When most people think of Las Vegas, they think of the hotels, the casinos, the gambling, and losing all their money; however, for me, Las Vegas – the city that never sleeps – is home. The past 9 years of my life has been spent in a city where most people go & assume residents live in the hotels. A place where you can’t go to a bowling alley or a movie theater, without going through a casino first. I live in a place where most places are open 24/7. The thing is, that’s not how I see Vegas, whatsoever.
My vision of Vegas is that it’s a town that gets over looked. Yes, we do have the strip & downtown areas that are fantastic for tourists, but would I recommend going there instead of other places? Not really. Around Las Vegas, we have many different places to explore. Not even 20 miles from the strip is Red Rock Canyon, which probably has some of the most spectacular views & hikes around. We also have Mt. Charleston, that is not even a 45 minute drive up the highway. That’s where us Vegas people get our feel for trees, grass, and snow – something we don’t really get in the desert. Surrounding the city, you will find that it takes less than 5 hours to get to the many national parks on the west coast. Now, I mean who would rather lose all their money gambling in a smelly casino instead of taking a refreshing hike in the great desert?
The people in Las Vegas make our city what it is. Whether they be the hobos on Fremont Street, the impersonators that say it is free to take a picture with them but always expect a tip, the thousands of people that dress up like Elvis each weekend, the people that hand out inappropriate cards to anyone who looks legal, or even all the drunk tourists everyone makes fun of. All of those people make Las Vegas, and the memories people have in this city, what it is.
Sin City is known for the clubs, bars, restaurants, and attractions. Don’t listen to the reviews. To have a good time in Vegas, go get an In-n-Out burger (only a west coast thing), walk Fremont, take a picture with Elvis, and just go adventure. Setting up a schedule and having a plan, never works out. Las Vegas isn’t exactly a normal big city, things change day to day, so if you’re visiting Vegas, just be prepared to relax & go with the flow.
Las Vegas is home to me. Yeah, maybe it usually is a vacation spot. And yes, most of the stuff to do is for ages 21 & over. But I love the city I’ve grown up in, & wouldn’t change a thing.
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