With this country and even the world in an economic tailspin, it seems hard to find an area where there are not shopping centers with closed businesses or housing tracts with scads of foreclosures. It is definitely depressing even for the reporters who have to cover the negative news day in and day out. The scenes and the news of them wear us down.
So with that in mind, Las Vegas comes to mind for myriad reasons. The city is a fascinating combination of broken dreams and success stories. It looks easy from the outside looking in, even though there are probably more losers than winners.
But what sets Vegas apart from any other city in the country is its ability to weather the storms. Even with construction sites at a standstill, gaming revenues down dramatically and layoffs so significant that unemployment is at 10 percent, the city seems to shine a level of light not found in many other areas of the country.
On a recent day, our family decided to be tourists for a few hours. We headed for the Las Vegas Strip to view the city that never sleeps and marveled at activity on the streets and sidewalks, along with the endless show productions.
There are floor shows and there is Donny and Marie. There is the Bellagio with its fountains and there is Planet Hollywood. City Center, which is being built by the MGM and is situated adjacent to I-15, is under construction and will include several hotels.
The entire scene is mindboggling, especially during these tough times. The escapism of Vegas is not only impressive, but it’s good for our souls, especially during these trying times. As we continue to struggle to survive at almost every level of life, Vegas provides the ideal getaway.
There are now deals in the city where prices have traditionally been high even for the locals who tend to stay away from the Las Vegas Strip. The endless displays of shopping centers and restaurants are in every corner of the valley.
Reports that people are spending less are not visibly evident in Las Vegas where entertainment runs the gamut and includes everything from pizza parlors to major shows and exhibits. You see, now more than ever before, people need a break from reality and Las Vegas presents precisely that.
In fact, if ever there was a time to visit this busy city, it’s now just after you have been beaten up by that unexpected extra bill or the loss of another client. At least for a short period, Vegas presents a break from the bad times.
To those of us who live in Las Vegas, we undoubtedly have a love-hate relationship with the city. We loathe the hot summer months and the lack of water and trees combined with the never-ending pace is unnerving.
On the other side of the coin comes the fact that you never get bored in Vegas. Convenience stores are open all hours of the day and night while there is never a shortage of oldtime entertainers who love to perform in the city; and tickets are not that expensive in many cases.
So as we dwell on the bad times, we can always climb in the car and view the unbelievable architecture Las Vegas offers, not to mention the non-stop activity ranging from the showrooms to the casinos.
At least for a while, Vegas is the great getaway. When you’re done visiting the Adult Disneyland of the World, you can retreat to reality.
But if not for just a few hours, Vegas produces a shot in the arm every one of us needs at one time or nother. It is the getaway unlike any other in the world.
There is no place like it.
Mike Henle is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer and author of the book “Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” He can be contacted at mhenle@aol.com or through his Web site www.mikehenle.com.
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