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tamboradventure · 4 years

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In Defense of Las Vegas and Other Maligned Destinations

Posted: 04/14/20 | April 14th, 2020

If you’re like me, you probably have preconceived notions of certain destinations. Whether from books, movies, magazines, or blogs, whenever we think of these places, certain scenes, sounds, smells, and images appear in our heads — even if you’ve never been to them.

It’s a natural human trait.

We use existing information to form an opinion and fill in our blind spots.

If you asked me what Beijing is like, I’d say it was polluted, crowded, and chaotic. I imagine not being able to see the building in front of me, streets packed with people, chaotic markets (give me all that food, though!), insane traffic, and lots of people riding bicycles.

But I’ve never been to Beijing, so I really have no idea. That’s just the image I have in my head from reading and hearing about the city over the years.

Last month, I asked on Twitter what popular places people wouldn’t visit and why. Vegas came up a lot. So did Disney parks, Paris, Mexico, and India.

In the same way I have a preconceived image of Beijing, people had preconceived images of these places.

But what surprised me the most was not the destinations but how their reasons were based on sensational headlines and cultural stereotypes.

Those stereotypes defined these destinations so much that people didn’t even want to see if they were right or wrong (they are mostly wrong).

People didn’t want to go to Vegas because they thought it was all casinos and the Strip, Mexico or India because of safety concerns, or Paris because of the crowds and “rude French people.”

Let’s take Vegas for example. Why don’t people want to visit? Here’s some responses:

It’s true that the Vegas Strip is a shitshow of people gambling, getting drunk, and being obnoxious and/or just generally weird. Everything is fake, expensive, and designed to get you to spend money at the casino and in overpriced restaurants.

But gambling is not the only thing to do there, even on the Strip. There’s more to this city of over two million people. For example, here is a sample of what you can do that doesn’t involve casinos, drinking, or spending a lot of money:

The Mob Museum – This is an awesome showcase of Sin City’s turbulent past and its connection to the mafia.

The Neon Museum – This eclectic outdoor graveyard for hundreds of the city’s famous neon signs from the old casinos is really an awesome experience. Ideally, go around sunset.

Fremont Street – This is Old Las Vegas. Yes, it does have historic casinos, but also buskers, street artists, open-air concerts, and tons of interesting people-watching! A four-block canopy covers much of the street, on which there are regular light shows as well. You can also take a zip line over the street itself.

Red Rock Canyon – Take a break from the city for some scenic hiking and biking trails just 30 minutes from town.

Hoover Dam and Lake Mead – Under an hour east of Vegas is Hoover Dam, this a massive feat of engineering spanning over 1,200 feet and standing 700 feet tall. Lake Mead, a by-product of the dam, is great for swimming, kayaking, and other water activities. You can also take a guided tour of the dam itself (for $30 USD).

The National Atomic Testing Museum – An affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, this exhibition north of town documents the history of nuclear testing in Nevada (over 900 nuclear bombs were detonated in the state). There’s also a separate exhibit for Area 51 too (the truth is out there!).

The Arts District – This area is full of galleries, thrift and vintage stores, theatres, and music venues and is the cultural heart of the city.

The Haunted Museum – This paranormal museum is full of allegedly cursed objects, such as haunted dolls and paraphernalia owned by serial killers. There are 30 rooms full of all kinds of oddities, and the house itself is said to be haunted too.

You can go an entire trip without ever stepping foot on The Strip or in a casino.

Yet, for so many, it is as if “Vegas = gambling = The Strip” and nothing else exists. The image of Las Vegas portrayed in the media is one of Bacchanalian debauchery. That’s all we see.

I used to think the same way.

Before I first visited Las Vegas, I just thought it was all party, party, party. But the more I left the Strip, the more I saw a vibrant city with a lot to more offer than just gambling and drinks. I realized that the stereotypes of Vegas were wrong.

Similarly, while there are serious issues in Mexico, you’re unlikely to get kidnapped or robbed on your trip to Cancún — most of the danger in Mexico revolves around drugs. And, as I’ve said before, Paris isn’t a touristy destination with rude people. The French aren’t more or less rude than anyone else in the world. But if you only deal with the ones in the tourist industry handling large numbers of tourists, your image is going to be of “rude French people.” Because they are probably sick of people asking the same questions over and over again. But you can encounter that throughout the world in touristy areas. It’s not limited to Paris.

Everyone has their own list of destinations they aren’t interested in going to. I don’t have a strong desire to see Saudi Arabia, and I’ve developed some asthma issues that have pushed China and India down my “to see” list due to their pollution (but they are still on my list).

But, before you write off a destination, consider the reason why.

If your inclination is to write it off because you think it is a certain based our cultural stereotype of a place, reconsider.

Research a destination before you pigeonhole it based on what the media says about it (or part of it).

Destinations are always more than their cultural images of them. That’s the point of travel. To peel back the layers and really discover what makes a place tick. Look beyond mainstream perception.

Because it’s sometimes the places we expect the least from that end up often become the most memorable.

P.S. – We’ve launched a new Patreon where you can stories and tips I don’t share on this blog, a private Facebook group, phone calls with me and the team, live Q&As, postcards from the road, signed copies of my books, and much more! Click here to learn more and sign up today!

Book Your Trip to Las Vegas: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

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icanhearyouglaring · 7 years

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when im with you, i have fun

summary: there’s something super about him, something that has absolutely nothing to do with superpowers, and she’d tell everyone exactly what it was if she didn’t want all of its wonders to herself [spitfire + cuddles] a/n: if u like, plz reblog with your comments in the tags!!! i would love that!!!!

The keys to the apartment slip out of Artemis’s fingers as soon as she pulls them out of her jacket pocket.

“Perfect,” she mutters to herself, swooping down to pick the keys up off the wet landing.

After one of the longest, most mind-numbing finals of her life, all she wants to do is get out of the freezing, pouring rain and into the leftover stir-fry that awaits her in the refrigerator to celebrate the end of the semester. Artemis unlocks the finicky door on the first try and when it doesn’t creak loudly as she pushes it open, she momentarily wonders if her food-deprived brain brought her to the wrong door.

But, no, it is the right door. Instead of immediately stripping off her soaking jacket and making a beeline for the kitchen, Artemis quietly closes the door, rests her back against it, and lingers, taking in the sight that greets her in the living room.

Wally, lounging across the entirety of the couch wrapped up in the maroon, velvet blanket they just stress-purchased over the weekend, lazily pets a sleeping Brucely with one hand and turns the pages of the notebook in his lap with the other. His head bobs along with the music that blares beyond the confines of the headphones over his ears. He hums along, off-key and ill-timed, but close enough that Artemis can recognize the song and appreciate the attempt.

She stays by the door, dripping water on the once-clean floor, desperately wanting to pull out her phone and record the cozy scene, but unwilling to chance making a sound and ending it. Wally gets more into the song, tapping his hand against his notebook with the beat. When he aims for the high note, Artemis can’t stop the giggle that bubbles up in her throat. Brucely’s head shoots up from the spot on the floor where he’d been drooling, and he bumps Wally’s idle hand away, catching his attention. Wally cranes his neck back to follow his dog’s vision all the way to her.

“Hey, babe,” he says, quickly taking off his headphones and placing them on the side of the couch. The music doesn’t stop.

“Hey,” Artemis replies, finally slipping out of her jacket and hanging it and her bag on a hook near the door.

She kicks off her shoes and walks over to where Brucely patiently waits for her to pet him, because there was no way he was going to come to her, not with his favorite parent still patting his head (Artemis has come to begrudgingly accept her place as second favorite, but this is not to say that she has given up trying to overthrow the existing order). She sits on the floor next to the couch and rubs the top of Brucely’s head. A small sigh slips past her lips as she forces her tense shoulders to relax.

“How long were you standing there?” Wally asks, shutting his notebook and tossing it onto the coffee table.

“Just a few minutes.”

He turns on the couch to face her fully and quips, “And you didn’t say anything? Pervert.”

“You wish,” she laughs, before leaning in to press a quick, light kiss against his forehead. “So, you fixed the door?”

“Oh, yeah, I think so, but I’m not totally sure how,” Wally chuckles, trailing his knuckles over Brucely’s back. The dog revels in all the attention he’s getting. “I came back from that sham of a review session and kinda-sorta fought with it more than usual. Something clicked, and boom, no more squeaks.”

Artemis snorts, impressed and a little suspicious. “You must have a gift. Counting the toaster and the shower, that’s the third thing you’ve accidentally fixed this week.”

“So that’s why you keep me around,” Wally says with an air of indignant realization, before he moves his hand from Brucely’s back to Artemis’s knee and smiles. “Well, that and that other thing.”

“Other thing? Who’s the pervert now?” Artemis teases, placing her hand over his.

Wally laughs. “Still you. I was referring to your infinite store of love for me. You were thinking dirty thoughts. I can see it in your eyes.”

Brucely takes this opportunity to stick his nose between Wally’s hand and Artemis’s jeans. Artemis rolls her eyes.

“Don’t be jealous. There’s plenty of me to go around,” Wally says, scratching behind Brucely’s ears.

Artemis isn’t so sure he’s talking to the dog.

“You spoil him,” she says for the thousandth time.

“Who else is going to?” Wally glances at her expression and shifts gears. “How was your last final?”

The post-test uneasiness she’d left at the door returns.

“Long. Longer than I thought it’d be. I left a piece of me behind in that lecture hall,” she says, half-serious. “It’s still taking the test.”

“Ouch,” Wally winces and takes her hand, much to the annoyance of their dog-child, who sinks against the floor in protest.

Artemis starts to stand up, but Wally tugs her hand and shakes his head.

“Come here. You need a hug.”

I need that stir-fry, Artemis thinks, picturing the bowl waiting for her near the back of the fridge, but she still carefully steps over Brucely to join Wally on the couch. A hug would also be nice. She lays down beside him and he scoots as far back into the couch as he can and they move around until they find a comfortable position, her slightly on top of him and their legs tangled underneath the blanket.

Artemis sighs slowly as Wally wraps one arm around her and starts fiddling with a lock of her loose, still slightly damp hair with his other hand. With all the hustle and bustle of finals and studying and trying to fit sleep somewhere between those two things, it’s been hard to find a moment of peace with each other.

“Just one more test, babe,” Wally says, exhaustion hanging off every word.

“Are you ready for it?”

Wally laughs. “As ready as I’m going to be.”

“That’s the spirit,” Artemis says, only half-kidding because this far in the game, you either know it or you don’t.

“Before I forget, Mom called today,” Wally says slowly, practically begging her to ask–

“Yours or mine?”

“Ours,” Wally says, jokingly scandalized. “Okay, mine. She wanted to know if we’d come over next weekend for dinner and the tree lighting ceremony down at the Flash museum.”

“You told her yes, right? We always go.”

“About that,” Wally drawls, in the way that warns Artemis he’s been up to something. “I was thinking we could drive out there this year, instead of zeta-ing. Take turns driving, see the sights. We didn’t have time to plan a real vacation for this break, so why not work it into the usual schedule?”

Artemis ponders over the idea for a moment before wincing. “Do you remember our last roadtrip?”

“Oh, I can’t forget it,” he says matter-of-factly. “No matter how much I wish I could. But that just means this one can only be better.”

“Hmm, you’re going to have to sell it to me.” Artemis jokes, before seriously asking, “Where would we even go?”

Wally starts waxing poetic about the value of visiting dinosaur museums and Yellowstone and baseball stadiums and Artemis nods in all the right places and pretends to be undecided, even though he had her at ‘about that’. She lets him go on and on and on, because she loves him, and this, and their life together.

There’s something super about him, something that has absolutely nothing to do with superpowers, and she’d tell everyone exactly what it was if she didn’t want all of its wonders to herself (and Brucely, sometimes).

He has the ability to flip her mood like it’s a goddamn lightswitch (in a good way, most of the time). She’ll be feeling ten types of upset over trivial and important things and then he’ll say something like–

“I guess it doesn’t really matter where, as long as I’m with you.”

–and it’s like all those other things cease to exist, for a moment at least. It really is his gift: inadvertently making things better, just by being himself.

“You’re a cornball,” Artemis says, smiling as she moves to straddle him on the couch.

Wally tilts his head and smiles up at her. “You smell like rain.”

“And you smell like dog–” Artemis says truthfully, wrinkling her nose and leaning down to kiss him anyways.

Brucely barks jealously and they break apart to give the dog matching exasperated looks, but before they can resume their activities, Artemis tastes a familiar tang on the corner of her lip and gasps. She sweeps her tongue over it again, just to be sure. Her eyes flit from Wally’s confused face to the empty bowl sitting on the coffee table. How had she missed it?

“Oh my god,” Artemis sits up on his lap. “You ate my stir-fry? I called dibs.”

Wally blanches. “You did? When?”

“When I put it away.”

Wally cringes. “That’s when I was taking B outside. I am so sorry.”

Artemis releases a short breath, resigned, hungry, and in a forgiving mood (because who could stay mad after all that).

“It’s okay. We still have everything, so I can make another batch tonight.”

That’s when the doorbell rings, startling everyone but Brucely, who has a knack for ignoring everyone but Wally whenever he’s in the room. Artemis untangles her foot from the blanket and rises from the couch.

“Surprise,” Wally says, rushing to get up and grab his wallet from under the coffee table. “I ordered Paola’s to celebrate surviving another semester.”

“You didn’t.” Artemis grins, thinking “Fuck the stir-fry”.

“I did,” he nods, and Brucely dutifully pads along behind his favorite parent as he goes to answer the door.

“Hey,” Artemis calls for Wally’s attention just before he can open the door, “you’re the best, in case you didn’t already know.”

“Love you, too.”

As he makes small talk with the obviously uninterested delivery man, Artemis muses that yes, she’ll keep this all to herself (and the dog) for as long as she can.

#spitfire #young justice #yj #my writing #thx rachelisanerd!!!!!#and jostenneil for the whole mom scene #i was in my feels when i wrote this #so prepare yourselves #otp: ninja couple

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