My Wynn-ing Holiday Road Trip

For the last month, I've been working for Xyngular, a newish direct sales company in Utah.

One of my tasks has been to find a home for a 500 person meeting coming up next July in Las Vegas.

They were at the Cosmopolitan last year, but this year are looking for something-- how should I put this?--a little more family friendly.

A decade ago, Vegas pumped untold millions into a family friendly ad campaign, but then bagged it for the infamous "What happens in Vegas" tagline. Sex proved more effective at attracting the crowds.

But still, is it unreasonable to hope to find a place without porn littering the sidewalks and call-girl hustlers accosting at every turn?

We decided to check out three casinos with a reputation for class over crass: the Wynn, Mandalay Bay, and Red Rock.

I wanted a road trip and chose to drive rather than fly. Heather was gracious enough to come along for the ride. We were both ecstatic about get away from the snowless freezing weather Salt Lake has been having of late.

Wynn was first on the agenda. We checked in and rushed up to our room which overlooked a balmy 65 Fahrenheit day on the golf course. Heather went for a walk, and I went back to the lobby for a tour of the resort.

Golf course view from my bed

The Wynn's meeting space is superlative. All hallways are lined with floor to ceiling windows and bathed in natural light.

We looked at ballrooms, pools for outdoor receptions, and even jumped a rope barrier to take a look at the resort's signature club, Tryst. Clubs aren't my scene, but Tryst has a 90-foot waterfall behind the main stage. I would gladly come back here for a round of Pellegrino.

I like the Wynn. It's clean, It's classy, and it's a destination unto itself. In 2005 the hotel opened without the crutch of  kitsch. They don't have a replica Eiffel Tower, Manhattan skyline or gondoliers. Five years on, er, I mean seven, and It continues to simply be an elegant resort.

. . .And the pastrami sandwich at ZoozaCrackers will change your life.