Elvis Presley, 1964

It has to be the greatest song about Las Vegas ever, hasn’t it? What a classic.

And it was this song that was pumping through our veins as we walked up the Graceland Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard in the middle of the night.

We’d already been married just short of 5 years, but we were excited about the prospect of renewing our vows… and of meeting Elvis of course!

The Graceland Wedding Chapel is an unassuming place in Vegas terms. Its exterior is twee with whitewash walls, a little bridge and a pergola for photos. There’s a little courtyard where you can have photos too.

But it’s inside where the magic happens.

In spite of the reception feeling more like a doctor’s surgery than a chapel, the staff were attentive yet relaxed. Everyone was there for a fun time and that’s what this is all about.

Here are our other tips on things to do in Vegas.

While we were waiting for Elvis – of course you wait for Elvis – one of the guys at reception even took us outside for a couple of photos.

Back inside the chapel we were greeted by the man himself. Elvis was looking trim and tall in his superb rhinestoned black onesy. And the man can sing!

He walked Mrs Romance down the aisle to me crooning out Can’t Help Falling In Love as he went.

The ceremony was a great mix of hilarious, romantic, surreal and sentimental, and was worth every minute and every penny spent. If you ever visit Vegas, make sure you do this.

I must admit I wasn’t totally sold on the idea – even up to the point that I pinned the rose through my buttonhole, but it’s actually awesome.

Graceland Wedding Chapel

619 Las Vegas Boulevard

South Las Vegas, NV

Local: (702) 382-0091

Toll-free: (800) 824-5732

W: gracelandchapel.com

Fb: @GracelandChapel

Tw: @GracelandChapel

A few things to know

– After some careful research Mrs Romance found this one to be one of the best value Elvis chapels in town. There are lots of options you can add on to your service.

You can do the drive-through wedding where you hire a Cadillac. You can even have 2 Elvises have an ‘Elvis off’ on your wedding.

We stuck to just the one.

– You’ll need to pay Elvis – as the celebrant – in cash after the ceremony. It acts as a kind of tip but it’s more like his fee. You also pay the photographer his tip here. Just put all the money in the envelope the photographer gives you at the end.

– The Graceland Wedding Chapel has been going for over 50 years now – an incredible feat in Vegas terms.

– The chapel is not on the main Vegas Strip any more. The Strip was moved some time ago, so this is in the old Vegas part of town.

– Because of its location – the chapel’s a couple of doors down from where the show Pawn Stars is filmed – it’s a little dodgy at night. We felt safe enough but if you’re there with three or four mates, that’s even better.

– Some very famous people have got married or visited here over the years. John Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart Dorothea here. Billy Ray Cyrus, Jay Leno, Mariah Carey – they’ve all been guests here too.

– We hung around outside a bit longer taking some more photos just for a bit of fun. They’re fine with this providing it’s not too busy and you’re not in the way.

– We walked on to old Vegas, which probably isn’t advisable (it is a bit dodgy though we did feel safe enough). If you ask reception, I’m sure they’ll call a cab for you.

– Enjoy your time here. It’s brilliant and made for people who don’t want to take things quite as seriously as those who want a big white wedding.

Have you renewed your wedding vows or thought about it? Would you ever elope and have an Elvis wedding? Tell us in the comments!

Images by us using O-MD EM1 Olympus camera or purchased from the Graceland Wedding Chapel.

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Everything you’ve seen in the movies – the road stops, the winding blacktop, the flying yellow line flying down the middle of the road – it’s all true.

And on our recent road trip from San Diego to Las Vegas, we saw it all. If you ever wanted proof that the best way to get a feel of the country is to drive it, this is it.

Here’s a free downloadable doc of our itinerary boiled down for you to use easier.

And here’s an interactive map of where we went to make it a bit clearer:

Our road trip from San Diego, California to Las Vegas, Nevada

Day 1: San Diego – Palm Springs (via Julian for apple pie)

Driving time: 3h 15m

From San Diego it’s a little over an hour to the little town of Julian – home of award winning pies and some very cute houses!

We popped in for a slice of the action (sorry) and were very impressed. If you want to try American apple pie at its best, go to the Julian Pie Company.

We did try the Apple Alley Bakery’s offerings too, but weren’t as impressed. The people were a bit odd (shouting and having a domestic out the back) and the pies weren’t quite as good.

Feeling a bit sick, we plopped ourselves back in the car and carried on to Palm Springs. The road’s a good one, crossing the Santa Rosa – San Jacinto Mountains, and about half an hour out of Palm Springs, there’s some good hairpin driving.

Accommodation: Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs

The Ace is a very cool hotel. Everything here is crafted and styled to within an inch of its life. It used to be a Westward Ho motel with a Denny’s attached. Now it’s a slick, uber-hipster joint with matching restaurant.

Day 2: Palm Springs

We stayed here to explore for the day (plus it bloody well rained) and were pleased we did. There’s an outlet mall about 30 minutes out of town where you can pick up some amazing bargains.

Alternatively, when you’ve seen the town, which shouldn’t take too long, head out into the nearby mountains. There’s a cable car ride you can go on that gives you some amazing views out over the desert.

Accommodation: The Saguaro, Palm Springs

Another hipster hotel, but a little more approachable. Each room is very brightly coloured and has a balcony facing into the pool and resort.

It’s a cool little place and pretty good value.

If you’re looking for something more up-market, you have to stay at the Parker. What an unbelievable hotel that is.

Don’t forget to have a drive around the neighbourhoods before you leave – and check out where Sinatra’s old house at 1148 E. Alejo Road.

Day 3: Palm Springs – Twentynine Palms (via Joshua Tree National Park)

Driving time: 1h direct, longer via Joshua Tree National Park

We didn’t leave much time to explore Joshua Tree National Park so we took the 62 to Alta Olma Drive and the Joshua Tree Visitors’ Center. We chatted to a park ranger, who told us to drive in via the West Entrance Station.

It costs $15 to go into the park. Make sure you buy supplies in Twentynine Palms – the snacks and drinks in the visitor’s centre are ridiculously expensive.

We took what’s known as The North West Loop (though we did it more west north!) with a very worthy detour down to Keys View to check out the San Andreas Fault Line.

Joshua Tree National Park is an incredible, unique habitat, full of these bizarre eponymous trees. There are also magnificent rock features to explore like Skull Rock – and it’s a beautiful drive.

Twentynine Palms is a remote town on the northern border of Joshua Tree, but it’s got plenty going for it in spite of its size.

Accommodation: we stayed in the Best Western Gardens, which was cheap and comfortable. However, we’d recommend staying in the Twentynine Palms Inn on the eastern end of town on Inn Avenue.

Twentynine Palms Inn has the best restaurant and bar in town attached to it.

Other dinner suggestions are: Bistro Twenty-Nine, Edchada’s Mexican, The Rib Co, Rocky’s New York Pizza and Red Lotus Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant.

Day 4: Twentynine Palms, CA – Laughlin, NV (via Route 66, Amboy, Oatman and Bullhead City)

Driving time: 2h 30m direct. Via above locations, it’s a half-day drive.

North of Twentynine Palms, along the Amboy Road, you’ll find saltpans, which are worth stopping for a photo. The Amboy Road ends at a crossroads where it meets Route 66 – also known as the National Trails Highway.

Left is the Amboy Crater – an extinct volcano you can climb.

Route 66 heading east will take you past Amboy itself and Roy’s Motel and Café – a classic Route 66 photo op.

Take Route 66 as far east as you can – it’s not a maintained road any more, so many areas of this fantastic historic road are impassable or closed. Make your way to Needles.

We were planning on spending the night in Needles, but it’s a bit of a sad little town. We did refuel here, which was a mistake. Wait until you get across the Colorado River into Arizona to get petrol. It’s a lot cheaper.

From Needles, we head north on the 95 on the Nevada side of the Colorado River. Then go right on the 153 to Oatman.

Oatman used to be a mining town and produced a lot of gold until the mid-1930s. At its height 10,000 people lived here. Now it’s all but a ghost town, but is popular with tourists.

The donkeys miners used have become feral and roam the streets of this peculiar place. But best of all, it’s here that you can find Route 66 once again.

We headed back south then turned left following 66. It’s called the 10 now, but it’s the best part of the 66, leading you through some great mountain scenery. Going north through Oatman is apparently even better with sharp hairpins steep elevations, but 66 will take you too far east.

For more information on Route 66 from Santa Monica Pier all the way to Chicago, Illinois, check out RoadTripUSA.com

Heading back past Needles, it’s a straight drive along the tri-state border to Bullhead City. We were going to stay here, but realised across the river, in Nevada, the casino town of Laughlin had cheaper accommodation.

Accommodation: Stay in a casino for a great hotel rate. We stayed at the Aquarius Casino Resort and paid the extra $10 for a river view room.

Laughlin itself isn’t the best, but it’s perfect to get you into the Vegas mindset – it’s a bit like Vegas was about 20 years ago! If you’re a non-smoker, you’ll find the casinos all very smoky – the ventilation here isn’t as good as Vegas.

Make sure you check out the Colorado Belle Casino – it’s in the shape of a giant paddle steamer – and the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall for its sheer cheesiness. The Golden Nugget is worth looking at too.

Day 5: Laughlin – Las Vegas

Driving time: 1h 30m

The drive from Laughlin to Vegas is straight forward enough, but its here you’ll see some classic Nevada desert views.

The 95, the 582 then the 592 lead you through the Mojave Desert straight to the famous Las Vegas Strip where your next adventure begins!

Accommodation: We stayed at the Delano – a fantastic hotel that’ll make your time in Vegas so much more memorable. Check out our full review of the beautiful Delano here – an all-suite hotel with no casino attached, which is a rarity in Vegas.

For more to do in Las Vegas, here’s what we’ve covered so far:

Things to do in Las Vegas – helicopter landing tour of the Grand Canyon

Things to do in Las Vegas – the Neon Museum

Where to eat in Las Vegas – miX at the Delano

One of our top 10 burgers was found here too!

Do you have a favourite road trip? Where would you go if you could take a drive anywhere? What’s the longest road trip you’ve been on? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.

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I’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon. Just to stand and stare out over the vast crevasse that stretches for 445km along the Colorado River.

Not only that, but it’s up to 30km wide, over 1800m deep at some points and is almost 2 billion years old.

Two billion. Even the idea of this place is mind-blowing.

So you can imagine my excitement as we made our way down to the lobby of our hotel in Las Vegas for our chauffeur to take us to the airfield.

That’s right, we were going to fly into the Grand Canyon in a helicopter with Maverick Airlines.

Thankfully, Mrs Romance shares my passion for going in helicopters. We take every opportunity to go in them. We love them. As far as things on our bucket list go, flying in a helicopter is one of those recyclable items. We always want to do more.

We arrived at the Maverick Airlines hanger in the Henderson Executive Airport about 25 minutes out of Vegas with the 4 other people in our group and were duly processed.

We then waited for… I actually don’t know what we were waiting for, but eventually we all boarded the helicopter. The ECO-Star EC-130 helicopters Maverick uses are really comfortable and have an amazing safety record, but are not well air-conditioned, so if it’s a hot day, take a fan with you.

The flight itself was amazing. Just incredible. We flew through the desert, out over the rocky terrain of Nevada and Arizona. We saw extinct volcanos, flew over mountain ridges and right along the Colorado River.

We also flew over the Hoover Dam, which I’ve also always wanted to see. That’s an amazing spectacle in itself.

Then we dropped down into the Grand Canyon itself.

As the walls rose up above us and we followed the line of the river below, we got the feeling of how incredibly enormous this place was. It’s truly impressive.

Less impressive is the Grand Canyon Sky Walk you can do if you don’t fancy a helicopter. You have to drive for miles to get there, then you get to stand on a tiny glass platform that sticks out over the edge of the cliff for a minute or two.

You’re not even allowed cameras with you.

From inside the chopper, we watched the ground slowly rise up to meet us as we came in to land. We were at the foot of the canyon, its walls towering over us, dwarfing us.

To our delight, our pilot Tony then produced glasses of champagne and a snack pack for each of us.

I could barely believe I was there. Me. Drinking champagne in the shadow of my helicopter, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with the Colorado River murmuring by at my feet. It just seemed so surreal – somehow outrageous.

Our flight back to the airport included one more stop to refuel. This meant that everyone had a chance to swap and sit in the two front seats next to Tony.

The four seats in the back are still well appointed though, and you don’t miss anything wherever you’re sitting. And as we went, Tony told us about the area and pointed out places of interest.

Back at base, we hopped back on the shuttle and were all driven back to our hotels to enjoy the rest of our day… though most of ours was spent staring at our photos unsure it had all really just happened.

Big ticks on that bucket list all right. Several of them in fact.

Maverick Airlines Helicopter Tours

Book your helicopter-landing tour of the Grand Canyon with Creative Holidays all year round. They’ll organise everything for you and make sure you have the best trip possible.

What things are in your bucket list? Have you ticked anything off your list recently? Do you like helicopters? Tell us in the comments.

Images by Mrs Romance with her Olympus O-MD E-M1, video and music by Mr Romance with Apple products.
We flew as guests of Creative Holidays.

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We’ve both wanted to go to this museum for ages. When Mrs Romance first showed me photos in a magazine of these creepy old decrepit neon signs discarded from old casino walls and motel standards, I was wrapped.

Before we arrived, I anticipated a weird old scrapyard piled high with neglected signs, glass crunching underfoot and maybe a rat or two.

I wasn’t all that surprised when my assumptions were way off the mark, and the place was clean, well managed and ordered, and much more museum-y than scrapyard-y.

What I wasn’t expecting was the amount of love and care and human heart that’s gone into creating this museum.

I know it’s a museum’s job to not only take you back in time and entertain you, but to also preserve what’s left. But the Neon Museum really takes it all a step further – especially for somewhere with a reputation like Vegas.

Even the main building and lobby is built from repurposed classic Vegas memorabilia. The roof and walls are from the historic La Concha Motel. The motel was one of the last examples of ‘50s Googie or ‘atomic’ architecture.

It was saved from demolition and donated to the museum 2005, and moved to its new, current site in ’06.

And that’s what the museum’s all about.

Our guide, Guy, explained how hard it is and how much money it takes to restore even the smallest of signs to its former glory. But everyone who works at the museum is truly committed to maintaining this important part of Vegas’s history.

But why are all the signs there?

Vegas is and always has been one of the great examples of a disposable culture. When a business goes under, people don’t mourn its loss. There’s no quiet time before the next firm starts trading there.

Everything’s ripped out, thrown away and new stuff comes in immediately.

This is how it’s been since the beginning, when the mob first sprinkled their gold dust in the desert and the darling buds of Vegas pushed through the sands.

It’s quite sad to see all these beautiful works of art – and that’s what they are – tossed aside to rust and decay. All hand made, all lovingly created, all symbols of their own epochs on the Las Vegas Strip.

It’s a haunting experience to walk down the little pathways they’ve built between these signs. But at the same time it’s amazing to think of them all when they’d have sparkled and shone over busy casino and shop fronts. The things these signs must have seen…

The Las Vegas Neon Museum

Tours can be booked from 10am – 7pm, 7 days a week. Book your tour through the museum’s website.

770 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas
NV 89101
T: (702) 387-6366

W: neonmuseum.org
Fb: @NeonMuseum
Tw: @NeonMuseum
Ig: @OfficialNeonMuseumLasVegas

The Neon Museum is run mostly on donations and the public coming to visit. You’re only allowed to go in with a guide, who talks you through the collection and its history. Our guide, Guy, was great. So knowledgeable with a really dry sense of humour. Well worth the entrance fee.

In true Vegas style, it’s also known as the ‘Neon Boneyard’, which I think makes it sound much more interesting.

However, we went there with thoughts of just getting a good shot, but what we left with was a lot more than that. We left enlightened – and yes, I meant the pun!

Have you been somewhere that totally changed your perspective on the place you were visiting? Do you think the signs of Vegas have any historic importance or are they just more old tack? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance with our Olympus O-MD E-M1.
It’s important to remember that the Neon Museum does not allow photography for anything other than personal use. We’d like to thank the museum for giving us permission to use our photos on our site to tell you more about the amazing work they do at the museum.

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From the moment we came out of the elevator 64 floors above the streets of Las Vegas, Mrs Romance and I were impressed. Like the Delano hotel* below it, miX restaurant is superbly styled, situated and staffed.

Decadent furnishings, generous service and in the middle of it all, an amazing platform that seems to hover over the room on a curtain of bubbles.

The platform used to be a private dining room but it caused problems with table service. It’s a shame – I’d love to have a dinner party up there.

Mind you down in the main dining area, it all still feels incredibly private. This is a perfect space for both romance and celebration.

But the best of all are the views from miX’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Panoramic vistas across Las Vegas and out into the desert – it’s hard to describe the beauty.

*The Delano is now the W Las Vegas.

Even harder to describe is the food. A delicate balance of the innovation of modern American cuisine and French technique and sumptuousness, the menu’s a tricky pick.

Apart from what Mrs Romance deems to be the best margarita she’s ever had (‘Prickly Pineapple Margarita’ – Herradura silver tequila, Cointreau, pineapple juice, lime juice, jalapeño), here’s what we went for:

Amuse bouche of veal ravioli in mushroom broth with coriander and onion.

Mrs Romance’s entrée – Tuna tartare with peanut satay sauce & crisp veg chips. The texture of tartare perfectly balanced with crunch of finely diced vegetables and a very subtly flavoured satay.

My entrée – Spicy crab salad finished with julienne vegetables and jellied consommé. The saltiness of the consommé tempered the sweetness of the crab perfectly.

Mrs Romance’s main – the miX signature dish of ‘roasted Maine lobster au Curry’. Whole shelled lobster perfectly cooked in a light, sweet, pink curry sauce, coconut shavings and red bell peppers on beautifully soft, tender coconut rice.

My main, which was masculine to the core – Bison au pouvre.

I’ve never eaten bison before but it’s a sweet buttery melting meat. The pepper crust adds a lovely crunch but perhaps a bit more peppery flavour than the meat needs, and the veggies were very tasty but a bit soft. It’s still fantastic dish though.

Our sides were superb but the mixed mushroom fricassee was particularly delicious.

For dessert, Mrs Romance had the Candy Bar – layers of choc, caramel, praline and hazelnut biscuit crumb. Served with lime sorbet that cuts through sweetness of the choc.

In the middle of her dessert, Mrs R was heard to mutter: “Like the most delicious Wonka Bar you’ve ever tasted.” Or something Wonka wished he had invented even.

My profiteroles were a game-changer. I’ve had profiteroles many times before but these… Filled with vanilla and toasted almond slivers, and then your waiter pours a warm chocolate sauce over them for you at the table. The sauce is well balanced with a slight bitterness to counteract the sweet filling.

All in all a completely and utterly awesome meal. And of course, you have to go out onto the terrace for another Prickly Pineapple Margarita or two. miX Lounge is an open-air bar that really makes the most of the view.

Incredible doesn’t even go close to describing it.

miX at Delano

Open: Sun-Thurs – 6pm-10pm, Fri & Sat – 6pm-10.30pm. Bookings essential.
miX Lounge bar is usually open until 5pm-1.30am (2.30am Fri & Sat).

Level 64
3940 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas,
NV 89119

This place is just made for a romantic dinner, but groups will still have a great time. In fact, that might even be better because you’ll get to try everyone else’s dishes as a group!

Have you been to Vegas? Where was your best meal there? Where’s the most romantic meal you’ve ever had? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.
We dined as guests of Creative Holidays – check out their site for amazing travel inspiration across the globe!

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Las Vegas is the world’s biggest grown-up’s playground. But are gimmicks going to be enough for you to get the best out of the most surreal, awesome town you’ll ever visit?

I don’t think so.

No. If you really want to harness the ‘have-it-all’ hallmark of this incredible city, there’s only one place to stay: The Delano*.

*The Delano is no longer in operation. It is now a W hotel.

First off, the Delano is a suite-only hotel. That’s right. The only rooms you can get here are suites. Cool? Damn straight!

Secondly, unlike most Vegas hotels, this one doesn’t have a casino attached to it. This makes the Delano a bit of an oasis of peace away from the madness that Vegas encourages so whole-heartedly.

We really liked that we could spend the day (and/or night) tearing about the streets of Sin City absorbing the energy of the place until we were full. Then we could retreat back to the sanctum of our hotel.

The Delano has really focused on instilling a feeling of tranquility within its walls. As soon as you walk through the doors, you feel your shoulders relax, your mind clear and your pace slow. It’s a wonderful feeling – and really necessary in a place like Vegas… not that there is one like it!

But the Delano’s styling is perfect for chilling out. Its colours are all based on the surrounding desert – from the enormous rug in the entrance, which has an aerial view of the Colorado River woven into it, to the huge pillars of local rock that have been polished on one side until they gleam.

There are carpets made to look like the rippling sands of the desert dunes, walls painted to mirror the hues of the Grand Canyon, and ridiculously chic furniture culminate in an awe-inspiring experience.

It all gives the place a beautiful, organic feeling that is missing from pretty much anywhere else in Las Vegas.

Then there are the rooms. Did I mention they’re all suites? Yeah, I thought so.

Well, when we first walked into our suite, we couldn’t quite believe it. I mean, we were expecting pretty good things – I mean an all-suite hotel on the Vegas Strip – it’s going to be good, isn’t it?

Our expectations were as stunned as we were. I mean, this place bloody rocks.

One of the best things about staying in a suite is not being able to see your bed when you walk in through the door. I don’t know why, but I really like that. On the other hand, I think Mrs Romance likes the fact that she doesn’t have to share a toilet with me!

There was a huge living room with a big TV and comfy sofa. The bedroom also had a big TV and an enormous bed. But best of all a truly gigantic bathroom with a bath big enough for two, a shower you have to experience to believe, two sinks… and of course another TV.

And then there were the views. Because it’s at the southern end of the Strip, and our room faced north, we had views all the way out overlooking the crazy.

Next door, the Luxor’s searchlight beamed from the top of its pyramid into the sky every night like an alien abduction. We could see the Chrysler Building of New York New York and the loony turrets of The Excalibur – even the top of the Eiffel Tower… pretty much the whole of Vegas is at your feet.

For food, the Delano also has it covered, with delicious options at Della’s Kitchen, which is also where our room service dinner came from, and miX at Delano – an amazing restaurant at the top of the hotel. Watch this space for our review of miX. You’ll be salivating from beginning to end.

And if you’re still in need of a bit of pampering, the Bathhouse Spa at the Delano will sort you out. The decadence of the facilities here had us swooning, and it made it pretty hard to head back out into the hustle and bustle on the street.

The Delano – now the W Las Vegas

3940 Las Vegas Blvd
South Las Vegas,
NV 89119
T: 877 632 5400
W: W Las Vegas

If you’re looking for the ultimate Vegas experience, the Delano is definitely the place to go. We were so impressed with everything – the service, the room, the styling the facilities, the ambience – it really made dealing with the insanity Vegas is famous for a pleasure to live in.

Our tips for the Delano:

• Vegas prices vary according to events. Try midweek for lower rates as weekends are busier.
• Sign up for an MLife rewards card.
• When outside the hotel, call the hotel the ‘de-LAH-no’, when in the hotel, call it the ‘DEH-lunno’.
• Book a suite here… oh hang on a minute – you can only book suites here!

What’s the most amazing hotel experience you’ve ever had? What would be the first thing you’d do if you were in Vegas right now? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.

We stayed as guests of Creative Holidays. Check out their website for more Vegas holiday ideas.

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