Vegas is known for creating a fantasy land for its visitors — the bright, flashing billboards on the Strip, the energetic nightlife, and each hotel's distinct theme transporting people into a different world. Whenever I tell people I'm from Vegas, the questions they have usually are: "Do you live on the Strip?" "do you know a stripper?" or "what are the clubs like?" (One, no; Two, no; Three, under 21.)
While it's understandable where those questions come from, it made me realize that people really don't know what the reality of living in Las Vegas is like. While they see it as purely a source of entertainment, what they don't know is that Vegas is such a close-knit community, fueled by generations of the same families that built it from the ground up, and has become home to over 600,000 people (+ counting!).
To allow people some insight, here are 9 things people don't know about the wonderful Las Vegas:
1. When looking at a view of outer space, the brightest lit section is the Strip:
There are roughly 9,990,000 light tubes igniting the Las Vegas strip's buildings and billboards!
2. We have the tallest Ferris wheel in the world:
aka The High Roller which is 550 ft tall. You can ride it year round and have an amazing view of the Strip & beyond, especially at night with all the lights.
3. We're home to a National Park:
Most people visiting don't take the time to venture from the Strip, however Red Rock Canyon is definitely one of Vegas's many treasures. Taking the 30 min drive to hike the beginner Lost Creek trail, tackling Ice Box Canyon, or just driving the Loop, is a really fun way to spend an afternoon.
4. We have the most beautiful sunsets:
If you're from here you know [and everyone on your Snapchat also knows] that there's nothing like a Las Vegas sunset.
5. It's so convenient to get around:
Unless you're driving from Summerlin to Henderson, you rarely have to drive more than 20 minutes to get anywhere. Driving in Vegas is honestly one of my favorite parts — never too much traffic, but just enough to feel as though you're in a metropolitan area.
6. People LOVE the heat here:
I'll admit, we do think that 50 degrees means sweater weather. But people LIVE for the dry summer heat. Growing up in Vegas makes you immune to 115 degree days, and loving it is all you know.
7. Food, all day, everyday:
There's food available 24/7 - you'll never come across a time at night where you can't get something. This is a concept I actually was surprised about when I went to college - things closed. Restaurants weren't open later than 10 p.m., and even food delivery didn't really operate into the early morning hours.
8. Location, location, location:
It's the best location to get to other places, which means easy access for weekend trips. Want to go skiing? Utah is right there. Beaches? California to the west. More deserts? Arizona is a little southeast.
9. #VegasStrong is more than a hashtag:
October 1, 2017, will forever one of the worst nights in Las Vegas history. In the horrible Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting, 59 people lost their lives and over 500 were injured. This malicious act of violence made a huge impression on Vegas residents. Even though it devastated the entire community, people came together immediately — doctors rushed to the hospitals, strangers drove wounded festival-goers without question, and blood banks even turned people away because they had so many volunteers lined up to donate blood the morning after the shooting. People don't usually think of Vegas in this way. While they see the flashy lights and the lavish lifestyle the Strip glorifies, people fail to see Vegas as such a connected community. They don't associate Vegas with hope, community, family, and love — all qualities this city was built upon.
#VegasStrong means more than something that trended on Twitter — it is a mentality that connects people here. It's proof that we are stronger together, and we are united by the place we call home.
