Allergy Free in Vegas (with a toddler)

My family has been anticipating the end of my husband's contract as a great time for a little vacation. We had been deliberating for months on where to go: far enough away we felt like we were on a "real" vacation, but close enough we weren't too intimidated traveling with a toddler. When the week for our vacation was suddenly moved way up, we chose Vegas on the spur of the moment. It's a familiar place we've seen several times, we knew there were good restaurants, and we had some ideas for fun activities with Siena.

WOW is Vegas ever different with a toddler! We stayed four nights, thinking that would allow for a slower-paced trip, but what we didn't realize is that we would spend our time playing at telephone booths, and stairs and escalators, rather than exploring what Vegas has to offer. When we thought we were ready to go down the strip, Siena was either too active or too fussy to make it worthwhile, and we wanted to be back in our hotel room for her nap. It was fun, but a very different kind of fun.

Actual highlights included waving at the gondoliers in the Grand Canal in the Venetian, where we stayed. The dolphins and white tigers at the Mirage were a big hit with Siena; she enjoyed watching them, learning about them, and imitating them. And although we were there during a big wind storm, the weather cooperated enough for two trips to the pool. The Venetian has a perfect pool for toddlers-- just 1'2" deep. Siena loves the water and had the time of her life in this pool.

We managed to stay mostly allergy free for the whole trip. I say "mostly" because Siena had trouble sleeping one night, and I could hear her tummy rumbling. She was clingy, gassy, and fussy, but at least it never turned into the full-fledged diarrhea and diaper rash, thank goodness! We ran into trouble only when we tried the money-saving route and ate at the cafeterias, where the employees don't have a thorough knowledge of the ingredients in their ingredients and don't totally understand the allergy-related questions anyway.

The Venetian was a great place to stay for allergy-free cuisine. We didn't make it very far from the Venetian this trip, but if you're in Vegas, here are some places to try that can accommodate you with great food and great service as well!

The Venetian:

Enoteca by Mario Batali: An Italian restaurant that even offers gluten-free pasta! I recommend the vegetables as a great appetizer. They're served in ramekins and go a long way for the money.
Cocolini: The gelato stand that serves a surprising variety of sorbets as well. Choose from just about any fruit flavor you can think of. This was a big hit with Siena and me and we stopped here frequently.

Treasure Island:

Isla: This is the *only* Mexican restaurant I've been able to enjoy since going allergy free, and what a treat! It's mid-range on the price scale, so you can get an appetizer for a later snack without breaking the bank. It's also a tequila bar, so go ahead and indulge in a margarita as well.

Mirage:

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse: Featuring an all-you-can-eat variety of Brazilian-style barbecued meats served tableside, you leave this place feeling satisfied. Not only was it delicious, but fun as well. They also offer a range of entrees, and all orders are served with salad and vegetables.

Ceasars Palace:

Trevi: Located by the Trevi Fountain in the Forum Shops, we ate lunch here one day. A nice atmosphere and good Italian food.

*The places that work for eating allergy free cook food to order from whole ingredients. These tend to be more expensive and less kid-friendly than most other options. To save your pocketbook and your sanity if dining with a toddler, have some options handy. Even if you plan on dining out at every meal, you want snacks on hand so you're not all starving during the search for an accepible restaurant. Bring fruits and some canned vegetables-- carrots and green beans are Siena's favorite. I baked some muffins for breakfasts, packed in a tupperware, and brought oatmeal and soup that only required hot water.

We had a nice family vacation and a good learning experience! Only on the last day did we finally feel like we had mastered doing Vegas with a toddler. There's plenty more to see, such as the birds in Flamingo and the shark exhibit at Mandalay Bay, all options for next time.