Las Vegas…Sin City…City of Lights…Divorce Capital of the World…The City of Second Chances….Luck be a lady tonight…however you want to refer to it, this city shines like no other!
Hello…. My name is Sally….and I LOVE LAS VEGAS! Not sure where the cool factor is at on admitting this, but I’m confident enough in who I am to stand up for how I feel. It’s been a long, slow-brew relationship, but I would say it has definitely reached the stage of love. There is something incredibly sexy about the lights, the sounds, the sheer insanity, the excessive over-the-top energy pulsing through the streets, it’s oh so electrifying and contagious! Las Vegas has changed so much in the years since I first started visiting, which can be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing, but I always find myself enraptured by each new attraction as well as feeling that childlike excitement when I come across something from the old days of Sin City. All the gambling, dancing, dining, drinking, swimming, socializing, shopping, strolling, pampering, exploring, entertainment of every kind and then some, and if nothing else, good old-fashioned people watching! And thank the Lord Baby Jesus, since its beginnings in 1905, Vegas still maintains its status as the ultimate adults-only playground, which makes it even all the more desirable! And the icing on the cake…time and age are of no consequence here. Now that’s my kinda town!
Take your pick from the fabulously monstrous casino/hotels that line this 4.2 mile stretch of road famoulsly referred to as The Strip: MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay at one end, ALLLLLL the way down to The Wynn and Stratosphere at the opposite end. And as you continue your walk on the wild side, you will find yourself on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, which is a whole other universe in and of itself. The parade of neon signs, classic old timers such as Binion’s, the El Cortez and Golden Nugget, not to mention the nightly Fremont Street Experience light and music show. Have you ever walked THE ENTIRE STRIP? Do it sometime. The optical illusion met by the thought “it’s only a couple blocks away. I can see it from here.”
People come here from all over the world, escaping to this city to indulge in…whatever floats their boat. If you can imagine it, it can happen in Vegas. I have seen countless shows and concerts, comedians, magicians, Cirque du Soleils, all of them utterly fantastic. Watching a concert from inside the wave pool at the Mandalay Bay Beach Resort and then heading inside to the casino to play some roulette. Dancing the night away to the DJ with strangers in close quarters at Rouge Lounge inside the MGM after a concert at the Garden Arena. Renting a cabana at the pool of the Paris Hotel and Casino with a group of friends and spending the day lounging, laughing, eating and drinking poolside while ogling behind dark sunglasses. Watching the majestic dancing waters of the Bellagio Fountain. Sky rocketing up to the stars on a roller coaster or waving hello to them from a pod in the High Roller. Visiting an aquarium or shark reef. Strolling through downtown and stepping back in time as you wander through the surviving casinos of yesteryear, playing the slot machines at El Cortez where you can actually still pull the handle, perusing through vintage historical photos in the poker room of Binions, checking out the always outrageous street performers on Fremont Street. Stopping in the Golden Nugget for some pampering complete with catered snacks and bevvies. Spending the day exploring the depths and wonders of The Mob Museum, snapping millions of photographs at the Neon Boneyard or enjoying game after game at the Pinball Hall of Fame. Take a trip through the unassuming doors of downtown’s Golden Steer restaurant which has been serving savory delights with class to the likes of the Rat Pack, Elvis, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe since 1958 and treat yourself to a genuinely exquisite old school meal with 5-Star service. There is something for everyone here; never a shortage of deliciously wild, indulgent and/or devilish activities to choose from, it’s just a matter of what you’re looking for. It warms my heart to see this city bustling once again after the Great Recession. Busy streets, busy casinos, sold out shows, that’s the way Vegas should be!! The ever changing, morphing creativity and ingenuity of this city truly boggles my mind. It must be respected, if not loved. My Grandpa, the King of the Imperial Palace, must be one happy camper watching all the action from up above sitting back in his lounge chair in the sky. Viva Las Vegas and may the ghosts of the past always be there to retain the character and foundation this city was built upon.
Rouge Lounge in the MGM is one of THE BEST places to boogie down to a DJ in town.
The Mob Museum…my latest Las Vegas crush. This fascinating experiential museum will blow you away! A must-see on every visit to Vegas! Learning about the underworld can be great fun!
Who could visit Vegas without thinking about the infamous Rat Pack? They ruled this town back in the day. The Kings of Cool.
MGM Garden Arena is an excellent venue for large scale concerts. Not a bad seat in the house!
The Golden Steer…what a GOLD MINE of Las Vegas history. Everyone who was anyone ate here at one time or another. This is Elvis’ favortie booth that he would sit at while having dinner between shows down The Strip at the International. I honestly don’t know which is better..the food or the ambiance!?
The Pinball Hall of Fame is one of THE COOLEST places to spend an afternoon in Vegas. It’s a museum of the world’s largest pinball collection where you not only view games as old as 1948, but you get to play them as well! All revenues go to non-denominaitonal charities. How cool is that? This is Mike, he volunteers his time here all for the love of the game and he is standing in front of the first pinball machine he ever purchased, back in Atlantic City. What a great guy! What a fantastically fun place!
Downtown Las Vegas…jam packed with vintage neon, casinos, and more!
Ultimate inconic Las Vegas neon!
Neon heaven in Downtown Las Vegas!
My one and only real weakness in the casinos…the one armed bandit! GOD HOW I LOVE THESE THINGS! I sure do miss the days of being able to pull the arm AND watch your coins fall out of the bottom! LOVE IT!
Las Vegas history is unbelievably interesting. The good, the bad and the ugly. So cool!
A neon photo fanatic’s dream!
Can you just feel the energy?
Golden Nugget…a real classic!
Neon on Fremont Street
Benny Binion…need I say more?
The Fremont Street Experience light and music show. One of the trippiest, coolest uses of today’s cutting edge technology. The Doors’ show was outta sight!
One of the many interesting street performers along Fremont Street. He was dressed as a member of the band KISS. Love the boots…
Las Vegas early days…what a town!
The Strip…creativity and engineering at its finest.
A vintage slot machine displayed at The Mob Museum
You just never know who you might run into while you’re in Las Vegas!
Mandalay Bay Beach summer concerts are THE COOLEST way to see a show. EVER. You can sip on a beer or cocktail while frolicking in the resort’s wave pool or on the sandy beach. Doesn’t get much cooler than that, does it?
The Golden Steer Restaurant, a Las Vegas fixture since 1958. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You will not be disappointed!
Pampering your pup and your dogs at the same time…only in Vegas!
Art and magic… everywhere you look…
Insider Tip: check out the bands that play in the lobby bars..they are THE BEST! This one was at Mandalay Bay. They had a packed dance floor all night long. Awesome fun!
Time to start planning my next visit. Las Vegas…who loves ya baby?
Finding Sally 