THE STRIP, Las Vegas

Favorite thing: We decided that someone must've put some kind of Stoopid drug in the water, because 3 otherwise fairly intelligent women popped out with the damnedest statements after a couple of daze in Sin City.

Stoopid Comment #1
I awoke to a gloriously sunny day - bearing in mind, please, that we're in the Dark cycle back home in Alaska - and I was filled with admiration for the lovely blue sky. I felt all sorts of profound feelings, like the way a simliar quality of light inspired Cezanne to paint his masterworks, and led Georgia O'Keefe to her own personal vision. What came out was, "Gee the sun here is just so.....so SUNNY."

Stoopid Comment #2
Hilly was waxing eloquent about some guy problems she'd been having, and popped out with, "...and ya know, there just aren't any intuitive men." (LuLu & I of course cracked up.)

Stoopid Comment #3
Hilly's dad Dan was with us for the last couple of daze, and was soon affected by the same stoopid drug that had numbed our brains: "Hey, have you been in the Paris Casino? I was in there the other day, and do you know, they've got it decorated like you're in some street in France!" No duh.

3 more images

Favorite thing: Yes, you've heard it all before.

So, what's new but different about Sin City. We all have our stories and most of them have some tangy edge here and there.

But suffice it to say that Vegas is a phenom. It's an absurd iconoclastic environmental disaster and it's a kind of bizarre necessity in the world. It channels pure hope and elemental desires into a form people can access and believe - even for an instant - that they are truly wealthy and that everything's possible.

It has a certain undeniable allure... albeit a sometimes lurid one.

Fondest memory: So, what to do in Vegas? Here's my trip/tip.

Hit the strip at 10 pm Friday with the intention of dancing the night away. Get a couple of comp tickets to clubs from your hotel. If you're a hardcore club-hopper, there are VIP services that allow you to not only get in 'free' but jump the line, to boot.

The club scene is pretty wild. Very sexy but with it's own constraints, limits and rules. You have to kind of get the rules by gestalt, but in Mirage's JET lounge, there's this raised platform where tiny 20-nothing hott supermodel wannabes in tight, short dresses and high heels seductively touch and grind against one another to a primal beat, but it was specifically taboo for men to be directly involved. So, sexy wild AND safe-ish.

And with dawn ends the first night.

Saturday, poolside, in the spa, deep relaxation of whatever sort you choose.... until the evening when an early Cirque du Soleil show followed by a late supper (or vice versa) makes for a romantic and luxurious interlude.

Sunday: fly home.

You can also gamble legally.

Favorite thing: No difference between day and night here. Same dense traffic, crowdy streets, shops are always open...
Where else on earth would you allow your 16 and 18 years old kids to walk in the street on their own after midnight?
Las vegas Strip is perfectly safe!

Favorite thing: There are so many things here competing for your attention you may not know where to start. Keep your wits about you, decide what your priorities are and know your limits. If you come for the gambling, really know your limits. And at least try to get out of the casinos occassionally to enjoy our other stuff.

Fondest memory: When I'm traveling, the one thing I miss most about LV is the fact that this is the real 24 hour town. I like being able to to out to eat at 10-11p without any problems. Most of the cities I visit really seem to be very limited on choices for dinner at 11p. After living here for a while, it almost seems like all the other cities close up tight after 9pm

4 more images

Favorite thing: Las Vegas is busiest at night and lights up transform it to the magic city. Near the center Strip the sidewalks are crowded.

Fondest memory: The high powered lights and neon are everywhere. Neon signs have become a Las Vegas art form.

It gives Las Vegas the unique atmosphere.

4 more images

Favorite thing: 'The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County.' It's one of the most popular destinations for tourists.

Fondest memory: Most of the attractions and shows on the Strip are located on the hotel casino properties and make Las Vegas the world's most exciting city.

Favorite thing: To get a feel of Las Vegas I recommend a walk down the strip at night. The streets are filled with people. You can buy some beer and just walk and drink and have a good time.
You are not obligated to go anywhere but yet you can go everywhere. You can visit the hotels and let their themes take you to a different place, whether it is Paris or Egypt . You can go on the rollercoaster in NY NY, or go on a gondola ride in Venice.

Fondest memory: Las Vegas gives me a sense of freedom. It is a break from the reality of 9-5.
It is known for its excitment and for a little naughtiness even.

4 more images

Favorite thing: If you want to see the hotels and casinos on the strip, plan where you want to go first. The strip is very long and the distance between the casinos must not be underestemated. Use the monorail if possible, or take your car. -
If you want to see the shows or extras, make sure you know when they start. We waited for 45 minutes at the vulcanos eruption, and that's a long time to be standing on the sidewalk! The show at the Treasure island is fun to see. So is the musical fountain at the Bellagio and the talking fountain inside Caesers. Don't fall for the gondola ride. It is a real tourist trap. Than again, that's Las Vegas!

Favorite thing: Walk from one end of the Strip to another. You will see all of the major casino's and restaurants. As you walk, Elvis's will be singing, certain hotels have outdoor attractions, and the lights are incredible.

Fondest memory: Watching the fountains outside of Bellagio. This is a casino that has a fountain show either every hour or half our to a couple of different songs.

4 more images

Favorite thing: Las Vegas is truly in a recession mode as most casino complexes in the strip areas and some other complexes charges a daily resort fee that is included in your hotel bill and these resort fees charges differ per establishment like the wynn will charge you a $ 20 resort fee per day and the bellagio will charge you a $ 18 resort fee and others like the excalibur charge you an $ 15 resort fee that covers things like unlimited local and long distance calls (excluding international calls), unlimited wireless internet connections, use of the gymn and pools and other extras. I personally thinks this resort fees are rip offs but is an added cost when you want to stay in vegas.

for a listing of the various resort fees, please see the website below.

www.resortfees.com/las-vegas/

Fondest memory: the many resort fees being charged by most casino complexes in the las vegas areas