A couple months back, Rob had a conference scheduled in Henderson—just outside Vegas—and I happily tagged along to turn it into a fun little getaway. From delayed flights and airport vibes to hummingbird photo ops and desert walks, our first two days kicked off the trip in the best way—calm, curious, and full of local flavor. While Rob dove into conference mode, I explored, thrifted, and soaked up the sunshine. It was the kind of beginning that eases you right into vacation mode.
Day 0
After church on Sunday, Rob and I packed up and headed to the airport. Some weather out west caused flight delays—including ours—so we ended up leaving about an hour and a half later than planned. We landed in Vegas around 10pm. It was our second time visiting, but our first time flying into the city, and I have to say…the airport definitely had that unmistakable Vegas energy!
We stopped at In & Out Burger for dinner before going to our hotel.
Once we arrived, we checked into the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort—home base for Rob’s upcoming conference—and got settled in for the night. He spent a bit of time getting organized and ready for the sessions ahead.
Day 1
Woke up the next morning to his beautiful view from our room.
I eased into the morning at a relaxed pace, but my stomach was definitely ready to go. I decided to grab breakfast at Jack in a Box, as one of our go-to vacation rules is to try places we don’t have back home, and this fit the bill perfectly. It’s a spot I used to visit now and then growing up, so it felt both nostalgic and convenient.
Pretty grand entrance to the resort where we were staying.
Next stop was Trader Joe’s to get some snacks and breakfast items and something for lunch that day.
Headed out to Wetlands Park and walked around.
One of the sweetest moments during my visit was spotting a pair of hummingbirds fluttering around a vibrant plant. I snapped tons of photos and was thrilled to see a few turned out beautifully—this one’s my favorite. Wish I’d had my zoom lens to capture even more detail!
From there, I went over to a Goodwill. I always enjoy thrifting in bigger cities. I got LA several outfits.
After that I went back to hotel and got ready for dinner. Rob and I walked around the resort before heading out.
Dinner at Luna Rossa was a short drive from our hotel. Nice time visiting with other conference attendees.
This is one of the appetizers we shared:
Antipsto Contadino, which included Roasted and Marinated Eggplant, Zucchini, Bell Peppers, Italian Salami, Parmesan cheese, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Black Olives and Prosciutto
I didn’t take a picture of the salad or steak…
This dessert called Spumoni Bomba (Strawberry, pistachio and chocolate gelato all coated with chocolate) was really good.
While Rob spent his day immersed in conference sessions, I was out soaking up the sights and making my own kind of memories—from scenic walks and thrift store gems to dinner with new faces. Those first couple days in Henderson brought the perfect blend of solo adventure and shared downtime, and they set the tone for a meaningful getaway.
Next trip post will be about my trip to Boulder City, NV.
More photos here>>>>Henderson (Vegas) Trip Day 1
This really does look like a great mix of personal time and time together. Incredible hummingbird photos!
That resort and the views from your room are beautiful! It sounds like you had a lovely day relaxing while he was off at his conference.