Las Vegas, Nevada. A place of luxury, loss and spectacle in the desert where limits know no name and neither do the party-ers wandering the streets.

It’s easy to get lost in the mix of fanny packers, glow stick swingers and card sharks if you aren’t careful. Through a Texans eyes, even Sin City seems big. If you play it right however, there is a way to see Vegas and leave without a burn mark on your pockets or your reputation. Recently, I ventured to the city of bright lights and theatrics for a swift 48-hour vacation and what I came back with was a different sense of the place. Sure I’ve done my fair share of Vegas trips filled with boozing, gambling and debauchery but this time it was different.

My first night there, I ventured to Downtown Las Vegas. Where it all began. What I stumbled upon was a number of new restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that struck me happily surprised. You’ll still seen the bustling seas of folks meandering about under the ‘Freemont Street Experience’ but make a sharp turn towards the warehouse district and a different atmosphere is abound.

Kerry Simon is an American celebrity chef and restaurateur based in Las Vegas. Simon is also known by the moniker “Rock n’ Roll Chef”, given to him by Rolling Stone Magazine. A just opened Carson Kitchen appeared like a mirage and dinner was decided. It was lively but not crazy and the decor was a nice modern casual. Chef Simon, who sadly is currently suffering from advanced stage MRSA, has created an excellent nook of creative culinary serenity in a showy city. Shared plates like Roasted Young Beets with pistachio, orange and goats cheese or piping hot Bacon Jam filled with baked brie and sided with toasted baguette slices were the perfect way to start. The Baked Mac & Cheese was also spot on in all its gooey glory. It’s all about the nibble factor here, over an expertly made cocktail of course.

The next day came and the brace for what was to come later that afternoon was imminent. A turn in the sun while poolside is a very Vegas kind of weekend but this was to be no ordinary Saturday afternoon. Encore Beach Club, an award-winning day club venue at Wynn Las Vegas, is a scene from your dreams. Well that is if you have priority access like the kind I was treated to. Party fiends from all over the world come to this ‘day club’ to dance to the tune of top DJ spinsters and well, imbibe in whatever ends up in their glasses. On a normal day, waits can exceed 2-hours and the cost of cover easily climbs to $75 a head for us gentlemen. Once you’ve decided it’s worth it, your regrets flush away and ecstasy in excess floods in. This Dallas guy was humbly overwhelmed by the toned, tanned, young and rich crowd so people watching was the name of the game this time. Heck, I even got to see WILL.I.AM take a turn behind the DJ booth. Cool!

That evening, I was treated to the VIP experience at Le Reve: The Dream. It is the premiere theatrical experience at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort & Casino and I was in awe the entire time. From the seat-side service of chocolate truffles and champagne (only in Vegas!) to the aqua theatrics taking place in front of me, it truly was a dream that sent me home happy.