I have the same deal with Vegas. I have a really odd affection for that city.
I've never been. Kind of curious about it. Lewis' corporate conference is there every year and he hates it, although he says it would be more fun if I could come along because there are things he'd definitely do with me that he wouldn't do with five thousand other store, district, and regional managers along with assorted video game bigwigs.
Whether I was there or not, he'd definitely not go for a naked cavort in the fountains of whatever hotel they were at last year (Mandalay, I think). Cost about twelve store managers their jobs. Whoopsie.
Vegas. Ptui.
Yeah, yeah, I know. And I do have a good time if I'm there with friends. I just really don't like the city itself. Feh.
I do have a good time if I'm there with friends. I just really don't like the city itself.
Fremont Street is really the place to be for me, I found (though I would not turn down the penthouse suite in THEHotel Mandalay Bay. Holy shit that was nice). But Fremont is awesome, if way too far away from the Double Down. You can actually maneuver around the crowds! There's motorcycles being ridden in cages! There's cheesy music videos projected on the canopy!
Something about how absurdly over the top every single thing in Vegas is appeals to me. It's like American Pop Culture barfed in the Nevada desert.
I should try Vegas some day. After all, I really LIKED Disneyworld, which I wasn't expecting, so maybe the soul-deadening dread I feel each time I contemplate going to Vegas is misplaced.
PS Tucson is everything Vegas is not.
I haven't been to Vegas to visit Vegas since the mid-80s. Since then, I've transferred planes at that airport and that's about it. I really need to go to Vegas.
As someone who is really hoping for Seattle or Portland, I feel obliged to point out that in the upper left coast, hot humid July weather is not unknown - especially with climate chaos. Mind you, there are coasts and lakes and so forth to escape to.
When it comes down to it, for me, it's really not the location that matters, it's the people. If I have the money, I will be there.
I'll be with y'all wherever we go... but I'd rather not be roasting.