Las Vegas 24′ – Day 3

Feeling rested… 😴. Great accommodation at the Elara, where we relaxed after the show Sunday night, enjoyed the view, and put up our weary feet (averaging just shy of 20,000 steps a day). Today sees us venturing away from the Strip and North to Downtown Vegas and the Fremont St. area. Mission one, coffee ☕️! We decided to try another LavAzzo, and walk through the Horseshoe Casino as well. The coffees resurrected our spirits… all of a sudden we had our homework completed (Apps installed/Transport Tix Purchased) and morning planned.

Our resort touring continued in earnest this morning. Once again, a little bit of everything. We started at the Flamingo, even getting a chance to see a few of these feathered friends in the habitat they keep there🦩. I was reminded, by Ms Lumsden, that this was the bird, and not the scantily clad gals that fluff their “plume” at unsuspecting Chris’. Then to Harrah’s, the Linq (we loved the pedestrian street there), the Venetian (with it’s Italian themed architecture / gondolas) and the granddaddy, Caesar’s Palace! These properties are immense, laden with shops, accommodation, food service and of course, gambling opportunity of all manner (from VLT’s to SportsBooks). Fun to see… but one has to be prepared for things like noise, constant bling, and one we didn’t consider much, cigarette smoke!

We found something that saves us a few Vegas steps other than an Uber! 😂 What a treat. We boarded the Monorail near Harrah’s Casino and comfortably zipped along to the Sahara stop. A quick run to the mid strip area… tix were a convenient online purchase and cost $5.50 each. The only real shame in it is that it doesn’t continue further up the strip!

We got a great deal on accommodations this trip, but it came with the obligation of attending a time share presentation with Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV). Not our thing, but the actual presentation wasn’t bad… good info shared and something that we would possibly consider. However, not impulse buyers in the least, so another level of planning would definitely be required. It did, however, plant some seeds in regard to how much we pay for travel annually, and the idea that there are ways to control those costs. Lots to think about!

Since we had already surged north up the boulevard to attend the meeting, it seemed prudent to continue towards downtown Vegas. We walked to The Strat. This Casino comes outfitted with its own tower, rising to an impressive 1,000 ft. Pretty spectacular views that really put the geography of this desert valley into perspective. Janie went the extra floors to the top for some great photos that basically show how this huge plain is encircled by mountains in almost all directions. The inside proved a little “tired” in regard to technology, but an amazing vista!

Today we also grabbed “The Deuce”, part of the Regional Transportation Commission. The Deuce is a two level bus that specifically commutes up and down the strip… it’s efficient, quick, and economical. We used the stop just outside the Strat and got there easily. The route I had expected it to run was different (my bad) but it did terminate exactly where I had hoped. It’s well used, with most seating taken up on both our Northbound and Southbound trips. At $4 US a fare it’s a good deal in Vegas (we bought a couple of 24 hrs passes for $8 US each).

Then… the Fremont St Experience. Often referred to as “Downtown”, this part of city was the original site of Las Vegas. In particular, Fremont St looks like “party central”… an outdoor space made indoor by this totally tech enabled screen that covers the pedestrian area of an entire street (see photo). Once again, Casinos, drinking establishments, restaurants, street performers (we loved our evening cello player). Bonuses included zip lines through the middle, music everywhere, and continuous “bling”. As a top-down observation, Fremont somehow feels contained, focused, and less sprawling than the Strip. Oh, and I do like that vehicles are mostly out of the mix in this space.

So, while there, we cranked on visits to the Casinos again. The Downtown Vegas venues were old school… not of the “themed” variety, these casinos were all about the gamble. Some even highlighted small “gallery” areas where pieces from early gambling history and star studded photos adorned the walls / waiting areas. We hit up the Golden Nugget, Binions, Golden Gate, D Casino and Circa Resort floors. The patrons of Downtown, somehow, just seemed to be happier and more engaged in their visit than anyone we’d seen on the strip. Just a coincidence, perhaps!

And, of course, we need to do a Foodie Highlight Day 3! For us today, it was Saginaw’s Delicatessen . Located in the Circa Casino, we found some excellent reviews for one of our favorites… smoked meat. Our Montreal trips were laden with offerings from Schwartz’s & Dunn’s. Eerily, it was quiet there, which sometimes isn’t an excellent sign 😳! However, we ordered up the Royal Flush Rueben. When I saw the sauce on it I panicked (don’t go messing with the beef) but it was complimentary and tasted incredible. Served with homemade chips and a huge dill, it was, without a doubt, our best grub of the day.

After 5:00 PM (a good time to visit because we saved $20) we walked up the steps of the Mob Museum. Now for those of you who have followed along, Janie and I are museum junkies, across topics and even continents. We agreed, we’d never quite seen anything like the Mob Museum in Vegas as far as content. It was a solid visit, three floors of racketeering, looking at those who commit and those who enforce. Avoiding a larger group that tracked in just after us, we stepped back and slowed down, spending several hours digging into the history of Vegas, and then a broader American view of themes such as Prohibition, the Mafia, and even RICO cases. It was the good, the bad and the extremely ugly! 😳 Enjoyed everything from the interactive / static exhibits to the cellar speakeasy!

On Fremont we were privy to several indomitable events… such as a 350 lb gent making weight for a free meal at the Heart Attack Grill. How about the highly touted, painfully staccato plastic horse race at the Circa where “Nobody” won. She was yelling “Give me some horse” and he was yelling “Give me a dollar”… so funny! Or maybe this one… our rugged, prolifically tattooed waitress who, when she learned we were teachers, gave us the low down on her son who, after getting dropped off for good by Dad, was struggling to find his stride. She only wants what is best… welcome to Vegas Baby!

We ended our evening listening to a seasoned busker (without tap capability for tips) and looking over a busy Fremont St. at Hennessy’s Tavern, where refreshments flow freely. We spent the time planning for Tuesday, playing our game of finding familiar faces of folks we recognized from home and pretending we belong 😂. Commute home via the Deuce went perfectly. We got off a bit early to continue our marathon of steps. Gotta say, we enjoyed a great day in Vegas. Glass of wine and into the bunk!

… Las Vegas 24′ – Day 4