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5 Things I Loved About Las Vegas, And 3 I Didn't

3/5/2013

 

They say everyone needs to travel to Las Vegas....

Las Vegas travel
New York New York and MGM Grand - Las Vegas
Everyone has an opinion about Las Vegas. There are those that are passionate about it, try to build every special occasion around it, need to get their yearly Vegas fix. And there are those who say “once was enough” and swear never again.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I’d absolutely go again, and as Vegas is a fairly short and inexpensive plane ride away, it has great potential to be a sunny long weekend destination in the future. However, there are many places I want to see and discover for the first time - other places I’d rather spend my travel budget. So what did I love about Vegas– and what fell short?

The Winners

The Great Outdoors

For such an artificial city, Vegas is surrounded by some amazing natural wonders.  It’s not just the Grand Canyon - you can visit incredible parks just an hour or two away. Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley National Park are all wonderful destinations. I think no trip to Vegas would be complete without exploring the surrounding geology, topography, plant, and animal life. 
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley at Daybreak - In July!
Tiffany's Cafe Las Vegas
Tiffany's Café. A truly authentic diner experience.

Off the Strip Food

There’s great food on the strip, but don’t limit yourself to just a few blocks to enjoy the best culinary treats in Vegas.  In the least commercial parts of the city, we discovered Luv-it’s Frozen Custard, Tiffany’s Café, and Capriotti’s sandwiches. Now, these places were not exactly undiscovered gems, but they were delicious, fairly priced, and had more locals in the queue than tourists. 

Entertainment

Beatles Cirque de Soleil LoveOutside Cirque's Love
It’s show time! Without a doubt, my favourite thing about Vegas is the entertainment factor. Just thinking of all the incredible performances is enough to make me want to book a plane ticket. 

We enjoyed some incredible shows, like Cirque’s Ka, but there was also plenty of round the clock, free entertainment. The beautiful Bellagio Fountains, and the gondoliers singing as they walked through the Venetian to start their morning shift were two of my favourites. Heck, just looking at the crazy crowds was entertainment enough! 

Fighting Crime!

CSI Experience Las VegasImage from Vegas.com
I secretly believed I was going to meet the cast of CSI. And become their best friend! 

I carefully studied the behavior of every suspicious person I met, just in case the team needed me to testify later. Everyone comes to Vegas with a fantasy. This was mine.

Elvis wedding Las Vegas
Because I love you too much baby...

Weddings

We renewed our wedding vows in Vegas. With Elvis. In a strip mall. With stained ceiling tiles. Our wedding song was Suspicious Minds. The receptionist looked superbly bored and way too cool to be there.  Pre-Elvis renewal ceremony, we spoke a few words with the licensed minister who takes care of the actual weddings. He was kind, he was encouraging, he had just celebrated his own 25th anniversary. The whole experience was a combination of the kind of supreme cheesiness that you secretly desire in Vegas, with the feel good, warm heartedness that makes me want to go back again.

The Losers

Lines

I hate lines. Can’t really imagine anything worth lining up for. Certainly not the so-so rental car that required an hour long lineup. Definitely not a buffet. And absolutely not a hotel. It took an hour to check into one of our hotels – not what you’d expect in an service industry town.

Gambling

I have no concerns with gambling and I can appreciate why others find it entertaining and exciting. My plan was to nurse $20 at the slot machines, enjoying the free drinks I heard so much about. I never anticipated winning – in fact, I expected to eventually lose –but I figured it would be an easy way to kill an hour or two. To the surprise of no one, I have the absolute worst statistical luck of anyone on the planet when it comes to slot machines!! Shamefully, shockingly bad. I gave up after two nights.

Smoke

This seems to be a prevailing trend on my “hate” list (see Ireland!) Las Vegas is one of the last smokers’ havens in North America. The pervasive smell was awful, it triggered asthma attacks, and eventually I started getting nose bleeds. Those with serious health concerns should come prepared and well organized to Vegas.

Have you been to Vegas? Where did you go and what do you do? Share your highs (and lows!) with us!
​


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Tracy Antonioli link
3/5/2013 08:00:54 am

I've never gone off the strip to eat, and I've been to Vegas...twice now? Three times? I always MEAN to get off the strip...but then I don't. To be fair, there are some great restaurants on the Strip. But they are EXPENSIVE!

Vanessa
3/5/2013 11:24:10 am

We had some amazing meal experiences on the strip too - some that were ultra fancy and worth every penny (and some that weren't so great and were overpriced). If you make one excursion off strip, I say start with Luv-It Frozen Custard. Anything even close to icecream is usually worth a trip for me!

Jessica link
9/5/2013 08:26:32 am

I agree with you about the lines. Why should there ever be a line that long at a hotel?!?!?

Vanessa
9/5/2013 11:42:05 am

I know, right!?!? You should have staff proportionate to the amount of rooms you offer. The Flamingo was the culprit in this case. We did also stay two days at the MGM Signature - smoke free, gorgeous rooms, calm, quiet environment with instant check in. One of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in.

Bobbi Lee Hitchon link
16/5/2013 03:55:10 am

Great round up! I hate the lines too! I was not in any way expecting them when I checked into my hotel and had to deal with it hungover. As you do in Vegas... Then they made me get a loyalty card to check in early. All I wanted to do was lay down. On a positive note! I was shocked how beautiful the scenery is outside Vegas, people neglect to mention that.

Vanessa
16/5/2013 04:24:16 am

Bobbi - I feel your pain!! People always told me that it takes so long to get from A to B, that the walks are longer than you think. Well, I LOVED the walks -at least I was going somewhere, doing something. But the lines! Ugh! And the scenery outside Vegas is spectacular!

Sasha
19/11/2013 12:20:19 am

What I like about Vegas: everything! :) I can totally relate to outdoors, it's amazing!
What I don't like about Vegas, probably the smoking part. Also the fact that now I live far-far away from there. :( Been there over 8 times (after that I lost count) and I want to go there again and again and again....

Vanessa
19/11/2013 05:06:21 am

It's a city that always has something new to discover!

jennifer link
19/11/2013 12:40:47 am

I am a Las Vegas addict. I have been there 238974382 times now. I used to go anywhere from 3-5 times a year. Then I started doing 2-3 week trips in December. But even that wasn't enough so I would still take shorter trips during the year, for about 7-9 days each time.

I no longer spend time on the strip. I think it is beautiful and I will venture there occasionally to take pictures of it and to check out new construction. But my heart is set on downtown. There is nothing better than walking on Fremont street at sunrise with a large Dunkin Donuts iced coffee and being one of maybe two people total out there.

I will be there next week and I will be zen.

Vanessa
19/11/2013 05:08:33 am

What a perfect travel image - If any place is ideal for exploring with a huge iced coffee, it's Vegas!


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