I Hate Gambling but I Loved Las Vegas

This post is going to be mostly from my (Lindsey) perspective as Ryan actually does enjoy a trip to the casino every once in a while outside of Vegas. I however, just have never gotten into gambling. Putting my hard earned money on the line is stressful to me not thrilling. Despite this, I had an absolute blast on our trip to Las Vegas. I had planned this trip for Ryan’s birthday as a surprise and did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did. I even enjoyed a little bit of gambling, a kind of when in Rome thing I think. Shared below are all the reasons our weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada went from a trip meant for my husband to somewhere I can’t wait to get back to.

Atmosphere of Luxury

There are some truly decadent casinos and hotels in Las Vegas and you don’t even have to be staying at them to enjoy them. Essentially all the hotels on the strip are set up for you to come in and see and enjoy their various spaces open to the public and the hopes that you will spend money in their casino. Everything is so extravagant and lavish. It makes you feel like a celebrity or high roller which is probably why it is a hot spot for the real celebrities and high rollers. There is no other place in the world that I am aware of where you can experience such opulence without paying a pretty penny. Your options when it comes to finding a hotel in Las Vegas are limitless, upwards of 40,000 rooms on the famous Las Vegas strip alone. If your anything like us and like to find a great deal, there are many hotels that are not directly on the strip that offer a more relaxed scene. Most of these are within walking distance of the strip, many of which offer free shuttle rides, and all of which offer casino and entertainment that will keep you up all night long.   

Ample Attractions

They say New York is the City that never sleeps but I would say Las Vegas is really deserving of this title. We found a multitude of activities and things to see, most of which didn’t involve gambling. Strolling down the Las Vegas Strip is a day’s activity in itself and checking out all the different casinos and shopping centers was one of our favorite pastimes. A 4.5 mile adult adventure wonderland full of things to see and do just make sure you’ve got your comfortable walking shoes on. I would recommend the following as a start if you are a Las Vegas virgin. Stratosphere hotel: here you can freefall down if you’re feeling adventurous or just enjoy the amazing views from the top of the tower. The fountains at the Bellagio; go simply to gaze in astonishment at their amazing water shows. Fremont street; home to all the iconic casinos of days gone that are still active today. The Old part of Vegas on Fremont street has shops and iconic lights as well as more casinos. Close to Fremont street we stumbled upon downtown container park, on accident.  It’s an offbeat  shopping and restaurant center built entirely by recycled shipping containers and other materials. It was really great to have a low key step off of the strip. We enjoyed some Wine and charcuterie board in a relaxing atmosphere which was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the strip. The welcome to Las Vegas sign is also a must picture for everyone visiting the city of sin.  Lastly, Ryans absolute favorite, the Las Vegas pool parties! They are everything you imagine them to be and more, and gave us a Las Vegas story that isn’t only hard to believe, but one of which we will never forget! This list really only scratches the surface of what activities are available in Las Vegas.

You name it Vegas has got it, whether you are looking for a romantic dinner for two in Paris’s imitation of the Eiffel Tower, a gourmet meal in one of the many restaurants run by famous chefs, or one of  Vegas’s infamous buffets. I recommend the buffet at Caesars palace for a great experience, priced between $34.99 and $44.99 we found this extremely reasonable for the quality level of cuisine they had on offer.  Millionaire dining for a very reasonable cost, and its all you can eat, but they do keep a close eye on your length of stay at the table. We did get an amazing Chinese meal from Ping Pang Pong at our hotel for Ryan’s birthday meal, and had a fantastic dim sum lunch experience. However, I don’t recommend getting delicious Chinese food from your hotel and then not being able to eat it because of an epic pool party hangover from the day before. One of us learned this the hard way. It all started with the giant drinks from Señor Frogs.. but that’s a story for another day… or possibly never. 

Amazing Shows and Performers

Every Single night in Vegas there are multiple options for shows to choose from, like an unimaginable amount. It is something Vegas is most known for after gambling and they have spent decades perfecting it. I took Ryan on his Birthday to see one of his favorites, his beloved Celine Dion in concert. She was, of course, amazing! They really do go all out for the Las Vegas shows and the level of showmanship and interaction is actually incredible. We additionally tried out the more risqué Circue du Soliel show , Zumanity that explored human sexuality in the most extravagant and eye opening ways. I wish we had been there more nights to check out even more shows but I suppose we will save that for our next time there as there definitely will be a next time.

And I Even Enjoyed the Casinos

As previously mentioned, I really do not enjoy gambling. At least not the real kind in the casino. It stresses me out to be putting down my hard earned cash, risking it all disappearing in minutes. I know you have got to be in it to win it but I just don’t usually feel the thrill that most people get when they gamble. That being said, something about the magical atmosphere in Vegas, and probably all that oxygen they allegedly pump in,  brought me over to the dark side. I started to get into it and try out new games even winning a little bit although we overall went home on a loss which you should expect going in.  We still limited it to the amount of money we had set aside to gamble with and no more so we didn’t loose too much money. Ryan will continue to tell the story of how I sat down at the roulette table for my first time with only $3, from that $3 i had 65 minutes of great fun, about 20 spins and 3 complementary drinks while Ryan sat down with $40 and lost it all in approximately 48 seconds.

I now completely understand the hype that makes Las Vegas a top tourism destination. It has an atmosphere like no other place in the world. It is not for the faint of heart or wallet as it is the place for an epic hangover style adventure. I am not a gambler but found so much more to enjoy on our trip. I loved my first time in Las Vegas and cannot wait to plan my next visit.