Yacht Rock in Vegas – The Docksiders

October 7, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

After a 10 day Vegas trip filled with fun, fun and more fun, my last night was spent at a Yacht Rock concert. As we entered the South Pointe Showroom we were given Captain’s hats and a wrist band that lights up. We found our seats and got ready to rock out.

The theater was packed and enthusiastic, the Docksiders performed non-stop, back to back hits and encouraged the audience to sing along and wave our lighted wristbands (instead of Bic Lighters IYKYK) to several ballads.

Opening number

The Docksiders were exceptional – the three lead singers, keyboard player, saxophonist, drummer and guitarists – all immensely talented and I left feeling totally entertained and energized. We had a chance to do a meet and greet after the show and they were so friendly and engaging. What a way to end my vacation!

Casting Tranquility: Autumn Artistry at Bellagio’s Conservatory

September 28, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Timing is everything as I was able to see both Bellagio’s Summer themed “Paradise: Nature’s Most Beautiful Creations” and the new Autumn display while on the same vacation.

Considered one of Vegas’s top attractions, this is always a must-see when I visit. It is free, full of photo-ops and pure enjoyment of a magical space adjacent to Bellagio’s elegant lobby, which itself features a magnificent Chihuly lighting installation. It’s so worth your time if you find yourself in Vegas…

And more beauty….

“O” at the Bellagio

September 27, 2026September 27, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

In Vegas there are shows that defy description. “O” at Bellagio is one of those shows.

“O” by Cirque du Soleil is a breathtaking aquatics masterpiece and has been thrilling audiences since 1998. On my recent visit I saw this remarkable 90 minute, non-stop breathtaking performance.

Hosted in a custom-built, 1,800-seat theater designed to resemble a 14th-century European opera house, it features a massive 1.5-million-gallon pool where 75+ world-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers, and aerialists perform.

While we were prohibited from filming, we were allowed to take photos (no flash). My photos can’t capture the magic of a live performance but I had to share a few of them.

Bellagio Conservatory- Summer 2026

September 21, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 3 Comments

The Bellagio Conservatory has been a “must see” experience each time I visit Las Vegas. My sister (who lives there) keeps track of the display changes five times a year as there is a dark week each time they change to the next season’s theme and it should not be missed.

Since I arrived on the next to last day of their Summer display we drove to Bellagio straight from the airport. We were back the following evening and after seeing “O” – the long running Cirque du Soleil show, we experienced it after dark – a first night viewing for me which was amazing. The photos that follow are from both visits.

I was still in Vegas when the Autumn display debuted so expect a post from that day soon….

SUMMER DISPLAY – Daytime

SUMMER DISPLAY – Nighttime

Fun amongst the flowers

July 4, 2026July 4, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

Last year I learned of a local u-pick flower farm but between their limited hours and my travel I was unable to visit. I follow them on social media and last night saw they were canceling their Friday event due to weather but rescheduled for today. Tickets were still available so I registered online and showed up this morning at 10:00.

Started during Covid by a wife and husband team (she’s a teacher, he’s a firefighter) this is their passion project. They do special events on their beautiful wooded property and the variety of annual and perennial plants has grown each year.

Owner Jessica took the group on an informative garden walk, identifying blooms ready for picking today, showed how to cut and strip the stems and gave us valuable information on how to make our bouquets last up to two weeks. Then we picked our mason jar, grabbed clippers and walked about the property filling the jar with our fresh picked bouquet.

Once home I began arranging the flowers quickly realizing I could make two bouquets and so I did!

The pickings fresh from Barefoot Blossom Farm

For a $30 ticket this was a lovely way to spend my morning and now that I know where it is I will be a regular at this charming flower farm!

Back to Alaska part eight

May 27, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Our next stop was Skagway and we took one of their most popular excursions, the Skagway White Pass Railroad Summit Excursion

You board the train in Skagway and travel 20 miles from tidewater to the Summit of the White Pass – a 2,865-foot elevation.

Traveling in vintage passenger coaches you retrace the original route to the White Pass summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, and Dead Horse Gulch. We enjoyed viewing mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles, and historic sites along the White Pass Railroad. The railroad cars are each heated with a potbelly stove and we were comfortable.

Back to Alaska part three

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

One of the activities on our first sea day was a wine tasting done by the ship’s Sommelier. Wine was paired perfectly with delicious bites which we enjoyed as he gave us a wealth of information about each wine. Good times!

Back to Alaska part two

May 25, 2026 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

My two week Alaskan cruise embarked from Vancouver, a city I’ve never been to. After a long day of flying across multiple time zones, I had a fabulous meal then crashed out. I wanted to show up for my first day on the Discovery Princess well rested.

Pre-flight at the Delta Sky Lounge in Detroit

And just like that we sailed away at sunset, the first of many sunsets……

Wizard of Oz at The Sphere

December 18, 2025 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

When The Sphere was built in Vegas, it instantly became iconic, visible from many vantage points around the strip and beyond. The exterior is ever-changing and the creativity is remarkable. This trip, we went to see The Wizard of Oz there and it did not disappoint.

There were several special things I knew to expect as the movie began. During the tornado, it became windy with debris flying through the air, all around us. When Dorothy picks an apple from the tree and the tree throws apples back, I knew what would happen next. Lots of apples dropped from above – hundreds? thousands? I’m not sure but I got one! When they fell asleep in the poppy field and the snow started, the air got very cold and “snow” fell over the audience. I’m including a few photos followed by some video clips of what we were experiencing.

If you get to Vegas any time soon, this is so worth your time.