girls trip- memorial day weekend

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer and Las Vegas is a great place to celebrate the occasion. This year, my friends and I decided to turn this into a girls trip and we had a blast! Though the weather was not as perfect as we expected it to be, we still were able to spend some time outside soaking up some of the desert rays. Here are our picks for the best events for celebrating Memorial Day weekend in Downtown Vegas and some tips to ensure your Memorial Day experience is enjoyable and safe.
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Food

Some people come to Las Vegas to gamble. Some come to party. And some come here to eat..... and by some I mean me :)

There are so many choices that it can be hard to decide where to eat. We put together a few suggestions for you for a variety of budgets. If you’re a foodie and you’re in Vegas for a weekend vacation, these are the spots we think you should definitely check out. 

Brunch- Wicked Spoon 

If you've been to Las Vegas before then you know that brunch buffets can either be really well done or really awful. I've stayed at the Cosmopolitan before, which is where Wicked Spoon is located, so I really didn't expect nothing too spectacular but I was so wrong. This is probably the most glamorous buffet I've ever had. At first glance the buffet includes standard charcuterie with stations for meats, cheeses, fruits, salads, and cereal.

Brunch was only $31 and you have the option to add bottomless beverages for an additional $17 (includes mimosas, champagne, Bloody Mary's, house red or white wine, and Bud Light). My type of budget! 

The buffet looks pretty standard with stations for meats, cheeses, fruits, salads, and cereal and if you're in the mood for non-breakfast and brunch items, you’re in luck. However, the taste is far from basic- everything I had was DELICIOUS. Their diverse options for brunch also includes sushi, Thai, pizza, pasta, shrimp, mac & cheese, and so much more. I was also very pleased with how organized and clean Wicked Spoon was- that's something you rarely see at buffets. 

I literally tried everything LOL which included fried chicken, jerk chicken, mac & cheese, chicken carbonara, pesto pasta, mashed potatoes, shrimp tempura sushi, waffles, pancakes, need I say more?

Wicked Spoon definitely has something for just about everyone regardless of your dietary restrictions or personal preferences. We suggest scanning all of the stations before grabbing a plate and filling up because I guarantee there will be something you missed and will want to add on.

Lunch- Slater 50/50

Slaters 50/50 wasn't exactly on the way to anywhere BUT I convinced the girls to take break from the strip to go exploring and I'm happy we did. First and foremost, Slater's 50/50 has an extensive beer menu with 50 beers on tap!! I am a huge beer fan so when I walked in and saw the beer display then turned to the right to see every beer I've ever had on tap, I fell in love! We got to taste their best and I can honestly admit that Andy, restaurant manager, pretty much changed my mind on stouts! 

The atmosphere was vey chill and laid back with plenty of space to be seated. They even have games up from for the kiddies....or adults lol...to play while you're waiting.

First was the appetizers: bacon mac & cheese, onion rings, and loaded ballpark fries - which we don't have pictures of because they were THAT good! 

Then came the beer tasting. Andy gave us the best of the best that they had on tap- even my friends ,who are not beer drinkers, enjoyed ever sip. My favorite was the Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout! It taste just like peanut butter!

Now for the 24K Gold Burger! Their most popular dish and I clearly see why. I was a bit skeptical of tasting the gold on the bun and bacon but there you couldn't tell the difference. The burger was juicy and flavorful every single bite. I was satisfied! One of my friends also got the 24K Gold burger while our other friend went the healthier route with a turkey burger and sweet potato fries- DELICIOUS!

Last but not least, as if we did not eat enough, they brought out the Happy Birthday Shake- funfetti shake, vanilla and Jolly Rancher crust, topped with sprinkles, Twinkies and a cupcake, brought out with sparklers. SO CUTE! We were so full by the time the dessert arrived but I will say it was just as good eating it late at night in our room after going out! 

Moral of the story, come prepared to eat and drink yourself into a coma! So glad we stepped off the strip and enjoyed our day at Slater's with Andy and Fredie! Thank you guys so much!

Minus5° Ice Experience

By far my favorite experiences in Vegas! 

**WARNING** I you choose to come here, WEAR PANTS AND CLOSED TOE SHOES. I know, common sense right? Wrong! Lol. After being out all morning, we completely forgot to dress for this experience and while it wasn't a huge issue, we definitely didn't stay as long as we would have liked because our toes were F-R-O-Z-E-N 

We went to the one at the Venetian- located upstairs from the Casino. Not going to lie, when you walk in it looks like a regular bar with an Arctic twist to the decor. However, once we put on our fur coat and gloves and were directed into the ice bar I was AMAZED. The walls, floor to ceiling and chandelier is made of ice! Everything is literally made of ice! From the seats, tables, and bar to the glasses is made from 100% frozen water. I know you're probably like, duh Ashley its and "Ice Bar" but you just have to have seen it to understand lol. 

I had an old fashioned- be warned it was super strong! My friends had the Spicy Pineapple Punch and it was just as good! I will say, take it easy on the drinks. I'm guessing because it was super cold inside the alcohol doesn't hit your blood but once we stepped outside and warmed it... let's just say we were VERY warm :)  

Nonetheless, this was super cool!- Literally. Thank you so much to Kurt and Brandy for inviting us out! We had a blast. This is the perfect experience for your next Vegas Girls Trip! Can't wait to com back to visit. 

**Fun fact: There is more than one location on the strip and this group of mimosa filled chicks went to the wrong one but everyone was super accommodating and got us to the right reservation! 

FAST life

Last but certainly not least, the parties :) Because after all, who doesn't go to Vegas for the parties! Now I didn't do too much reviewing or picture taking- that's what happens when you're having too much fun LOL. but here is my list of must go day parties and nightclubs while you're in Vegas- Especially for Memorial Day Weekend.

Pool parties

• Daylight Beach Club: Located at Mandalay Bay and is inspired by the sophisticated scene in Ibiza. The space has multiple pools and plenty of daybeds, cabanas and chaises for relaxation and pampering. 
• Drais Beachclub- If you love to be in the water AND party with the most popular rappers/ R&B artists (and occasional EDM DJs) Drai's is the place! You can always count on a crowd and a good time here. 
• Wet Republic- Combines the best elements of Vegas nightlife with supreme poolside amenities to create the ultimate daylife experience. Wet Republic has a variety of experiences for its guests, whether they want to chill over cocktails in the poolside lounge, relax in exclusive VIP bungalows, or bask in the party scene on the main pool deck or cabanas.
  

Nightclubs 

•  1 OAK Nightclub: Located at the Mirage and embodies chic, world-class service and the ultimate in after-dark innovation combined with the excitement and sophistication of a New York City style night out. There are are two separate rooms which each contain their own full-service bar and DJ booth.
• Marquee Nightclub: This probably one of the most popular club in Vegas so be prepared to deal with a lot of other people who really want to have a good time. If you are into a big party in Las Vegas with a lot of people you will love Marquee Nightclub.

& there you have it! A little glimpse into our Girls Trip to Vegas for Memorial Day Weekend. Overall, we had such a great time and enjoyed all that Vegas had to offer. I couldn't review every single thing we did or else I'd be writing for weeks LOL 

Moral of the story, bring your girls to Vegas & eat, drink, and party! There's so much to do and so many places to go for whatever mood you're in!

Chao for now!

XoXo,

Ashley <3