A Day in Las Vegas: From Outlets to Fremont Street Shenanigans

Ah, Las Vegas, where dreams come to life, and your wallet gets dramatically thinner without even a hint of remorse. It’s a city that promises excitement, indulgence, and a dash of chaos. My wife, Michele, and I had quite the mixed bag of a day, filled with shopping, a bit of unexpected adventure, and some good old people-watching on the famous Fremont Street. So, let’s dive into the shenanigans of our day in Sin City.

A Venetian Night to Remember… Almost

We had the pleasure of staying in a lovely Venetian suite on the 22nd floor, a room as grand as you might imagine from a Las Vegas hotel. The bed was certainly comfy enough, but alas, it wasn’t the most restful night of sleep. Whether it was the anticipation of the day ahead or perhaps just the sheer thrill of being in Vegas, it wasn’t exactly the deep slumber I’d been hoping for. Still, not a bad way to wake up – overlooking the city from a posh room with the extravagance of Venice, but in Nevada.

Breakfast for Champions… If Champions Enjoy Overpriced Coffee

So, the day started at a leisurely 9:30 AM, which feels downright early for Vegas time. We strolled down for a spot of breakfast – two lattes and a couple of croissants. $28, just like that. They sure know how to part you from your hard-earned money in this town. I half expected the server to pat me on the back and say, “Well done, mate, you’re helping keep the lights on!” But hey, at least the coffee was decent, and the croissants didn’t crumble into complete disarray. Not the best breakfast value in the world, but it’s Vegas – you’re not here for a bargain breakfast, after all.

The Outlet Shopping Extravaganza Begins

Once we’d downed our overpriced breakfast, we grabbed an Uber and made our way to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets. This wasn’t our first rodeo with these types of shops; we’ve been to the ones in Chicago before, so we knew what we were in for. Michele was ready to spend some of her birthday money, and where better to do that than Kate Spade?

In no time, we were inside, and Michele was in her element. A Chelsea belt bag, a clutch handbag, and a purse later, we were leaving the store with several bags and a dent in the birthday fund. I’m not much of a shopper myself, but Michele assures me that outlet shopping is always a good opportunity to snag a bargain. And I suppose when you compare those prices to the ones back in regular shops, maybe there’s some truth to it. Either way, Michele left with a smile, so mission accomplished.

Walking to Fremont Street: Homeless Warnings and Wary Footsteps

Next on our agenda was a visit to Fremont Street, a mere 1.1 miles away. We debated for a good while whether we should hop in an Uber or brave the walk. Eventually, we decided to stretch our legs and hoof it, which, in hindsight, may not have been the most brilliant decision.

About halfway there, a security officer in her truck stopped us, giving a friendly, but slightly unnerving warning. “Just be careful,” she said, “there’s a large number of homeless people up ahead.” She didn’t have to tell us twice. Michele looked at me, and I could tell we were both feeling a bit apprehensive. But did we turn back or call for an Uber? Nope, of course not. We just crossed the road and carried on, because apparently, the other side of the street feels magically safer.

To be fair, we did pass a few homeless folks, but they didn’t give us any trouble. Vegas, like many cities, has its share of rough patches, but we made it to Fremont Street unscathed and with an extra dose of awareness about our surroundings.

Fremont Street: The Land of ‘Not Rights’

Now, if you’ve never been to Fremont Street, let me paint you a picture. Take the craziness of Las Vegas, dial it up a few notches, and then sprinkle in a hefty dose of bizarre characters. It’s like someone took the wackiest aspects of the Strip, concentrated them, and dropped them into a neon-filled blender.

There was one lady, bless her heart, looking rather dishevelled, dancing next to a sign that read “Dancing for cigarettes and vodka.” Another group wandered around looking like they’d skipped several baths, offering photo ops to anyone who’d throw them a dollar. Then, of course, there were the scantily clad girls trying to get you to take pictures with them, although we gave that particular offer a pass.

We strolled up and down Fremont Street, taking it all in, but decided to get a bit more adventurous.

Flying Over Fremont: The SlotZilla Zipline

Now, what better way to see all the madness of Fremont Street than by flying over it? Enter: SlotZilla Zipline. Michele and I decided to give it a go, despite the fact that heights aren’t exactly her cup of tea. We climbed up to the launch point, about 12 storeys high, strapped in on our bellies like a pair of human eagles, and off we went.

As we zoomed down the street, with all the lunacy of Fremont passing beneath us, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. Michele, on the other hand, was a tad out of her comfort zone, but I’m pretty sure she enjoyed it. Maybe just a little. Or at least, she seemed pleased once we were back on solid ground.

Back to the Venetian: From Pilots to Chinese Cuisine

After our high-flying adventure, we hailed an Uber back to the Venetian. Our driver was a friendly fellow, and as we chatted, we learned that he was preparing to move to the UK to be with the woman of his dreams. Not only that, but he was also training to be a pilot for British Airways. Quite the love story, right? Just goes to show, even in Las Vegas, there’s room for a bit of romance and ambition.

Once we were back at the Venetian, we decided to cap off the day with a nice Chinese meal. We tucked into our food, savouring the flavours before heading off for a wander around the indoor Venice canals. It’s quite surreal, strolling through what feels like a mini Venice inside a casino, but that’s the magic of Las Vegas – everything feels like a surreal dream.

Chilling with Beers: The Perfect End to a Vegas Day

And now here we are, back in our suite, sipping a couple of beers and winding down after a day of shopping, walking, ziplining, and people-watching. It’s been a whirlwind of a day, but one that’s been quintessentially Vegas – unpredictable, a bit mad, but undeniably memorable.

The gamblers in us

As we sit and reflect on the day we chuckled at how we became the big high rollers in town.

Neither of us are particularly into gambling but when in Vegas you need a little flutter. We sat at a slot machine twice today once spending $2 & winning nothing in the morning. Then this afternoon we decided to try $10 & guess what we won $104.98 we both almost said together “check out” now how the hell do you cash in a voucher for $104.98? We had to ask and was advised to go to the ATM and put the voucher in and get pesto out comes the dollars. End of our gambling experience in Vegas.