Take a walk with me!

Walk with me down a road of fun with my blog....

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Vacation On A Budget Laughlin Style

Ok everyone... So you want to go on a vacation without a lot of money and you don't know where to go. You want relaxation but you are kinda wanting pizazz of Vegas as well. Do you have kids? No problem!!! I can give you some fun ideas for a kick-back Vegas influences (of-course) vacation with a lot less out of your pocket!

To me, there are actually 3 real main parts to Laughlin. There is main Laughlin, The Avi, and then there is the Arizona side that there is a lot of fun that can be explored.

My suggestion when you first get in town, plan your days, down to your meals, where they will be and how much you will be paying for each. Set a gambling budget and if you have kids, set a budget for them at the kid play areas if you intend to have any alone time....

In the main part of Laughlin, you find the bright lights and big casinos kind of like Vegas with one little twist, the river. The river has boat rides offered up and down at reasonable rates and you can rent sea-doos to ride hourly or even for the day. But don't jump right into renting there, they are pricey! If you go over to the Arizona side to rent the skis, you can rent for 1/3 the price as the Laughlin side leaving you more money to gamble, eat or just plain keep in your pocket for souvenirs.

Then there are some free activities over in Arizona that you can do. There is an Old Ghost Town in Oatman where you can shop, see an wild west show put on by the locals and also pet some burros (wild donkeys), even feed the burros. If you plan on heading out to do this, plan on spending half a day at least out there and bring plenty of snacks and water so you keep hydrated and fed. In the summer, it is extremely hot and easy to overheat quickly!

If you are in the Old Ghost Town and want to head over to The Avi, it's just a quick drive, maybe half an hour to the Avi. Follow the signs! This is an all inclusive hotel, including a beach for the river, a beautiful pool, a nice buffet, a nice casino and a Kid's Quest. You can drop the kid's off at the kid's Quest to play for an hourly rate while you gamble. The price is usually $6-$8 per hour, per child. The Riverside in main Laughlin also has a Kid's Castle which is the same thing.

We stayed at The Avi this summer and a couple weeks later we received a complimentary night stay for our next visit! This will definitely bring us back since we really enjoyed the hotel in the first place!!!

For a family of 4 on a budget doing all the extra activities I described plus rooms, you can do this vacation for 4 or 5 days on a budget of around $700 with the rooms included. Just be careful with your gambling and be creative and remember to pack waters and snacks from home and a travel cooler you can take with you wherever you go.

I hope this helps and you enjoy your vacation in Mini Vegas!!! Remember, a vacation is about relaxing, not stressing! When in doubt, the pool is free, kids love it and naps rejuvenate you!!! :)

Oh and one more thing... If you have any friends or relatives that go to Laughlin like we do, they might have comp rooms they might not need that they could gift you. So check around, I'm sure they wouldn't mind parting with them! ;)

I'd love feedback if anyone has any... Please give me some if you do go and let me know how your trip was and what your budget was....

Thanks and good Luck! Win Big!!!

Friday, August 6, 2010

It is better to Give than to Receive

How many of us were taught this when we were children? I know I was and I try to practice this whenever possible! Do you? What do you think you are teaching your children or nieces and nephews? What would your parents say? You still practice this or ....



It seems like almost everyday when I drive off a freeway off ramp or stop at a turn signal, there is someone standing there holding a sign that says they are homeless, or hungry or some sad story written on a cardboard box. What do I (we) do in this situation? Give them the money because of this learned expression? Well, I have to say that I do most of the time because I was raised that when you give, you shall receive.... And I believe that even if you only have $1 left in your wallet, you still have much more than the supposed homeless person standing or sitting there begging for money.



The question is, are they really homeless or is this their job???? I can't help but wonder sometimes if this is someone who is just trying to make some extra cash, for whatever it is they are in need of, be it even something very bad! What are your thoughts?



Then again, we weren't taught to judge what we "think" they might do with it, but society has shown us that money is not always used to take care of a family's desperate needs like shelter of food. It sometimes is used for the cravings of drugs and alcohol which very well might of put that person in this situation.



In this case, would you then not give them money to survive? Would you judge? I think I would, I would even go as far as to buy the food for them in order for them to get the nourishment, and have!!!



This is just to get you thinking, the next time you see someone on the street asking for money, think more about giving up that dollar, they surely aren't making enough to have the house, the car and the happy life that we take for granted everyday!!!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Why do we get sick?

Why is it that we are feeling fine and then all of a sudden we get run down and then come down with a terrible cold, cough, fever, etc...

When is the cold season? What is the times of year that different things go around? Why is it that we get more colds in the winter than in the summer and why does the flu only come around a certain time of year?

I have a few of these answers but it all just kind of stems from what is happening in the world around us! Like for instance the H1N1.... This started somewhere else during our "flu season" or just a little before it so we were prepared for the flu season and the season to be extra bad because it was going to include this extremely scary virus H1N1!

I have a theory on why we get sick in the winter more than the summer... Could it be because we stay in heated rooms all day long and then emerge into chilly temperatures to go out to dinner, the grocery store, etc. And if this is the case, why doesn't it effect people the other way around? Like durring the summer, we always have air condition going and then we step out into the blazing heat to get into a scorching car to blast the air in on us...

I think the winter is a bigger shock on our bodies though and our bodies work harder to keep us warmer, ultimately making us vulnerable to those pesky viruses waiting to infultrate our bodies and force us to rest!

Since I've left all these questions, here is another one to ponder... Why is it with sore throats that they hurt so much more in the morning and then lessen as the day goes on, well at least a little. And why is it that some people get sore throats and some don't, even though it's the same virus?

What are your thoughts??????????

Monday, August 2, 2010

Raid in the neighborhood

So I guess you can't escape it anywhere you live! I thought we lived in a good neighborhood but the other day, we were in the pool and i heard cars screech up the street and a cop jumps out in the middle of the road screaming to get the F*** out of the car and on the ground! Well, I sprung into action! i got the kids out of the pool and over to the opposite side by a building for shelter because only God knew what was going to happen next! Luckily, it all went smoothly and there was no need for the guns but it was terrifying!

Come to find out that on the next block they were doing a raid. A drug bust the next block over! GREAT!!! This neighborhood is supposed to be a good neighborhood! But then again, I hear that those characters move into this type of a neighborhood so they are not suspected! Well, I guess they met the wrong friends, "undercover cops", took them into their confidence and were BUSTED!!! Woohoo!!!

Thank you to the police officers that put their lives in danger each day to get the bad people off the streets to make it a better place for us and our children, and our grandchildren! We owe you our appreciation at the very least!!!