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First solo trip, Nascar, 2/27 to 3/3!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by edwood32, Mar 10, 2009.

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  1. edwood32

    edwood32 VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    So, none of my friends like Nascar as much as me, and having missed out on a few road trips in my life because 'no one could go", I decided to go solo to Vegas for nacsar weekend...first solo trip! Would I like it? Would I be bummed out and miss my friends? So heres the deal: in order for me to be able to afford 4 nights in Vegas, I had to stay 1 night at the Hilton, and the other 3 at the Silverton. Talk about night and day...

    Left L.A.Friday 2/27/09 at 6am in the morning. I picked up some must-have-tailgating-stuff for the race, and took off. The drive was relaxing for me, no rush hour traffic, I wasn't running late for work, I didn't have a meeting to get ready for etc. Just me, and the open road....and a loud ass radio playing what I wanted. I got to Vegas at around 1000am, and had the breakfast buffet at Palace Station...hey, it was $6.00, so whatever. Checked in at the Hilton (great room, especially for being alone) and headed out to Friday's Qualifying race. As soon as I saw the track, my blood started boiling, and I was happy as heck. Nice views of the mountains, and we had a constant stream of jets flying overhead as Nellis Base is right around the corner...I had great seats! Oh and believe everything you hear about traffic leaving the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it is horrible if you don't take a chartered bus and/or park in the great Lucky 7 Lot. It took me almost 3 hours to get back to the Hilton and i was only about 15 miles away. Once I got back to my hotel, I parked, threw away the keys, and had dinner in my room. Afterward, I sat my butt at the Sportsbook to watch the Lakers V Denver game. I didn't even have to show that I had a betting slip to get free drinks..it was like having my own cocktail server inside my living room! After the game was over, I decided to walk around the strip area around me, mainly the Sahara, the Stratosphere and the Riviera. Nothing special to report, just a bunch of cheap drinks offers everywhere. I was defiantly having a good time on this solo trip. I walked to the Sahara and ended up making nascar friends at one of the Sahara bars. All one had to do was say "so, whose gonna win on Sunday?!?" and, presto, instant friends! I started hearing some good Vegas stories, and some guy, um, even shared intimate pictures of his wife he had on his camera..so far so good. After a bunch of drinks, I had breakfast at the Riviera like at 5am. I had a a big old ham and eggs special which was so freaking good! I was all by my lonesome, having a great time then one of the waitresses came over to me to talk to me about "Jesus and how I needed him in my life". I am a religious guy, I know right from wrong etc and I must say that listening to religion at 545am with a big, humongous buzz was new for me!

    Checked out of the Hilton on 2/28, and drove past all the "good stuff" on my way to the Silverton. The hotel was eh, and the service was eh, and of course, the room was eh. Nothing special. I, for some reason, didn't think that this place was a locals hotel/casino, but it turns out it is. I unpacked my bags in the room, and recovered a little bit from the previous night's festivities. After about 3 hours of ESPN, I got ready to leave. I know that I ironed my clothes, combed my hair and ate at the Twin Creeks Steakhouse... I dont really remember much of what else i did after that. Oh wait, I DO remember that I ended the night at one of the Silverton's bars, drinking $1 beers, and playing VP. Oh yeah, also, I do remember getting invited to some locals bar by the bartenders at the VP bar, but I was already past my limit and I knew that If I would have gone with them, it wouldn't be pretty after a few more drinks. I know my limits and i was about 3 beers past it already. Besides, I was here alone and couldn't count on anyone to take care of me if I got to the point of no return. I also had to drive the next day to the track for the main race so it was time for bed.

    Woke up Sunday with a massive headache (I must be in Vegas), but I knew I had to hurry up and get ready for the track. I actually ended up waking up late and had to drive quick to get to the track in time to hear the "gentlemen, start your engines!" part of the race. I actually had enough time to make a pit stop at a liquor store to buy three 24oz cans of bud light that I ended up sneaking in to the race. I sat down, and away we go...great race, great race. Race ended and again, believe what you hear about traffic leaving the track, it is legendary. It took me 4 hours to get from the track to downtown. So, I parked downtown, had a few shrimp cocktails at the Golden Gate, and stood in front of one of the best cover bands I had seen in years! They were playing everything from Van Halen to Metallica to Led zeppelin. Lets just say that after 3 football beers, I was grooving! I walked over the Fremont Casino, and played craps. I ended up losing $1.50 and got a "free" Corona, so um, not much of a loss there. Again, I made friends with some more nascar fans and we were all having a blast being loud, obnoxious and screaming loudly whenever a YO! would come up. Um, I'm not really missing my friends that much. Oh and I FINALLY went inside the Western Hotel. I wanted to experience it for myself. The place was scary, but not that scary. They had 1.50 coronas, and still had old machines that paid by coin. It was defiantly an adventure for me, but I have been wanting to go check it out since reading the reviews on cheapo Vegas. The night ended with me being back at the Silverton, eating a $2.00 giant cinnanbon and drinking a miller lite until I passed out...fun times!

    Monday..ok, so im at the Silverton on a Monday, think the beginning of the movie Apocalypse Now. I got ready, and drove to the South Point for lunch and had a great lunch at their Mexican restaurant. After I ate, I decided to get lost on purpose and drive around the "other side" of Vegas, to see how the locals were. I didn't know where I was at, but there were nothing but homes and homes and construction and gas stations. I was really surprised at how quiet and normal everything was. I mean, I know that there isn't really a casino on every single corner, but it was nice to see how normal things are outside of the strip. anyways, Monday-day was pretty tame. At night, I went over to the Hooters/Trop/Excalibur part of the strip and walked around a bit. I made fiends with a few people, and played craps with a great bunch. I was having my butt handed to me, but man, the craps table at the trop was so much fun, that I just considered my losses the price of admission to the party! Afterward, I walked over to the Excalibur and got more drinks and walked around and mingled. I was alone, but at no point did I ever feel lonely, if it makes any sense.

    so things I learned:
    -solo trips in Vegas are definatley fun! No one bugged me, I threw my dirty clothes on the floor, i ate wherever I wanted and went wherever I wanted. I finally went to Franks Tiki Room, and the Western!
    -um, never stay too too far from all the "good stuff", because you find yourself having to drive to anything worthwhile, IMO, stay on the strip, or downtown or at an off-strip hotel NEAR something you consider "good".
    -make sure you don't forget your cell phone in the room!! You wont be able to contact fellow T2V members!
     
  2. keno

    keno obsessed with countdown timers

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    Thanks for posting the great TR!
     
  3. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

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    Thanks for posting. No problem about the call. :peace:
     
  4. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

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    Thanks fr posting. Seems like you had a great time on your first solo adventure.

    Later, GVJ
     
  5. HarvickKevin

    HarvickKevin Tourist

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    Thanks for posting your TR. I too, was out at qualifying on Friday. With the mountain ranges in the background, free air show courtesy of Nellis, it is a picturesque place for sure !

    I too can attest that traffic after the race is HORRIBLE. That is why we do not go to the Sat or Sun events anymore.

    Liked the fact that you had the moxie and cajones to stroll down to the Western by yourself.

    Curious....where is Frank's Tiki Room ? Sound interesting !
     
  6. edwood32

    edwood32 VIP Whale

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    yeah, I definatley had a blast. I thought I was going to be waaaayy too lonley, but it wasnt the case. let me tell you, the 'necks that I met at nascar were definatly some of the best, funnest people I have ever met...just dont tell them who youre rooting for!

    DOND: I forgot my cell phone on Sunday, so I walked up and down the casino floor at the Plaza for about 20 minutes on Sunday, hoping to recognize some faces from all the T2V pictures that I have seen over the years. I even waited around the Poker area since I knew you guys like to play poker, and, well no one looked familar. Maybe next time.

    HarvickKevin: sorry, the name of the bar is called Frankies Tiki Room. Its off fo Charleston. I have a friend who loves everything 1950s, so I was hoping to walk in there and find it just like the rat pack left it. The place was rather small, full of college-aged people and well, not really what I expected. HOWEVER, it definatley did look like fun, if I was with the right people and in the modo for fruity drinks. The juke box had nothing but surf music, old new and funky stuff, but again, it wasnt what I expected. and oh yeah, The Western was defiantley an experience.
     
  7. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Sounds like you had a BLAST!! Note to self: Check hubby's camera to see what he has stored on there!:ssst:
     
  8. texas_aggie_girl_93

    texas_aggie_girl_93 VIP Whale

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    Great report. Thanks for posting. So glad you didn't let going solo prevent you from going. Some of my most memorable trips were solo.
     
  9. alicia

    alicia Low-Roller

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    fun report... so enthusiastic. You sound like you'd be a blast to hang out with. Glad you had such a good time on your solo trip -- and it sounds like you'll be doing it again in the future!! :beer:
     
  10. CoachJoe

    CoachJoe Guest

    Thanks for the TR, I enjoyed it very much. Glad you had a blast.
     
  11. Emerald

    Emerald Low-Roller

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    I so wanted to do that this year by myself but cash it a lil tight. Sounded like you had fun.. I love NASCAR
     
  12. gmoney590

    gmoney590 VIP Whale

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    You had a great time. I bet you're not going to have any misgivings about doing another solo trip.
     
  13. Blonde_4_ever

    Blonde_4_ever LasVegas4ever.com

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    Great report! SOLO is GOOD!

    Love the "3 beers past my limit" line!!!
     
  14. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

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    Glad you had a good time...never done Vegas alone but I would hesitate to....:thumbsup:
     
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