My first out-of-state trip since permanently residing in the California a little over two years ago took me to the heart of the Silver State: Las Vegas, Nevada. From the afternoon of 14 November 2018 to the evening of 16 November 2018, I explored the city with a lot of nicknames. This trip was the second leg of my three-leg #novembernomad tour. The first leg was a short drive to see Old Sacramento and the Sacramento Capitol District. A trip to New York would complete the travel trilogy for my birth month.
In this blog post, I retrace my steps as I visited the 28th most populous American city. For more of our photos in Las Vegas, you may follow us on social media:
It was relatively easy for me to get to Las Vegas from my hometown in Stockton, California. Allegiant Air provides has direct flights from Stockton to Las Vegas. I scored a $50 one-way ticket and added $18 for a carry-on luggage, a great deal. I went with my cousin Jonathan, who is visiting out of Cebu City, Philippines.
A City of Nicknames
Las Vegas has a lot of nicknames. Among it's nicknames are Sin City, the City of Lights, Gambling Capital of the World, the Entertainment Capital of the World, Capital of Second Chances, the Marriage Capital of the World, Silver City, the City of Lost Wages, and America's Playground.
Sin City
The old Las Vegas reputation is of it being Sin City. That is because it can offer any vice available to it's visitors. Whether it be drinking, gambling, or prostitution. Yes folks, all these still happen in Vegas to date.
City of Lights
Along with Paris, France, Las Vegas is also known as a City of Lights. Neon lights of old litter Downtown Las Vegas and newer LED-lighted signs abound in The Strip. Many shows also use some form of light as a feature such as the Bellagio water and lights show, The Luxor light beam, and the Mirage Volcano eruption.
Neon Capital of the World
Neon signs are the most iconic art form of the Las Vegas of old. Even to this day when more modern LED lights have become the norm, neon signs still abound in Vegas specially in the downtown area. To preserve this art form, there is a Neon Museum in Las Vegas. Take a look at some of the neon signs in Las Vegas:
Neon cowboy between Fremon Street Experience and Fremont East
Lady Luck neon sign at Fremont East
Gambling Capital of the World
When one mentions Las Vegas, the quickest association one can make is casinos. Las Vegas is literally populated with casinos specially in the downtown area and The Strip. You see slot machines right at the airport. I've also seen slot machines everywhere outside casinos.
Jonathan at the airport
That's me at the airport.
Entertainment Capital of the World
While it started with Sin City as it's main reputation, Las Vegas has somehow transformed itself to become a more inclusive destination. While all the gambling, drinking, and adult entertainment is still alive and rampant, Vegas has attracted family crowds and those who just want good, clean, fun. Resident shows have drawn crowds who want to see celebrities of the present and the past on stage. Back to the days when Elvis Presley broke every attendance record there was, Vegas currently has resident shows for Gwen Stefani, Cher, Backstreet Boys, Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and Lady Gaga.
Capital of Second Chances
The draw of winning huge sums of money probably gave Vegas the nickname of being the capital of second chances. That's because winning big will definitely revive dreams one has shoved into oblivion because they can't afford it.
Marriage Capital of the World
Las Vegas has a section of it's downtown they call Wedding Chapel Row. That's because that part of the city is literally littered with wedding chapels. Vegas is infamously known to issue marriage licenses so easily, one can actually obtain it within one day of filing an application. No wonder it is referred to as the marriage or wedding capital of the world.
Silver City
Nevada is nicknamed the Silver State, thanks to a silver rush in the mid-1800's. Being the largest city in Nevada might have earned Las Vegas the Silver City nickname.
City of Lost Wages
This sounds a lot like Las Vegas! One can get lost in the promise of a jackpot win and too soon forget they may already have a gambling problem. Many men and women hoped of coming to Vegas and winning big but in the end lost all their hard-earned money because, well, the house always wins. Casinos are businesses and they must stay profitable to remain afloat. The odds of winning are slim and one must gamble only money he or she can afford to lose.
America's Playground
A visit to Las Vegas screams F-U-N in big bold letters. While many cities claim to be America's playground, Las Vegas definitely has some legitimacy to that claim.
The City That Never Sleeps
Along with New York City, Las Vegas is also known as a city that never sleeps. Casinos run 24 hours. Many restaurants are open 24 hours. Night clubs are busiest in the wee hours of the night and into late dawn.
The Ninth Island of Hawaii
Another nickname for Las Vegas is the Ninth Island of Hawaii. This is because a lot of Hawaiians have moved to the city. Las Vegas and Clark County has a significant Hawaiian population.
Bone Yard
Bone Yard was with reference to all the abandoned construction projects in Las Vegas when it was hit hard with the financial crises. As the economy is currently picking up, more construction is actually happening and some of the old projects may resume activity as well.
First Things First: What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas
You have heard that phrase too often alongside any mention of Las Vegas: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! Dear readers, this will not be true for me on this trip. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to share to you what I did in Las Vegas.
A City of Witty Slogans
I do want to add one more nickname to this city based on what I saw: Las Vegas is also a City of Witty Slogans. And the following photo-diary of some shots I took will explain why I gave Vegas that new nickname.
Prime lineup: We got no beef with a great steak
Before coming, consult your doctor. Before returning, consult your psychiatrist
Entire store 80% off
(In finer print: A few exceptions apply)
Thirst down
Runs battered in
United we stand pint in hand
Put some south in ya mouth
Friends are born here.
(If you get the joke.)
The steaks are high
Your grandma used to gamble here. How else do you think she met your grandpa?
30 days. We have steaks aged longer than your last relationship.
Education is important, beer is importanter.
Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
Don't tell mama
(That's a clever name for a piano bar.)
Not everything stays in Vegas
First Stop: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum
When we got to the Las Vegas airport, I knew I had to visit the aviation museum. Or at least I had to see the aircraft that holds the record for the world's longest manned flight.
World Endurance Flight
The highlight of the airport museum hangs atop Baggage Claim 1: a Cessna 172 aircraft. It is the very same aircraft that holds the longest non-stop manned flight to this day. Dubbed the World Endurance Flight, it broke the record in January 1959.
World Endurance Flight aircraft
Also on display at the museum was a red Thunderbird sports car.
Red Thunderbird on display at the Las Vegas Aviation Museum
Me posing with the red Thunderbird.
Jonathan posing with the red Thunderbird.
Second Stop: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
From the airport, we hailed a Lyft ride to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Installed in 1959, the sign is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.
Third Stop: Harley Davidson Las Vegas
After snapping a few photos as the welcome sign, we then walked to Harley Davidson Las Vegas. We really didn't do much here except buy bottled water and wait for our bus that will take us downtown.
Our Tour Ticket: Big Bus Tours
Prior to arriving at Las Vegas, I booked a tour package from isango. The package was a 3-day hop-on, hop-off pass on Big Bus Tours. The package also included a night tour and a ticket to the Eiffel Tower observation deck at the Paris Hotel Las Vegas.
Fourth Stop: Plaza Hotel and Casino
Prior to arriving, I booked a three-night stay at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas. We were give a room on the 20th floor with good views of Clark County.
Plaza Hotel and Casino
Plaza Hotel was also right across the Golden Gate, the oldest hotel in Las Vegas. It has operated since 1906 when it opened as Hotel Nevada.
Golden Gate Hotel in Downtown Las Vegas
Day 1 Dinner: Manchu Wok
We settled for Chinese food for our first day dinner. At the Plaza Hotel food court, we ordered combination plates at Manchu Wok. Not the best meal we had in Vegas but the price was reasonable.
Three-item plate at Manchu Wok
Fifth Stop: Fremont Street Experience
After dinner, we went to the Fremont Street Experience which was right across the Plaza Hotel and Casino. The Fremont Street Experience was a 5-block pedestrian-only stretch of Fremont Street with an overhead canopy. The sides are lined up with hotels, casinos, bars, souvenir shops, and other commercial shops. On Fremont Street itself were entertainers of various art forms. The atmosphere reminded me of the party scene in my homeland of Cebu City in the Philippines.
Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas
Recreational marijuana activist at Fremont Street
Jonathan at Fremont Street Experience
Jonathan at Fremont Street Experience
Here's a short clip from the Fremont Street Experience:
Viva Vision Light Show
One of the highlights of the Fremont Street Experience is the Viva Vision Light Show which is shown on the overhead canopy. Formatted like a music video, images are projected on the canopy measuring 1500 feet long and 90 feet wide.
Photo with $1,000,000
We took advantage of a free opportunity to take our photos with a stash of $1,000,000 at Binion's Gambling Hall. Each person is allowed one photo and the processing takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Our photo with $1,000,000
Vegas Vic
One of the remnants of the Las Vegas of old was the Vegas Vic installation on Fremont Street. Only a shade of it's former glory, the art piece no longer operated as it did. It is no longer lighted, no longer waves it's hand, and no longer speaks.
Vegas Vic at Fremont Street Experience
Sixth Stop: Fremont East Experience
To cap our first day in Vegas, we went past the Fremont Street Experience and crossed to the Fremont East Experience. The highlight was a visit to the giant praying mantis at the Downtown Container Park and a photo with Lady Luck.
Giant praying mantis at Downtown Container Park in Fremont East
Fremont East Experience in Downtown Las Vegas
Day 2 Breakfast: Brightside Cafe
For breakfast on our second day, we went to Brightside Cafe which is within Plaza Hotel and Casino. Prices were reasonable at this cafe: $9.99 for a burger and beer and $7 for a 7-item breakfast plate that had 2 bacon strips, 2 waffles, 2 eggs, and a sausage.
Burger and beer
$7 for 7 breakfast
Seventh Stop: Gold and Silver Pawnshop
We hopped on our tour bus later in the morning of our second day in Las Vegas. Our first stop for the day was at Gold and Silver Pawnshop of Pawn Stars television fame. Inside, a portrait of Marilyn Monroe caught my attention. Another thing that drew my attention were artworks by Pablo Picasso. Here are some photos of the Picasso artworks:
Pablo Picasso artwork at Gold and Silver Pawnshop
Pablo Picasso artwork at Gold and Silver Pawnshop
Pablo Picasso artwork at Gold and Silver Pawnshop
Pablo Picasso artwork at Gold and Silver Pawnshop
Eighth Stop: Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas Sign and Stratosphere Hotel and Casino
After snapping a few photos at Gold and Silver Pawnshop, we decided to walk towards the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino rather than wait for the next bus for a half hour. We thought it ws going to be a short walk because we could see the Stratosphere Tower from where we were. But it seems like it just appeared close because of it's enormity.
Stratosphere Tower
We marveled at the enormity of the Stratosphere Tower. At 1,149 feet, it is the tallest structure in the whole of Nevada. It is also the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States and the second tallest in the western hemisphere after the CN Tower in Ontario.
Stratosphere Tower
Stratosphere Tower
Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas
A few weeks prior to our visit, a new welcome sign was installed at the southern limits of the City of Las Vegas. The installation across the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino featured gambling paraphernalia and lady figures in burlesque costumes.
Welcome to the City of Las Vegas
Welcome to the City of Las Vegas
Welcome to the City of Las Vegas
Ninth Stop: Treasure Island
From the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, we again hopped on the the tour bus to get to The Strip. We made a restroom stop at the Slots-a-Fun Casino at the Circus Circus Hotel. We hopped off the bus at the Treasure Island stop. This was the starting point where we did a lot of walking in the Las Vegas Strip.
Trivia: The Strip is Not Part of Las Vegas
Before I proceed with our walking tour of The Strip, here's a bit of trivia. While The Strip is what a lot of people actually associate with Las Vegas, it is technically not part of the City of Las Vegas. It is located in the unincorporated communities of Paradise and Winchester in Clark County, Nevada.
More Trivia: The Las Vegas Strip is the Most Visited
The Las Vegas Strip is the world's most visited tourist attraction. It attracts some 39.6 million visitors a year.
Outside Treasure Island, we snapped photos with pirate ships in our background. We later found out that these pirate ships actually staged pirate battles on a nightly basis. This has so far been discontinued. That would have been a spectacle to watch.
Treasure Island pirate ship
That's me at Treasure Island Las Vegas
That's me at Treasure Island Las Vegas
Tenth Stop: Wynn Hotel
From Treasure Island, we crossed over to the Wynn Hotel. Right outside the Wynn Hotel was a water feature: The Lake of Dreams. We snapped a few photos and moved on.
Me outside the Wynn Hotel
Waterfalls at Wynn Hotel
Lake of Dreams at Wynn Hotel
Jonathan outside the Wynn Hotel
Eleventh Stop: Palazzo and The Venetian
After a few snaps outside the Wynn Hotel, we crossed the pedestrian bridge to get to the Palazzo and The Venetian, the second largest hotel in the world. Inspired by the Italian city of Venice, Many of the features of the Palazzo and The Venetian are replicas of attractions in Venice. There were gondolas, painted ceilings, Italian restaurants, a recreation of the Grand Canal, a building facade inspired by the Doge's Palace design, replicas of the Rialto Bridge and the Bell Tower, and various sculptures.
Rialto Bridge replica at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Campanile di San Marco replica at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Sculpture at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Gondolas at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Painted ceiling at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Balcony at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Balcony at the Palazzo and The Venetian
Building facade at the Palazzo and The Venetian
(inspired by Doge's Palace facade)
Twelfth Stop: The Mirage
After spending some time in the Palazzo and The Venetian, we crossed the road towards The Mirage. There we again marveled at the exquisite water feature. Note that we are in the middle of the Mojave Desert. While Las Vegas seems like it has all these extravagant water features, I've been told much of the water used are recycled.
Outside The Mirage
Jonathan outside The Mirage
Me outside The Mirage
Water feature at The Mirage
Thirteenth Stop: The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace
We continued into the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace further down South Las Vegas Boulevard. The design was inspired by ancient Rome. Popular features include a reflecting pool, Neptune's Fountain, the Fountain of the Gods, the Fall of Atlantis show, and various sculptures. Right outside the Forum Shops is a recreation of the Trevi Fountain and right beside is a replica of the Colosseum.
Fountain of the Gods
The Fall of Atlantis show
Trevi Fountain replica
Neptune's Fountain
Jonathan at the Trevi Fountain replica
Trevi Fountain replica
Fourteenth Stop: High Roller and Linq Promenade
Our next stop was at the Linq Promenade where we looked for a place to eat late lunch. It was already about 4 in the afternoon by then. Towering over the promenade was the High Roller, the world's tallest Ferris wheel at 550 feet and a diameter of 520 feet.
Me at the LINQ Promenade with the High Roller in the background
Fifteenth Stop: Jaburritos
Lots of walking makes you hungry and indeed we were. We stopped by Jaburritos at the LINQ Promenade to grab a bite. Jaburritos is a Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant serving sushi-burritos. We ordered their rice bowls and had a good fill.
Rice bowl at Jaburritos
Rice bowl at Jaburritos
Day 2 Lunch: Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
After a good lunch, we proceeded to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat next door. Of course the highlight of the habitat were Chilean flamingos among many other animal species. There were California brown pelicans, water turtles, Mandarin ducks, hooded mergansers, hummingbirds, albino channel catfish, koi fish, wood ducks, red-crested pochards, ringed teals, and northern shovelers.
Chilean flamingos at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Sixteenth Stop: Paris Hotel Las Vegas
Paris Hotel Las Vegas was our next stop. As it's name suggests, the hotel's design is inspired by the French capital city of Paris. There's a replica of the Eiffel Tower, Pont Alexandre III bridge, and the Arc de Triomphe.
Pont Alexandre III
The walkway leading to the general admission deck of the Eiffel Tower replica is another replica of a Paris landmark: the Pont Alexandre III bridge.
Jonathan at the Pont Alexandre III bridge replica
Montgolfier Balloon
A prominent feature outside the Paris Hotel is the Montgolfier Balloon replica.
Montgolfier Balloon at Paris Hotel
Eiffel Tower
Our tour package included a ticket to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower replica. The experience afforded us great overhead views of Las Vegas. The Strip's Eiffel Tower rendition was a half-scale replica of the original in Paris, France.
Eiffel Tower replica
View from the Eiffel Tower observation deck
View of the Bellagio from the Eiffel Tower observation deck
The highlight of the experience was witnessing the Bellagio Fountains water and light show from above. I filmed a few videos of the show.
Seventeenth Stop: Las Vegas Night Tour
A night tour ticket was also included in our tour package and we took advantage of it. After our time at the Eiffel Tower observation deck, we went back to the LINQ promenade to catch our night tour bus. The guided tour crawled through The Strip before heading to the Golden Nugget Hotel downtown.
Mirage Volcano Eruption
The tour bus stopped by The Mirage so we could witness the eruption of the volcano. Sure enough, I filmed a video of the eruption before my phone died out. Talk about luck!
Day 2 Dinner: Brightside Cafe
When the tour bus stopped at the Golden Nugget for its Fremont Street Experience stop, we decided to call it a night. Hungry, we went straight to Brightside Cafe and ordered their $9.95 steak. Always served well done, it wasn't the best of steaks. If the meat was just more tender, it would have been a better value for money.
Day 3 Brunch: Zaba's Mexican Grill
My cousin Jonathan left for New York early on 16 November 2018 so I was by myself for that day. To start the day, I had breakfast at the Plaza Hotel food court. This time I tried on some Mexican Food at Zaba's Mexican Grill. Zaba's was a local restaurant and I'm always happy to eat local wherever I am. I had a rice bowl with fried breaded fish fillet as the entree. For appetizers, I ordered some jalapeño balls. While the food was nothing to really rave about, it was a decent meal.
Zaba's Mexican Grill
Rice bowl with breaded fish fillet
Jalapeño balls
Eighteenth Stop: Day Tour
On my last day in Las Vegas, I hopped on the tour bus for the day tour. The bus went around Downtown Las Vegas and all the way to the southernmost end of The Strip. I snapped photos of whatever I can find interesting. Here are some of those photos:
Federal Courthouse
New York, New York
Excalibur Hotel
The Luxor
Leo the Lion
Biggest Coca-cola bottle in the world?
Nineteenth Stop: Pai Gow Poker at 4 Queens
Hey, I'm in Vegas. I'm supposed to be gambling even for just the slightest bit. So for the afternoon of November 16, I withdrew $100 and sat down at a Pai Gow Poker table at 4 Queens in Fremont Street.
The House Always Wins
The house always wins. That saying must be true most of the time. And well, the house wins and I lost. There was no first timer's luck for me. But it was fun!
Plans for a Future Visit
Three days is too short a time to explore Las Vegas. So a few weeks removed from my first visit to Las Vegas, I already look forward to going back someday. And following are my plans for my future trips:
Visit the many wedding chapels.
Tour the Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada.
Swing to Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona.
Shop at the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.
Watch some shows at The Strip.
Visit the Bellagio.
Visit the Wynn Hotel.
Explore the display at Harley Davidson.
Explore the Hawaiian Marketplace.
See the Hand of Faith Golden Nugget display.
Shop at the Bonanza Gift Club.
Ride the High Roller.
Shop at the Downtown Container Park and witness the Giant Praying Mantis ritual.
Visit the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino.
Visit the Excalibur Hotel and Casino.
Visit the Luxor Hotel and Casino.
Explore more of downtown Las Vegas.
Go on top of the Stratosphere Tower.
Gamble at El Cortez Hotel and Casino.
Visit the pool at Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino.
Shop at the Grand Bazaar Shops.
Watch a fashion show at Fashion Show Mall.
Ride a gondola at The Venetian.
Shop at the Grand Canal Shoppes.
Visit The Mirage.
Watch the Fall of Atlantis show at The Forum Shoppes at Caesar's Palace.
Visit The Cosmopolitan.
Visit the Aria Resort and Casino.
Visit Park MGM.
Visit Television City at MGM Grand.
Visit the Mob Museum.
Visit the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
Visit the Erotic Heritage Museum.
Visit the Neon Museum.
Eat at the Heart Attack Grill.
Witness the Swarovski Starburst at Bally's.
Visit Planet Hollywood.
Visit the Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and Gardens.
Visit the Mandalay Bay.
Visit the Silverton Hotel.
Visit Treasure Island.
Visit the Clark County Museum.
Visit the Nevada State Museum.
Visit the Lion Habitat Ranch.
Visit Casa de Shenandoah.
Visit Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens.
Visit the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village.
Visit the National Atomic Testing Museum.
Visit the Old Las Vegas Historic Mormon Fort.
Visit the Pinball Hall of Fame.
Visit the Springs Preserve.
Piss on the Berlin Wall at Main Street Station.
Visit Dig This Las Vegas.
Visit Axe Monkeys.
Eat buffet meals around Las Vegas.
Watch some naughty adult shows.
Ride a helicopter around Las Vegas.
Visit the Red Rock Canyon.
Drop by Symphony Park.
Explore the Las Vegas Art District.
Drop by the Las Vegas City Hall.
Watch a boxing match live.
Watch the Las Vegas Golden Nights play a live NHL game at the T-Mobile Arena.
Watch the Las Vegas Raiders play a live NFL game at the Las Vegas Stadium.
Watch the Las Vegas Aces play a live WNBA game at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Watch the Las Vegas 51s play a live MiLB game at the Las Vegas Ballpark.
Watch the Las Vegas Lights FC play a live USLC game at the Cashman Field.
Explore Bonnie Springs Old Nevada.
Explore Chinatown.
Explore Clark County Wetlands Park and Nature Center.
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