Vegas: Good, Bad, Ugly, it's got it all!
No words or photos can truly describe Las Vegas, it's something you just gotta see for yourself. It's big, it's exciting and it'll gonna chew you up and spit you out leaving you wondering 'what the heck just happened!'.
The cowboys are in town this week for the Cowboy Christmas and National Finals Rodeo and they all know how to have a good time. All around Vegas you can see their big hats, hear their big laughs and watch them bet and eat big in the casinos. Hell everything about a cowboy is big but in this city they are as small as the slot payouts from the near 200,000 machines here in Paradise.
Not a gambler? doesn't matter, Vegas has great shopping malls, many thrill rides and attractions and miles of walkways to marvel at the incredible architecture and impressively designed casinos and resorts that would take you months to see all. The day view is quite different from the dazzling light displays at night and the temperature here in the desert can rise and drop dramatically so plan and dress accordingly.
We've been to Vegas before and have done most that the Strip has to offer so this time we decided to stay just off the strip at Tuscany Suites on Flamingo. For $36 a night + resort fee (you really can't avoid this in Vegas) our room is clean, comfortable and spacious with lounge and dining areas and a kitchenette (although only a fridge and coffee machine is provided). There's pools, a laundry room and a large gym surrounded by well maintained gardens, and you don't have the hoards of tourists to compete with. We found the food here very good and excellent value compared to many other places around. For $10.99 we had half rack of ribs with a half bbq chicken, baked potato, beans almondine and a basket of bread. That was one meal! and the happy staff told us we were smart to share. Meals are big in Vegas too.
The other advantage of being off the strip, although you really do need a car, is seeing the less glitzy side of Sin City. Quiggy needed a hair cut so we ventured up to where the locals shop, walked in to the $8 hair cut shop and sat in line beside those you don't see in the glossy brochures. There seems to be an etiquette here where 'he with a gun' can mingle with 'he of no shoes', 'she of too many drinks' and 'they walking the pit bull in a baby's pram', can all get along without fear or loathing. Not sure I would venture alone off the Strip but being here with Quiggy (he of new hair cut) makes me fear less and loathe the fact I didn't get an $8 hair cut myself.
As we had a car we decided to take some day trips out to Hoover Dam ( 40 minutes drive) and the Valley of Fire State Park (about an hour away) . These places are all well worth the visit and help refill your soul after Vegas rips it out.
Freemont Street in Downtown Vegas (you don't need a car to get here but the Strip is soooo long) is a must see too. Dating back to 1906 it has the charm of yesteryear bombarded with scantily clad street entertainers, human trafficking and bible placards, live music stages and zip liners flying above along the world's largest video screen canopy. It's sensory overload but what isn't in Vegas?
When you come to Vegas bring money. If the slots don't allure you with their bells and whistles there's lots of hands reaching out to grab your bucks. Besides the place may kill you and whatcha gonna do with it then?
#Back to the ATM
#Skip the budget
#Go while the going's good