We often associate Las Vegas with a 24/7 slot machine, but it's so much more than that: You can also order Chinese food 24/7, go grocery shopping 24/7, just about anything. If you're up for it, you can probably do it any hour of the day.
Did you know that Las Vegas’s – and possibly Nevada’s – unofficial bird happens to be none other than the orange construction crane? That shouldn’t be a surprise. Given the rising economy of Las Vegas, you’d be hard pressed to find more than a block without running into one of those beautiful birds. Constant construction, especially given the ideal weather conditions, is a given, both in private and public areas, and while this could account for some serious traffic issues it's a sure sign that you’ll always see something new in Las Vegas, no matter what.
Jobs are plentiful in Sin City, that’s no surprise. But a bartender is one of the quickest ways to retirement in this city. It’s true. Flip some drinks and learn how to conjure up a few cocktails and you could easily clear $100,000 annually. Talk about getting paid to have fun.
This is funny given the apparent lack of common sense when thinking of geometry, because while the Las Vegas “Strip” constitutes that the location must be a ‘straight’ line, to some degree, it is most definitely in fact not. The “Strip” sports a vast array of pedestrian walkways and overpasses, traversing every which direction and even supporting meandering strip malls with other boutiques to complement the main street. You can easily get lost on the Strip. Bring a map.
There are lots of negative stereotypes for Sin City, and that’s a sad fact, because when you get to know the glitzy downtown area, you’ll also get in touch with the churches, schools, and grocery stores of the town outside the inner city where everyone seems to know everyone. There are the “tourists,” and then there are the locals. Las Vegas is like any other city – you shop, eat out, watch a movie, go to the dentist, wait in line at the DMV, and hike out in the national parks. It’s more than just a city of slots and roulette. For many, it’s home.
This should make sense given the majority of residential areas are completely separate from the tourist trap called the “Strip.” Downtown has its share of locals, but nowhere near as many as the suburbs, where everything’s quieter. Remember: you’re practically surrounded by desert.
This is a major plus, people. Nevada happens to have the lowest taxes in the entire nation, and for good reason. Some taxes present in other states aren’t even present in Nevada, which means while you’re living in Las Vegas, you reap tremendous benefits. Why is that? With almost 40 million tourists visiting Sin City annually, it’s no surprise that whenever you see those casinos flooding with people chunking their change in every slot machine, you’re watching funding for all your roads, schools, parks, and local services pay for themselves. Just like that.
Everyone thinks Vegas is just a pocket in a great desert expanse, and it is, but the fact is this: Sin City’s huge. It’s not just the Strip—there’s Summerlin, Henderson and North Vegas too. So while you have that awesome public transportation and plenty of taxis, if you’re going to live here you should have a car—and don’t forget the air conditioning.
Don’t freak out, you’re not losing it.
If you do decide to brave the streets of Vegas, you might be pleasantly surprised to find that parking isn’t actually all that hard to find—and sometimes it’s even free! You just have to get there.
Vegas might be a mess to navigate a lot of the time, but the public transportation is pretty awesome. Where else can you ride a bus anywhere in the city for 24 hours for just five bucks?
Several world records have been broken right here - and no, not for the world’s worst hangover. The Stratosphere Tower at SkyJump is the highest commercial decelerator descent. The corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard has the most adjacent hotel rooms anywhere in the world. The world record for simultaneous wine bottle openings was set back in 2012 at the Bellagio. See, these people have real ambition.
This desert city might not be too friendly to many animals unless you’re an animal made of scales and scorpion tails. However, in the metro area, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a staggering number of dog parks for Fido to frolic in – five, to be exact. All American Park, Centennial Hills Park, Charlie Kellogg and Joe Zaher Sports Complex, Children’s Memorial Park, and the Barkin’ Basin Park are their names.
If poker’s not your thing, you’ll do just fine with bowling – unless that’s not your thing either. It should be, though. Las Vegas is known not only for its recreational bowling, but professional bowling demographic. It is, after all, the home for the World Series of Bowling. Players from all over the planet flock to Vegas to compete in one of the biggest extravaganzas of bowling each year.
With the inundation of gambling, magic performance, and showgirls, it’s hard to see that there’s any semblance of real culture in Las Vegas. Look closely enough, and you’ll see it with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Las Vegas Art Museum, and the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History. There’s more to Sin City than just straight entertainment.
There are some fantastic hiking areas just a few minutes from the flash and noise of the city. The Valley of Fire, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Red Rock Canyon offer hikes for every level of difficulty with incredible views of Vegas and the surrounding area.
Just about every movie theater in Las Vegas is, in and of itself, a casino, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. Naturally, in many of the residential areas, you’d have to go closer to the downtown area just to see a show at the cinema. It just so happens that the cinema also features a few poker tables and some slot machines. That’s normal. Rest assured, though, that the auditoriums are nice and quiet while your movie plays on the big screen.
Contrary to popular belief, gambling to some extent isn’t all about chance. It’s a numbers game. Do the research on those video slot machines, and you’ll realize that legally those machines will have at minimum a 75 percent payout rate. That means if you spend $100 on one of those machines, statistically, you’ll get at least 75 bucks back.
You’ll be asking for trouble if you bring a smartphone, or even a Nook into a casino. Security’s always on the lookout for the next Rain Man counting cards, so leave your iPod at home and be safe.
Sure, it looks like a giant concrete potato chip standing upright on a river, but when you realize that that’s simply its function, you’ll know that you’re definitely standing atop a grand piece of artwork constructed during the Great Depression. The groundbreaking Hoover Dam is a true spectacle, overlooking the tremendous reservoir of Lake Mead. Never discount it. It’s a remarkable feat closely akin to that of the Egyptian pyramids if you think about it.
Seriously, it’s never a bad thing when your flight out of McCarran International Airport, because yep, there are slot machines there too. No wonder that McCarran happens to be the fifth busiest airport in the country, and the tenth busiest in the world. And remember that 75 percent payout rule. Feature Image Source: Flickr user Dom Crossley What do you love about living in Las Vegas? Tell us in the comments below!
