VEGAS

March – April, 2019

It was difficult leaving the new friends we had made at the RV Resort in Mesa.  In truth though, in the week or so after we had departed, the crew would be breaking up and heading back to their Summer homes in Calgary, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, and Michigan – we would have separated for at least a half year anyhow.  An impromptu party the night before we left, offers of “if you’re ever in the neighborhood stay with us”, and the pledge to see each other next Winter made the parting easier.  The texts that have been flying around between all of us in the month since we last played pickleball and drank a beer have reinforced our desire to stay in touch until we see each other again.

We’ve come to realize that Brian is much more comfortable staying on US Highways rather than State Highways or city roads when guiding Amiee through the rigors of the next leg of our journey started so long ago.  It’s just simpler.  The roads are better, there is construction but typically easy to maneuver through, and the exit numbers stay consistent – they’re mile indicators.

But as would happen there is no US Highway or combination of US Highways connecting the slightly more than 300 miles between Mesa and Las Vegas.  The route we mapped had us leaving the Mesa/Phoenix metroplex traffic on US Highway 10 to then pick up Arizona Route 93, which becomes Nevada Route 93/Interstate 11, which through Clark County and Las Vegas is Nevada Route 93/95/Interstate 515.  Arizona Route 93/Nevada Route 93/Interstate 11 is a truly beautiful ride through the rolling hills, mountains and flat plains of the Mohave Desert.

We enjoyed so much the Joshua Trees lining the road and as far as the eye could see.  Barbara is the eternal optimist to Brian’s cynical belief that the sky will indeed fall, so you’ll understand that when the GPS had no clue as to where we were, Brian figured we were doomed.  Barbara’s calm optimism and patience with Brian’s nonsense won out (anyone surprised?), and as we crossed into Nevada and approached the Hoover Dam the flat and rolling hills of the desert were replaced with spectacular views of volcanically formed, wonderfully colored landscapes.

The exit numbers changed once in Clark County confusing our GPS  yet a second time, and without an apology, it took us onto a dead-end street behind our campground with a cul-de-sac that was not large enough to accommodate our turning radius.  We had to drop our Jeep, back-up, and then proceed the last half mile.  By the time we settled into our site in the campground we were very glad we had found our way.

So let’s get Las Vegas out of our system right away so we can move on to better things in subsequent blogs.  The city was founded by the Mob and built on gambling and entertainment.  And it all works!  The average visitor never has to leave their hotel (or leave a section of town should they decide to venture out) to eat, drink, gamble, socialize, workout, play, be entertained, nap or just veg-out for a while and people watch… a brilliant and simple plan for a vacation.

By the way, and from our perception, every hotel or resort is referred to as a hotel and casino.  There are free- standing casinos, but we’re not sure there are many free-standing hotels to be found.

Downtown the action is all along Freemont Street, or The Freemont Street Experience as it is now referred.  Freemont Street has been closed off to vehicles in order to create a pedestrian mall that is approximately 1 mile or so in length.  All along the mall are some of the original, but certainly older casinos and hotels that all have multiple entrances into their casinos from the pedestrian mall.

Imagine also touristy museums and gift shops, street performers and panhandlers, music stages and performing artists; people believing you can hold up signs saying anything you’d like, marijuana dispensaries, restaurants like the Heart Attack Grill and Denny’s; and bars fronting the street, serving up oversized cans of beer and huge daiquiri’s and margaritas in souvenir plastic glasses.

Overhead is a system of ziplines referred to as slotzilla, because the riders appear to be jettisoned from a giant electronic slot machine about 5 stories above street level.  Above that is a screen on which moving and rotating images are projected – a pretty amazing after-dark light show.

All manner of humans manage to co-exist along the mall.  You’ll see bachelor and bachelorette parties, newly married couples still in their gowns and tuxes; homeless and those dressed to the nines; souls with as little on as they can manage and not get arrested, families with little kids (would you take your youngsters down there after dark?); grifters and clergy, security, police and scammers, couples walking hand-in-hand, friends together on vacation, and of course your average everyday retired older adults like us.  Daytime is considerably calmer and more sedate than after dark.  After dark the mall is a frenetic free-for-all.

The Strip is what most people think about when they think Las Vegas.  All the lights, glitz and glamor, the expensive hotels and casinos featuring top-name entertainment; celebrity chef restaurants, one of many Cirque Du Soleil performances, boxing and MMA stages, and the odd-ball and often risqué shows.

Let’s not forget the nightly outdoor entertainment:  the water show at the Bellagio, the volcano erupting at The Mirage, the pirate ship sinking at Treasure Island.  A visitor can watch the circus performances at Circus Circus.  The price?  A short walk along the Strip!  The High Roller at The Linq is also a Strip icon, but the cost of a ride is pricey.

Weekends are outrageously crowded; weekdays fairly tolerable.  Everyone is walking or driving or Ubering somewhere – maybe on the way to a show or for dinner, maybe looking for cheap eats or to get in line at a one of the Tix4Tonight booths along the Strip to score discounted tickets for a show, or just out for a walk to observe what everyone else is up to.  Compared to the Freemont Street Experience many more people are dressed as if they were going out for the evening; minimally business casual, but more than likely formal eveningwear.  Scantily dressed “showgirls” ask if you’d like a souvenir picture and are just part of the locals hustling to make a buck off the tourists.  The Strip is wonderfully and colorfully lit – truly a wonder to behold.  However, with your attention drawn in so many directions in order to see it all, it can be overwhelming.  The entrances to hotel and casinos are back from the roadway, and the energy of the street if entices a potential hotel guest or gambler to make a commitment to enter that particular venue.  Every hotel and casino has its own shopping mall, restaurants, bars, and attractions.  The Flamingo has a wildlife preserve with (you guessed it) flamingos; Cesar’s has an aquarium, an art gallery and a National Geographic photograph display; the Bellagio has a first class fine art gallery; New York New York has its own roller coaster, and the Aria has the City Center Art Gallery.   There are gondola rides at The Venetian, you can ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel for a great view of the city, bungee jump from the top of the Stratosphere Hotel Tower, or spend a day at the shark reef aquarium at The Mandalay Bay.  The same mix of tourists populate The Strip as those at the Freemont Street Experience.  But beware:  the days of free parking and $4.99 buffets are long gone.

For the record Brian didn’t play 1 hand of blackjack, make a bet on the roulette wheel,  throw the dice once at a crap table or pull the arm of a one-armed bandit.  We did indulge twice at the endless number of possible buffets, one that served traditional Passover foods.  We did walk the Strip a couple of times and we did stroll along with the throng of humanity at the Freemont Street Experience.  We did not have our picture taken with “showgirls” nor did we have an oversized can of beer or a huge daiquiri or margarita served in souvenir plastic glasses.

We did take in 1 very enjoyable show at which Brian and Barbara were called up to the stage separately.  Brian to help a scantily dressed young lady jump rope with her chewing gum, and Barbara to pull a swallowed sword from the throat of the performer.  With the locals so crazy about ice hockey we enjoyed seeing the T-Mobile Golden Knights Arena, and we thoroughly enjoyed a night at the new Las Vegas Ballpark watching the Aviators blow a 6 run lead only to win the game in the bottom of the 9th!

But there’s so much more to enjoy in the area than what is traditionally thought of as Las Vegas, and that’s where we spent the vast majority of our time.  Whether on the “best of what to do when in Las Vegas” lists, part of the lists of odd and unusual sites, or sought out because of our personal interest, we found terrific activities and adventures to keep us very, very busy.  Stay Tuned!

Barbara and Brian