Vegas Vacation!

Viva Las Vegas!  So here it is, the final vacation post. A little bittersweet, but while I have enjoyed reminiscing with you all, I do look forward to getting back to the heart of House of Healthy – sustainable, healthy living for all! In that regard, this is not only the final vacation post, it is also the first official “green living” post. The House of Healthy is definitely about healthy eating and fitness, but in the big picture it is about healthy living in ALL aspects of life.  This includes where we live (the location and the physical structure) and well as what we put in and on our bodies. In Seattle and Hawaii, it was very easy stay true to our “green” roots and way of life. Both of these areas are very much in tune with holistic living and a more natural way of life – Vegas, not so much. Las Vegas is known for long nights, indulging your vices, and spending – money, time, energy, etc. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming for me. I definitely enjoyed myself, but it was almost a bit of culture shock after spending a week on an island. I imagine this must have been what it was like for the survivors of LOST when they finally made it back to their homes 😉 Hah, thanks for indulging my silly sense of humor.

The saving grace of our Vegas vacation was our hotel. It was in a newer part of the strip – City Center. City Center includes The Cosmopolitan, The Aria Resort and Casino, Crystals shopping center, and The Vdara Resort and Spa. There is a tram that runs between all of these areas (for free!) and the Vdara also connects to the Bellagio for easy access to the incredible fountain and the strip.

We stayed at the Vdara, and let me tell you, it was fabulous and really, really tall! The entrance had super cool canoe artwork.

The hotel itself was gorgeous, with amazing views and a fantastic pool (my favorite part of our Vegas trip!). There are plenty of places to eat in the Vdara, but you can also use your room card at any of the City Center restaurants, including the delicious Lemongrass restaurant in the Aria.

Not only was it fabulous because of the amenities, it was also fabulously “green”. The builders of this hotel group made efforts to not only build modern hotels, but to build them sustainable but also fill them with eco-friendly products. The Vdara, and all of the buildings in City Center, is LEED Gold certified. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the highest, most prestigious green-building certification system from the US Green Building COuncil. To earn this, building materials must be sourced sustainably, the building must run with high energy efficiency, and water must be used efficiently, among other things. The Vdara also has a “5 Green Keys” rating from the international Green Key Eco Rating System, which evaluates the sustainability of the hotels operations.

The Vdara also includes and eco-friendly spa, with many eco products and snacks. All products sold in the spa are organic or sustainably sourced, using as many natural ingredients as possible. This also goes for the products shower products in each of the rooms.  The Spa also includes a full gym – not your usual hotel with 2 cardio machines and a mat- as well as a smoothie bar with organic treats.

For the eco-lover in Vegas, this place is a must. Not only is it modern and new, it is built with sustainable practices, which are good for you and good for the planet. Next time you travel to Vegas, check it out! You won’t be disappointed.

 

Well, that wraps it up for our travels! We were sad to see it end…but happy to be heading home!

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming – food, fitness, and healthy living at its best 🙂

Peace and love to you and yours,

Jessi