Las Vegas is one of those cities that has always appealed to me in an intriguing sort of way. It’s not a ‘conventional’ city by any definition; its wink is seductive, filled with opportunity, excitement and flash – where money is always on full display. The city can be overwhelming, especially for first time visitors. My first trip was in college. Stepping out of the plane into one of the terminals at Harry Reid International Airport, I remember laughing to myself seeing the slot machines as soon as I entered the airport. And once I arrived on the Vegas Strip, I recalled a dizzying array of lights, a never-ending rush from casino to casino, and exhaustion that set in after two almost all-night binges at exclusive clubs.
I’ve been back many times, always for short bursts, a couple of days at a time. While historically gambling has been one of the main draws to Las Vegas (and it still is), there are so many other attractions and activities. In addition to all the in-person casino options, there are also plenty of online casino options through Winbox login. Here are some of my highlights for spending two full days in Las Vegas.
I always stay off the strip since the hotels are a bit cheaper and I have learned that when I’m in Vegas, sleep is put on the back burner. One of the hotels I first discovered is Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall. The prices are reasonable, although regardless of what hotel you stay at, be aware taxes nearly double the base price of a room.
Some of the casinos on the strip are like self-contained cities in and of themselves. While there are many to choose from, and all offer their own unique play, one of my favorites is the Venetian. Built with an Italian theme, the interior boasts a canal, complete with a gondolier who offers romantic rides under an eternal twilight sky. And the canal flows under bridges and into “St. Mark’s Square”. Those who want to add “gondolier” to their resume can do so by enrolling in their Gondola University. Time spent here feels like a dream sequence than a real place – and at times it felt like we were on a movie set.
And in addition to all the shops appropriately called Grand Canal Shoppes and restaurants, The Venetian offers loads of slot machines and other card games. But when you are not gambling in person, check out Winbox, Malaysia’s Leading Online Casino, available anytime.
While perhaps not on the radar of most travelers to Vegas, I always enjoy a stop in Wally’s Las Vegas, wine shop. One of Las Vegas’s best kept secrets, they are located in the Resorts World on the north end of the strip. They offer more than 100 wines by the glass, an excellent and perhaps under-rated restaurant and a gourmet market. Oh, and they also offer free parking.
One must attend a live show while visiting Vegas. Each show is held in a different casino. During my last visit, I took in both KÀ and O. KÀ in particular is highly memorable. Filled with high energy, this performance is centered around a story, but it is not the story that dominates, rather the dazzling jumps, bright lights and amazing theatrical performance. And O is an enteral crowd favorite featuring mesmerizing acrobatic performances.
The ‘party’ is just starting after the show. Vegas is known for its nightclubs. One of our favorites is House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort. Tickets are coveted for certain events; in our experience outside lines to get in can be daunting. But your ‘key’ to entry is to have tickets secured ahead of time. Do not just show up and expect to get in.
And take one of your afternoons to make a quick trip outside of the city to visit one of America’s great national treasures, Hoover Dam. The drive takes about 45 minutes one way. Park in the main parking lot and then walk down to the top of the dam. If you walk across the dam you will walk into the state of Arizona. Each one of the generators you see at the bottom of the dam puts out enough wattage to power about 100,000 homes. The generators that are “on” are indicated by the lights on top of each generator. The lights will be lit when the generator is being used and more generators will be used typically during high demand periods such as in the afternoons during the summer, when more power is in demand. There is not enough water at Hoover Dam to power all the generators at the same time.
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So, as you can see, you can really pack in a plethora of activities during two full days in Las Vegas. Every time I leave, I’m exhausted but still running on adrenaline. I always catch the evening flight out to maximize my time; and when I look back as the plane takes off, I see the glittering lights, always pulsing, reminding me of the sleep I so need once I land back home. And reluctantly I always want more. But Vegas isn’t going anywhere and I’ll be back soon.
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