Las Vegas - January 2017 & 2019
January 2017
As I mentioned in my previous post (January 2017), we went to Las Vegas for a soccer tournament of Hendrik.When we were not cheering on a dried out soccer field, we did of course explore Las Vegas, aka 'Sin City'.
Knowing that there are 104 casinos, and just by walking around, you immediately understand where this name comes from 😬 ...
But why did such a 'Sin City' arise in the middle of a godforsaken desert?
In 1930 the construction of the Hoover Dam (more about this later in this post) had begun. With this, an influx of lonely male workers flooded the Las Vegas valley and with them the demand for 'male-focused' 😏 entertainment arose, and up popped showgirl theatres and hotel casinos. The further development we have to thank to the Mob (Maffia) and the Mormons 😳 ...
Now the connection of Las Vegas and the Mob seems logical as gambling has always been a very important business for them, but the Mormons???
Well, it was a Mormon, Parry Thomas, who was the first banker to begin lending money to casino operators in the 1950s, and it was this decision that lead to an increase in the size and numbers of Las Vegas casinos. Although they encouraged this way the growth of sometimes shady gambling business, which was not really in line with their religious believes, they were concerned by the city's image and therefore helped non-Mob developers get land.
One of these non-Mob developers was Howard Hugh, a reclusive billionaire, government contractor, aviator and film producer who is considered to have de-mobbed Las Vegas and to have made it safe for legitimate business. And his presence did indeed help decline Mob activity in Vegas as he bought many of them out. An dit did indeed attract other large corporate entities to come and invest in Vegas ... if one of the richest people in the world, one of the nation's largest Defense contractor, and a genuine national hero, was willing to invest in Vegas, it must not be an evil place after all!
Besides Thomas, the Mormon banker, there were other Mormons playing a significant role. As Hughes almost never left his hotel room, he had a team of executive assistants and advisors to oversee his business dealings. Everyone in the team was ... yes indeed, Mormon! Why Mormons? Hughes liked them as they didn't drink alcohol, smoke or gamble so he thought he could thrust them better in the gambling industry. However, some biographers allege that these aides, nicknamed 'The Mormon Maffia', deliberately cut him off from the outside world and enabled his addiction to painkillers.
Anyway, this, together with regulatory gambling laws which passed in the '6Os, finally kicked the Maffia out of business in the '70s.
The biggest and best known hotel casinos in Las Vegas are located on 'The Strip'. And even if you're not into gambling, this 5-mile-plus stretch of neon lightbulbs, feathered show girls, and zero inhibitions,
or during the night
Each hotel casino is a miniature theme park which often offer (most of the time) free shows all day long. Some you definitely need to visit, are: 'The Bellagio' and its fountain shows in front of the hotel; 'The Mirage' with its artificial volcano and secret garden; 'Treasure Island' (connected with a free tram with The Mirage by the way) showing a 'pirate battle' every night as from 7:00 PM in front of the hotel; 'The Venetian' with its 'real' canals and gondoliers; 'Caesars Palace' to be overwhelmed by its size and grandeur; ; 'Mandalay Bay' and its shark reef aquarium; 'The Stratosphere' for its unparalleled panoramic views on the Vegas valley from its observation deck @ 1149 feet (350 meters), where you can even do a bungee jump if you can stomach your vertigo ... and so many more.
Vegas also has a downtown that is worth checking out. We've only visited it in the evening, so I don't know how this place is during the day (we did in January 2019 though ... check below!), but it definitely is alive at night!
Fremont Street is located in the heart of downtown and is covered with the world's biggest LED screen on which free light shows take place after dusk.
There's also a zip line, several podia where free concerts are given and of course plenty of casino's and street entertainment. While watching this one street performance, Geert was taken out of the public to be part of his 'freak show' ...
I wonder if the guy realised he was picking out a guy of almost 220 pounds! 😆
Downtown also offers some great, hip restaurants. They're not cheap, but nothing is cheap in Vegas, but at least the quality and atmosphere will be worth it!
When you've had enough of all the Vegas craziness, you should take the 40 minutes drive to the famous Hoover Dam.
The dam impounds Lake Mead and controls flood, provides irrigation water and produces hydroelectric for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona and California.
It's an impressive piece of engineering which has been constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. Originally the dam was named 'Boulder Dam' after the nearby Boulder City, but has been officially renamed in 1947 as the 'Hoover Dam' after Herbert Hoover who was the sitting president during the construction of the dam.
We took a tour inside the dam together with Hendrik's friend and his mom, and I would definitely recommend you to do that ... just the tour, it doesn't have to be with Hendrik's friend and his mom of course 😆!
Other side of the dam, the Lake Mead side
When craving some nature, you can make a trip to the Red Canyon National Park, 30 minutes West of Las Vegas. We haven't been there yet, so I can't give you more details.
January 2019
That year, we only went to old Downtown, as we like it way more than the Strip because it has this funky atmosphere about it. This time we went during the day, as we already did it during the night in 2017. It's a colourful place and there's always something to see,
even if it's just to do some people-watching.
Colourful Downton Vegas
But old Downtown is more than just the Fremont experience. It's a fun neighbourhood with some great bars and restaurants as I mentioned before, and it's the location of a unique outdoor mall which is built from re-purposed shipping containers, hence its name 'Container Park'. It houses little unique boutiques, restaurants and bars. It has a play-ground in the middle, so it's a family-friendly place too ... that is until 9PM. After 9PM, it becomes a 21+ area ... even the playground 😏. There's often live music, a DJ spinning, and more to make it an entertaining & fun place.
Inside the container park
Restaurants
Breakfast
We really don't like the breakfast offered in the American hotels, and always do an effort to find a nice local breakfast place. Our favourite places in Vegas are:
- MTO Café, nice place in downtown Las Vegas with great healthy breakfast options. Their vegetable/fruit shakes were to die for!
- Eat., trendy place in downtown Las Vegas. Expect to have to wait a while, but just know that it's really worth it!
- Baguette Cafe, a little French breakfast/brunch/lunch place, tucked away in a business park 15 minutes West of The Strip. The owners, Olivier and his mom, are French, and they serve the best croissants, quiches and panini's I've had here in the states!
Lunch
- HUMMUS, a mediterranean (healthy) fast food restaurant in Henderson (20 min SE of the Strip) where you can build your own bowl or wrap with delicious hummus, your choice of protein and lots of fresh vegetables. The interior is charming too.
Dinner
- Firefly, tapas place, not too far from the Strip. Not really suitable to go to with young kids. We've only been there without our kids ... and they're not even that young 😏
- Carson Kitchen, another tapas place ... yes, we do like our tapas 😜, close to Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. More relaxed, so definitely ok to go there with children.
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