Viva Las Vegas

_{I was in Vancouver a couple of days ago with my daughter for an appointment. Heaven I tell you. Sometimes I miss living in a big city. Vegan food, and gluten free food everywhere! Chipotle Mexican Grill!! I will never tire of this place. My daughter and I have gone there in Paris, in London, and in Vancouver – they saved us in Paris. Trying to feed a celiac in The City of Pastry was unbelievably difficult. And so Chipotle's saved the day – over and over. A great little chain of fresh food restaurants called Pret a Manger in both London and Paris was also quite a lifesaver. What I wouldn't give for a Chipotle Mexican Grill and a Pret a Manger in these parts I tell you. Convenience food is pretty much a thing of the past for me these days.}

_{Seattle is another amazing place. I was there for a couple of days last spring and thought I'd died and gone to vegan heaven – it was everywhere!!! We don't even have a Whole Foods in my town so you can imagine how much fun I have every time I get the opportunity to travel somewhere “big”. The difference is that the vegan food (and the gluten free – in Canada and the US anyway) is available almost everywhere you go; it's just a norm. Nobody looks at me funny or gives me a blank look. So while travel is difficult sometimes in that it takes some pre-planning – finding out where the grocery stores and restaurants that can accommodate me are located in more obscure places – it's also a seriously fun adventure. You've no idea the glee my daughter and I felt when a friend in Glastonbury (England) took us to a grocery store that had gluten free bagels! More fun than I'd have thought possible. :) It's the little things, folks.}

_{I've caught the travel bug these last few years (sadly my wallet is very empty), but I'm now really interested in going places known to be great for vegans. I have a girlfriend who lives in Berlin; she tells me the vegan scene is fantastic there. I'm also told Portland is an amazing place to go when one is vegan. Amazingly I'm told Italy is pretty good as well. The vegan thing has given me the urge to travel even more. So many adventures ahead!}

_{My son and I go to Vegas every March to see the Monster Jam monster truck finals (it's a thing we do). Last year I was just beginning my vegan journey and relied (again!) on Chipotle's and an amazing build your own salad place in Harrah's – I kid you not, I actually dream about those salads – they're almost worth the trip alone. Since then, through various blogs and facebook groups, I've learned about a few more vegan places in Las Vegas that sound amazing! I'm leaving in five weeks and can't wait to sample some more vegan food in Vegas!}

_{Happy Travels!}

_Gwen