Don’t care for it. At least not the typical tourist part. Went once as part of a convention. Don’t plan to ever go back.
I understand that actually -living- there isn’t bad…as long as one stays away from the casinos.
Family moved to Las Vegas when I was in the fourth grade. I moved away at age 22. Moved back six years later, away again three years after that, and back again three years after that. Now I’ve been here a year.
Basically I don’t like Vegas. I don’t gamble, and don’t ever go to the Strip or to casinos.
For 5 points: How old am I?
Extra credit: what year did I move here?
I liked the strip–it was interesting in a Disney Worldish sort of way. I didn’t do any gambling because A) I didn’t have any money and B) I had the trots so in my frantic search for restrooms I couldn’t have sat still long enough to gamble anyway. (I was impressed with the restrooms, however. The casino restrooms were some of the best I’d ever seen. )
Some of the outlying towns and suburbs are pretty bleak–basically Malvina Reynolds’ worst nighmare. Strip malls and houses that all look the same. I’m surprised that people coming home from work in the evening can remember which house belongs to them.
My parents live there. I went to visit them in May a few years ago and it was over 108 in the shade and brown everywhere. So I hate, hate, hate, HATE it.
Deserts are not my ideal environment.
The only place I really liked was Hoover Dam nearby. The Dam is much more beautiful and awe inspiring than I ever imagined.
mutters to self about why parents couldn’t go retire in a nice community in Florida so I could visit them in January and use the pool . . .
I would make a Vegas trip every five years or so. Each time, before going, there’s a sense of anticipation … the shows, the buffets, the casinos. I’m not much of a gambler, so it’s mainly slots if I play at all. Anyway, the anticipation is always replaced with a “Man, am I glad I don’t live in this place!” attitude when I leave. Overall, I don’t love the place, but it’s a nice diversion once in a long while.
I’m going there next weekend (business trip). It will be my second time and I’m looking forward to it. I’m not much of a gambler, but I’ll play a few hands. Mostly I want to see one of the versions of Cirque du Soleil, pig out and people watch.
I want to check out the shark tank and fish aquaruim at the Bellagio (I think that’s where it is). Billy Idol is playing at the Hard Rock, but I think I’ll pass. Any show suggestions for a 33 year old single dude are welcome, i.e. no Celine Dion. I saw Blue Man Goup last time and loved it.
Is a tour of Hoover Dam worth the drive?
I’ve been living in Vegas for just over a year now, and for the most part I like it. The biggest thing for me is most everything is open all night. I work nights, and during the week I don’t switch to a daytime life. Its great to be able to go out at 3am and have something to do.
Once you’re off the strip its like most any town in America, with its good and bad parts. Having the lake near by is fun, and the mountains are only a short 45 minutes away.
All things considered, its not too bad.
I mean…seeing those small-scale models of the Statue of Liberty, venetian campanile, etc…just makes me wonder…what were these guys thinking? What’s the point of floating venetian gondolas in artificial canals in the desert? Are we going to see more of the same? Is this what the “lumpenproletariat” wants?
As I see it, people go toVegas for three main reasons:
(1) to gamble
(2) to see shows
(3) to eat
Other than that, there’s not much to do!
I suppose some spoilsport would mess me up if I tried it, but I’ve always wanted to roll a bowling ball down the face of the dam.
Went with my girlfriends this winter. Eight of us lost a total of $50 in the slot machines, spent $1300 on sixteen pairs of shoes and a purse (Leonard’s wide shoes for people with mutant feet was a hit).
Vegas is … strange. We went because it was cheap to get to and cheap to stay and we could all be together without anyone needing to bust open their piggy bank. Food isn’t as cheap as it used to be, but its still possible to eat reasonable, and gawking at the casinos is still free.
But its the sort of place I need to make sure my blinders are firmly in place in order to enjoy myself.
The city itself can be a lot of fun, in widely spaced small doses. I can’t hack much more than about two days in the Strip because I’m not one for crowds. (Disney World is my definition of hell.) I can enjoy the distinctly surreal atmosphere for a short while though. Basically I stroll around croggling at the tackiness for a while. Then it’s time to take a break with some video poker, free drinks and recreational people-watching.
Then it’s off to the desert and some blessed silence. Maybe the contrast makes the natural beauty that much more striking.
FWIW I never eat or stay at the big casinos. I found a terrific little Italian restaurant–in a converted house, literally seats about 12, max–for instance, and a ‘nothing for looks’ place for breakfast that purely rocked, both of 'em located well off the Strip. Suited me.
So…for the poll, like Vegas–in carefully calibrated doses.
The Shark Reef is at Mandalay Bay. It’s pretty cool. My children love it. The dolphin exhibit at the Mirage is another of their favorites. Worth a look if you haven’t had your fill of aquatic animals. 
Hoover Dam is worth checking out at least once. At any rate, it was before 9-11. They closed down parts of the tour after that, so I’m not sure what they still let you look at. Probably still cool to see once in your life, though.
Love it, in small doses. Mrs. zoog and I go out there once every year or two. We always like to spend our money on a nice jacuzzi suite in one of the decent strip hotels, eat a few good meals (we love the Peppermill for breakfast, and the World Carnival Buffet at the Rio). Usually try to see at least one show. We’ll gamble a small amount, usually spend more on food than we will on gambling. Three, maybe four nights, and we’ve had our fill of it and we’re ready to come home.
As a native northern Nevadan, Vegas is kind of like our big brother who seems to do everything better than us, and for that we hate him. I don’t like Vegas because its desert is not nearly as pretty as ours (no mountains, no Tahoe) and it’s sucking up all our tourism revenue, god dammit. Plus UNLV- what an ugly campus. But I am, of course, biased and bitter. They do the theme casinos way better than we ever will, though.
I…Love…Deserts. The Caddy and I have been planning a move to Reno for years and recently included Las Vegas in our options. A major change in locales but the steady warmer weather is a big draw. She needs the warmer, drier climes to reduce pain, and I’m, quite frankly, sick of clearing snow in -40 degree weather. Housing in LV is high in some areas, but taking into account what it is here, the job prospects are much better in the Silver State. And I know Reno is cheaper, but not sure of the economics.
Now, to the majority of you slagging Vegas, let me clue you in. You should not be Dopers. We’re supposed to be fighting ignorance, not proving it by trying to use anecdotal evidence of an entire region based on what you’ve seen in your little “all-inclusive” travel package designed to keep you from leaving your hotel.
“The Strip” is what you, and almost everyone else there, sees. Check a map. The city extends well beyond that area of the highway. I’ll let you in on a little known secret. There are suburbs of the city! Gah!
LV is like any other big city. There are jobs where big tits help you out, and there are jobs where big muscles help you out. Other jobs can be had if you know how to build stuff, transport stuff, manage stuff, fabricate stuff, etc.
I had great fun in Vegas for a week last summer. I didn’t gamble at all, either. I saw a show every night. Checking out all of the casino’s alone would take forever. I could go back for another week and still not see all of them I bet.
We own a timeshare in Vegas so we’re there at least once a year. We really enjoy it because we don’t feel rushed and aren’t trying to cram everything into a single trip. We also drive there and it’s nice to have a car to get around (we know the shortcuts and back ways, haha) and get out of the city and do other things. We have all our favorite spots we like to hit each trip, and we like to try new things and go different places. Husband likes to play golf and I like to hit the outlet stores and thrift stores and a nice yarn store in the burbs. You can go see Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and Mount Charleston is like 40 minutes away and 30 degrees cooler in the summer so we went up there once and had a nice hike one day when it was roasting.
My only beef is with people who bring little kids there for vacation. What the hell is wrong with those people?! Isn’t there ANYPLACE I can go to get away from children? I would’ve thought someplace where the focus is alcohol and gambling and nudity would be a good bet, but apparently I’m wrong.
I love Vegas. I love the activity, the hotels, the food, the gambling and the touristy crap.
Going back again for 4 nights this summer. I suspect 4 nights would be the limit, since it does grate on you after a while.
Ain’t THAT the truth?? There must be a thousand better places to take kids, but no. We’re dragging their asses to Vegas. Let’s take a walk down the strip with junior and sissy. Gee, mommy, what are all those newspapers with naked ladies on them, and why are there naked ladies pictures on the light poles?? Well, Junior, it was either this or Disney Land…
I love that a place like Vegas exists, but I can only take it a few days at time.