Las Vegas, a city beyond Gambling!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by jamiegall1930

When you think of Las Vegas, you think of the plethora of Casino’s and hotels along the Strip.  You think of neon lights, strip clubs, and all the shows a person can partake in.

But, for a person that has traveled there since a child visiting family.  Let me tell you, Vegas has a lot to offer beyond Gambling.

Here is a list of some of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas, going beyond Gambling.

Credit: National Geographic

1) Red Rocks

One of my absolute favorite memories was the time my Uncle Ryan took me off the unbeaten path to the Red Rocks.  Literally, Red Rocks located on the outskirts of Las Vegas that people hike through and even climb.  Spending the day there, even for just a few hours was a memory completely ingrained in my head.  Bring plenty of drinking water as it can get HOT out in that desert, but also be aware of your limits.  These are little mountains, and some parts get pretty steep, so it’s best to do your research ahead of time.

Credit: 2backpackers.com

2) Mt. Charleston

Las Vegas is situated in a valley with mountains surrounding it.  One of those mountains happens to be Mt. Charleston.  One summer, when out visiting my grandparents, they took us out to Mt. Charleston, and we spent the day there hiking and picnicking.  One thing is make sure you prepare for the cooler temperatures if you do go.  It may be 95 in Las Vegas, but once you hit the levels of Mt. Charleston, it can easily drop to 45.   Spending a day out here, and getting away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas was pretty memorable, and a story for the record books.  You went to VEGAS and did what?  It’s guranteed to leave people shaking their heads after 😉

3) Hoover Dam

Just 34 miles away is the historic Hoover Dam.  A journey to one of most visited historic landmarks of our time.  And the tallest concrete built dam in our countries.

Just know this: It costs $30 dollars to take the Hoover Dam tour which takes you down to the depths of the dam and back up again.  No children under 8 years old are allowed on the tour.  And cars crossing the bridge are subject to inspection, based on our lovely new security measures.

Credit: starlinetours.com

4) BUFFETS

Some of the best buffets I had in Vegas weren’t located on the Las Vegas Boulevard.  Instead, they were off the beaten path.

Some of my favorites: Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada.  They also have an amusement park attached to their casino.

Fiesta Rancho Buffet in North Las Vegas.  A huge feature of this resort is the Indoor Ice Skating rink you can overlook through the windows and watch, or rent some skates of your own and join in.

5) Downtown Las Vegas

Head to Downtown Las Vegas to watch their historic “Fremont Street Experience” light show.  Show times are every hour on the hour from 8:30pm to Midnight.

A canopy light show located in the midst of the downtown casinos.  As you wait for the light show to begin, hit the various souvenir shops along the way and just enjoy yourself.  You have to at least see the show once while visiting Las Vegas.

Those are just some of my favorite “off the beaten” path things to do in Las Vegas.  What are some of yours? =)

 

 


Categories: Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Valentine’s Day Makes the SEXES Butt Heads ;)

Posted on February 13, 2012 by jamiegall1930

Ladies, how many times has a Valentine’s Day come and gone, and you’ve been left disappointed?

Men, how many times has a Valentine’s Day come and gone and you’ve just dreaded the days leading up to it fretting on what to get, or what to do for that holiday?

Ladies, how many times have you gone out and bought some sexy lingerie in hopes to spice up the bedroom?

Men, how many times have you gone to the grocery store on the day of Valentine’s Day looking for something last minute only to find that the minute you gave it to her, you felt her disappointment?

Valentine’s Day is that dreaded day once a year where the Sexes literally butt heads.  Where Men equate Romance to Sex, and women equate romance to anything but.

The day where chocolate and teddy bears and flowers are flooded throughout the stores, where as you lay your head to bed at night, the thoughts of hearts, and the color red haunt your every dream.

My SO has coined the term of Valentine’s Day as “the woman’s second birthday.”  The fact that he keeps reminding me is that St. Valentine was a Saint, and it was started with the idea of brotherly love more than being flooded with gifts, etc.

For me, the idea of Valentine’s Day was never one of extravagance.  I don’t like going out that night for the restaurants are far too crowded, and it’s just better to stay in than deal with the crowds that evening.  However, because of the Chick Flicks I’ve seen in my life, and the idea of being treated like a lady, the thought of a GREAT date idea has crossed my head a time or two.  The idea of beautiful flowers being delivered to me at work has put a smile on my face a time or two, and the idea of being in a romantic balloon ride has filled my head with awe.

But those dates, and those things don’t happen in my life.  They just don’t.  But is it because of the ideals I see in movies, the ideals that hope to become reality set me up for disappointment on the actual day of Valentine’s?  That when in fact he takes the time for me to go to a Chick Flick and dinner, I don’t appreciate it because I’m hoping for that something more?

That’s what’s wrong with Valentine’s Day.  That’s whats wrong with the whole idea.  It’s a day to celebrate our love for one another, whether mom, dad, brother, sister, lover, daughter, son, or friend.  It’s a day to let the ones we know we love know we care.   A day to think of them, and give a gesture to a stranger.  A day to honor those around us, and appreciate what it is we do have.

So today, instead of fretting over the flowers you may not have gotten, or the dinner you got instead of the one you hoped for, remember to just appreciate what’s in front of you as opposed to what could have been.

Truly the biggest lesson I ever got out of Valentine’s Day…


Categories: Life | Tags: , , , | 9 Comments

Upgrading the Camera….

Posted on February 13, 2012 by jamiegall1930

I remember when I first purchased my Canon Powershot SX10.  It would be my first major camera purchase.  It was 3 years ago.  I was beginning to find my love of pictures.

It was with me as I captured the Sun.  As I captured the journies of Minnesota from visiting the North Shore to the farm lands of down south.  It journied with me as I visited North Carolina, South Carolina, Rhode Island, to Florida and Washington DC.

It came with me as I spent my last summer in Minnesota trying to capture all the things I would miss including the Minnesota State Fair, The arboreteum, to the North Shore.   It was with me the last week of being in Minnesota as I captured the changing colors of the trees.

It was with me as I traveled through Iowa, Nebrask, through the Rocky mountains into Utah, Nevada, Arizona, as we finally crossed the border into California.  It was there as I began my new life in a new place not knowing anyone or anything about the area I’d be living.

It was there as I learned how to capture my sunsets over the ocean.  As I learned more and more about photography.  As I ventured out into the city of LA, and learned the streets, the people, and about photography.  It was there, and it’s been quite the journey.

But there comes a time in every Photographer’s life where the journey comes to a end, where a new camera comes to light.   And that time is soon for me.  That time is right around the corner, as I finally venture into learning to shoot photography with an SLR.

It was quite the journey, it was quite the ride, but now I must say good-bye!!

😉

 


Categories: Photography | Tags: , , | 4 Comments