Key Vegas Moments

My one and only gambling moment-- scored me a free drink!

Beautiful Caesar's Palace at night.

Obligatory Vegas Elvis... or is that two of them?!?

The Mirage Volcano Explosion!

Vegas vs. Vegas

This year I had the pleasure of not only taking my first jaunt to Sin City, but actually visiting the gambling capital twice in 3 months. No, I do not have a bad habit-- I just have wild friends! My first visit was a big 3-0 birthday celebration for one of the girls I lived with in Sydney. My most recent escapade was a college friend's last hurrah! -- her bachelorette party weekend.

It's definitely interest to compare the different experiences you can have for the price you want to pay. Here is a little chart:



Those are the big trip differences— luckily my friend and I were savvy enough to sneak into The Mirage luscious waterfall pool when we stayed at the Imperial in March. All three hotels are on the same portion of the strip, along with Harrah’s, The Flamingo, and the Bellagio.

So, really, for all other activities (gambling, shopping, going to nightclubs…) the most important difference is if you can be bothered to walk across the street in sky-high patent platforms.

Although, if you stay on the Harrah’s/Imperial side, be prepared to hear & feel the vibrations from going-nowhere rock bands and party-scene DJ’s well through 3am.

Salt Water Taffy

Here's another fun thing about East Coast beaches: the endless bright lights and flashy boardwalk amusements! Sure, everyone loves going to a calm beach town where there's nobody around but you, some sand crabs, and the waves. But developed beach fronts can be fun too. Otherwise, how would you ever be able to fulfill those salt water taffy cravings, or buy inappropriate t-shirts for $5?

Ocean City's strip is fun since you can either take or leave the commercialized area. The beach town is host to tiny crab shacks where you can relax with your mallet and hammer, or mind-boggling money traps like "Candy Kitchen." Personally, I like a little of both.

Beach Party Madness

This place is crazy. In fact, it's basically another world, one that holds up to 4,000 people. It reminds me of the sickeningly sweet dessert concoctions I make some nights to make up for the fact that I was deprived of sugar as a child. (Think: cookie dough & peanut butter melted together, plus ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup. Love.) However, this place isn't a "dessert bowl," it's a "spring break lifestyle bowl."

Ocean City, Maryland's Seacrets is a fantastic trip back in time to the world of spring break. You can pull up a stool to a cocktail table that is set a foot into the bay, rock out to reggae bands jamming on the beach stage, lay out with your drink on an inner tube in the water, get down on one of the nightclub dance floors, or eat dinner under tiki torches-- be careful, though, you're probably being broadcast live on a movie screen somewhere else within the grounds!

The best part is that when you finally go home after a night of debauchery, you're not on spring break. That means you can go home, brush your teeth, go to sleep in an actual bed, and wake up for the 9am sun.

Tips:

- Even though you're at the beach, this place has a strict dress code!

- Don't wear heels (flip flops are allowed), since you'll be trudging across sand throughout the club.

- Don't go on the private dock if you've been drinking exorbitant amounts.

- Do dance! Reggae is meant for beach parties!