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Anyone else on a mission to know the nooks and crannies of Vegas?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Snowbelle3, Apr 15, 2014.

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  1. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    I have long been enamored with knowing random details about Vegas, exploring the length and breadth of different places and needing to know my way around, uncovering mysteries. Cousineddie's comments in another thread inspired me to ask.

    Do you explore a lot?
    What are you looking for?
    Any unique explorations?
    Do you explore even after you know the "lay of the land" for new, hidden or valued treasures?
     
  2. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    Don't explore at all. After 9 trips I know exactly what I like in Vegas and I stick to it.
     
  3. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    We certainly did at one time. Knew town better than the town where we lived, to some measure. Knew it well enough to comment on it for Vegas-residing commentators. It was obsessive, really. :rolleyes2:
     
  4. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

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    I don't gamble so I do like to walk around. Last summer, while waiting for the B's art gallery to open in the morning (Andy Warhol's exhibit at that time), we wandered about the convention area of B. Eventually came around to essentially the backside of the pool. There's a large patio with a couple of tables and chairs to just enjoy the poolview of B. Actually enjoyed just sipping a cup of coffee in that setting for the 20-30 minutes we waited. Note, there's no drink service back there but we had bought a cup of coffee at that coffee shop in B near one of the elevator banks.
     
  5. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    I have come to enjoy sightseeing when in the desert. Renting a car has afforded me a chance to road trip to the usual locations in the past few years – Valley o' Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston – and one destination that doesn't get mentioned all that often: Rhyolite.

    A few years ago I used the rental car to visit the local haunted attractions not called Fright Dome. Good fun if you like that sort of thing, and the Freakling Bros. really set the bar high.

    Being plugged into the pinball world, I have made a point to visit a place most people probably don't know about, Flipperspiel Wunderland. Unfortunately it is temporarily shuttered, but I am optimistic that the proprietor will find a way to make it work in a different location. (Silly zoning laws.)

    Hitting up the off-strip casinos is fun, and I do a little of that from time to time. There's not one place I am dying to see, although I really should make a stop inside Red Rock. Other than Sam's Town, not many seem to have any spectacle that is calling out to me, at least not that I know of. I drove past the original Cannery once night and now regret that I didn't stop in just to say I was there.

    I hear that the prime rib is a great deal at Jerry's Nugget, but I have never made that trip.

    I don't do much shopping in Vegas, but I did seek out a specialty retail destination once. I knew a guy who worked at one of the "Gold Guys" stores here in God's country. Last I heard he was working out in Vegas at their desert southwest location. I really should make a point to stop by and see if he's around that store.
     
  6. NativeSoCal

    NativeSoCal Low-Roller

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    ^^This^^

    (change the 9 trips to about 80)
     
  7. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    I love knowing all the quirky details. As Ken said - kind of obsessive, really. I didn't realize how bad I was until I met my sister and BIL downtown. As we strolled down to the container park, I couldn't stop talking about how the casino's have changed, who owns what, how Zappos and the Downtown Project have changed things, how Wayne Newton got his start at The Fremont, how the Fremont was once the tallest building in Vegas back in the 50's.... I just love knowing all that stuff.

    Luckily my sister loves it too or I may have bored her to death.
     
  8. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Will try maybe a new place to eat but other than that we know what works.
    Will check out anything new. Next trip, Linq is at the top of the list.
     
  9. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    I've been "exploring" Vegas since 1977. I will be exploring Vegas again in a couple of weeks.

    Some things i have done in the past is hiking at Red Rock Canyon. Depending on the season, i've seen waterfalls, snow, wild animals, horseback riding, etc.

    Mt. Charleston for Ski resorts or camping in the summer.

    Driving around Vegas in the non tourist areas like Hoover Dam, Henderson, Summerlin.

    I've been to Old Nevada and had sarsaparilla at a Saloon. I've also seen a hanging and a gunfight there. It was perfectly legal.....lol.

    I love to hang out on the Strip and discover/re-discover things that many people take for granted or just in so much of a hurry to get to another casino that they didn't notice, like:

    Walking to/from Mandalay Bay-Excalibur on the Strip, from the outside not inside. You can hit the Welcome to Las Vegas sign as well.

    Taking pic/videos of NYNY, MGM, Excalibur from the corner of Tropicana Blvd-Las Vegas Blvd.

    If you don't have a car you can still explore Rio, Gold Coast, Palms, Orleans, etc. with free shuttles to/from the Strip.

    I used to jog up and down the Strip in early morning while most people haven't woken up yet. I can't really jog now, but i do walk up and the the Strip from MGM/NYNY-Wynn.
    Seeing the Strip just after sunrise is a sight to behold.

    Many people go to Vegas for just a couple of days, so they can't really explore the outskirts of Las Vegas, however, there are still many places to hit in a limited amount of time like:

    The Mob Museum.

    Old Vegas Mormon Fort.

    Vegas Atomic Testing Museum.

    The Imperial Palace/Quad Auto Museum.
     
  10. thekillers

    thekillers Low-Roller

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    Great post. This is the stuff that I love, going to start writing some of these suggestions down for my up coming June trip.
    At one point I was staying at Golden Nugget, think it was my first Vegas trip. I had blown through my money and I was on a road trip to Washington state. I had an entire day to kill so I decided to drive out to Area 51, that is a lonely drive let me tell.
    Love walking all around downtown. Trying to find some cool places on/behind/near the Strip.
     
  11. Camp Rusty

    Camp Rusty VIP Whale

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    Architectural Exploration

    I enjoy exploring the functional architecture of the gigantic hotel/ casinos. To me the magnitude of the properties is fascinating. I studied hotel management at Washington State University and the way these behemoths handle the simplest things like food service and supply, linen, loading docks, and HVAC fascinate me.

    I often find myself circumnavigating a resort to watch the comings and goings of the various service trades. Some day I would really enjoy a behind the scenes tour of one of the properties but in the past have been told that with the main business being cash, getting a tour as a non employee is difficult.

    One thing that I have been able to do is spend time exploring the conference areas of the big hotels. Rarely are there big conferences on weekends so the conference areas are accessible to wander around in. The Mirage conference area is quite nice, a lot of nice Asian art is back along the corridors, and I am usually alone to wander about back there.
     
  12. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    I had a behind-the-scenes/'neath-the-floor tour of MGM Grand some number of years back. It was something else, indeed.
     
  13. pebbles

    pebbles Micro Roller.

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    Now that would be awesome! I would love to do something like that.

    We explore a lot of more local orientated places on our trips. We are probably unusual in that we have been here two weeks already and I have walked on the strip twice, my SO has yet to make it there. Maybe tomorrow.
     
  14. La$Vega$

    La$Vega$ Fun until cops show up, then we play Hide n' Seek!

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    :wave:
    Sco, you have one heck of a nice blog!

    I for sure was possessed...lol primarily our first trip.

    After the many trips (although not in a while) I still have the urge to find something new and typically free, however these were not free. I was on a kick one trip to eat in all the mob restaurants. One trip to play craps in every casino DT all in one night. One trip to see the Bone Yard and Moulin Rouge

    We've eaten lunch and hiked in Red Rock.
    Gone to the West Rim.
    I like everyone else could go no & on.

    One of my favorite trips was I went on a quest to find the
    Mt. Charleston Bristlecone Pine Tree (state tree)
    [​IMG]
    http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/learning/nature-science/?cid=fsm9_026948 The Oldest Tree in North America
    The oldest known living bristlecone pine specimen, verified by cross dating, is the "Methuselah" tree at over 4,800 years of age. This particular tree exists in the Sierra Nevada White Mountains of California.
    I found the strand, also some sort of fresh cat print that spanned 8"...
    We proceeded to exit that area somewhat fast
     
  15. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    Exploring

    I'll add one there is an old mining town not too far away I think it's called Good Springs. The original saloon is still standing and worth a look see if you have a car and need to get away from gambling for a bit.

    I always rent a car and I'm a bit obsessive about learning all the best ways to avoid traffic on and around the strip. Learned a good one last trip using Harmon to get off the strip then over to Tropicana.

    TomTWI
     
  16. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    I just said earlier that I don't explore but this is something I've always wanted to do. Go behind the scenes at any major hotel would be pretty cool. How did you manage to get this tour?
     
  17. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Research for an article many many moons ago.
     
  18. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    You have a tough job Ken! I guess someone's gotta do it. Lucky you!
     
  19. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    I make it a point to know the restaurant menus and blackjack conditions at Aria, Bellagio, and CP--the main corridor I am staying/playing in now. Has a restaurant opened or closed? Is there a new menu? A happy hour or some sort of special deal at one of the higher end places? Has someone changed BJ rules in one of the pits? I check everything out at all 3 no matter where I am staying on every trip. Every 6 months or so I do the same at V/P and Wynn, where I no longer stay.
     
  20. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    I got a kick out of hitting up Railroad Pass and Hacienda on my way to Hoover Damn. Railroad Pass in particular has a lot of old school charm. Their blackjack games still uses silver strikes for $1 units.

    I'm driving from San Diego to Las Vegas on my July trip this year just so I can check out Primm and Jean.

    I'm looking forward to dropping in on new Osheas and Cromwell this summer as well.
     
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