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

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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

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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