Day 2 – June 20, 2019

Our goal for day 2 was simple. Get to Las Vegas. Head north on I-15 and never head south. I’m happy to report: mission accomplished.

Breakfast at the Best Western was really good and really filling. The drive was blissfully uneventful. And the weather in Vegas? Muey caliente.

After a quick bite at the oversized and very busy Las Vegas In-N-Out, we tried to visit the Coca-Cola store near the MGM Grand Hotel. As I whipped the van into the parking structure driveway, Kathy exclaimed, “6 foot 1”. In other words, we ain’t gonna fit. With the storage box on the roof, I figure we are close to 9 feet. With a steady river of pedestrians in front and a line of car behind, we were stuck. The fact that the temperature was a sweltering 106 degrees was not helping.

Thanks to the grace of God, the driveway was just wide enough to slowly make a 7 point U turn. I gunned the van back onto the Strip narrowly avoiding a collision and we crossed the Coca-Cola store off our list.

Our next stop was the Ethel M chocolate factory. We had seen brochures for the self guided tour in the past but had never visited. We were greeted with hands full of various chocolates.

We watched the chocolate making process. It was interesting, but we were disappointed that not a single oompa loompa could be found. But the air conditioning was sublime.

Our final stop was to check in at the Plaza Hotel at the end of the Freemont Street Experience. After relaxing in our room for a couple hours, we decided to venture out.

Now either Kathy and I have gotten more prudish or the level of debauchery has risen significantly in downtown Vegas (probably a bit of both), but I can say all three of us were uncomfortable perusing Freemont Street. Lots of mostly naked men and women, the omnipresent odor of pot, and the over abundance of public intoxication, did not make for the wholesome family outing we were expecting. Poor Ashley asked if she could close her eyes while we guided her back to the hotel.

We finished the evening playing games, taking glorious showers, and turning the lights out at 11.