Viva Las Vegas: Summing Up the Strip

Whoever called Paris the city of lights and New York the city that never sleeps, obviously never went to Las Vegas.

I hit the strip with my family last week—pretty untraditional compared to how most recently-turned-21-year-olds celebrate their birthday, but at least going with my parents meant I didn’t have to shack up in a Ho-Jo.

The jolly tunes of slot machines are still ringing in my ears. Vegas wastes no time, as the sound of gamblers losing money is the first thing you hear when you reach the airport. Getting a taxi was swift, even though the line looked like a zoo, and for under $15 you can get to the strip.

After reading reviews at TripAdvisor and checking hotel prices, we decided to stay on Fremont Street at the Golden Nugget. A cab ride will cost you about $20 to get there and it’s worth it for the cheaper accommodation. The Golden Nugget was a pleasant surprise, as the cream and gold hotel boasted two 24-hour Starbucks, quality restaurants, a buffet, a hip bar, and endless slots and casino tables. They just reopened their newly designed pool area, alongside which has an aquarium outfitted with sharks.

Though considered the tackier part of town, the nightlife (and daylife) surrounding the Nugget is certainly entertaining. A fabulous outdoor outlet center is just around the corner, with the likes of Eddie Bauer, Charlotte Russe, and Calvin Klein. The Main Street Station is up the road and between the microbreweries and fish-n-chips, you’ll taste Great Britain for under $12 each for a late lunch.

A light canopy hangs about 100 feet above the street on Fremont and a light show appears every hour after 6 p.m. Ignore the travel books; it’s worth checking out if you’re around, but it’s not impressive enough to rush back and see it.

People head to Vegas to escape their daily routine and with that in mind, don’t expect to find any remnants of reality. The entire day shifts when you’re in this part of the country, as 10:30 p.m. is dinnertime and midnight is the earliest time you’d head out to the bars or casinos. Although, any time of day is game for alcohol, as tourists stumble around freely with drink in hand, including yards of multi-colored daiquiris.

Vegas is the only city in the world I can think of where every tourist spot is a hotel. The Bellagio’s famous fountain, the Venetian’s manmade moat, and Caesar’s Palace’s classy casino has to be on your to-do list when you make your way to Vegas.

With my father from Liverpool, it was only natural the Harben clan would head to The Mirage for The Beatles Love: Cirque du Soleil. From the Union Jack on the ceiling to the rainbow of colors on the floor, even the entrance grabbed your attention.

The show was amazing as the seriously flexible performers danced on an equally flexible stage to over 25 Beatles songs. Original recordings from the Abbey Road Studios blared in complete surround sound as the audience was mesmerized by the trampoline-jumping, break-dancing, and roller-blading entertainers.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the explosion of visuals appearing not 20 feet ahead of me on stage. Confetti, oversized silk screens, and strings attached to swinging performers made the entire experience surreal, to say the least. At times it was grotesquely similar to a circus act, but it was “Cirque du Soleil,” after all. Here are some scenes from Love.

Some tips for walking the strip: avoid the heels and try not to get lost in the hotels. They build these casinos as labyrinths so you can’t find your way out, which in turn will make you spend more money—or so they think. I only pitched up six bucks for slot machines and lost it all.

The Dishes Buffet at Treasure Island proved to be worth the $15, with enough barbeque, Asian, Italian, and breakfast items to fill you up enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The desert aisle was overwhelming, with a bucket of malt balls, homemade ice cream, and a tree of cotton candy, to name a few of the delectable morsels available.

You’ll find all the clichés that you’ve been led to believe over the years about Las Vegas come true. Chances are you’ll spot an Elvis impersonator. There really is a buffet, wedding chapel, and slot machine on every corner. And the shows are unforgettable.

When you land back in your hometown after your trip, you’ll wonder if it had all been a dream. The sounds, the colors, and the lights will all stick with you. Whether you went for a drunken weekend of debauchery or with your parents, Vegas seems like a distant memory that you can’t help but crave more of.