Over the years, I've been to Las Vegas numerous times. My work is closely connected with the casinos on the strip (and elsewhere) and often required me to visit Las Vegas. In my travels, I have often walked up and down the strip, usually in a drunken stupor, but I've always thought about walking it as more of an urban hike. Well, today is the day.
As I walk out the main entrance to the Luxor, I'm surprised to feel a cold breeze in my face. This is Las Vegas after all, and even though it's February, I can't help but remember summer visits when the mercury entered the triple digits for multi-week stretches. It's actually refreshing and since I'm hoping to maintain a pretty brisk pace on this "hike", the cool air will keep it bearable.
In many ways, this is very much the opposite of the places I most enjoy being. I frequently depart the urban landscape for the peace and tranquility of the forest, the open desert, or some remote mountaintop. I don't mean to imply that walking the strip is not a pleasant contrast, but only that it truly makes me appreciate the great outdoors . . . even more than I usually do.
Between crosswalks and over-street bridges, elevators and escalators, I make my way down the concrete jungle. I pass all of the largest of the resorts, Excalibur, New York New York, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian, Planet Hollywood, Treasure Island, and on and on. They glitz and glam seems to never end.
Finally, getting a view of the Stratosphere, marking the northern end of the strip, I notice the time and decide it's time to head back. In theory, I could stop anywhere and get an uber or cab back to the hotel, but doing so before seeing the end, would seem like cheating. Still, the time is short and I need a shower before leaving the hotel. I was able to get in just over 3.6 miles. It would have been nice to complete the whole 8 miles out and back, but time is short and I have to check out.
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