Las Vegas Trip Recap: Gluten-Free Travel, Hoover Dam, The Strip & A Quick Washington Adventure

 If you’re planning a Las Vegas vacation, especially if you’re traveling gluten-free, love live streaming adventures, or want ideas beyond casinos, our recent trip had a little bit of everything... The Strip, the Hoover Dam, outlet shopping, Twitch IRL streams, and even a quick detour to Washington state.

Here’s everything we learned (including a few travel tips that will save you time and money in Vegas).

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Getting Around Las Vegas: Rental Car Tip Most Travelers Miss

If you’re flying into Harry Reid International Airport, here’s something that surprised us.

Even if you rent a car from companies like Avis or Fox Rent A Car, you don’t pick up the car directly at the airport.

Instead, you have to go to the McCarran Rent‑A‑Car Center, which requires taking a shuttle.

Important tip:
Don’t waste money on an Uber.

There’s a second shuttle that takes you directly to the off-site rental car facilities. It’s free and easy once you know where to go.

This is one of those small Vegas travel hacks that can save you time, confusion, and money right after landing.

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Walking the Las Vegas Strip

No matter how many times you visit, there’s something about walking the Las Vegas Strip that never gets old.

We spent several evenings just wandering, taking in the energy of the city, and stopping to watch one of the best free attractions in Vegas.

The Bellagio Fountain Show

The iconic fountains at Bellagio Las Vegas are just as incredible as everyone says.

The Fountains of Bellagio choreograph water, music, and lights into a performance that somehow feels new every time you watch it. We ended up catching the show multiple times during the trip because it’s one of those experiences that never gets old.

And honestly?
It’s still one of the best free things to do in Las Vegas.

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Twitch IRL Streaming from Vegas

Cameron (known online as CabinetTerror6) even brought the trip to life online.

He did a few IRL streams on Twitch while we were walking the Strip and exploring the city.

If you want to check out the streams or follow future adventures, you can find him here:

👉 https://www.twitch.tv/cabinetterror6

Streaming while walking through Vegas is actually pretty fun, there’s always something happening and chat gets to experience the trip in real time.

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A Day Trip to Hoover Dam

One of our favorite parts of the trip was driving out to the legendary Hoover Dam.

The dam sits right on the border between Nevada and Arizona, and it’s one of those places that’s even more impressive in person.

Cameron also streamed part of this visit on Twitch, letting viewers see the views and scale of the dam in real time.

Even if you’re not a history buff, the Hoover Dam is worth the drive. The views of the Colorado River and surrounding desert landscape are incredible.

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Gluten-Free Travel in Las Vegas

Traveling with Celiac disease can make eating on trips tricky, so we always plan ahead.

We stayed at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa, which made things much easier because our timeshare condo has a full kitchen.

Our first stop after landing?

The grocery store.

Having a kitchen meant:

• I could make gluten-free breakfasts every morning

• We could control ingredients

• We didn’t have to stress about cross-contamination at every meal

For dinner, we usually ate out once a day.

Our most frequent stop was Chipotle Mexican Grill, which is one of the easiest places for gluten-free options when traveling.

But we also found a spot we hadn’t had since living in Washington…

Finding Cafe Rio Again

We were excited to stumble across Cafe Rio Mexican Grill.

If you’ve had Cafe Rio before, you know the house sauce is legendary.

Unfortunately I couldn’t have the taco shell (gluten), but the rest of the meal absolutely delivered. When you’ve been missing a favorite restaurant for years, it’s a pretty great travel surprise.

We also:

• Ate dinner at the resort one night (which was great)

• Pre-planned a gluten-free pizza night using ingredients we picked up at the grocery store

Having that kitchen made the trip so much less stressful.

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Vegas Outlet Shopping: North vs South

If outlet shopping is on your Vegas itinerary, here’s a quick comparison.

Las Vegas North Premium Outlets

• More stores

• Outdoor shopping center

• $5 parking fee

Las Vegas South Premium Outlets

• Fewer stores

• Indoor mall style

• Free parking

Both are good options, it just depends on whether you want more selection or free parking.

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The Las Vegas to LA Bullet Train

Something else we noticed during the trip was the ongoing progress toward the new high-speed rail line connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

The project, known as Brightline West High-Speed Rail, aims to create a 75–90 minute train ride between the two cities.

The goal is to have it completed before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

If it launches on schedule, it could completely change how people travel between these two major destinations.

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Bonus Trip: Snoqualmie Falls in Washington

After Vegas, we made a quick trip up to Washington and took a short hike at Snoqualmie Falls.

Before the hike, we made a quick stop at Snoqualmie Casino. Why not?

The weather was perfect, and the waterfall views were incredible. Cameron also streamed part of this adventure on Twitch so viewers could experience the falls in real time.

It was the perfect peaceful ending to an already amazing trip.

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Need Help Planning Your Own Trip?

If reading about our adventure has you thinking about planning your own getaway—whether it's Las Vegas, Washington, or anywhere else in the world—getting help from a travel professional can make things a lot easier.

Our favorite resource is Olson Travel Group. They specialize in helping travelers plan everything from quick weekend trips to full vacation packages, taking care of the details so you can focus on enjoying the experience.

You can learn more or start planning your next trip here:

👉 OlsonTravelGroup.com

Whether you're planning a Vegas getaway, a national park adventure, or an international vacation, having an expert help coordinate flights, resorts, and experiences can make the entire process smoother.

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Final Thoughts

This trip had a little bit of everything:

✔ Walking the Las Vegas Strip
✔ Watching the Bellagio fountains
✔ Twitch IRL streaming adventures
✔ A scenic drive to the Hoover Dam
✔ Gluten-free travel wins
✔ Outlet shopping tips
✔ A surprise Washington waterfall hike

Sometimes the best trips are the ones that mix big destinations with small unexpected moments.

Vegas always delivers on excitement, but pairing it with places like Snoqualmie Falls made this adventure even more memorable.

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If you’re planning a Las Vegas trip, traveling gluten-free, or enjoy live travel streaming, this city still has plenty of surprises waiting.

And if you’ve been to Vegas recently, I’d love to know:

What’s your favorite thing to do on the Strip?

Want to hear more? 🎰

We had such a blast exploring everything Vegas has to offer. If you want to see our favorite moments (and maybe a few things we missed in the blog!), head over to Travel Wives on YouTube to watch the full trip vlog.

Respectfully Watching: An Ode to the NHL Goalie Warmups

 

Watching a hockey game is great, but if you aren’t in your seat 20 minutes before puck drop, you are missing the best free show in sports: the Goalie Warmup.

As a Navy Veteran and Travel Agency owner, I’ve seen some incredible things around the world, but there is something uniquely "Classy and Trashy" about the ritual of an NHL goalie getting ready for battle.

The "Cheap Seats" Hustle

Let’s be real: we usually choose the cheap seats because it means we can travel to more games! But here is the professional travel agent pro-tip: Your ticket doesn't matter for the first 15 minutes. In almost every NHL arena, you can walk right down to the glass for warmups regardless of where you're sitting. We might be sitting in the "nosebleeds" once the puck drops, but for those 15 minutes of warmups, we are living that "Classy" front-row life. There is nothing like being inches away from the elite athleticism of guys like Dan Vladar, Elvis Merzļikins and Jonas Johansson.

Why the Glass Matters

When you're that close, you aren't just watching; you're feeling the game.

• Dan Vladar (#80, Philadelphia Flyers): Seeing "Darth Vladar" from the glass at Nationwide Arena is a masterclass in efficiency. At 6'5", he’s a massive presence, but his movement is all about power. You can actually feel the ice vibrate when he digs in for a lateral push. He makes the net look tiny just by standing there, but when he moves, he is surprisingly explosive.

• Elvis Merzļikins (#90, Columbus Blue Jackets): Watching Elvis is like watching a gymnastic floor routine. He drops into the full splits with the ease of someone sitting on a sofa. Up close, you can actually hear the pads hit the ice.

• Jonas Johansson (#31, Tampa Bay Lightning): Jonas is a 6'5" wall of Swedish steel. From the glass, you realize just how massive these guys are. His routine is all about precision—post-to-post movements that look as smooth as silk.

The "Tendy" Zen

Goalies are truly a different breed. In a game that moves at lightning speed, they have to be the calmest people in the building. Their warmup isn't just a physical stretch; it’s a sacred ritual of "Zoned-In" Zen. From the specific way they tap their posts to the rhythmic pattern of their glove hand, every movement is designed to block out the noise of the arena. When you watch them, you realize they aren't just looking at the puck, they are tracking its every vibration, syncing their mind and body to become an unbeatable wall before the first whistle even blows.

The View from the Nosebleeds

Once the horn sounds and the "real" ticket holders arrive, we head back up to our "Cheap Seats." Honestly? We love it up there. You get a strategic view of the whole rink, and as a Celiac traveler, I’m usually closer to the best gluten-free stadium snacks anyway!

Whether you’re on the glass or in the last row, take a moment to watch the "Tendy" work. It takes a special kind of courage to suit up in all that gear just to stand in front of a 100 mph puck. They are the ultimate protectors of the ice, proving that sometimes the best offense is a fearless defense.

Keep it Clashy, Friends! 🏒

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💡 Planning a Hockey Road Trip?

Since my husband and I run a travel agency, we know the best spots to catch a game without breaking the bank. If you want to see Elvis or Jonas in person, reach out to us at Olson Travel Group we’ll help you find the best value seats in the league!