I’m out in Vegas for a few days with Brandi (and Jenni and Merlyn) to spend some time with the folks from Central Christian Church. I’ve been following them for sometime and can’t wait to spend the weekend learning from them. God is using Jud and the entire team at Central to do amazing things here in Vegas and around the world. I’m so thankful to have such wonderful examples in my life. Jud is not only an incredible leader, but he’s one of the most humble and gracious individuals I’ve ever met.
Brandi has become good friends with Lori, Jud’s wife, so this was the perfect trip for her to come along on. I love it when she finds other pastors wives that she just hits it off with.
In addition To Central Christian there were a couple other places I just had to visit while out here. We went by Zappos’s Corporate office. I was blown away by the environment they have created for their employees. They are routinely voted one of the best place in America to work. Now I know why. Their customer service and staff environments left me in awe.
We also got the opportunity to visit Hoover Dam. Holy cow, that is one big dam. If you’re ever out here you really need to go on the tour. To think that it was designed and built in 1920′s and 30′s just totally blows me away.
Here’s a little video I took with my iPhone from the top of the dam. Trust when I say it doesn’t do it justice.
So I’m reluctantly asking you this question but I’ll take the risk (just remember it’s a family blog and I’m a man of the cloth).
What’s your favorite Vegas memory?
Hoover Dam from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.
That is easy.
I have only been to Vegas once with my family. I had just turned 21 and my sister was 18. We didn’t know anything about Vegas rules and pits and pit bosses…
So we saw my daddy (in true southern form) across the way and we just walked right over there…THROUGH the pit.
we barely made it to dad when about 15 big ole nasty Old Vegas (think serious mafia lookin’ dudes) were surrounding us.
Luckily my dad was well known at that hotel (he used to go several times a year) or we would have been in jail.
Silly, clueless young southern chicks
I was a little girl and we were moving to California…drove through Las Vegas and I was mesmerized by the lights of the Casinos and especially Vegas Vic, the 40-foot neon cowboy, waving his arm. That would have been in the mid fifties.
I’m tempted to say that my favorite part about Vegas was leaving… I did love the Bellagio light show. Laying by the pool was nice, but you can do that in way better places. Vegas was a huge let down for me. I had no desire to gamble, but I really expected the food to be better. I just wasn’t that impressed.
I was in Vegas for my 19th birthday. I was playing the slot machine for the first time and two body guards kicked me out because I was not old enough…on the same day I got stopped by a cop(for the first time in my life) in death valley…it was not a good day.
My favorite Vegas memory….
The first was when I was 19 and we came to Vegas since we were visiting family in California. My first time ever…and I was mesmerized by the lights of the city. It was night time, but being on the strip made it feel like it was the middle of the day with all the lights.
My second is really not of Vegas itself, but I was in Vegas for a meeting and decided that since I had been out here a few times before that I wanted to do something that I had never taken the opportunity to do before. So…my colleague and I took a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon….we flew over Hoover Dam and into the heart of the Canyon….and had lunch.
S.
About 4 years ago I had a conference in Vegas for work, so my wife skipped her college graduation and came with me. We had a blast! The best part was our final night there, the best date night of our marriage thus far – dinner at Emeril’s steak house in the Venetian (the Delmonico – best meal I’ve ever eaten), took a gondola(sp?) ride in the Ventian, ate some gelatto, a Cirque show (Mysteire), and we finished the night in front of the Bellagio watching the water show. It was an amazing night.
We thought we’d never have the chance to go back, but we had 2 free tickets on Southwest because of all of our travel so we went last month and met some friends to see the Cirque’s Beatles show, Love.
Not so crazy about the smoke-filled casinos that you’ve got to walk through to get anywhere, but the shows are phenomenal, the food is out of this world, the attractions (gardens, fountains, indoor rain storms and rivers) are all worth seeing, and the shopping is some of the best on earth – even if you can’t afford any of it.
Never been, but my cousins keep telling me I need to go so a trip may be in my future.
Two years ago, my sisters and I met my senior citizen Mom in Vegas. (We all live in different states and there are always cheap flights and cheap rooms in Vegas, so it’s a great place to meet up for a few days)
I said I wanted to go to the top of Stratosphere Hotel. (a very tall hotel with a view of the strip) Months before, I’d made arrangements and was able to surprise my Mom when I was called on stage to sing some of her favorite songs.
Last week, my husband’s company flew us out to California in order to research moving our family there as part of a voluntary company transfer. The last two days of our trip, my husband wanted to take me to Vegas, as it was only about a 3-4 hour drive from where we were in Cali.
The best part, I have to say, was leaving. They were having a heat wave while we were there, 128+F, it was shoulder to shoulder crowded, a lot of construction along the sidewalks, too much walking. Oh, and those disturbing ‘baseball cards’ (ahem!!) being shoved in our faces every two yards and littering the sidewalk — are those really necessary? It was really not my cup of tea.
I did enjoy some of the photographs I took to show the kids, and I did like the water show at the Bellagio. And yeah — leaving.
I’ve only been to Vegas once but my best memory from the trip was Eden swimming for the first time at Caesars Palace. The hotel and shopping was AMAZING too! I also gambled for the first time. Jasen won $3.00, and then I lost it. Yep, we are big time gamblers. haha! I’m too cheap to gamble but it was fun to say I did it.
I went to Vegas for the 1st time (oops, I don’t remember how old I was) with my Grandma. We had been traveling to a few places and spent the night at Circus Circus. Since it is a memory with her. That’s the one I choose. I don’t really care for Vegas.
I’ve never been to Vegas but want to go sometime. My favorite Vegas memory is the Dam Tour on National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation. It’s classic!
Well, we are obviously quite biased. Vegas is a great place. We love the opportunity to see so many amazing shows and concerts. And since we live in such an easily traveled to place … we get lots of visitors.
But the best part for us is getting to minister here in Vegas. We wouldn’t trade it for anything! It is the best.
We have loved getting to spend time with you guys!
Oh .. and thanks for the video .. you know that is the best view I’ve gotten in the 6 years we’ve been here.
I love Lori (and I have all of Jud’s books…I think).
As far as Vegas, haven’t been yet to create any memories. But the best one will be meeting Jud and Lori. Probably the only excuse I could use to get Marc there. LOL
I went to Vegas with some girlfriends last summer for my 24th bday. I have to agree with another commenter that I expected the food to be better. I really enjoyed hanging out at the pool. We only went down the strip once and that was enough for me! I did gamble some and ended up on top and ended up paying for my trip!! What can I asth I got little lucky on the slot machines
WOW….I LOVE LOVE LOVE VEGAS!!! Its like our second home…saw Michael Jackson face to face as he came off the escalator in the Venetian..(I have the picture to prove it) I thought it was an impersonator till the body guard told me to back up and give him his space….then I realized it was really him… also LOVVVVEEE the gambling…and the WHEEL OF FORTUNE quarter slots…I WIN everytime….just not big enough! HAVE FUN
@DEb, Why am I not surprised you LOVE Vegas.
I’ve thought of you several times since I’ve been here.
Even easier than Molly. never been there.
Funny you bring this up…I was just discussing it the other day. I went to University in Phoenix, Arizona (ASU) so I lived in AZ for 5 years. Not once did I go to Vegas. It was one of those, “oh, we’ll do it next weekend” type things, and after 5 years, next weekend never came….. Crazy!!!
A looong time ago, before you were born, I went to Vegas and hit the slots…the nickel slots. All of a sudden, lights were flashing, bells were ringins, people rushing over….to see me win $100 in nickels. IN NICKELS… it was excruciatingly embarrassing to wait for the last darn nickel to spill out of that machine, gather my buckets of nickels, and slither away….
2008 — Vegas Airport stop-over from Reno — I ate at Big Al’s Chicago Deli. It was almost delicious.
Hoover Dam was interesting to me…Not so much to my wife.
Blue Man Group at the Luxor was AWESOME. They’re not there anymore. I’ve got a real exciting healthcare internet marketing conference there this November. Pretty sure that will be epic.
I had a blast wile i was there. I went for a Hair show with Paul Mitchell it was very cool. I loved seeing all the free shows at all the dif. hotels. when I go back, I would like to do hoover damn and a big show like you guys did. Glad you had fun and zapo’s looked like a blast. PS No I in MERLYN
Um..Pete…What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas so I can’t say
Personally I love people watching. My favorite Vegas memory is a tough one. I have been so many times for work and travel.
My favorite memories come from just relaxing at the amazing pools in the hotels. Just chillin!
@Joseph, I’ve got a feeling those will be my favorite memories as well.
Exactly one year after our first date asking the woman of my dreams to marry me in the gardens at Bellagio. Still love going to Vegas and look forward to celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary there in September.
I have been to Vegas 2 times–first time for my dear friend’s 30th birthday (actually, it was PG…promise). The second was back in February with my fiance’! Both times were a blast! However, I do have to say eating at MESA grill, Bobby Flay’s restaurant, was by far one of the best meals I’ve had. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny? You bet!
Never been to Vegas, and to be honest, don’t know that I really want to visit. I think I would be too tempted to sit down at the table and put out some high stakes.
It got me to thinking though (imagine that)… which early church do you think would have been in a city like Vegas? Ephasus?
I went to Vegas with 3 of my best friends almost 2 years ago…just to see the Spice Girls reunion tour. It was amazing…don’t judge.
Lived there almost 9 years….the best memory was the birth of my first child Madison
Bring on the SNOOP Dog video!!
Just had to reply – in my “old” days- a bunch of my friends and I went out to see the Grateful Dead – it was a total madhouse overrun with deadheads and hilariously fun- needless to say – the only sleep we got was when we boarded the plane home for Virginia with 25 cents left in my pocket. That was the first and last time I will be in Vegas
The one and only time I’ve ever been to Vegas was when I was about 9 or so, and I was able to convince one of the blackjack dealers to let me have her deck after they gave her a new one (apparantly they go through a deck every few minutes, or at least they used to).
@emily, I noticed that people were not quite as excited on the plane ride home as they were when flying in.
Pete,
I wanted to ask for your email. Our daughter’s birth mom “found” me on my blog, so I’ve taken it private. I’d love to send you the invite so that you can still view it if/when you want. Thanks, and sorry for the hassle.
First time in Vegas I was in 8th grade – we went for Spring Break when my dad turned 40. We went to the jousting show at Excalibur.
But my favorite Vegas memory is from this March – being of age to enjoy poolside drinks in the sun with my mom & playing Craps with my dad until 3:30 in the morning
It was more enjoyable being of age & just enjoying some good Vegas entertainment – Mysterie & Bellagio fountain show, plus the Red Rock Canyon, as well.
the smell of cinnabon in the airport after youv’e been up all night and you’re finally on your way home. smell it? how bout now?
The second time my wife and I went to Vegas was in October, 2001. It was a two-week driving vacation out West and we decided to take the highway across the Hoover Dam to get there. Trucks were prohibited then and All cars had to stop and be inspected. We finally readhed the dam just prior to dusk – we were hoping for a little later so we could see it lit up, but that didn’t happen. So we cross the dam and head off towards Vegas. Suddenly, we come up a rise and around a huge rock outcropping and spread before us in the ‘dark of night” is Henderson with vegas in the background. Except it wasn’t night. It seemed as if there was a streetlight (powered by the dam) every 30′ stretched out as far as we could see. Even that far away it seemed so garish and so extravagant that we drove straight through past Vegas to a motel North of the city and far away from the day of Vegas night.