I recently flew back to Las Vegas from a trip abroad. My seatmate, who was clearly excited about the flight, asked me if this was my first time to Las Vegas, too, to which I answered that I live in the city. His eyes grew wide (a typical response when visitors learn that people actually call Las Vegas home), and he asked me what it’s like to live in Sin City.
My husband and I have been known to tell people that we live in the MGM lion or at the top of the Stratosphere, and people have been known to believe us, but the short answer to his question is that living in Las Vegas is like living in any other city: We have libraries and gyms. Our kids participate in after-school sports and go to prom. We use coupons at the grocery store and take advantage of our local parks when the weather is nice. Living in Las Vegas is, in many ways, just like living in any other city.
The long answer to his question is that Las Vegas has two faces: The city where we go to work and send our kids to school, and a playground that guarantees entertainment for both tourists and locals. Some locals rarely visit the
Strip; they think it’s a chaotic madhouse with little genuine personality. I can appreciate and understand where these people come from, but I choose to see Las Vegas in a different light. It is big and bright, over-the-top and overflowing with entertainment and attractions. In many ways, it is undoubtedly ridiculous, but that is Las Vegas defined, and, as such, I choose to embrace the city with all of its wild and crazy quirks.
So, yes, this means I visit the Strip and downtown area on a fairly regular basis, and I know many locals who do. We love to eat at the diverse array of restaurants (there is always something new to try). We enjoy catching the new shows as they move into the city, and the selection of concerts in Las Vegas spans every musical genre. When we need to buy a certain item, chances are we can find it with a shopping trip. And when family and friends come into town, it’s never a challenge to entertain them.
I understand that people have a love/hate relationship with Las Vegas, and I appreciate both the positive and negative sentiments people have about the city. Nonetheless, it’s this go-big-or-go-home mentality that Las Vegas is built on, and I encourage people to accept the city for what it is. Whether people have visited before, or they’re thinking about visiting for the very first time, or even if they are locals, be open to the weirdness and endless possibilities that a city like Las Vegas has to offer. Order a fun cocktail. Take in a wacky show. Splurge at a celebrity chef restaurant. What happens in Vegas may or may not stay in Vegas, but certainly many experiences found here can’t be replicated anywhere else.