Vegas Vows & Reno Regrets: Our Vegas-to-Vegas Road Trip

Our grand mission: celebrate a decade of marriage by saying “yep, still you” all over again, with a few blissfully child-free pals along for the ride. We hoped to introduce them to iconic Pacific-side sights, sprinkle in a little Las Vegas chaos, and explain our mild obsession with the place. Conveniently, it became primo blog material. We had tackled American adventures before; our companions were still travel newbies, bless them.

The Itinerary:

• Las Vegas
• Death Valley
• Tonopah
• Reno
• San Francisco
• Santa Cruz
• Sequoia National Park
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas

Vegas road trip: why start at the Strip?

After landing, it's straight into vacation mode with our favorite Jorge Limousine service. We pay around $150 for a clean car, drinks, and a stop of our choice—the Vegas sign. After a quick check-in at Harrah's, we woke up in the middle of the night to a strong weed smell and moved rooms. The new room had no strip view, but the hotel gave us a discount.

The next day starts with breakfast at La Salsa Cantina inside the Miracle Mile Shops, famous for $0.99 Bloody Marys and $5.99 breakfast. Later, we stroll through casinos and head to Circus Circus, where we win a stuffed animal at the indoor carnival. Next door, at Slots-A-Fun, we try the classic dollar coin slot machines—and actually win!

As the afternoon rolls on, we meet up with friends and make quick work of an all-you-can-eat-and-drink package at Atomic Golf. With full stomachs and plenty of laughs, we dress things up for elegant cocktails at Alle Lounge on 66 in Resorts World, followed by dinner alongside the canals at Canonita inside The Venetian. We finish our very first Vegas night with the spectacular Dita Von Teese burlesque show—glamorous, classy, and the perfect sexy ending to an incredible day.

The next morning starts with one of the best breakfasts in town at Ellis Island Casino. Then comes one of the biggest moments, and the reason for this Vegas road trip: getting remarried at the Little White Wedding Chapel! A true Vegas experience. The whole experience was perfectly taken care of by the chapel. The contact went smoothly, and we loved the minister who guided our ceremony. We went for the Cadillac ceremony in the Tunnel of Love. We loved the old-school Elvis vibes without paying extra for an Elvis impersonator. We hired a photographer through Pictrip. She joined us right before the ceremony, took some mandatory Vegas pics, and made us feel comfortable the whole time.

Freshly remarried, we head to Fremont Street for some unforgettable wedding photos before cooling off with Happy Hour cocktails at The Golden Tiki. The day ends with an outstanding steak dinner at High Steaks Steakhouse in the Rio, which offers incredible views of the Las Vegas Strip. The service was great, but the location felt awkward, with our table right at the entrance despite having booked months in advance and requested a full view. It was fine, but not amazing. I’d still rather have the prices at the steakhouse at Circus Circus, the old-school Vegas vibe and service at the Golden Steer, and the view from this place. That would be the ideal mix. Returning to the Strip, we watched the Bellagio fountains and some fireworks, just for us. Or was it for the USA's 250th anniversary? What a day!

Now... the real Vegas road trip begins, and the route moves north and west from here.

Desert towns: Tonopah & Reno

We pick up the rental car at the airport rental center. This is the second time we've chosen a six-day rental for our road trip. We like the clean, clear service. We have never encountered extra fees or hidden costs. On the road we go. First breakfast at Cracker Barrel, then a quick visit to the Bass Pro Shop. Because that's what every foreigner should do to learn about American culture. You can spend an equal amount of money on dog toys, a new pair of leggings, and a gun in that store. We also stopped at Walmart to pick up some lunch and road-trip food. Pro tip: We always pack a cool backpack when traveling. It's super easy to keep lunch and drinks cold with the cheapest frozen vegetables as a cooling element. Because not every hotel has a freezer, you could cool your own ice pack. Or the bags of ice are usually too big to carry around in our small backpacks. Save my frozen vegetable tip for later.

We decided that driving through Death Valley and visiting Badwater Basin would be part of our road trip. But it is hot. A bit too hot to spend much time outdoors. A good tip is to stop at a visitor center for a bathroom, air conditioning, and some local information. Here, we get an advisory reading on the thermometer, confirming that it is too hot.

Our first destination is Tonopah, where we spend the night in the famously haunted Mizpah Hotel. We didn't get the room where the prostitute was killed and should be haunted, yet the old building makes you feel all kinds of things. Squeaky floors, older plumbing? Super nice staff, by the way. We ended up at the hotel restaurant and loved it. The varied menu, from salads to burgers, really worked for us. After dinner, a visit to the casino next door was a bit strange. Just a small pub hall with locals playing pool and an overpowering smell of cigarettes. No win either. Of course, no visit to Tonopah is complete without stopping at the iconic Clown Motel and wandering through the eerie Tonopah Cemetery next door. Creepy? Absolutely. Worth it? Without a doubt.

Next stop: Reno, proudly calling itself The Biggest Little City in the World. It had long been number one on our Vegas road trip wishlist, but we had just never made it here.

In between, we stop at the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum. After spotting bunkers in the desert and discovering that this place is the world's largest ammo depot, we were intrigued to learn more. And I can tell you, the small museum is so worth a visit. The people who gave us explanations gave us the full VIP treatment about ammo and tanks, and they even have a helicopter! Good times, great stories. We even got to hold guns that couldn't fire anymore. It felt a bit strange for us foreigners to walk around with guns on the street without anyone batting an eye. But hey, that's a cultural thing, I guess. The guy giving us the tour told us that it's the guns you can't see that you have to worry about. Which is true, but doesn't make it less unsettling.

While the city of Reno is best known for its casinos and bowling, we found it a nice place to stretch our legs before continuing west on this Vegas road trip. We also witnessed a big bowling tournament. I've never seen 70-plus bowling lanes next to each other, or the sport being taken so seriously at all, for that matter. A stroll through the town gave us strange vibes. Not really unwelcome, but more uneasy. which led us to decide to stay at the property we were staying at: Silver Legacy. The food court inside the hotel, linked to Circus Circus, made an easy choice for a nighttime meal. Loved our hotel. Reno, a little less.

A vibe vibing SFO

Then it's time for one of America's most beautiful cities: San Francisco, another major stop on our route west.

We explore the colorful Painted Ladies, ride the famous cable cars, enjoy fresh seafood at Fisherman's Wharf, and stroll along the waterfront. One thing quickly becomes clear: driving is your best friend here—the hills are no joke! You'll notice that you rarely see overweight locals while walking through the city and taking in the major sights. We stayed at the Fitzgerald Hotel Union Square, which turned out to be a disappointment: an old escalator, small rooms, not very clean, carpet that makes you cough, and no air conditioning at all. Breakfast was included, and we were happy it was whole pieces of fruit, pre-packaged oatmeal, and cereal. No way would I touch anything that would be open to the dirty rooms in this place. It was one night, and we survived. I would totally not recommend the Fitzgerald Hotel Union Square.

Seaside surfer's time

Leaving San Francisco, we drive south along the breathtaking Highway 1, enjoying dramatic coastal views, surfers catching waves, and countless scenic stops. Before heading inland, we visit the fascinating Winchester Mystery House, a uniquely bizarre mansion with a history of mystery. In Santa Cruz, we spent two tranquil days watching surfers and strolling the pier. We stayed at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz—clean rooms, great location, and free parking. A nice touch: handwritten wishes at the front desk for a boost of spirit.

Did some shopping in one of the outlet surf shops before leaving the next day.

Small stop(s)

Our next overnight stop is Fresno, perfectly positioned for exploring Sequoia National Park. We stayed at Best Western Village Inn Fresno. A very clean, friendly staff, and a refreshing pool. Dinner at Chipotle pleasantly surprised us with its assortment and flavor. Not all food chains are bad, apparently!

Driving through these giant forests is simply unforgettable. Standing beside some of the largest trees on Earth really puts everything into perspective.

After a day in Sequoia, we stayed at Hilton Sparks Bakersfield Central—clean, comfortable, with helpful staff, free water, coffee, and breakfast. Just like we love our hotels.

No way I'm going back. To LA

After my first visit to LA, I swore I'd never return—the traffic, the shattered image of the Walk of Fame, the lack of Hollywood glamour. Yet here we are again.

On the way to Los Angeles, we also made a fun stop at Hard Rock Hotel Tejon before reaching the City of Angels. A small gamble is always recommended during a child-free Vegas road trip. Wouldn't you agree?

In Los Angeles, we spend the day exploring Universal Studios Hollywood, strolling along the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, and searching for the iconic Hollywood Sign from the surrounding hills. Universal Studios was the highlight of the day. And in particular, Mario World. This was amazing. The attraction isn't much, but the world itself is built to perfection. Loved it.

That night, we stayed at the Glendale hotel, a budget-friendly, conveniently located option. Despite mixed reviews, check-in was easy: talking to someone on the other side of the world via a tablet; rooms were clean; and the area was fine.

Vegas. Always Vegas, baby

Then it's time to head back toward Las Vegas. We always end up here after a Vegas road trip. And mainly because of the direct flights from Amsterdam with KLM, we usually take. But also just because we love ot here. So much to do, see, eat, drink, ... and gamble a bit.

Along the way, we stop at the World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker for the obligatory photo, followed by breakfast at the classic Peggy Sue's 50's Diner.

Back in Vegas—but this time, it's all about Downtown.

We soak up the electric atmosphere of Fremont Street Experience, enjoy pizza at Evel Pie, try our luck at El Cortez, and admire the vintage interior of Main Street Station, a downtown gem. We spent the night at El Cortez—always loving the vibe and friendly staff.

On our final day, we take one last stroll along the Strip before getting a famous $10 tattoo at Koolsville Tattoo. A visit to Horseshoe Las Vegas wouldn't be complete without checking out the legendary World Series of Poker room.

Child-free travel review

And just like that, it’s time to say goodbye. Another Vegas road trip comes to a close, and our hearts are overflowing with memories.

This journey was everything I could have hoped for: utterly unforgettable, filled with friends, laughter, and the kind of chaos that makes for the best stories. From our ceremony to our adventures in Vegas (even as jet lag did its best to take us down), every moment felt electric. The little road trip we managed to squeeze in was the cherry on top, letting us check off a few Western USA must-sees along the way. Finally crossing the Winchester House off my dark tourism bucket list? Spooky, absolutely. Worth it, without question.

The vibes, the food, the places, the people—every piece of this trip just clicked. Even though we’ve done the Vegas loop before, this one stands out. Honestly, I loved every second, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Here’s to the next child free adventure!