, Shepard Fairey performs his biggest works and Banksy is never far either. The number of artists, projects, auctions and specialized galleries in Paris is truly unique. We believe in the idea of art for all. The quest for an art accessible to all is inscribed in the movement’s DNA, with committed artists who are in tune with their times.”

The first traveling exhibition is dedicated to the work of urban artist Swoon.

Several ‘bateaux-mouche’ under the Invalides Bridge. Photo Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty ImagesGETTY

Fluctuart, winner of the 2017 “”Réinventer la Seine” (Reinvent the Seine), a call by Paris officials for projects aimed an revitalizing the Seine river, was planned by the architecture firm Seine Design and built in less than two years in Dieppe.

It was designed to correspond to the image of the artists that will be shown there: “creative, open to the world, engaged and in its time,” according to the architect Gerard Ronzatti. “Fluctuart is above all a place in perpetual movement that is both artistic and festive, between discoveries and encounters.”

Fluctuart will offer a permanent collection of urban works by major French and international artists, while regularly hosting temporary exhibitions by prestigious names and occasional artists in residence “so that the place becomes the new, unmissable place of urban art.”

Eiffel Tower, Pont des Invalides and Seine River bank in Paris at night seen from Pont Alexandre III. Photo: Getty ImagesGETTY

Drinks, food, concerts and space for trendy parties surrounded by frescos and art works by the greatest artists are planned for the upper terrace with panoramic views. This rooftop, covered by a marquise, will be open all year, adding a new, festive meeting to the banks of the river.

Fluctuart will also offer a brunch service in the middle of the permanent exhibition and a space for children with workshops and childcare services.

The “Reinvent The Seine” plan is launching 40 projects along the banks of the Seine and its canals and includes Rouen, in Normandy, and Le Havre.

Trips Led by and for Women, to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Source : NYTIMES

The number of agencies and tour operators specializing in travel tours for women have grown significantly in recent years. Here are a few special destinations.

A trip to South Africa organized by Roar Africa will feature prominent female conservationists and activists working in the region.CreditCreditRoar Africa

If that sounds good to you, here are four to consider.

Women’s empowerment in South Africa

Deborah Calmeyer, founder of the travel company Roar Africa, has organized a women’s empo werment trip in South Africa from June 11 to 16. Female guides and animal trackers who have broken stereotypes in these traditionally male fields will speak. Conservationists and philanthropists including Christine Schuler Deschryver, the director ofV-Day Congo, an organization that aims to end violence against women and girls, will also attend.

The itinerary starts in the semidesert region of Karoo where travelers will visit the SA College for Tourism, an institute that trains women from at-risk communities for jobs in the hospitality industry. The bulk of the trip will occur at a lodge in the semiarid savanna of the Kalahari, where guests will have the opportunity to see migratory birds and track black rhinos on foot. There will also be visits to ancient archaeological sites with rock carvings created some 380,000 years ago ($15,600 a person, all-inclusive).

Self-improvement in Hawaii

Kelly Lewis, founder of the travel-guide company Go! Girl Guides and the chief executive of Damesly, a boutique travel company, is leading a trip to Honolulu, her hometown, from May 17 to 23.

A cultural exchange near Calgary

Some young women are spending up to $175 for a girls night in

Source : Marketwatch

JOMO, the joy of missing out, can be an expensive pastime

Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Jillian Wilson, 28, uses her “me time” to shop for mundane household items she doesn’t get around to buying during the busy work week. “I get so much satisfaction from staying in, listening to music, enjoying glass of wine, and just spending time with me,” she said.

That doesn’t always come cheap. A recent iteration of her own Girls Night In included spending $40 on wine, browsing Amazon.com, AMZN where she racked up a $100 bill on wine stoppers, chip clips and a space heater. She spent $100 on new shoes at Revolve.com.

Companies are now eyeing the “girls night in” market. “Girls Night In,” an online newsletter withmore than 100,000 subscribers that caters to millennial women ages 25 to 34, has found a sweet spot in the saturated self-care space.

The editorial platform offers readers — who would rather watch Netflix NFLX than hit up a rowdy bar or club — advice for things to do at home. Those pricey hobbies range from cooking and baking to reading and expensive beauty regimes.

It’s a way to make people pay for JOMO, the joy of missing out, not to be confused with the opposite, anxiety-inducing acronym FOMO, the fear of missing out, which can be made worse by scrolling through your Instagram FB feed.

Girls Night In founder Alisha Ramos. (Courtesy of GNI/Alisha Ramos).

Girls Night In relies heavily on brand partnerships with advertisers like Netflix, custom furniture company Burrow and fashion brand Everlane. The self-care industry alone in the U.S. is worth approximately $11 billion. And the wellness market grew 6.4% from $3.72 billion in 2015 to $4.22 billion in 2017, according to the most recent statistics from the Global Wellness Institute.

Girls Night In founder Alisha Ramos shared her own suggestions for a lavish Girls Night In: A scented candle ($38), toner ($6.59), clay mask ($12), face wash ($9), Netflix ($15.99), a recipe for shrimp stir-fry a la Bon Appétit magazine ($16), wine ($34), Saint Germain ($33) and Prosecco ($10). Total: Just shy of $175.

Although staying in on a Saturday night may seem cheaper than going out, businesses like Girls Night In, which arrives in subscribers’ inboxes every Friday, have found a way to get consumers to shell out in the name of laying low.

Take luxury candle subscription box service Wickbox ($26.95 a month), which delivers a high-end candle tailored to a subscriber’s specific scent preferences. MiniBar, an app that delivers wine, liquor or beer in 30 minutes, makes it easy for those looking to imbibe in their pajamas, or host a dinner party at home.

Hygge Box (starting at $25 a month), another subscription company, capitalizes on the Danish and Norwegian word for coziness and comfort while promoting wellness through monthly boxes filled with items like organic teas and cocoa, cookies, bath accessories and home decor.

The trend of staying at home isn’t just for ladies’ nights. Companies like BirchboxMan (starting at $20 per month), a grooming kit that ships men’s skin-care products, promotes similar self-care rituals. Loot Crate (starting at $14.99) sends subscribers new video games and related merchandise like T-shirts and collectibles.

The “Girls Night In” newsletter recommends products that the company’s staffers have tried themselves and it receives a commission for any items that are purchased through affiliate links.

Founder Alisha Ramos, 29, told MarketWatch that she wanted to not feel guilty about staying home on a weekend. “Yes, you do save money, but for me, as an introvert, it’s a great way to nurture my relationships with friends rather than being in a loud club atmosphere,” she said.

The D.C.-based platform launched in February 2017, Ramos said, with a few hundred subscribers and a simple mission: Helping women navigate how to take care of themselves without spending a ton of money between work and personal obligations.

They’ve since grown their Instagram account to more than 63,000 followers. Last week, Girls Night In announced it raised $500,000 from SV Angel, Third Kind Capital, and Combine VC.

GNI plans to use the new funding to host live events — arguably a strategically delicate task given that the company is focused on celebrating (and selling products to) women who want to stay home. The money will allow the company to build out the newsletter’s “holistic wellness category” to include mental health content, Ramos said.

The newsletter typically includes an interview with a high profile author, entrepreneur, activist or celebrity. Previous interviewees include Celeste Ng, author of “Little Fires Everywhere,” and Sophia Amoruso, founder of fashion retailer Nasty Gal UK:BOO

Similar to Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP website, the weekly online newsletter also promotes eccentric trends, like “cacti are the new succulents,” plus tips on how to get more organized, skin-care routines, binge-worthy series to stream and cooking hacks.

Some 39% of adults in the U.S. reporting they feel more anxious than they did a year ago, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Mental health experts and fitness instructors recommend yoga, free meditation and even sleep apps to help create more work-life balance.

Chinese Women Hold Up Most of the Travel Industry

Women are a growing majority of China’s domestic and outbound travel markets, according to online travel agencies Ctrip and Lvmama. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese women don’t just hold up half the sky, they’re holding up entire industries. A growing proportion of travel consumers and decision-makers in China are now women. And social media is playing a pivotal role in their travel decisions, with short video platforms like Douyin and vlogs expanding their influence in the lucrative sector.

China’s most popular online travel agency, Ctrip.com International, released a report just ahead of International Women’s Day (Friday, March 8th), stating that women travel more than their male counterparts, while also spending more as well. This data is backed up by the family travel site Lvmama’s report showing that women make up 60 percent of all bookings on the platform. Lvmama added that women do a great deal more research on destinations than men. Li Qiuqi, head of brand development at Lvmama, said in an interview with the Chinese travel media Pinchain that women focus more on quality when booking tours and experiences. Li added that they are more willing to pay more for travel products that viewed as higher quality.

Flying Tips for Wheelchair Users, From Wheelchair Users

Source : Forbes

Air travel can cause a great deal of apprehension for both seasoned and novice travelers. If you’re taking that flight with a wheelchair — that’s an added level of stress.

People often say that traveling is all about the journey and not the destination, but for wheelchair users, navigating air travel is often more of an adventure than they would like.

Rolling through large crowded airports, hauling luggage, waiting in long lines, receiving a pat down, being strapped into a tiny aisle chair and then sitting for hours unable to move is exhausting. We’ve learned that the best way to circumvent some of the inevitable issues is to know what to expect, and prepare accordingly.

What to remember before you book

Before clicking the purchase button, even seasoned travelers should review the airline’s policies regarding passengers with disabilities. John Morris, a triple amputee who has flown more than 850,000 miles in the past five years, writes about accessibility for his website WheelchairTravel. He discovered, after reading AirAsia’s website, that he cannot fly with the airline because his battery-operated wheelchair weighs more than the airline allows.

When choosing a seat, Mr. Morris prefers a window to avoid being crawled over by other passengers. Other travelers, particularly those who cannot transfer from a wheelchair to their seat independently, may prefer the aisle seat. The roomier bulkhead seating might be an option for some, just be aware the armrests do not raise.

Also, keep in mind that wheelchair users exit the aircraft last. The deplaning process can easily take 25 minutes or more, so when booking a connecting flight, always allow ample time. Mr. Morris recommends a minimum of 90 minutes. Considering that quick layover might be your only opportunity to visit a restroom, those extra few minutes are precious.

After booking your flight, contact the airline at least 48 hours in advance of departure and let them know you will need special assistance. If you must change airlines, which can be common on international flights, be sure to notify them, too.

Avoid wheelchair damage

“The way the airlines treat our equipment causes some wheelchair users to not travel at all, and that breaks my heart,” said Sylvia Longmire, a former U.S. Air Force officer who travels the world solo on her small power wheelchair. Ms. Longmire also writes Spin the Globe, an accessible travel website.

You can help prevent wheelchair damage by attaching written instructions explaining how to operate your chair, as well as how it folds and tilts. Before turning a wheelchair over to airport personnel, take off any removable parts such as the seat cushion, removable wheels and footrests. These items may be carried on the plane and do not count as baggage.

For your own baggage, carry as little luggage as possible. The airline’s curbside baggage check can be helpful if available, or consider purchasing a rolling suitcase designed to attach to a wheelchair.

Finally, always carefully inspect your wheelchair for damage when it’s returned to you and immediately notify the airline if there is a problem. Document any damage you find with photos that you can send to the airline, as well to file a compensation claim.