57th Birthdays are not celebrated with much flair, but since we missed my 50th and my 55th….my husband Jim indulged me in a wonderful, celebration in Las Vegas including fine dining and golfing! It is a short 4-hour drive from Surprise Arizona. April can be hot in the desert so we elected to leave at sunrise. A beautiful drive through the Sonoran desert as the sun was coming up gave us a great head start on my “Birthday Week” celebration. Briarwood hired Troon management to manage our country club as of late, and that enables us now to play Troon Courses. Jim made reservations at Rio Secco Golf Course in Vegas on Easter. What a fantastic course with remarkable elevations, and views, it definitely lived up to its name! As we played through the canyons and ravines, many prominent estates were situated on the course. After some research, I found out that Steve Wynn has one of his luxury mansions called “Wynn’s Paradise.”
Vanderpump a Paris was my first destination restaurant we had reservations for at dinner. Yes, I am a Housewives of Beverly Hills devoted watcher and follower. I have always admired Lisa’s creativity and talent for creating world-class restaurants and of course my absolute favorite French cuisine! This hotspot features beautiful garden-themed decor. The week before I was in Henderson for a dog show so I could not resist driving down to the strip to take a photo of the menu. Nothing short of “exquisite” is my description of this localeeee. Jim chose a beautiful cheese presentation in the birdcage with honey, nuts, and delectable cheeses. While I did take notice of the $18 glass of wines…I never have a problem paying top dollar for creative cuisine.
Monday was the actual “Birthday Day” and Jim made it so special. We had another round of golf which was wonderful. However, I was waiting for Monday night’s dinner reservation at my absolute favorite restaurant “Paris” at the Paris Las Vegas overlooking the Bellagio Fountains. This was the third year in a row that we had gone there for my Birthday. Now, it is a special place of Jim’s and mine and we will continue to dine there for the next foreseeable Birthdays! Everything we ordered was wonderful. Secretly I was trying to save room for the soufflés that I knew would be coming! soufflés do not work well in a hotel refrigerator. I could not have asked for a more memorable night to celebrate our life together!
Planning This Surprise-to-Las Vegas Getaway Today
Part of the appeal of living in Arizona’s West Valley is the variety of road trips within reach. Las Vegas can work for a golf-and-dining weekend, but several names in this 2023 story have changed since the original visit. Rio Secco Golf Club is now Serket Golf Club; its official site is the best place to check current tee-time policies, course conditions and rates.
The two Paris Las Vegas dining stops remain useful planning anchors. Vanderpump à Paris provides current menus and reservation information, while Mon Ami Gabi is the French bistro Shannon was describing near the Bellagio fountains. Reservations, patio access and operating hours can change, so confirm directly before driving.
A Practical Desert-Road-Trip Checklist
- Check weather, road conditions and your vehicle before crossing long desert stretches.
- Reserve golf and dining separately; one confirmation does not guarantee the other.
- Carry water and avoid building a tight itinerary around an estimated drive time.
For more personal trip ideas, browse The Traveling Realtor. If Arizona is the home base you want to return to, compare West Valley communities and the day-to-day lifestyle each offers.
Reviewed and updated: . Venue details can change; confirm directly with each business before visiting.
