Las Vegas: McCarran International Airport

When traveling to, or through, Las Vegas, by air, one must typically travel through McCarran International Airport as a result. Whether you're visiting the city of sin for a long getaway with your pals or simply passing through on a brief layover as you make your way somewhere else, there's a particular aspect to McCarran you'd have a difficult time missing: the ubiquitous presence of slot machines and their changing, jangling little chimes meant to entice. These brightly-lit, loudly clanging little machines make their existence known throughout most manner of business in the city of Vegas, from neighborhood grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations, to even the airport, all looking to benefit from that eagerly handed out money. While for now there aren't any table games, that I saw, I wouldn't be surprised if they were added at some point in the future, in the name of progress and innovation, of course. Of course, they'll probably just install a new generation of slot machines instead, so they won't have to train new dealers or contend with more staff squeezing through an already often overburdened security team. 

Believe it or not, there was a point in time where I was offered a job working at one of the little retail kiosks inside of the airport, but I opted to remain at a different location within the same company so I could avoid that whole hassle of going through security day in and day out. I don't know about you, but I've yet to meet anyone who considers going through airport security to be the highlight of their travel time. If you're that person, though, be sure to drop a comment and let me know!

Personally, I never play slots or wager money. Having grown up in Las Vegas, I've watched other people try their hand against lady luck, and while I've dabbled in poker with my friends at parties, I can't justify it. I work hard for my cash and would rather put it towards something I can see or use, and the casinos weren't built on winners, after all. To each their own, however! If you go to Vegas and decide to gamble $2 or $200,000, that's on you, your bank account, and your priorities, baby. Viva Las Vegas and all that. Don't let me tell you how to live your life, I'm just a girl on the internet.

Vegas: Buzzed bands and blurry nights

If there's one aspect to Vegas to be applauded, it would certainly be the robust options for entertainment and debauchery that spawn up throughout the city like dandelions on a well-watered field. Any day of the week, any time of year, you can spend a short time ambling along Las Vegas Boulevard, weaving your way through any number of casinos, and find some form of entertainment that tickles your fancy, whatever your fancy may be. Perhaps you enjoy a nice piano medley over a cocktail, or grungy guitars dueling it out over a draft beer, there's something for everyone. As a long time local to the city, I generally made a point of it to try to avoid the Strip proper because the sheer variety of options leads to a densely packed crowd of tourists churning through the city on the regular. Some weeks you might find the crowd to be composed primarily of glitter and neon bedazzled dancers and ravers flooding the city for the Electric Daisy Carnival, other times it'll be hoards of billiard players and their teams in the matching uniforms, carting their cues through the casino. The endlessly changing nature of the crowds means that the entertainment options, too, will evolve to try to keep pace and entice each new crowd into spending their cash.

Constant sensory overload is the name of the game, so if you find yourself overwhelmed by the happenings outside on the street you will find no sanctuary in stepping indoors. The casino floors are often the loudest, flashiest, and most chaotic of areas throughout the entire Strip, despite how crazed the streets may seem at times. This may be explained away by the cheap slots and ample free booze that are available inside, along with the air condition's respite from the absurd heat baking the streets beyond. Cool off, or heat up if you're digging the cocktail waitresses' uniforms. There's always the strip clubs just off the strip on industrial if you're getting a little too hot and bothered and want a place to really delve in without the shame of a prominent hard-on in Bally's. You do you, boo boo. 

Vegas: Top Golf

I've got to admit, I've never been much for golfing. I've always associated the sport with rich old men,  Adam Sandler, and day drinking, so it's just never really spoken to me as an accessible or especially enjoyable sport for a young, female starving artist. Top Golf is here to help change that perception, kind of. The venue is located right off the Las Vegas strip, behind some of the major casinos, making it extremely convenient to visit, and it has so much neon and glossy linoleum and glass that you feel like you're in a club, almost. 

If you're not big on golf, there's more to do here than just swinging your putter so don't worry. There's a pool, a sports bar, several actual alcohol bars, and lots of surprisingly good food. I was surprised, at least, though I was getting lots of e-mails (I'm looking at you, Thrillist) about their "chef-inspired" menu for a week or two prior to actually going. The food was good. Was it worth going for, on it's own merit? Depends how much you like the food, I guess. I had the fish tacos with poke and enjoyed them, though they were a bit small and overpriced you kind of have to expect as much. Similar to going to any venue here in Vegas, you're going to be paying an entertainment/tourist tax with higher prices than would otherwise be justifiable. 

There's a lot of food options, though, from sweets like the tasty little donuts that you inject a sweet syrupy filling into before popping into your mouth,  to meaty sliders, to a fruit cup, so there's something for everyone, for sure. There's also an extensive drink menu, as one would hope and expect from the large, well-stocked bars available. This is Vegas, after all, and if you can't get ridiculously drunk and risk toppling off the ledge onto the safety net here then you're not living your best #VegasLife, right? Pro-tip: staff members told us that they're not actually allowed to go over and pull you out of the net, due to safety concerns (like trying to save a drowning person and ending up drowning yourself), so if you do topple into the safety net you'll need to be capable of climbing back out, alright? 

And if golfing actually IS your bag, this is definitely the place to get your fix! There are so many different games to play, and the menu is really easy to use. It's set up similar to a bowling alley's menu, so if you're familiar with that you'll be good to go. The staff will explain everything to you when you get set up, though, so don't worry. The pay structure is such that you rent out a booth for a pre-selected block of time, and the rates vary wildly depending on the time of day you go... Personally, I'd shoot for a brunch session as it's much cheaper and I don't need much of an excuse to enjoy a bloody mary, but if you want to get more of a nightlife vibe then the evening is the time to be here. There's a lot of shuttles, buses and rideshares coming and going frequently so you won't have any trouble finding the place.  

And the view?

So worth it.

Japan: Shin-Urayasu Arcade

Taiko no tatsujin!!!

One of my favorite arcade games in Japan, it's essentially a rhythm music game except you get to wield drum sticks as big around as hot dogs and pound away on an oversized drum. It's a blast and the psychedelic animations that adorn the screen as you play just add to the experience. To be fair, Japanese arcades, often located near or on the top floor of multi-level shopping and entertainment centers, are pretty trippy on their own.