Before I went to Vegas, I did a whole bunch of research that kind of robbed me of the magic of being surprised by what I experienced. But no matter how many pictures I saw, nothing could prepare me for the sensation of standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

So, originally, I was supposed to go to the Grand Canyon with my father. I sort of hijacked his plans back in January. He was telling me about some wedding event he was going to in Flagstaff Arizona, and I was like, “That’s near the Grand Canyon! That’s on my bucket list”

And that was it. My mind was made up to see the Grand Canyon in April 2024. Unfortunately, my dad had to back out of the plans. But like I said…I made up my mind. (heads up, plenty of captured photos and videos in this one)

The day after the Super Bowl, I looked up tickets and couldn’t believe how cheap and affordable it was…if I went by way of Las Vegas. If I stayed in Flagstaff, Arizona, it would’ve run me about $1,200 for hotel, flight, and car rental. But a flight and stay the Mirage only ran me $700.

Not to mention, through GetYourGuide.com you can find a tour guide pick you up from any of the Vegas Strip hotels and they’d take you to the Grand Canyon! You don’t need to rent a car at all.

So, Vegas it is!

PREPARATION:

When it comes to Las Vegas itself…I know it’s one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. The lights, the glitz, the glamour, the fun, they money, the sex, the opportunities…none of that ever really appealed to me. Lol, in the beginning, Vegas was just a convenience to see the Grand Canyon.

However, as I started to do more research (watching a whole bunch of Travel Ruby videos), my anticipation grew. I already knew about the history, the mafia, Bugsy Siegel, Oceans Eleven, Casino, etc…But what I was hoping for more than anything was the atmosphere. I wanted to soak in and observe the sensation of walking the strip, of taking in the casinos, of going to a show, of eating in one of the restaurants.

A few weeks before going to Vegas, I had a co-worker who happens to be an amateur poker player school me on casino etiquette. So, we went to the Hard Rock Casino where he taught me how to use the slot machines and what to do at the blackjack tables. We didn’t get into poker, because that’s a whole other beast in of itself.

ALSO, I forgot to mention this, but don’t rent a car. Through Expedia, I usually do packages where I include a car in with my flight and stay. But if everything you’re going to do is all on the Las Vegas strip, you really don’t need a car. You can walk to most places and there’s a flat rate of just $35 to get to the strip from the airport!

When I rented a car through Expedia, it ran me $180 for three days. But after talking to my buddies, I canceled that and sure enough, I’d spend about $100 for the taxi rides altogether. Not to mention, if you’re new to Vegas…you really don’t want to be driving on the Strip. Leave that to the experienced ones (there was a lot of honking and aggressive lane passing)

On Thursday, April 11^th, I was scheduled to fly out of Tampa and be in Las Vegas by 5:30pm. But…Tampa…there were major thunderstorms and my flight was delayed 5 times (four hours). I had to switch connecting flights, it was a mess. Not to mention, the anxiety of not being able to get to Vegas at all that day.

You see, I had already paid for the excursion trip to the Grand Canyon which was scheduled to pick me up from the Mirage at 7am that Friday, so if I didn’t get out to Vegas that Thursday, I would’ve lost $200 bucks and the Grand Canyon was out of the picture. So yeah, my anxiety was high. I didn’t know what to expect. So, after about four hours of just waiting there at the airport, I had no choice but to let go and whatever happens, happens.

It was by sheer dumb luck that I made my flights out to Vegas. I was relieved and glad. But there’s one thing…The Time Difference.

When my flight finally arrived that Thursday at 9:30pm…it felt like 12:30am to this Florida boy who’s usually asleep by 10:30pm. I was aware of this going in, but whatever, right? I’m still young. Who needs sleep? I was sure that the lights and excitement of Vegas would keep me up so I was ready to accept the challenge. Keep this is mind, because it comes back to bite me in the end.

Another thing, Vegas runs on tips. You tip everyone. Bring plenty of small bills.

As, the talkative taxi driver who knew every back-road and had no problems cursing at bad drivers got me closer to the Strip…a smile curled on my lips. My heart swelled with excitement. Then we pulled up to the Mirage.

THE MIRAGE

So, out of all the hotels on the strip, I chose the Mirage because 1) it was more affordable than Caesars Palace, The Bellagio, and the Cosmopolitan, 2) I was familiar with the Hard Rock brand and had a reward membership with them, 3) it has a strong historical significance with Vegas, and 4) after the Hard Rock bought the casino, I heard they planned on doing redesigns.

For those who don’t know, the Hard Rock brand is known for their giant guitars put up in front of their casinos. The Mirage is known for its faced and an awesome volcano out front. I heard that volcano might not be there by the end of this year, so I wanted to experience the Mirage before everything changes.

When we pulled up to the valet stand of the Mirage, I couldn’t wait to get out. I was so happy and couldn’t wait to have fun. And the cool thing about that volcano, is that it runs at the top of every hours from eight to midnight. As we pulled up, we just missed a fire show, but I could still feel the heat.

Seriously, it was around 10pm at night. A moderately cool night. But with the volcano over 75 yards away from the front entrance I could feel the heat as if standing in front of hot oven that was just opened. It was amazing.

Checking into the Mirage was cool. It was 10pm on a Thursday night so the line to the front desk wasn’t crazy long (like I saw on Friday night). They have an awesome aquarium behind the front desk to entertain guests. It looked nice, but it didn’t hold my attention for long.

There was an older white guy from Alaska in front of me and it was cool how down to earth and talkative he was. He was ranting about bears and how crazy the country was and I was just happy to hear his perspective.

When I got to the front desk, I’ll tell you this…every person working a service job was super friendly and pleasant. Like, there was a genuine smile on her face. A Latino girl in her late 20s. She could tell how tired I was, because when she’d ask a question like, “would you like some water for your room”…there was a delay before I responded. We laughed together. I got my key and went on my way.

In order to get to the Guest Elevators that took you to your hotel room, you have to walk through the casino floor. This is where too much preparation kind of robbed me of the shock and awe. I had already seen so many videos about the Mirage that I pretty much knew where everything was. Hahaha!

And it definitely wasn’t busy, not as packed as the Hard Rock in Tampa. I went to the SportsBook in the Mirage and there was hardly anyone there.

I paid for high room with a view of the strip…but wasn’t impressed. I saw a view of the strip, but not the part that was even worth a picture. The room itself was nice. But again, I knew what to expect. There was a vibe about this room though, lol

You can tell it’s made for sex. The TV programming had plenty of options for adult content. There was a gift bag in the room for intercourse. Everything, from the colors to the style…I can see how it’s able to easily put one in the mood.

Just be careful. Every room has a fridge and an assortment of snacks that’s on motion sensors. If you move any of it, you’ll be charged. A bottle of water can run you like, $4. I knew this going in, so plan to bring your own water and snacks.

Even though it was well past 10pm(1am Tampa time)…I was determined to go out and see that volcano show before turning in. I was only in Vegas for two nights and I knew I’d probably take in a show on Friday night, so this would probably be the only chance I get to see it. So out, I went.

The following gallery are some of the sights I saw just standing on the wide open sidewalk in front of the Mirage Hotel. We’re right there on the middle of the strip, so you could see lights and pizzazz every way you turned.

I can’t lie…it really was amazing to see. You really do bask in the colors. It’s a whole other world that you’re immersed in. And then at 11pm…the show started.

I wanted to record the whole thing, but at the same time…I wanted to just take a moment and experience it. I sometimes think we get so bogged down with capturing the experience that we aren’t able to enjoy it. So, I did a little of both. If I had more time, I would’ve caught another show and not pull out my camera at all.

It was amazing. Well worth staying up late and going out. The heat on your face was worth it. Being in the crowd was worth it. The pounding drums, the bright flames, the explosive fire…I loved it!

Right after the show, a dance crew took advantage of the assembly and directed our attention their way. Apparently, they were once on America’s Got Talent and it was a most welcomed surprised.

The MC started being a little too assertive about wanting the crowd to provide tips…I didn’t even ask to see this show, I was tired, so I went ahead and took off before the show ended and called it a night.

The next morning, I had to get up early for my 7am pick up time to venture off to the Grand Canyon. And here, I will say the window sights from my hotel room were considerably more pleasant than the night for some reason.

It was my first time seeing Vegas in the daylight and I smiled because I forgot…it’s surrounded by mountains. It really is in the middle of a desert.

Even the Mirage itself had a different character in the daylight compared to the night. The atrium felt more inviting. I saw ladies tending to the plants here. I admired their attention to detail, the craft of the hotel to put so much emphasis in the little things to provide the guests with an “experience.”

Journey to the Grand Canyon

At 7am, I was picked up by a Hawaiian Asian-American guide in his late 40s name Ward. There were three other older couples and I was the only solo guy, so I rode shotgun in his Mercedes Sprinter Van.

Ward was an interesting character…which I loved. I love vacations where I’m learning something new, because that’s all part of my shtick of staying productive. Ward was full of useful information, like where David Copperfield lived, the history of the mafia, the culture of Vegas and how people have to conserve water so their yards are likely full of rocks or artificial grass.

You have to leave Nevada and cross into Arizona, which didn’t seem like much of a difference in terms of topography. It might as well have been the same state. The landscape was amazing to take in. Not that impressive relatively speaking, but certainly a breath of fresh air from the palm trees and bodies of water surrounding Tampa Bay.

As we got closer to the Canyon, Ward warned me about what to do when I get to the site. I was the only one who paid for that u-shaped Skywalk out thing to step over the Canyon, which I forgot about when I booked the trip.

He warned us that the u-shaped thing was a waste of time and we were better off just eating at the restaurant above that for better views and good food which was all part of our trip. He also warned that the best sights…

Basically, what was supposed to happen was that guests get dropped off in the parking lot. Then the Canyon site which is controlled by the Hualapai Tribe would pick up guests from a bus and take us on a circuit to two sites. The first is the u-shaped Skywalk site at Eagle Point. Then Guano Point. Then back to the parking lot where Ward would be waiting for us three hours later.

Ward warned us…he flipping warned us that Guano Point would have the best sights.

When we got to the first stop at Eagle Point…I mean…come on.

There really are no words that can truly convey how majestic and breathtaking this place is. Immediately, you’re overwhelmed by a sense of…honestly, I want to say fear and reverence. No human alive could create this. God did this. It took power to do this. How insignificant and pointless everything must be in comparison to God’s will and creativity. I couldn’t help but smile.

Honestly, not to get too religious on you, but I choose God first. Always. And when I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon, I feel so grateful for that choice. Compared to Him who created all things, no human can even come close to God’s achievements. Between Him and humans, I want to be on his side. I want to be on the side of the one who created this. No brainer. Are you kidding me.

Again, Ward warned me not to spend time going across the Skywalk…but I paid for it. And something in me was compelled to give it a shot. I think, the truth is, I was terrified. I don’t believe in tempting God with my safety. This was an unnecessary thrill, but something in me was compelled to give it a shot.

I did lose about 40 minutes going through the line. You get to learn about the Hualapai Tribe through the exhibits on display. But this ate up a big chunk of time. Before you step out onto the Skywalk, you have to put on special coverings for your shoes. And then…I stepped out

Don’t let that image fool you…I was scared out of my mind. I swear my heart stopped at least twice. You could see through the glass flooring straight down to at least a 400 meter drop. And my tall-ass could easily flip over that “safety” railing if I leaned too much. Not to mention I saw some of the biggest black ravens I’ve ever seen just flying ever so casually through the canyon beneath us…I swear I heard one of them laughing at me.

More than that…my sense of touch has always been strong and perceptive. I could feel the vibrations beneath the soles of my boots. I could feel the skywalk bridge moving up and down as people walked on it. It was ridiculous.

A Native American camera man follows you around the Skywalk, instructing you on different poses to take. Selfies aren’t allowed. You had to leave your cameras and belongings in a locker room before you step out. And the tribe charges you $50 bucks for the whole shoot. I went ahead and paid.

After the Skywalk, I went up to restaurant and waited for a table close to the windows for a view (see below). Again, this ate up a huge chunk of time. But worth it, right?

The next stop was Guano Point. And to answer my own question, no. It wasn’t worth it. Like Ward said, the best sights really were at Guano point and I’d only have about 15 minutes to experience it before I’d have to get back on the bus for the rendezvous deadline with Ward (otherwise he’d leave us).

These are images from Guano Point.

There are no guard rails stopping you from tossing yourself into the canyon. Ward even warned us that there’s at least 80 deaths a year or something like that. At Guano Point, there’s a rocky hill where people can walk even higher for a better view. People were here…and from the way they were acting, I suspected this is where most of those deaths occurred.

I think the selling point that made this a better view than Eagle Point was the river and the vantage of the canyon leading out. I wish I could’ve stayed longer because it really did feel like I was flying.

Seriously, ever since I was a kid, I dreamed about having the power to fly like Peter Pan. When you’re standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, you feel like you’re flying in midair even though your feet are on solid ground. You’re so high up, looking down into the canyon. It’s like levitating. I wish I could’ve stayed longer. Next time, I will. Just check out the birds flying in the clip below.

Trip to Hoover Dam

Part of my excursion was a stop to see the Hoover Dam. After picking us up from the Grand Canyon, Ward drove us to see the famous sight.

I remember it was around 2:30pm by then and the lack of sleep was starting to get to me. I’ve never been a big napping guy…but I was so tired. I closed my eyes because the sun was so bright and, lol, there were several times when I felt my head drifting off and I had to stop myself from falling forward.

To get to the Hoover Dam, we had to cross over this high bridge called the Pat Tillman Bridge. I had heard of Pat Tillman, but I didn’t know it was the highest bridge in the US.

He dropped us off for a 40 minute free walk around the Hoover Dam…I remember my dad called to check on me and I told him I was having a great time. Wished he was there.

The Hoover Dam was impressive to see and yet…something about just looking at it from the top of the dam did it little justice. I felt like something was missing. And, of course, the 3pm sun beating down on us didn’t help. I was done with the views after about 10 minutes, sad to say.

Oddly enough, I think the coolest thing about the Hoover Dam wasn’t the sights, but the history. It was awe-inspiring and yet tragic to hear about how the dam was constructed and that over 90 men lost their lives to build it in record time.

I asked Ward if most of the deaths came by way of falls (which would’ve been my worse nightmare).

He revealed that most of the deaths were actually due to heat exhaustion, industrial accidents, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Over 20,000 Men worked long hours and came from all over the country because it was during the Great Depression of the 1930s and they needed to provide for their families.

How could I not respect and honor that? Tragic that such conditions were put on them. But this was what Men were willing to do for their families. Much respect.  

The Drive Back to Vegas

The trip back to Vegas was pretty cool. Unlike the taxi ride from the Airport, I was really able to get a good look at the Vegas Strip because we had to stop at various hotels and drop off the other couples before arriving at mine. Check out the gallery!

What’s funny…When Ward dropped the others off and it was just me and him…he took the liberty of giving me advice on how to find the best girls and get in the best strip clubs. Seriously, sex was almost everywhere.

It wasn’t even night fall and I saw half-naked whores walking the street, both men and women. I saw buff Chippendales looking dudes mingling with older women in the crowd. And I saw Vegas showgirls wearing panties and nipple tassels just interacting with visitors while children were present as if they were on the beach.

Ward told me about cover charges and which clubs to avoid. He was like, “A single stud like you! Women will be throwing themselves at you after midnight. So be careful. Their pimps and handlers are usually just around the cover. If you do anything with them, they’re going to expect payment.”

And I nodded, smirked, and listened. I had no intention of being out past midnight. My plans were to do a little gambling, catch the Michael Jackson Cirque Soleil show…and call it a night.

Gambling at the Mirage

I got back to my hotel room around 5pm and had about 3 hours to kill before my 9pm Michael Jackson show…so I decided to put my gambling skillz to the test. First up was blackjack.

I walked the floor and chose a table with an older woman serving as the dealer. There was a young couple next to me, and an older female player on the other side of them, but that was it. Figured it’d be perfect for a novice like me, where I’m not annoying the high-strung agitated players with my questions or slow over-thinking actions.

I laid down two $20 dollar bills and said, “Chips please.” I did this because I saw Danny Ocean do it in Oceans Eleven. When my friend took me to the Hard Rock in Tampa, I just laid my cash down and said nothing. The dealer knew what to do, but I always thought that was a bit rude. So, I made it a point to say, “chips please.”

While my friend did teach me a lot, he failed to mention the rules about the split. Lol, basically, if you get two of the same number, like two sevens, you can get two hands on one play. Everything was happening faster than I would’ve liked to soak in and strategize, so I just rolled with the gameplay and acted on instinct.

In the end, I played for about 15 minutes and actually walked away with $90 in chips. I tipped the lady dealer and cashed out. Felt accomplished.

Next came the slot machines!

The slot machines…I’ve seen so many videos about these. When I was at the Tampa Hard Rock, I remember observing the faces of so many people sitting at these machines. It was depressing and yet…touching. I saw a lot of couples. Older men and women sitting together, losing money together. But together.

I won’t go so far as to call myself lucky…but yeah, dumb luck. I looked for the Buffalo Slot Machines because that’s where I had the most success in Tampa. And sure enough…I put in $20 bucks. And right when I was down to my last spin, I ended up winning $126.

I think this was a trick to get me to keep playing until I lost the whole $126, addicted to the feeling of winning that I’d eventually lose money…so I cashed out.

Overall, I walked away having won enough cash to pay for all my cab fares and the ticket to see the Michael Jackson show. I didn’t care about seeing how much more I could win, and like I said…the slots machines was depressing, you just sitting there, pushing buttons winning at random…so I bounced and took to the Strip.

THE BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS

Next on the agenda, was that I really wanted to see the world famous Bellagio Fountains. I remember seeing that in Oceans Eleven when I was a kid, so I was hoping for quite the sight.

Walking the Strip, I had seen videos on con artists trying to rip you off. People like monks handing out bracelets for donations. Or showgirls and mascots wanting to take a picture with you, but charging you $20 bucks afterwards.

Thankfully I have a mug and broad shoulders where if I walk like I’m on my purpose…ain’t nobody about to approach me.

To get to the Bellagio, you had to walk a couple of blocks south of the Mirage and it’s well worth the walk. You pass by so many fountains, amazing architecture and statues that I would’ve paid money to see. It was a cool afternoon with the searing sun having already set behind the buildings. It was perfect.

When I got to the Bellagio Fountains, I knew the fountains were set to go off every 30 minutes, so I waited with others for this sight to behold! Or so I thought…

It may have just been the song choice, but I thought the Bellagio Fountains were severely underwhelming. The song was “Your Song” by Elton John. I didn’t like the song. I didn’t like the genre. And the slow build up to the highest sprays of water was like torture to have to endure that song all leading to the climax. And when it got the climax, it lasted only a matter of seconds.

I looked around at others. Everyone looked disgruntled. (wasted my f***in time)

Caesar’s Palace

I still had some time to kill before the show, so on my way back to the Mirage, I decided to check out Caesars Palace and man…no questions asked, the next time I come to Vegas, I’m staying at Caesars Palace.

The curb appeal alone is simply mesmerizing, but compared to the Mirage…Caesar’s Palace has a more classier feel to it. The Mirage had a darker vibe, the lights low, the darker carpets and a vintage feel of the 1980s.

Caesar’s Palace on the other hand felt more mature and luxurious with a theme that commanded respect and dignity from its visitors. Everything looked cleaner, shiner. It was beautiful! Right there in the lobby, I was blown away by the amazing fountain, the statues, the ceilings…it was all so very romantic.

The most remarkable thing about Caesar’s Palace though…was how good it smelled in there. I remember smiling at the fresh scent and cool air rushing through the place. I had seen videos where it’s a common tactic to pump oxygen into the Casino’s to keep players energized and awake…but the smell of Caesar’s palace was so refreshing. It filled my lungs and uplifted me.

As I strolled about with earbuds in my ears, taking pictures and acting like I was officially supposed to be there (my inner James Bond), I spotted one of the restaurants. I needed to eat something. Didn’t have any plans. I had seen videos about crowded restaurants, so when I spotted this one with empty tables at 7:15…I went for it.

It was called Café Americana. The hostess, super beautiful and ridiculously friendly with a bright smile…I requested a table by the NBA game and was accommodated right away.

I ordered a smash burger and fries which ended up costing me $40 including the tip, but it’s alright. The food was good and I needed the calories because 7:15 was 11:15pm Tampa time. The energy would keep me going.

During this time, I took a moment to shoot some texts to people, including a love interest who I’d eventually have to let go of because she started playing games (taking her sweet ass time texting me back)…but at this point, we were still good.

After dinner, lol, I remember seeing a long line for the taxis in the front entrance. Wisely, I bypassed this to walk back to the Mirage where I suspected the line would be shorter. I was correct. It also gave me a chance to see some earlier sights but in a colorful view.

MANDALAY BAY

I’ve never been to a Cirque du Soleil show. Before coming to Vegas, I knew the Mirage had a show with the Beatle’s theme…but I’m not a big Beatles fan nor do I really know much about their music and history.

Michael Jackson, however…I knew all about him. The Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show was set to perform at the Mandalay Bay, down at the southern end of the Vegas Strip. So, I took a taxi to get there.

For those who don’t know, the Mandalay Bay has the unfortunate distinction of being connected to a mass murder that happened back in 2017. A piece of s*** posted up on one of the high floor rooms and opened fire across the strip into the crowd of a country music concert. It was horrendous.

I didn’t have that on my mind going over…but when I got there, there was something different about Mandalay Bay compared to the Mirage and Caesar’s palace. Mind you, this was around 8 o’clock. From what I heard, Vegas doesn’t really come alive until after 11pm.

After exploring the casino, I felt I had seen enough but still had about 40 minutes to kill before my show. So I took a seat and chilled out in the Mandalay Bay’s SportsBook area and watched some sports. Two older guys ended up joining in the seats next to me and honestly, they were good company.

I’m not a big baseball fan, but the way they reacted to each strike out or run, it was like we were at an actual game. It was nice. And I remember observing some of the workers going through the area. Some people were cleaning. Some were serving snacks.

And for some reason, because all of them were adult, in their 50s and 60s…I remember thinking that these were someone’s mothers and fathers working the night shift while their kids at home. This is what that looks like. It’s strange, but I just remember thinking that.

And at last, it was time for the Michael Jackson show!

The Michael Jackson Show

This show was well worth the wait, well worth the money, and well worth enduring the lack of sleep because 9pm was 12am Tampa time. It reminded me of my own days in Drama Club. From the moment you walk in, the ushers, and workers are all wearing Michael Jackson themed costumes.

As I sat in a right-center row, I remember just being pleased with myself. I’ve done so much. Sucks that I was alone, but if I waited until I finally “had someone” that might be forever. I took some photos and videos before the show. They warned us not to film the actual show and I wanted to respect that.

The show was amazing! It started out full of energy, about four misfits that “magically” got involved with the performances.

There were high-flying acts. Men twisting themselves in knots as they climbed to the ceiling in rhythmic fashion. Amazing tumblers, martial artists, and people jumping on trampolines. I saw people walking on walls and there was a female vocalists for songs like “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” that really filled some hard shoes to fill.

There were a few Michael Jackson songs that I never heard before. I ended up downloading the Michael Jackson “Immortal” Album when I came home because there were some remixes that were just banging.

There was a lot of fireworks and pyrotechnics. Hahaha! And here, the sleep deprivation got the best of me. I had to squint my eyes during these bright blasts because my eyes were already starting to get red. There were times where I had to cover a yawn here and there as well. The show was exciting…I was just tired.

Another downside…there were people still arriving after the show had already started. Like, not five to ten minutes…it was already 40 minutes into the show and whole families were still pouring in. For some reason I hated that. It took my attention, the way they had to scoot through the rows. Again…sleep deprivation has a habit of making one a bit cranky.

Then there was her…

What stole the show for me was this female lead guitarist covered in gold with high-knee boots and a spectacular rooster haircut. I fell in love with this woman if just for one night. From the moment she stepped on stage, my eyes were locked on her.

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I found out her name is Nili Brosh and I ended up walking away thinking about that woman for at least five days. Her charisma, the way she worked the guitar. Her movements, that 80s glam rock swag…just straight up sexy…yeah, she dominated the show. I’d pay money just to see her again.

I had to snap this photo at the end of the show. It’s one of those things were so much happened in one show, that even a memory as sharp as mine can’t replay it all in its entirety.

Hahaha! After the show, I’m sure my face was like this as I walked through the casino floor to the Taxi line.

I was sooo depleted. Energy drained. I don’t even remember walking through the casino floor. My body just took over and moved from the theater to the taxi line, and back to the Mirage. I took a shower and passed out.