Sin City: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA!

Going to Las Vegas solo is something you hear only sometimes, if ever, but your blogger here did exactly that... Well, my dad's dog tagged along for the ride, the strip walkers' attention, and free treats from them all. The then dessert dead end began to see its "first" visitors back in 1905 when the railroad reached its location, and well over 210 years later, it became one of the top destinations for gambling and tourism in the United States. Its landscape transformation began with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Los Vegos Rancho, and mafia families having their part in it. Still, the strip only became itself once Guy McAfee named it so.

The Strip

The Flamingo Hotel was one of the first hotels and casinos built on the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel was built by mobster Bugsy Siegel, and its doors were opened in 1946. The Flamingo Hotel was a major success and helped put Las Vegas on the map. The Hoover Dam is one of the most famous landmarks in Las Vegas. The dam was built in the 1930s and is located just outside the city. The Hoover Dam is a popular tourist attraction and one of the most visited sites in Nevada. Area 51 is a secretive military base located just outside of Las Vegas. The base is rumored to be the home of several UFO sightings, and it is one of the most popular conspiracy theories. Area 51 is highly classified, and very little is known about what goes on there. Did you know Las Vegas is informally known as Hawaii's 9th island due to the city's large community of Hawaiians?

The casinos

Did you know that gambling wasn't legal until Governor Fred Balzar signed Assembly Bill No. 98 into law, legalizing card games and slot machines? In 1931The Nevada Legislature voted to legalize gambling to help lift Nevada out from under the impact of the Great Depression. It undid a ban on casino gambling in the state that had been in place since 1909. The Casinos are connected to each other in one way or another, whether that's underground or by the strip. It seems to transport you to a different world you never thought existed. I'm not a gambler myself, but I still enjoy strolling around all of them and everyone in a while, throwing a coin here and there.

The shows and Entertainment

One of the first Las Vegas entertainers was the Rat Pack, a group popular in the 1950s and 1960s. The Rat Pack included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and many other famous entertainers. The Rat Pack was known for their performances at the Sands Hotel and Casino, one of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas at the time. Whether you prefer to ride on the bus or a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon, it's worth visiting. The Grand Canyon offers one of the most visible examples of a worldwide geological phenomenon known as the Great Unconformity, in which 250 million-year-old rock strata lie back-to-back with 1.2 billion-year-old rocks. What happened during the hundreds of millions of years between remains largely a mystery.

The Strip Show Girls

This picture has a particular back story. Until this picture, my then-dog Prax ( yes, that's the dog's name) had been getting all the attention. As a previous pet parent of a standard poodle, you have to get used to the attention that comes with such a breed, and I was. But then, along the show, ladies acknowledged my existence as more than just my dog's human, and for the first time, I felt well acknowledged. LOL, They approach me with the "Hey there, would you like a picture?" to which I reply with a yes (of course, content comes first for a starving writer), and then one of them said, "Oh my, your dog is so cute let's get him in the picture and have a stranger photograph us."

As you can see in the picture, Prax and I are excited, so after a couple of snaps, the stranger gives me my phone back, and the short lady says, "It's going to be $40." My jaw dropped, and I replied, "For a picture?" I couldn't believe it, LOL. The first time, some stranger acknowledged me in Las Vegas and asked to pay for the "hi" and photos. Note to self: Be cautious and ask for conditions and clauses before engaging with other humans while strolling in the strip. 

The Grand Canyon Helicopter Ride and the Strip Skyline

The Las Vegas Strip is the brightest place on Earth when looked at from outer space.

The Hotel: Excalibur Hotel & Casino

One of the most significant changes to casinos in recent years is the introduction of more family-friendly attractions. While casinos have always been a popular destination for adults, they are now increasingly catering to families with kids. This is evidenced by the introduction of kid-friendly hotels like Circus Circus and  Excalibur and family-friendly shows like the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.

The weird food and drinks

The pictures speak a thousand words all on their own, but my gosh, it was awesome! If you didn’t want to miss the action but still wanted a snack with your drink, that’s not an issue in Las Vegas, for you can carry your drink and food all in one hand while still keeping the buzz going.

Other Places Worth Checking Out

While I didn't get a "chance" to visit the places I am to mention here, I do think that they are definitely worth giving them a try. Do note that I'll be checking them out soon enough. Las Vegas Hell's Kitchen, The Lips stick bar!!

References

The history of Las Vegas Strips: How it became a gambling hub

Lexology: A general introduction to gambling law in USA (Nevada

https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/8-facts-about-grand-canyon-you-never-knew