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Cats, Cats, & Dolphins…Oh My

Apparently the Secret Garden at the Mirage in Las Vegas is not really a Secret. After all, people were there. But it is in a garden setting.

This garden just happens to have several dolphin pools. Swimming close to mom this baby dolphin was only 13 days old. Maybe that’s what makes it a Secret. He doesn’t have a name yet.

The garden also has cats…lots of cats. Of course, they happen to be lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers. Five baby tigers, 5 months old, hid and played much like tame kittens. See how they disappeared in the grass. Also, see the fences separating you and them. Apparently nap time called to the white lions. Nothing was going to budge them. Maybe it’s called a Secret Garden because they all look so peaceful.

Definitely worth a side trip to the Secret Garden, bright lights disappear and casino noises fade while you’re there. That’s the Secret…you can have a retreat in the middle of Vegas.
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Las Vegas Surprises

These flip flops took a trip to Las Vegas and did so much more than gamble. Follow them as they head past the slot machines, wandered down the path through the gambling tables, kept going past glitzy high end shops, and made their way through the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, past the lobby. You will be surprised as to what awaits you. The Bellagio Conservatory is so much more than a garden and definitely worth the trip. This 13,573 square foot oasis gets a complete make over five times every year. Fall was the theme recently. Complete with a 35 foot tall cider mill, giant carved pumpkins, an animated apple tree, wood sprites, giant glass fall leaves, and an arch of shooting water, to name a few. As you might expect, everything was precisely coordinated. No details were overlooked. When they tell you it always has to look nice in there…they mean it.
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Traveling With Large Items

Use this helpful travel tip when you travel with sports gear. Go to http://www.sportsexpress.com/ to find out how to ship your gear to your destination. This works for large luggage, golf clubs, bikes, skis, snowboards, or kayaks just to name a few. There is a charge. So,compare it to the cost and hassle of checking your items on your next flight. It might be worth the cost to ship.
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Packing Tips

With airlines charging for extra bags, pack smart by taking only what you need. Keep a packing list on your computer & print it before you pack. Do this even though you have packed a million times. You will eliminate unnecessary items. Be prepared with a small first aid kit packed in a baggie. Take a few medicated band-aids, pain relievers, hand sterilizer, safety pins, & anti diarrhea meds. Wrap some all purpose duct tape around a drinking straw for emergency fixes. Happy Traveling.
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Ar-to-re-tum

Last weekend we visited an artoretum. Is that a real word? Don’t know. Described as a botanical garden devoted to art in the trees, it was a sun filled walk thru the trees and grass. And the sculptures were original and inspiring. Take a look at some of them…
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Off To The Races…Again

What’s the difference between horse racing at The Thoroughbred Club at Del Mar and Horsemen’s Atokad Downs? After all, in both races horses run around an oval dirt track with Jockeys hugging the horse’s neck as they vie for first place. Hat wearing race-goers inspect both horse and jockey from a few feet away, then hurry to place their bets. Both facilities have been entertaining race fans for years.
Similarities end shortly thereafter. Hats are different, for one thing…Fancy ones decked out with feathers and ribbons on ladies at Del Mar. Well worn Cowboy hats or ball caps on men at Atokad, with no feathers in site.
Doesn’t matter…both provide an afternoon of entertainment. You don’t even need to really bet to have a good time. Look at the size of the horses as they walk into the ring, see which one winks at you, check out how they react to their jockey and mark your program. Then get set to cheer on “your” horse. With any luck at all, he won’t fall down, lose his jockey, and take off running and running…only to be caught riderless after 2 1/2 times around the track. Yup…that did happen.