“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” – is what people say but today I am going to break this tradition and share my experiences of this city.
I moved to the US in late December last year. It was almost Christmas and the city of Los Angeles was already lit up like a star studded sky. The yards had been decorated with Christmas trees, snowmen and colorful lights. My husband showed me around the city and I was left in awe. Soon, he gave me a surprise about a plan for us going on a road trip to Vegas during the upcoming weekend. I had this childlike excitement while packing my bags for the 4-day trip. So far I had only heard and seen about it in movies but now I was finally going to experience it.
We started early in the morning since it’s a 6-7 hour drive with traffic. Las Vegas is nestled in the Nevada desert. Hotels, casinos, nightclubs, and restaurants all vie for space among the neon and glitz in this ‘City of Sin’ (the so-called father of sin cities in this world). While driving to Vegas, we were amazed by beautiful snow-capped mountains on one side and lush green fields on either side of the road. After a long drive and a few stops to soak in the mesmerizing views & lunch, we entered the Vegas city.
It was evening already and that’s when the city awakes to life. It felt like the city was welcoming us with a bright, colorful and warm smile. We checked into The Excalibur hotel; the one with the medieval theme. The hallway had their casino – my 1st experience. The poker tables, slot machines and exclamations of people winning and losing, virtually took me to a Hollywood movie set where James Bond might appear suddenly and bring me back to my senses. Quickly we freshened up and started walking on the Vegas Strip (a stretch of hotels & casinos) which was decorated densely with vibrant lights. The strip itself was crowded with tourists and everyone was capturing these moments. We took pictures with the huge Christmas trees, colorful fountains and light installations shaped into reindeers, butterflies and teddy bears. There were cool photo characters, street entertainers, hookers and gamblers through the strip anticipating tourists to spend cash in lieu of photographs and an experience that you can get only in Vegas. To walk the entire stretch it takes at least 4-5 hours, alongside iconic spots, restaurants with modern architecture and exclusive stores such as Prada and Tiffany.
Evening brought in the most awaited attraction of the night: Bellagio water show at Fountains of Bellagio. I simply couldn’t take my eyes off the spectacular show of thoughtfully interwoven water, music and light. It is the most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature I have ever seen in my life (click on this link for part 2). Surprisingly it’s absolutely free of cost. Fortunately, we found a perfect spot to watch the dynamic performance set against the backdrop of the Las Vegas lavender sky. Day one ended on a high note with us trying a hand at roulette and winning big at our hotel’s casino. I was elated to have turned 100$ into 300$ at the end of a few risky rounds. We retired to our suite after relishing the chunky and cheesy deep dish pizza for dinner.
It was an early start to the morning next day as we drove to Hoover Dam, which is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It’s one of the world's largest hydroelectric power stations. We took some amazing clicks from a bridge overlooking the Hoover Dam and also walked on the dam with a beautiful scenic view in the backdrop. We then proceeded to Lake Mead which is a man-made lake and the largest reservoir in the United States in terms of water capacity. One can engage in recreational activities like boating, fishing, swimming, sun bathing and water skiing. The day ended on a high note with the much acknowledged Cirque du Soleil’s show R.U.N. What we saw were death and gravity defying stunts with cyclists and motorcyclists speeding up ramps, catapulting themselves into a heart-stopping height of more than 35 feet mid-air and then landing safely. The acrobats, the trapeze artists and their action sequences gave the vibe of action video games. Unfortunately, since photography & videos are prohibited, I cannot share my happiness with you.
Another sunny morning in Vegas and we were now at the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is part of the Colorado River basin which has developed over the past 70 million years. It is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. To put it in modest words, it is as picturesque and appealing as shown in Google images (for a change without filters). Seizing the splendor as much as possible, we started on a hotel hopping spree. The entertainment was top-notch with the gondoliers at the Venetian, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at New York Hotel & Casino, the pyramids at the Luxor, the botanical gardens at the Bellagio and the famous Las Vegas signboard. We were so elated and all we did was click millions of photographs. Most casinos had free attractions. The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino had a bronze statue of Elvis in their lobby. There is the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, which is home to flamingos and other exotic birds, fish and turtles spread across 15 acres of gardens. For the ultimate Vegas experience, we went to Freemont Street, which is a five-block entertainment district. We took the famous SlotZilla Zip Line, adored the world’s largest slot machine and beheld the world’s largest video screen for an epic free light show.
The last day in Vegas bought us to an exploration of Shark Reef, one of the most prestigious sea-life centers in the world. The tunnel is designed to look like a sunken ancient shipwreck, allowing us to come face to face with all kinds of sharks, sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, and rare golden crocodiles. We then watched the lions, tigers and leopards at the Las Vegas' Secret Garden at the Mirage, along with beautiful lush foliage amidst a jungle-themed music.
On our way back to Los Angeles, we stopped by the Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is a graben—a down dropped block of land between two mountain ranges. The highlight was Death Valley's Badwater Basin, the point of lowest elevation in North America, at just 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. On the afternoon of July 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a high temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, which stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth.
Apart from this being my 1st international vacation, what made this all the more special were the amazing facts about each location in Las Vegas. A decent Vegas stay would need an average of $250 a night, rich meals through the day and visiting the attractions & shows. The must to-do recommendations are the fountains of Bellagio, Eiffel tower viewing deck, Stratosphere tower, Freemont street experience and Hoover Dam Bypass. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical gardens and the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian resort are a must for nature lovers and shoppers respectively.
I hope you too make it to Vegas, baby!
