OK, Lets Talk About Vegas

Vegas was wonderful. 

If any of you choose to visit Vegas via RV then we have to recommend the park we stayed in.  It is aptly called the ‘LasVegas RV Resort’ on S. Nellis Road.   It is located a block from Sams Town Casino (one of the big ones not on the strip, on Boulder Highway instead).  The park was $30 night, beautiful, lovely pool and spa, gym, laundry, dog runs, coffee, office centre etc, etc.  Everything you would expect in a 5* hotel.  We could have stayed at the Sams Town RV park and saved $10 but no pool/spa or extras.  Well worth the extra.  We met many ‘seniors’ at our multiple visits to the pool (middle 90s F.) and got the low down on all the best deals in town.

On Sunday we had a Prime Rib buffet at Arizona Charlie’s Casino and Hotel.  After the inside scoop from the pool gossip group we qualified for the Senior’s discount, the Club Player Discount and the 25% off special coupon.  It all turned into two dinners with two Bud Lights for $21, taxes in.  These seasoned RVers know the ropes of Vegas!  The meal was incredible, melt in your mouth Prime Rib and Kyle was the winner of all the trimmings.

We walked the strip on Saturday, played some slots, won a free lunch but most of all we watched the people.  Vegas has tried to make itself a ‘Family Destination’.  In my opinion they have failed, for a host of reasons that I will keep to myself but I cannot recommend bringing small children here.  It truly was fun seeing the Bridal Groups in their loud T shirts announcing the end of another young lady’s or man's single life and the excitement of people really having a good time with each other.  At home, gambling just seems wrong, but here it truly fits and is fun.

Kaye made a big deal out of telling the folks at the pool how much I loved cars.  They of course said that we should not miss the Imperial Casino’s Car Museum.  She agreed.  What that meant was; I got to drive her to the massive South Vegas Outlet Mall and drop her off.  I was then given the options of; Three, Four or Five hours to come back and pick her up.  Have a nice day, ‘Dear’.  As much as I love cars, I figured the three hour option would be the easiest on my bank account.  I think I was right.

Kaye announced with pride that she did not spend a penny on tacky tourist souvenirs but she won’t discuss the Outlet Mall other than to model some very lovely new ‘stuff’.  Nuff said or I am going to get wacked.

The museum is a must for all my car buff friends.  $10 or free with a coupon.  Of course I had a coupon, thanks again to the ‘pool group’.  All of the cars in the museum are; ‘For Sale’, for the right price, except a very select few like Johnny Carson’s $1 donation of his dad’s original 39 Chrysler (Fully Restored).  One of the first cars to really catch my eye was a 57 T Bird Convertible (know anybody who loves convertibles?), I reached for my wallet out of instinct and was shocked to find that all my credit cards were missing.  Kaye is a very smart lady.  Link to the Photo Album.

Vegas is in a worst state than Reno was in 2010.  Foreclosures are still growing and everything is 'For Sale'.  I took pictures of whole malls for sale and others that have only the brand name store still open and everything else deserted.  Sad. The bottom has not been reached according to the locals.  We met an unemployed union carpenter at the dog park who told us very sad stories of the economics.  Real Estate is dirt cheap.  Only thing booming is RV Resorts for retired Canadians and Northern USA folks with money!

When Kaye was here four years ago she had to fly home on New Year’s Eve and missed a trip to Old Vegas (Freemont Street) and the new overhead light show.  We were ordered to see it by the ‘pool group’.  I messed up and forgot my Japanese Tourist Camera Bag so no sooner had I filmed the Overhead Lights and the Zip Line and the batteries died.  You are probably tired of my pictures by now anyway.   You have to see this.  It is Marti Gras every night.  There were two live bands, an incredible Blues Jazz sax player, dozens of costumed actor wantabees and some really talented artistic artists.  A true 'Must See' if you visit Vegas.  Link to a short video. We went to the original Golden Nugget Saloon, which I visited 25 years ago and sat at the same bar, played $.25 poker and had a beer!

"Buddy"

It is a shame that they still allow smoking in the casinos (Sams Town had a small ‘No Smoking’ section whose slots paid for our dinner) because trying to rebrand themselves as Family Adventures just doesn’t work well in a smoky atmosphere with scantily clad bar maids.

 We stayed two extra nights, enjoyed some really good ‘down’ time and had fun. Kyle loved the leash-less dog lovers park and we loved taking him there.  We met many other dog lovers with stories that we will get to tell for years.  We even taught one man’s dog to fetch, something ‘Buddy’ had never done for ‘David’.

The heat is going to break into the three diget numbers this week so we are going to hit the road.  We are going to avoid the interstate again and wind our way towards Salt Lake City on the two lane roads and explore.  Let you know tomorrow how we make out.