“Holy crap, the bunny hill did not prepare me for this.”

That was the only thought in my head as I got off the ski lift, rounded the corner, and looked down the steep ski slope. This was my first time skiing, and more importantly the first time I attempted anything but the bunny hill. I hesitated for a few minutes, and finally just went for it.

I immediately fell on my ass and lost a ski within the first 50 feet. There is no way to look cool when you go down hard, lose a ski, and clearly have no idea what you are doing. But, I got up, clicked my ski back on, and started down the hill again – much more cautiously this time. I remembered my lessons, and formed an iron clad wedge with my skis just hoping not to die. Eventually I became more comfortable on my feet and the experience seamlessly morphed from sheer terror to pure exhilaration. Before I knew it I reached the end of the hill alive.

This is Las Vegas.

Most visitors don’t know that just about a 30-40 minute drive from the Strip, you can go skiing. This is actual, outdoor, on-a-mountain skiing as well, not some indoor facsimile of skiing like you might expect from Las Vegas (or will actually find in Dubai). The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort boasts some of the best snow and the earliest open date in the county. The resort is generally open from November through April, so you can go skiing in Las Vegas for nearly half of the year. Pretty much if you come to Vegas and the pool at your hotel is closed, then the ski slopes will be open.

A lift ticket on the weekend will cost you $60 for the entire day (9 AM to 4 PM), or $50 during the week. Put another way, you can go skiing for an entire day on the amount of money you would probably lose in ten minutes of blackjack. You can even rent all of the equipment needed (including jacket and pants) and take a 2 hour lesson if you are new to skiing. I took the lesson, and would definitely recommend it to newbies.

So, now if anyone tells you that Las Vegas only has gambling and nightclubs, you can let them know about the world class skiing. This is a great way to spend the day no matter what kind of Vegas trip you’re taking, be it with family, friends, or solo. And if you can’t make it to Las Vegas to try the skiing for yourself, this is a pretty close reenactment of my experience.

by Diana Edelman

Las Vegas doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of cheap flights, cheap lodging options and deals, deals, deals to be had. You just have to know where to look.

1. Follow hotels, restaurants, clubs on Twitter and Facebook.

Many outlets really embrace social media and offer special deals. One hotel, Monte Carlo, even has a social media package where people who book via social media get special deals only for them.

2. Four Square is your friend.

You may not check in at home, but here, Four Square is a great way to get freebies and discounts at restaurants around town. From free drinks, appetizers to discounts, checking in can help save money.

3. Don’t spend money for front of the line passes.

Most times, you will still have to wait. A better idea for clubs is to get there early. There are plenty of promoters you can find via social media who can put you on lists so you don’t have to pay the cover.

4. Try not to book a trip during large conferences.

During big events in town, room rates can go from $50 a night to $400. Check online to see what big events are in town before you book a trip.

5. The bus is an option.

The cabs in town are really expensive and have gained a reputation for taking the unknowing tourist on the long-haul around town. If you just need to go down The Strip, hop on the bus instead. It’s cheap, and while it may take a little longer to get from Mandalay to Bellagio, it’s worth the huge savings. Or, walk. Being in the desert is a blessing, and with the mild winter Vegas is currently experiencing, there is no need to bundle for a walk. Plus, walking means you can enjoy those huge yard glasses of frozen alcohol and take advantage of the fact that drinking on the sidewalk won’t merit an arrest. At least not on The Strip. Try it off The Strip, and you won’t fare so well.

6. If you want to see a show, try a half-price outlet before you buy a ticket for full price.

While some of the big shows won’t be included, many shows in Vegas work with discount ticket outlets.

7. Gamble.

OK, so it’s not really a budget tip, but if you sit at a bar with video poker, or camp out at a machine or table, you get free drinks. Sometimes, if you’re max betting at a bar or restaurant, you can even get a meal thrown in!

8. Dorm it up.

There are hostels and hotels that offer seriously budget-friendly rooms and dorms. You don’t need to have a suite to have a great time in Vegas.

9. Do your research.

Sites like LasVegasAdvisor.com and LasVegasPromotionCodes.comtake the serious digging for deals out of your hands. They break down the deals and give you booking codes for hotels in town.

10. Be flexible.

Great rates aren’t always at the great hotels. Remember, the hotel isn’t the place you have to stay. It’s just the place to rest your pretty little head at night. Sometimes, staying walking distance from the grand resorts means a huge chunk of change in your pocket.

by Rachael Sena

Las Vegas is known for gambling, booze and other scandalous behavior. When it comes to these memorable experiences, it’s no surprise that it happened in Vegas, but it didn’t quite stay in Vegas.

Crash Landing

Alison Storm of The Traveling Journal and her four friends grew up in Sioux, Iowa. To maintain their lifelong friendship over long distances, these girls partake in an annual tradition that good friends do: the girls’ weekend getaway.

Alison and her friends were no strangers to Las Vegas. They usually ended up there for their getaway. So, to spice up their visit this time around, they looked for something adventurous.

They woke up before dawn to head out to the outskirts of Vegas to take their wild ride. As the sun rose, Alison and her friends were taking a scenic tour of Nevada’s desert in a hot air balloon.

But not even the calm sands and sun could distract the girls from the balloon pilot who was having anger management issues. Seriously, what could he be so angry about at 7 a.m. in the morning?

The girls could do nothing but ignore the angry captain and enjoy the sandy scenery that lay before them. As the irate pilot belittled his crew, the girls took in the glittering sunrise.

Like all good things, the ride had to come to an end. But as the pilot and his crew were ushering the balloon in for a smooth landing, a huge gust of wind pushed the balloon further across the desert.

The captain turned his fury onto his passengers as he instructed them to hit the deck, or the basket, as it should be called. From the bottom of the basket, Alison could see that they were rapidly heading for a huge boulder of death.

The pilot jumped out of the basket and the balloon roughly came to a stop. The landing was so jarring that Alison and her friends formed a human pretzel at the bottom of the basket.

The girls were in good spirits, though, and they laughed at the whole experience. The cheap champagne toast in front of the sunrise helped too.

Saving Grace

Barry Maher was visiting Las Vegas several years ago for a small businesspeople convention. Since Barry is a motivational speaker, his job was to pump up the crowd with his closing keynote speech.

And he did just that. The crowd rewarded him with applause that echoed throughout the high-ceiling ballroom.

The executive director of the association that was hosting the convention approached Barry to congratulate him on a speech well done. He leaned close to Barry to speak over the applause. But he wasn’t counting on the applause dying down as soon as it had.

Loud and clear, the director said: “You just saved that goddamn, piece of shit meeting planner’s job. You were the only goddamn speaker at the entire goddamn, piece of shit convention that didn’t suck.”

Barry heard it and so did the rest of the convention. The director just so happened to have announced that piece of information into Barry’s lapel microphone.

Barry appreciated the “high praise” and contemplated putting “didn’t suck” as a testimonial on his website.

A slave to her education, Rachael is in her third year at the University of South Florida to earn a Bachelor’s of Art degree in magazine journalism. In her future, she envisions herself editing a fashion/photography/travel magazine (if such a thing exists). Her feisty attitude and short temper can be traced back to her Italian heritage. She knows a little Italian but plans to learn more while vacationing there someday. She is most at peace when writing, spending time with the boyfriend and watching movies about chicks that kick ass.

by Emily C. Sims

Las Vegas is a strangely versatile town. If I drive ten minutes west, I can be on the heart of the Strip, drink in hand. If I drive ten minutes east, I can be in the middle of nowhere, chugging Evian while standing atop gorgeous red rocks in the desert. I often head out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area with my friend Amy to take in the amazing views and to find a sense of calm. It really is like flipping a switch–one moment you’re caught up in the craziness of bright lights big city, and the next you are in one of the quietest places on Earth. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, I head out to Red Rock or the nearby Calico Basin to clear my mind.

Vegas really is a bit of a paradox; so much of the Strip is so incredibly fake, and then just a few miles away is endless natural beauty.

Last week, Amy and I trekked out to Calico Basin. It felt great to get out in the fresh air, away from my laptop and my phone. Even though I try not to be, I really am a slave to technology. Every now and then, it’s healthy to make a complete break from modern convenience and sweat it out on a trail.

Amy on the trail. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

The moon was still visible at 9 a.m. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

Red rocks in Calico Basin. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

A desert flower. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

Hikers on a distant cliff. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

There is so much natural beauty just minutes from the Strip. Photo by Emily C. Sims.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims

Alex and I spent a half  hour playing around on the roof of the Suncoast Casino parking garage, taking pictures. The roof has a great view of the Strip to the East and the mountains to the West. Of the dozens of photos I took, I only liked two!

Here is a view of the Strip:

Photo by Emily C. Sims

I used my zoom lens to get a shot of the mountain range surrounding the valley:

Photo by Emily C. Sims

If you come out to Vegas, take a ride up the elevator to the roof of the parking garage of whatever hotel you are staying in–you’re likely to get one of the greatest views in town.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims

The Strip isn’t all glam and glitter; there are parts of the Vegas experience that are just simply maddening. It’s true of any tourist destination: seedy types flock here to try and turn a buck (or a trick). When walking the Strip during the day or at night, there is no avoiding the 5 types of people listed below. The first time you see these guys, it seems like a bit of a spectacle, but by the tenth time you pass them, their aggressive solicitations are beyond irritating.

And just so we’re clear, when I say ‘guys’ I mean both men and women–the term is multi-gendered to me

Flyer guys

To me, these guys are the worst offenders. You can find them up and down the Strip, but you’ll mostly find them clustered in front of Paris and Planet Hollywood, and between The Cosmopolitan and Bellagio. These guys sicken me–they hand out (and by hand out, I mean literally shove into you) cards with pictures of naked and near naked women with phone numbers. The idea is that you can call that number and get your hooker for the night. Our trick is to always have our hands in our pockets as we walk by, otherwise they will find a way to get those cards into your hands. You will see that the sidewalk is littered with these scandalous cards–which is just another reason why Vegas is no place for children. You don’t need your five year old picking up a card with a naked woman on it off the sidewalk.

Water guys

The water guys plant themselves on the walkways over the Strip. Granted, they have the best deal on water (it’s only $1 for a bottle, whereas in a casino you’ll pay triple or quadruple that), but they are loud and have no problem calling you out as you walk by. Now, on occasion this can be entertaining, as it was the time a water guy offered Rease and me a sale price of 99 cents because he thought we were beautiful, but after you’ve crossed half a dozen walkways, you just want to be left alone.

Panhandle guys

These guys sit on the walkways right along side the water guys. Usually they sit cross-legged on the ground with a sign, but often times they’ll be playing music on a guitar. Here is why these guys are bothersome: the music is really, really bad. Not awesomely bad, just bad. If you’re going to play music to try and earn a buck or two, you need some talent or else you just drive people away.

Time-Share guys and Club Promoter guys

They attack you as soon as you enter the casino. There is no escaping them. If you look young enough, a club promoter pounces and shoves a club card in your face. If you look old enough, the time share guys try to lure you in with promises of free shows. Don’t be fooled; just say no thank you and walk quickly in the other direction. Some of these guys are slightly aggressive and will do anything to get and keep your attention… it might be advisable to run away.

Superhero/Impersonator guys

Yeah, it’s kind of neat to see a Storm Trooper just chillin’ out on the Strip, but then you see Superman… and Spiderman… and Elvis… and a dozen other impersonators trying to entice you to give a few bucks for a picture. It’s kind of neat the first time, it’s eye-roll inducing the 100th time.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims

Food and Vegas are nearly synonymous with one another, but you don’t have to bankrupt yourself on the Strip to get a good meal. Alex and I go to the Strip maybe once a month–when we eat out, we most often eat at one of the off-the-Strip locations listed below. We have been to each of these far more than once, and we highly recommend that you dine there when you’re in town.

My favorite dish at DW Bistro.

DW Bistro

I love this restaurant’s concept: the food is Jamaica meets New Mexico, and it works. The only word I can think of to accurately describe the food here is fresh. Everything I have tasted here has been so fresh, I am half convinced they pick their produce minutes before cooking it. Many times fusion restaurants widely miss the mark, but this one executes its menu beautifully. My favorites are the pasta dishes (the chicken with roasted garlic & cream sauce over bowtie pasta is to die for), but Alex is a fan of the green chili cheeseburger. My favorite part of the meal is the bread–a waiter with a breadbasket comes around offering up pretzel rolls, brioche, and sea-salt muffins. Alex prefers the pretzel rolls, while I can’t get enough of the brioche!

Naked Fish

Hands down, this is Alex’s and my favorite sushi place in Vegas, though Island Sushi is a close second. The fish is so fresh and artfully prepared, you just have to taste it. The place is so tiny, there’s hardly room to stand–we lucked out and walked in without a reservation one evening, but I highly recommend you get one. I don’t think the place can seat more than 20 people. It’s somewhat pricey, so it’s not on our regular sushi rotation, but when we feel like treating ourselves, we head straight to Naked Fish.

Due Forni pizza

Due Forni

I’m drooling just thinking about the wonderful deliciousness that is Due Forni. This isn’t your typical pizza places–they have two styles of crust, Neapolitan and Roman, and a list of seven types of pizza to choose from. My favorites are the Bianca and Margherita pizzas. The food is delicious, the wine selection is perfect, and service is always friendly. Alex and I would seriously eat here every single day if we’d let ourselves.

The decor is modern and lovely, but for some odd reason there’s a large flat screen TV on the wall that is always playing a Western film. The sound is off, so it won’t annoy you. It’s random, but I freaking love it. It’s just one more thing that sets this pizza and wine bar apart from the rest.

Los Tacos

Westside Bistro

710 West Lake Mead Blvd.
North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030

The Westside Bistro was such a surprise! I rarely venture into this part of town, but I found myself there and hungry with a few friends this summer. The bistro is run by the attached Culinary Training Academy, so everyone from your chefs to your waiters are students. You can order off the menu or partake from their tantalizing buffet. The prices are cheap and the food is absolutely delicious–every time I go I get the panini (about $7). Yum!

Rocco’s New York Pizzeria

10860 W. Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89135

We have banned Papa John’s and the like from our home, because there is pizza in this world that is so much more delicious… like Rocco’s! The owner is from the Bronx, and you can taste it in his pizza. It is true New York style pizza with a thin crispy crust with all kinds of delicious grease that dribbles down your chin. There’s char on the crust, and it’s the kind of slice that you have to fold in half to eat. The sauce is so fresh and tomatoey, we are completely addicted. I like it so much, I drive closer to Costco than I am comfortable to get it. It’s tucked away into the shopping center just in front of the Summerlin Costco, across the street from Red Rock Casino.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims

I’m over the guilt thing. I’m not sure if this is a problem exclusive to women, but it seems to be prolific among us. Any time I do anything that is for myself and that is not for work, a friend, a family member, a charity, etc., somehow I can’t get rid of the nagging feeling that what I am doing is wrong. Watched an episode of Hoarders? Wrong. Got my nails done? Wrong. Ate a piece of chocolate? Wrong. Read a cheesy Christmas novel that served no greater purpose other than making you feel better about life for a few minutes? Wrong.

This feeling goes along with a fantastic blog post I read on Tuesday over at Twenty Something Travel. The gist of that post is that the American Dream at times works against us–we don’t take time out for ourselves because it has somehow become ‘wrong’ in our culture to do so. Life is about work, work, work, and more work. You really should go read the post. Go on. I’ll wait.

How did that post make you feel? You agreed, didn’t you?

Well, so did I. And that’s why I say that I’m over the ‘guilt’ thing.

Last week, I took a whole day to myself. A whole day! I went to the Green Valley Ranch spa and spent the entire day soaking in a jacuzzi, breathing in the steam in a deliciously hot steam room, and sweating out my stress in a sauna. I got a luxurious, soul-pampering massage, and I loved every second of it.

The fear of judgement is the fear of living

What I didn’t love is how I felt about this experience before and after. Before I went, I kept making lists of excuses about why I get to go do this–I’ve had a really stressful year, I’m in a turbulent place in my life right now, so many things are happening that I need to relax and calm down, etc., etc. After my majestic spa day, I kept worrying about being judged. What will people think when they find out that I spent the whole day at a spa instead of working? I just left my job, everyone knows I don’t have a lot of money, I can’t imagine anyone will understand why I did this.

That is such bullshit. I didn’t kill anyone; I went to the freaking spa.

My naked day at the spa and what I learned about human nature

The Green Valley Ranch spa. Photo courtesy of Station Casinos.

Let me tell you about how fantastic my day at the spa was, sans guilt, judgement, or excuse, and what it made me realize about people.

My friend Anna and I felt relaxed almost as soon as we parked in the spa parking lot. The themed sidewalk leading to the entrance set the zen-like mood for the day. We checked in, then walked down a large staircase where we were greeted with soft bathrobes and slippers. We threw our street clothes into lockers, glad to be rid of them, and slipped on our robes.

An attendant brought us bottles of water, and we quickly glanced around, taking in the steam rooms, jacuzzi, rainfall shower, sauna, and sumptuous bathroom before sitting down in comfortable arm chairs to wait for our names to be called. Soon, a lovely young woman called for me and took me to a treatment room for my 50-minute Swedish massage.

It was the most amazing 50 minutes of my life. I did not want to get up off of that table! Soft, new age-y music was playing, the lighting was low, and my masseuse made me forget every single stressful thing for an entire 50 minutes. That in itself is nothing short of a miracle.

The time to “get naked” and talk as women do

After our massages, we rotated among the steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi for hours. We drank gallons of lemon water, sweated out pounds of stress, and allowed ourselves the time to talk as women do. It felt almost elemental, in a way. We were stripped of our clothes and of our responsibilities, and that gave us so much more freedom to really talk about ourselves in a way that we hadn’t before.

Perhaps that is the secret of the spa: without the mantle and uniform of wife, mother, girlfriend or employee to buoy you, you are stripped down to yourself. Time away from your daily routine gives you the time to “get naked,” the time to explore your thoughts in a way that we don’t ordinarily do. Many people view this as selfish, but I view it as necessary. Not everyone needs a trip to the spa to get to that point, I don’t need a trip to the spa to get to that point, but it is one way to get there.

Travel is another way to “get naked.” And by travel, of course I don’t mean a week in a hotel in the most touristy part of wherever with dinner at Applebee’s every night, I mean real travel that gets you in with the locals and out of the chains. When you are out of your element, you are forced to look at yourself and your life in an entirely different way. This is one reason that Alex and I are headed to Europe next year.

“Get naked” so you can speak honestly to yourself

I’ve also had moments like that, “get naked” moments, moments where you are stripped down to yourself, at the top of a mountain in Nevada, sitting in a train en route to Monaco, and hiking through Georgia back country. I’ve had a moment like that while just sitting out on my tiny apartment balcony with my journal. The point is, we need to get naked as often as possible and get to know ourselves as deeply and intimately as we can. If that’s too new age-y or Oprah-like for you, I’m not sorry. It’s the truth. We can sit in cubicles and work ourselves to death and pretend like it’s a good life during the two weeks of vacation we get a  year, or we can strip ourselves down to nothing, look in a mirror, and ask questions that most people are afraid to ask:

What is this all about, anyway? What do I want? Is there another way to live, and am I brave enough to go for it?

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims

This weekend, I will be attending an event that I know is going to be fantastic–it’s a chocolate and wine tasting. Yes, you read that correctly–a chocolate and wine tasting! Could there be an event on this planet more profoundly perfect?!

Cheers to Chocolate

Cheers to Chocolate will be held on Oct. 15 in Tivoli Village.

Cheers to Chocolate brings two of my greatest loves together to benefit Easter Seals Nevada, a non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and special needs. Easter Seals provides an array of services to people in need, and it is one of the largest non-profits in Nevada. From autism services to employment assistance to early intervention, Easter Seals daily improves the lives of individuals and families in the Silver State. I am so excited to take part in an event that will raise funds for such a great organization.

As a former high school teacher, I know firsthand the impact organizations like Easter Seals can have on a family’s life. I have worked with many, many families of children and adults with special needs. Organizations like Easter Seals provide some relief and much-needed assistance to those who face such challenges.

The power of wine and chocolate

Chocolate and/or wine have been present at so many major moments in my life–celebrations, breakups, moves, major announcements, major disappointments… all of my female readers know exactly what I am talking about, am I right? Chocolate and wine are so pervasive in my life that I am not ashamed to admit that I start drooling a little when I start thinking about how wonderful and delicious this event is going to be. It is made even more sweeter by the fact that the proceeds will directly benefit a fantastic organization.

Alex and I will both be attending, so let me know if you’re going to be there as well! For those of you who aren’t local to Vegas, I’ll be taking plenty of pictures of the luscious wine and chocolate for you to ogle this weekend!

The details

The event will be this Saturday, October 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Tivoli Village. Easter Seals is hosting the event with Total Wine & More and attendees will enjoy live jazz music throughout the evening. Taste fine wines and gourmet chocolates from vendors such as Ethel M Chocolates and Brasado.

Tickets are $45 each or $75 for two tickets and are available at www.eastersealssn.org and www.cheerstochocolate.com. Tickets at the door are $50. The money raised by “Cheers to Chocolate” will go directly to the Easter Seals services that assist nearly 6,000 Southern Nevadans living with disabilities.  Services offered by Easter Seals include Adult Day Services, Assistive Technology, Autism Services, Child Development Center, Early Intervention, Employment & Rehabilitation and Family Respite.

Photo Credit
Chocolate by Peter Pearson: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterpearson/2359015164/

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.

by Emily C. Sims
Featured image: The sun peeks through the trees in Gardens Park

As we’ve lived here for over a year now, I suppose Alex and I are now ‘locals.’ I’m a Vegas local. It sounds kinda weird, but it feels kinda good. Over the last year, we’ve been dozens

Enjoying happy hour at Ra with a bottle of Sapporo!

of new places, tried dozens of new things, and eaten from dozens of new menus. Here is my list of my favorite places that I go regularly in Vegas, and they all kick ass at what they do.

Happy Hour at Ra

Ra is a sushi restaurant located outside Fashion Show Mall. You can sit inside and keep cool, or you can sit out on the patio and people watch the people on the Strip. I highly recommend the latter as it is highly entertaining. Ra is not the best sushi in town (my vote there is for Naked Fish), but it is still damn good and the happy hour prices CANNOT be beaten. Alex and I love sitting on the North end of the patio, because the Mexican restaurant next door has misters. The cool spray of water travels refreshingly over to our table as we cram our mouths with sushi rolls. Oh, and you must, must get the pineapple cheese wontons. That is a party in your mouth you will never forget.

Sahara West Library

This is my favorite library in the valley, and it totally kicks ass. It is enormous and open, with large windows that allow sunlight to pour in. I could live in this library. A lot of my (unpublished) novel was written in this library, and during the first few months we lived in Vegas I’m pretty sure I was there every other day.

Diane is the best!

Color Nails

Color Nails is a small salon on the west side of town in the Grand Flamingo Shopping Center next to Target. When I’m feeling particularly self-indulgent, this is where I go for my pedicures (and eyebrow waxes. Yeah, I have a unibrow. So what?). Many women think that Asian nail salons are all the same, but oh, they are wrong. This one has everything you want in a nail salon: the massage chairs work, the color selection is vast, and they hand you a bottle of water when you come in.

On top of that, they give GREAT foot and leg massages during your pedicure (make sure you ask for Diane–she gives the best ones! I almost cried this morning as she was beating my legs with her fists. It was amazing). They open at 9 a.m., but if you get there at 8:30, most likely the door will be open and the welcome sign will be on and you won’t have to wait!

Los Tacos

Best. Mexican Food. In town. Period. Los Tacos isn’t a fancy or expensive sit-down restaurant; it’s similar to Roberto’s Taco Shop, only 1000 times better. The tortillas, the cheese, the salsa, the chips, it’s all unbelievably delicious at an unbelievably wonderful price. I may or may not be eating here once a week now. If it were closer to where I live, I’d probably be there every day! There are three locations in the valley, and my fav  is on West Sahara between Arville and Valley View.

Insert Coins

I am not a huge fan of downtown, but when I go there I do like to stop by Insert Coins. I’m pretty sure their target audience is men, but I enjoy it all the same. Insert Coins isn’t a casino–it’s a gaming bar! They have old-school arcade games like Pac Man, but they also have gaming couches with huge flat screens where you can play anything from current Xbox games to old school Nintendo. I usually stick to pinball.  There’s a large bar in the center of the room, so you can get your drink on while you rescue Zelda.

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon.

As summer wears on and the temperature shoots up, it becomes tougher and tougher to get out to Red Rock, but from fall to spring, you’ll find me here most Saturday mornings. You’ll find everything from extremely easy to extremely difficult trails here, and the colors are just fantastic. I love taking pictures here, scrambling over rocks, and chasing lizards. I’m also a fan of Mt. Charleston (it’s always 20 degrees cooler up there–holla!), but there’s something majestic about Red Rock that always brings me back.

M Resort & Casino Pool

The M is gorgeous. It’s out in Henderson, so I’m not sure how well it does compared to other casinos on the Strip, but it is worth the drive. The casino itself is gorgeous, and I am in love with the pool. Local women are always free, but there is a charge for men. Alex and I go on Saturday nights, because during the summer they have free pool parties (no charge for men or women) with live music. The music usually sucks, but the venue most certainly does not. Besides, it’s fun to make fun of terrible cover bands!

Due Forni

Delicious pizza at Due Forni.

I’m drooling just thinking about the wonderful deliciousness that is Due Forni. This isn’t your typical pizza places–they have two styles of crust, Neapolitan and Roman, and a list of seven types of pizza to choose from. My favorites are the Bianca and Margherita pizzas. The food is delicious, the wine selection is perfect, and service is always friendly. Alex and I would seriously eat here every single day if we’d let ourselves. The decor is modern and lovely, but for some odd reason there’s a large flat screen TV on the wall that is always playing “The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly.” The sound is off, so it won’t annoy you. It’s random, but I freaking love it. It’s just one more thing that sets this pizza and wine bar apart from the rest.

Z Gallerie

Yeah, Vegas isn’t the only location for this store, but it’s still one of my fav places to go! It’s in Fashion Show Mall, and I wish I had thousands of dollars to spend so I could own everything in it. The furniture and decor items here are just… cool, there’s no other word for it, and Alex and I have fun walking around and sitting on all the couches and fluffing all the pillows. Yeah, it’s kind of a dorky thing to do, but it beats walking aimlessly around Wal-Mart!

Gardens Park Farmers Market

This park is in Summerlin, and every Tuesday evening they have a farmers market. All of the vendors at the market are knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices are fair. The quality of the produces is miles above what you’ll find in the grocery store, and it feels good to buy directly from the source.  You have to stop by the lemonade stand and ask for a ‘zinger;’ the friendly old man who pours your lemonade will add freshly squeezed orange juice to you glass.

Muncheez Food Truck

Since the food truck moves around, I can’t tell you where it is (check their web site), but I can tell you that it is by far my favorite food truck in Vegas. You can choose from a variety of creative grilled cheese sandwiches and get a cup of tomato soup to go with it. My recommendation? The Chi Chi, which is a sandwich with grilled chicken, tomato, melted mozzarella and pesto sauce. YUM.

Emily is a recovering cubicle monkey, former obituary writer, and ex-yuppie. In her free time, she volunteers for Wings of Hope and pretends like she knows how to use her fancy camera. Emily has lived all over the United States and France and currently resides in Las Vegas. Her favorite place in the world is Isla Espiritu Santo in La Paz, Mexico.