“What happens here, only happens here."
The tourism motto once was “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Today, Las Vegas’ motto has been updated to: “What happens here, only happens here.” How you experience or interpret this change may very well depend upon what you’re looking for in this desert fantasyland. Julia and I were in town to attend a conference hosted by “Scouting U” with adult volunteers from the training community in the Boy Scouts of America. We arrived late at night at the neon-lit airport and were impressed by the oversized lizard and jack rabbit found there. We stayed in the Paris Hotel in part to relive our honeymoon that was celebrated in Paris, France and because it offered discounted room rates due to the low occupancy caused by the pandemic. While touring “The Strip,” we discovered that COVID19 virus had definitely dampened the city’s vibe.
So what did we do with none of the larger-than-life shows available and a conference to keep us busy? Well, believe it or not, we didn’t place a single bet at any of the gaming tables or drop a coin in the so-called “one-armed bandits.” We did walk and walk and walk all about the city. It was good exercise and according to my step-counter APP, we covered over 10 miles one day and another 5+ miles the second day. We also grabbed most of our meals at the various street vendors or small shops. For example, there are family friendly food courts located at many of the casinos/resorts. You’ve literally dozens of options when ordering up a slice of pizza, a burger, or a shake. Johnny Rockets at the Mandalay Bay Resort was our favorite shake shop. And for our most fancy meal we opted for a brunch rather than a gourmet dinner. Julia and I highly recommend the Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Hotel for delicious creeps and eggs to order. And we visited the lobbies of just about every casino and resort in the city.
Will we ever go back to Las Vegas? Sure. We both figure there will be another conference to attend and the headliners will soon again entertain the bigger than life crowds with song, dance, magic, and acrobatics. There may even be another trek to the Hoover Dam or a little desert hiking to do during a future visit. For after all — “What happens here, only happens here.”
