Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas!

“Come on 7!” Wish I could be saying that from the Craps tables at Caesars Palace. As far back as I can remember I’ve always dreamed of visiting Las Vegas. Flying into the city at night and seeing the bright lights of the strip. So much to see and do. Is it possible to do it all in Vegas? I sure as heck wouldn’t mind trying.

Las Vegas is city dedicated to entertainment & fantasy. So pick your pleasure with world class gaming, dining, adventure, shows, and nightlife.

During the Day

I’d spend my days in Vegas lounging at a pool especially when the temperatures reach above 100 degrees. One spot I’d definitely want to visit is the Boulevard Pool which is the newest pool making a splash on the strip. Part of the Cosmopolitan Resort this pool offers a view of the city skyline in all directions, daybeds, and a vibrant social scene featuring live bands and musical performances. Hope they like my cannon balls!

Night Time

After mixing in some gaming and dining in the afternoon the night falls upon us. Some fun nite club options would be the Coyote Ugly Bar and Dance Saloon as well as Club Nikki which are both solid choices, but I’d make sure to visit Ghost Bar on my Vegas trip. Described as sultry and sophisticated this club is high in the sky on the 55^th floor of the Palms CasinoResort. Through giant floor to ceiling windows you can take in dramatic views of the Vegas skyline while you party rock on dance floor under a 30-foot ghost-shaped figure in the ceiling which changes colors as a DJ spins a club thumping music mix.

Las Vegas! That’s where I wanna go!

~Anthony

Twitter | @ThatsWhereIGo

www.facebook.com/pages/Thats-Where-I-Wanna-Go

Football on a Pirate Ship!

In 1998, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting playing their home games at the new Raymond James Stadium. As a kid I thought it was the coolest stadium ever. Why is it cool? Well, the most obvious reason was the 103 foot pirate ship built right into the stands! The ship was created by the same company that makes props for Walt Disney World so you know the attention to detail you can expect. Don’t be alarmed when the ship fires its cannons. It usually means that the Bucs have scored either a touchdown which calls for 7 shots or a field goal in which 3 shots would be fired.

Raymond James Stadium is also located In Tampa, FL which would be a nice break from the Michigan winter during football season. I can see it now. Snow in the forecast all week in mid December, but it wouldn’t bother me as I’d be in warm and sunny Florida kicking back on a pirate ship watching football. In this case however I hope the cannons do not fire at all as I plan to follow my Detroit Lions on a road game down to Raymond James Stadium. The Lions face off against the Bucs this year down in Tampa, but the game is scheduled for mid September. You can bet your last dollar though that if a game is scheduled in the years to come between the Lions and Bucs at Raymond James Stadium in the cold months I’ll be down there watching a Lions victory. Maybe there will be a showdown this year in the playoffs! Go Lions!

~Anthony

 

Twitter | @ThatsWhereIGo

www.facebook.com/pages/Thats-Where-I-Wanna-Go

Start Your Engines!

What is the #1 spectator sport in the U.S.? If you guessed baseball, football, or soccer you would be wrong. Go ahead guess again. Basketball, hockey, or golf you say? Well, you are wrong again. Shocking? Well, most are at surprised, drop their jaw, and widen their eyes when I tell them that NASCAR is the number 1 spectator sport in the entire U.S. If you're not shocked now what would you do if I told you that NASCAR races are broadcasted in over 150 countries, NASCAR has the most loyal fans, and more Fortune 500 companies are involved in NASCAR than ANY OTHER sport! After you stop calling me crazy and saying things like "I don't believe it" you should consider attending a race to see what all the excitement is about.

So what's the appeal it's just cars driving in circles, right? Wrong! So, sometimes you might speed a little when your late for work or on a long stretch of highway and you might get up to maybe 80 or 90 MPH. Seems fast at the time. Now imagine piloting a performance machine that has over 800 horsepower and reaches speeds up to 200 MPH. That's probably quadruple your vehicle's horsepower and more than double your "late for work" speed. Once you reach 200 MPH don't worry about the other vehicles tailgating you and focus on tailgating the person in front of you and keep your eyes peeled for a chance to pass. Do that for 4 hours risking your life and every other driver's life in the pursuit of finishing the race in first place. Something to think about the next time someone says "It's just cars driving in circles."

One of the more popular races is the Daytona 500. Usually takes place around mid to late February in Daytona Beach, FL. Not a bad place to be in February for a Michigander. I would make the most of the trip by arriving on a Thursday giving me plenty of time to explore Daytona Beach. Visit places like the Rockin' Ranch, Aqua Lounge, and Racing's North Turn Beach Bar & Grille. However, when race day rolls around it's time to get focused and start some serious tailgating. I'd make sure to have Rinaldi's Italian Sausage on the grill along with my favorite beverage in hand. A Baggo game tournament, good friends, and some great tunes.

NASCAR? Daytona 500? That's where I wanna go!

~Anthony

Twitter | @ThatsWhereIGo

www.facebook.com/pages/Thats-Where-I-Wanna-Go

Iceland: The Adventure Playground

What would you do with practically 24 hours of daylight? Iceland in July provides just that! The outdoor activity options are limitless. Glacier-skiing, hiking, natural thermal pools, glacier tours, golfing at midnight, world famous fishing, bird watching, whale watching, mountain biking, and river-rafting.

Although there may not be a dark time of day, Iceland has a vibrant nightlife. The nation’s capital Reykjavik is where it all goes down. There are many diverse restaurants, bars, and clubs. All atmospheres are represented ranging from quiet pubs to mega dance clubs. Best of all they’re open til 6 AM.

When you find time to sleep do it at Hotel Plaza. Located in the heart of Reykjavik and surrounded by restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

Anthony’s Must Do’s in Iceland

Golf - With all the daylight I could get a lot of golfing in and plan to visit Keilir Golf Course for a midnight tee time. Located near the sea it looks to be a challenging course as some holes are surrounded by lava especially the back nine. This is an amazing opportunity to test your golf skills.

Outdoor Activities - Take a Glacier Tour, hike through Snæfellsjökull National Park, and relax in the thermal pools.

Nightlife – Party like a rock-star at club NASA. Reykjavi's most popular night club is known for their live music from the hottest bands.

Iceland? Let's Go!

~Anthony

Twitter | @ThatsWhereIGo

www.facebook.com/pages/Thats-Where-I-Wanna-Go

The Kahala Hotel & Resort

As far back as I can remember I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii. As a kid I thought Hawaii was a magical place with endless beaches and mythical characters like mermaids which I thought were really cool at the time. As I grew older and wiser I learned more about Hawaii and although the beaches did eventually end and mermaids do not actually live there I still think that Hawaii has a magical appeal.

In my early adult years I’ve grown fond of the vacation experience had while staying at a resort. That’s why when I visit Hawaii I will stay at the The Kahala Hotel & Resort. The Kahala is the only 4-diamond resort on Oahu, and is renowned throughout the islands for their lavish suites and innovative restaurants. When I’m not on the Kahala’s grounds I plan to spend the days hiking through the exotic trails, snorkeling, and achieving the ultimate goal of surfing!

Particular places of interest

Nuuanu Pali – Is a mountain range that is 1200 feet high and is known for winds that are so strong that you could lean into them without falling. Nuuanu Pali offers impressive views of Oahu and the eastern landscape.

Sunset Beach Park – 2 miles of white-sand shores. This beach is great for swimming and snorkeling. I do not plan to be in the water come winter, though, as the surf runs high, and currents can be fatal:(

CMT Music Awards

I was watching American Idol a few years back and after watching Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler perform I thought that I should give country Music a chance. After about a week of listening to 99.5 WYCD in the car on the way to school I got hooked on the music and I’m “Gone Country” as they say.  Today’s country is more rock and pop combined with a twist of old style country and the product is very entertaining. Some artists I enjoy are Jason Aldean, Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, and Julianne Hough. It's only natural to combine my love of Country Music and live concerts.

So that’s why I want to get on down to the CMT Music Awards in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. This award show and is televised live and awards are presented throughout the night to Country artists for Video of the Year, Performance of the Year, Duo Video of the Year, etc. Many performances can be seen of the most current Country hits which makes the event a huge concert of your favorite Country hits. You ready? Let's go!


2011 CMT Winners
Video of the Year - Taylor Swift "Mine"

Male Video of the Year - Blake Shelton "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking"

Female Video fo the Year - Miranda Lambert "The House That Built Me"

Group Video of the Year - Lady Antebellum "Hello World"

Duo Video of the Year - Sugarland "Stuck Like Glue"

USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year - The Band Perry "If I Die Young"

Collaborative Video of the Year - Justin Bieber featuring Rascal Flatts "That Should Be Me"

CMT Performance of the Year - Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffet "Margaritaville" from CMT Crossroads: Jimmy Buffet and Zac Brown Band

Best Web Video of the Year - Blake Shelton "Kiss My Country Ass"

Vidoe Director of the Year - Trey Fanjoy