Viva Round Two
- Jona Kay
- Jun 18, 2024
- 4 min read
My second visit to Sin City - new sights to see!
I always said I wasn't going back to Vegas... but my friends voted and I lost so here we are! When I realized we were returning to Sin City, I made a list of everything that we didn't get to last time to spice up the adventure. Let's check out some of the sights that made the cut! The brutal honesty is what we do in these parts, so we're going over the good and the ugly.
CLUBBING! Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to perform... sing, dance, act, you name it. All eyes on me, just like that thirsty man in the photo above. LV is known to have some of the best clubs in the country (maybe the world? idk) so we had to indulge and research the best ones. The top 4 were XS Nightswim (a frequent for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce), Hakkasan in MGM, Tao in the Venetian, and Omnia in Caesars Palace claiming the #1 spot.
We were STOKED to visit Omnia and got a $25 general admission ticket beforehand... which ended up not being necessary. A promoter is normally situated right inside the Palace entrance door waiting for pretty girls to put on the guest list for FREE! By connecting with the promoter, not only were we guests at Omnia, we were put on every single guest list in the city for the entire weekend, with free drinks between 11p-midnight at select clubs. On Thursdays, Omnia's rooftop ONLY is open overlooking the strip with a fabulous view. Fridays and Saturdays feature well-known DJs indoors.
With EDM bumping on the 100 degree rooftop, we set our sights across the street to Tao for some hip-hop and rap... more our vibe.
The party don't stop on Fremont. There's so many places to dive into, free stages, ziplining, and the cheapest souvenirs. We beat the heat by stepping into Nacho Daddy for a midnight treat. It's mid-price but absolutely worth every single penny.
The area has a lot of immersive experiences with sight, touch, sound, smell, etc. We deliberated between ARTE and the Disney Experience, and ultimately went with Disney. If you're a Disney buff, this is the place for you. Make sure you sit with a view of the entire room as the screens switch for an hour or so. If you're not as into Disney, go with ARTE.
I don't know why more people don't take advantage of the national parks in the area... so here's your sign! Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire, and the Mojave Desert are all within reach but Red Rock Canyon is less than a 20 minute drive. The National Conservation Area has all kinds of history located indoors, along with a gift shop and scenic drive if time allows.
In the opposite direction is the most dangerous body of water in America... Lake Mead. This is where the mob used to dump dead bodies and where multiple people drown from the strong current. Being ballsy, I waded waste-deep to see how much I could take and even that was enough to make me unstable. It didn't help that multiple people were on jet skis causing even more waves. Getting back to shore took a lot of effort and falling down. The scenery is what sets Lake Mead apart. The red rocks surrounding the body of water are a surreal experience everyone should have at least once.
The heat in southern Nevada during summer is unimaginable. 10/10 do not recommend to a friend. If you're planning to visit, do it when it's not 110 degrees every single day. The locals said they don't venture out of their homes until after 5pm because it's too dangerous. As ritzy as it is, Las Vegas is surrounded by desert land. Just stepping outside gave us cottonmouth as the atmosphere drained us.
Being a Bonnie & Clyde buff, my friends were nice enough to venture with me to the Cali state line along the Mojave in Primm, NV to see the exhibit and real car that they were murdered in. Buffalo Bills was a cool spot in the middle of nowhere, with a casino and street tacos inside. Although, it was a bit of a ghost town. Notably, there was not a Bonnie & Clyde gift shop.
Side note - if you're more interested in their life, read this book composed of their sister-in-laws notes alongside them during their crime spree.
Without a doubt, Saint Honore is a must visit stop for a sweet treat. If you read my previous Vegas blog post, we visited Cafe Lola a couple of years ago when it was still starting out. Saint Honore is a newer business extension off of Cafe Lola with gourmet doughnuts that are well-worth the price.
You're going to need somewhere to stay... and if you're with a large group, you can do what we did! This Airbnb is nestled inside of Spring Valley and one of the most beautiful rentals I've had the privilege of staying in. It was quiet, the perfect distance, and a relaxing oasis in itself. You can book it here.
We decided to fly in a day early, and reserved a room at Four Queens on Fremont until our house was ready for early check-in. Save yourself, don't do it. I always leave reviews accordingly after our trips, and this place ended up being a disaster. We had a multi-thousand dollar event on their rooftop, and they refused to let me see the venue ahead of the event because "the rooftop was closed." ??? Never again.
But that place was not as much of a disaster as our car rental company: Fox. Paying ahead on Expedia, we thought it was all squared away and ready to go but Fox charged $400 in hidden fees at the desk ON TOP of what we already paid and made us late for our dinner reservation because they were understaffed.
Honorable mention to our In-N-Out picnic next to the pool because we don't have In-N-Out in Illinois.
And that's the jist! Of course, there were things on the itinerary that didn't come to fruition because there's just not enough hours in the day to do everything in Sin City. Let me know your recommendations incase I get roped into going again!
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