From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator There is something special about packing up the Jeep, pointing it west, and watching America unfold mile by mile through the windshield. What started as a road trip from Florida to…
Starting Our New Orleans Morning with Beignets at Café Beignet on Royal Street One of the things we knew we had to do while visiting New Orleans was enjoy a plate of fresh beignets. The next morning, we walked over to Café Beignet on Royal Street in the heart of the…
Returning to New Orleans: A Relaxing Evening in the French Quarter After a comfortable night’s stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus TX, we began another day on the road heading toward one of our favorite destinations—New Orleans. Before…
From El Paso to Columbus: A Long Texas Drive with Small-Town Hospitality Leaving El Paso behind, we began another long day on Interstate 10 heading east across the vast landscapes of West Texas. The scenery slowly transitioned from desert mountains and rocky terrain…
From Arizona’s Texas Canyon to an Overnight Stop in El Paso Leaving California and continuing east on Interstate 10, one of our favorite scenic stops of the day was the Texas Canyon Rest Area near Dragoon. The rest area is surrounded by enormous granite boulders…
After exploring Hoover Dam and taking in the incredible views of Lake Mead, we continued our road trip west into the bright lights of Las Vegas. Driving into Las Vegas after spending time in the quiet desert landscapes of Arizona and Nevada was a dramatic change of scenery. Towering hotels, glowing signs, and nonstop activity quickly replaced canyon walls and open highways as we arrived at New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the famous Las Vegas Strip.
For our stay, we booked the remodeled Soho King room, which combines New York City-inspired design with modern loft-style comforts. The room had a clean contemporary feel while still fitting perfectly with the hotel’s New York theme. One important recommendation for travelers, especially those on a long cross-country road trip with lots of luggage, is to pull directly into the valet area first. Having a bell hop assist with bags can save a lot of walking and frustration. We decided to self-park first and quickly realized we had to drag numerous bags from one side of the property all the way across the hotel to the Chrysler elevator area. In hindsight, dropping the bags at valet before parking would have made the arrival much easier. As of May 2026, self-parking at the hotel was $20 per night.
After settling into our room, we headed out to explore the lively atmosphere surrounding the hotel and the Las Vegas Strip. Walking around at night felt like stepping into another world filled with glowing lights and massive themed attractions everywhere you looked. Some of the highlights included the giant illuminated Coca-Cola bottle, the Hershey’s Chocolate World store, the hotel’s Brooklyn Bridge replica, the glowing towers of MGM Grand, Pepsi-Cola signage, Nine Fine Irishmen, Excalibur Hotel & Casino, the Statue of Liberty replica, Hard Rock Cafe, BrewDog Las Vegas, the illuminated Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, and the towering Empire State Building replica built into the New York-New York skyline.
Inside Hershey’s Chocolate World, visitors are surrounded by colorful walls of bulk candy dispensers filled with many of the most popular Hershey brands and sweet treats. Rows of dispensers allow guests to scoop and mix candies such as Reese’s Pieces, Kisses, Jolly Ranchers, Kit Kats, Twizzlers, and other chocolate favorites into custom bags. The bright lights, oversized candy displays, and endless variety create a fun atmosphere that feels part candy store and part interactive attraction. Beyond the candy section, the store is packed with souvenirs including Hershey-themed shirts, mugs, plush characters, collectible tins, drinkware, magnets, and Las Vegas-exclusive chocolate merchandise. Whether you are shopping for gifts, snacks for the road, or simply enjoying the sights and smells of chocolate everywhere, Hershey’s Chocolate World becomes a fun stop along the Las Vegas Strip for both kids and adults.
To finish the evening, we had dinner at Chin Chin inside the hotel. After a long travel day, it was nice to sit down and enjoy a relaxing meal while taking in the energy of Las Vegas. We ordered the Hawaiian Sushi Roll along with Spring Veggie Rolls, both of which were fresh and flavorful. The combination of arriving from Hoover Dam, experiencing the bright lights of the Strip for the first time on this trip, and ending the night with a good dinner made for a memorable stop during our Florida-to-California adventure.
