Thanksgiving Holiday with the In-Laws

A Holiday Feast: A Las Vegas Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas. This year, Wendy’s parents, Linda and Rick North, joined us for a unique Thanksgiving experience, exploring the culinary delights and festive sights of Las Vegas.

A Culinary Adventure

Instead of making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, we decided to indulge in the city’s diverse dining scene. Our culinary journey began at our beloved local Italian restaurant, Il Chianti. Their spectacular dishes and homey ambiance never fail to impress.

Next, we headed to Mon Ami Gabi for their exquisite Prix Fixe Thanksgiving dinner. The elegant setting and delectable French take on the traditional meal made for a truly memorable meal.

To cap off our foodie adventure, we dined at the renowned Morimoto. The innovative Japanese cuisine and stunning presentation are always superb. Unfortunately, we were too engrossed in savoring the flavors to snap many photos!

Festive Delights

Beyond the culinary experiences, we also took the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the holiday spirit. We visited the enchanting Ethel M Cactus Garden and the always impressive Bellagio Atrium. Both locations were beautifully decorated for the season, creating a magical atmosphere.

I’ve included a PixelFed Album of our outings.

Vacation on Waikiki

Wendy and I took this year’s vacation to Hawaii, opting for Honolulu instead of Maui. We decided to explore some of the local museums during our stay.

Our first stop was the Bishop Museum, which showcases an extraordinary collection of cultural and natural history exhibits. Often regarded as the world’s premier Polynesian anthropological museum, it was founded in 1889 in honor of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a descendant of the Kamehameha dynasty. While it originally housed only Hawaiian and royal artifacts, today the museum honors all of Polynesia, making it a must-see for anyone interested in the cultural fabric of Honolulu.

Next, we visited the ʻIolani Palace, a symbol of a pivotal era in Hawaiian history when King Kalākaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliʻuokalani, ruled the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Palace is rich with memories—both joyous, with grand balls and hula performances, and painful, with the overthrow and imprisonment of Queen Liliʻuokalani. After the fall of the monarchy, ʻIolani Palace served as the Capitol for nearly 80 years before being vacated and restored to its original grandeur in the 1970s.

To keep with the historical theme, we stayed at the Moana Surfrider, one of Waikiki’s iconic resorts. Known as the “First Lady of Waikiki,” this beachfront hotel, which opened in 1901, combines Victorian elegance with a touch of island charm. It’s perhaps most famous for the magnificent banyan tree that graces its beachfront courtyard.