Maybe I am growing up or maybe I am getting old. Anyway the Las Vegas I am looking for no longer exists. We came here first in around 1966, three years before we got married and four years before we had Brooks. We had hardly any money and we had a blast. Las Vegas was Fremont Street then. That is where the casinos were and where the action was. We checked into the cheapest room we could find, surprisingly NOT in a casino back then. Casino rooms were expensive. We stayed in a one or two story motel. Our budget did not allow for gambling, only cheap meals and one or two hours per day sipping drinks and watching good quality, free lounge entertainment.
Our motel had a pool and it was summer so we spent the day by the pool, ate and headed down to Fremont Street. The Golden Nugget was by far the flashiest casino back then and that was where we went. There was a singer in the lounge who was pretty good and drinks were affordable. We sat and nursed one drink for the first set. planning to do this for a couple more sets. There was a table full of friendly guys at the next table and we started chatting. They were drillers who worked in the atomic bomb testing site outside of town. Back then there were periodic tests that could sometimes actually be felt in Las Vegas. Anyway these five or six guys were in town for a couple of days and were doing their best to blow their pay cheques. They bought us a drink which made us nervous because if we bought a round of seven or eight drinks in return, that would be our budget for the night, or more. Anyway, they would not let us buy a drink and bought us several more. We had a lot of fun and listened to some great music. That is how I remembered Las Vegas.
Tonight we went back to the "Fremont Street Experience". All the old hotels are there including the Golden Nugget. Nothing else is the same though. We went to a buffet that was $32 each and not very good. Norma put $40 into the slots and got nothing out. The "Fremont Street Experience" was loud, crowded and there were panhandlers and hustlers everywhere. We did not wait for the light show, I am sure it would be anticlimactic.
It took us about an hour to drive the full length of Las Vegas Blvd. to get back to the RV park. We were planning to go to "The Strip" tomorrow but are having second thoughts...
We went by way of Vegas on our way to see the Hoover Dam. We stayed one night at the Palace Station. We wanted to show the kids the 'lights of Vegas', but in talking with others that went, we decided not to. With the hustlers passing out the graphic business cards to EVERYONE, we didn't feel it was appropriate for our "family vacation".
ReplyDeleteI went back in 1991 and just from Google Maps, the strip sure has changed quite a bit. Even the Pirates show at Treasure Island was 'upgraded' to "The Sirens of TI". I'm sure a lot of men would love the show, but not for our kids.
You are right Pat, there is not much here for kids and yes, you do collect a bunch of pretty graphic "Business Cards" walking around. The fountain show would be about the only thing for them and parking anywhere on the Strip is a problem.
DeleteYou may think you're getting too old for Vegas, but I'll bet you saw a lot of folks at the slots older than you! It never seems to lose it's lustre for some folks, but I agree with you that it's a terrific place to go and spend a lot of money if that's what you want to do. We've been three times, all in the last 8 years, and while we've loved the shows we've seen, not much else was worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteHave you taken Norma to he outlet mall yet? That could get expensive.
What outlet mall? ;)
DeleteThis was out forth visit. The best one was with that group of "Nearly Retirees" from Campbell River but the fun was mainly just being with a group of friends.
Didn't you get stuck with baby-sitting duty that trip?
DeleteYou got that right! ;)
DeleteWe went to Vegas once six years ago, just to say we were there. Check out Freemont St, saw the light show, the night lights dow the strip and wandered about the sights the next morning.
ReplyDeleteDid not spend a dime there, but did a lot of walking and people watching. All just to say "been there, done that" and di not even buy a T-shirt.
It can be an expensive place to visit, George. We looked at the list of entertainment and decided there was nothing we wanted to spend (at least) $60 each to see.
DeleteI will be in Vegas this afternoon (Sunday). I will use it as a base to see the area as I have talked a couple of the casinos into a free room for the week. I have my jeep this time to get around more. The sirens show outside of Trasure Island is 'G' rated but was not well performed and was pretty tame as a result. At least in February when I was here last.
ReplyDeleteYou must do some pretty good talking to get a free room.
DeleteOh yes, 'Viva, Las Vegas' has sure lost its flavour. We don't mind going there when we can meet friends or relatives we enjoy spending time with. That was one expensive buffet @ $32. Based on our January experience, we found some decent restaurants at reasonably good prices.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was "Seafood Night" The main draw seemed to be the "endless crab legs" but most of them were too skinny and not worth the effort to get the meat out of. Once you have been spoiled by BC Dungeness crab, you will never be happy with a substitute! The sushi was good though.
DeleteColin and I use to fly to Vegas every winter for a long weekend vacation, that is before RV days. We loved to walk around all the new huge hotels and see the sights like the water show in front of the Bellagio, walk thru the mall at Ceaser's Plalace, walk thru the Venetian, so much to see. The ceiling at the Bellagio is fabulous. We always took in one or two big shows then walked thru the casino and gambled a bit.
ReplyDeleteThat is what we did when we were with that group. Parking is a problem but maybe the monorail is running. That would be a first for us, it has been out of service every time we have been here.
DeleteHell, I live here and don't go to the strip OR Fremont Street. It's expensive, crowded and just nasty. Order a Dungeness crab down here and you'll swear that it walked every inch of the way!
ReplyDeleteWe should bring you as a guide, Don! We might try Bubba Gump's tonight. Their menu looks a little more affordable.
DeleteAte at Bubba Gump's in Maui with friends. We liked it. As for Vegas, I don't see the draw anymore. My first visit was in 1980 and even since then it has changed a lot. In 1986 ticket to Circ du Soliel were 75 bucks and we saw Mystere, Circ hasn't done anything that good since and not worth the 200 dollars either.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the nightly water show at Bellagio is fantastic, we still like the lights, Hoover Dam, and staying at the Oasis.
Nothing remains static, that's what memories are for. Have fun! Spin the wheel and blink three times, Norma's bound to win!
We wanted to see Cirque du Soleil "O" but scalpers had all the tickets and wanted $400 so we went to a different Cirque show. We also enjoyed the Shelby Cobra museum and factory up north by the race track and for car buffs there are lots of shops around that area building hot cars. We went to Death Valley instead.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a trucker I went through Vegas all the time back in the 80s and could always find free or cheap food. No more. Last time we were there we went to a restaurant on the strip and they wanted $8 for a bottle of water - and the only water they had came from Norway - they would not give us tap water. We only stop there now if an RV park is giving us a next to free place to park.
Lucky you to have gone in 1966 - we would have liked that much better. Although we have been through Vegas quite a few times we've only been to the strip once - back in 2008. Once is good.
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