Re-entry from Vegas stung a bit. The overnight travel, accompanying time change, and the real physicality of 20,000 plus daily city steps really put us in the bunk for a day! Perhaps beyond that… there is a “trip zone” head space that happens as well. In essence one’s senses have been bombarded with sound & sight, constant questions, and newness. That energy takes a toll, and we were exhausted!
Janie and I rallied enough on the drive home from Stanfield to discuss of best / worst, highlights, what worked / what didn’t, and essentially organize thoughts on the trip that was. In many ways Vegas was a huge separation from our normal vacation. At the same time, however, a destination is what the traveller turns it into… and we brought a little “Lumsden” to the front and managed to infuse our passions into the visit.
Thus, I’m feeling this time around our reflections page is in a state of dis-junction… less focused / consistent and more like a series of flashes! That probably reflects the trip in many ways. I’ve used headers to sort of guide my thoughts, although I’m sure our ideas will evolve on March Break ‘24 as we put some time between ourselves and the journey.
The Strip
Seeing The Strip put some misconceptions to rest. I had expected to find a collection of gambling rooms scattered up and down the boulevard, lots of lights and big traffic. That was there alright, but it’s more complicated than that! These are fully integrated complexes… I sense the gambling is at the core, but incorporated in these resorts are accommodation, shopping, food service and entertainment. The infrastructure is massive, to the point where these Casinos are a series of malls / pedestrian routes that meet and connect with each other. They are prolific, with huge management / staffing dedicated to serving all manner of visitor. You are free to walk through each and every space. We were ID’d at one resort! It made for great people watching. When we got to the point where it all seemed “formulaic”, we stopped looking and used the venues for food / washrooms. Nevada is a mammoth tourist destination… and unlike other cities that have off setting industries to balance tourism, Las Vegas is overwhelmingly attached to travel. It feels like “Build it and they will come“!
Gambling
I guess it should be stated that we at no point spent a living cent on gambling. This was not really because it’s somehow morally objectionable or that we feel we’re somehow above that. In short, we just have no interest in it and thought, through our attendance in numerous attractions and restaurants, that we contributed our share to the fine folks of Nevada. We have never been gamblers, beyond buying a fundraising ticket, so it’s no great surprise it was of no interest. Perhaps our biggest gamble was crossing a busy street… look both ways here for sure 👀.
The Foodie Highlight
In our Vegas research we knew that we were going to find unique (at least for us) opportunities to try new foods. Thus, our “foodie highlight of the day” idea was a natural fit! Offerings such as the Korean BBQ, Scotch Egg, and Ramen/Curry dishes were “ka-bang” experiences for us, and all ideas that we will bring home to try. As with previous trips, we have since experimented with recipes and loved the results. It may sound obvious, but it’s one of the reasons we enjoy visiting cities so much… huge variety in a condensed space! Although not incredibly adventuresome, we’ve grown to purposefully plan for new to us dining experiences.
Cost
I’d guess bargains are to be had if you’re an experienced Vegas visitor and know where to look / are willing to ask. One might liken a stay in Las Vegas to visiting a Ballpark / Stadium. The expense wasn’t getting there, it was being there! It’s like how a beer can jump from $12 for 4 cans outside the bubble, but inside $16 each. Further, it’s obvious that one is being funnelled from one spending opportunity to the next, with routes clearly marked and walkways paved with gold! What I would say for sure is that the “infrastructure” of Vegas (Gambling / Resorts / Entertainment / Shopping) is not there by mistake. Someone is making money on their investment. I sense that both high rollers and folks that bet $1 at a time contribute evenly.
Off-Strip
Okay… we knew about the gambling, drinking, opulence and pace of the Vegas strip. However, the under belly of Vegas was exposed during our Off-Strip excursions. Whether it be our tour in Red Rock, the bartender at McMullan’s or an Uber driver chat up, we had a real blast interacting with folks that were part of the service industry and really understand the internal and external workings of this 24 hour town of almost 2.2 million (metropolitan area). Tensions abound whether we talked sports, Casinos, gambling or even “things to do”. Transportation, dealing with gridlock, and city planning were all topics of question. Without exception, we met folks that were friendlier, more relaxed and open to discussion away from that core of the city. From the impacts of the Formula 1 Grand Prix race to the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting, we were exposed to how these folks felt about the way the city has grown and the impacts it has on those that live here from day to day here. Like we recommended after our trips to Cuba or the Dominican, you have to make a point to get off the resorts and out of the bubble to see the real life in these communities.
Short Snappers
Bullet list of other things…
- Something for everyone when it comes to food (Price/Variety)
- Food reviews were spot on!!! If you’d rather old school research, look for line-ups.
- Limited, non-commercial indoor/outdoor places to sit!
- Wonderful Clean Washrooms (`a la Disney/Gold Doors) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Vegas Knows Show!!! Everything we saw was first rate!
- Bring your wallet!!!
- Our Ubers (we took 4-5) were all excellent
- Wear comfortable shoes… there will be lots of steps.
- You can wear what you like… we saw everything (and sometimes nothing)
In the end…
There it is… Vegas. Sometimes we felt like we were at Disney, other times I sensed the New Orleans/Memphis party feel. However, they never really matched as Las Vegas has got an energy, pace and vibe that is all on it’s own in sheer size alone. “Over the top” is a great descriptor, to the point where the “act” becomes the “norm”. This city is perfectly geared for “Convention” goers… it’s all there and Vegas does house the LVCC, one of the world’s largest convention centers. I’d go to a conference there in a heartbeat. Will we visit again? Probably not on our own dime. We’re not sure exactly what we’d do on a second visit. Not because it wasn’t enjoyable, but we feel like we came, we saw, we conquered. No regrets, as we’re both so glad we had the opportunity to visit, explore and experience this desert mecca.