Vegas on Two Wheels: Las Vegas Boulevard
OK, so you knew it was going to happen sooner or later. How can I do Vegas on two wheels without taking a moment to ride down THE Las Vegas Boulevard? So, I did! You know, I have been living in Las Vegas for going on four years now and driving The Boulevard never gets old. But when you ride it, it’s a whole new experience entirely.
It’s a slow, stop and go kinda ride so be ready to hold the clutch for the entire stretch of the boulevard. If or when you ride it, you MUST ride at night; not just for the sake of cooler conditions, but all of your five senses will be put into overdrive! I started my journey on the south end of the strip beginning with the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and ending downtown at the Fremont Street Experience. It’s a straight shot from one end to the other and depending on traffic; it can take you around 25 to 50 mins to complete.
Right from first gear the Boulevard hits your senses hard and fast starting with your sense of sight. Rolling past the Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Tropicana and the Excalibur, you feel like you entered a neon-lit fantasy world. Spotlights enhance the golden hue of the glass that climbs Mandalay Bay Resort. Next store, Egypt’s finest pyramid, The Luxor, shoots a beam of light into the sky; its entrance guarded by a Sphinx that seems to glare at you as you ride by. The Excalibur is a massive corner Kingdom. Its towers shoot into the sky complimenting the skyline with red, blue, and orange rooftops.
I then cross Tropicana Avenue. New York New York, the MGM, and Monte Carlo add your senses of smell and hearing to the mix. NY-NY literally looks like a city block taken out of Manhattan! The doors are always open, and the smell of New York pizza, pasta, and grilled sirloin fills the air. My mouth watered as I stared at a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge that stretches the entire length of the casino. The iconic green MGM towers to my right; the MGM Lion cast in brass leers over the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Avenue intimidating all who pass by it; demanding oooh’s and aaah’s from the public.
With first gear and clutch still held in, I coast past the Monte Carlo; listening to the clatter of heels and loafers hitting the sidewalks. Chatter, hooting, hollering and laughter of men and women from all walks of life footing it to the next casino. The face-melting rip of an electric guitar as a rock band plays live outside El Diablo, (a restaurant attached to the Monte Carlo.) It’s calamity, chaos, and completely exciting; I was in, deep, and enthralled by the entertainment surrounding me. So much so that it’s too much to talk about in one article. Hold on to your handle bars! I’ll finish up this incredible ride next time!
[Image Credit: Michael Movestro, Rob Young, wikimedia]
Greg Bennett is the morning meteorologist on KTNV’s Good Morning Las Vegas newscast. He is an avid Harley rider but also is a huge classic car fan and loves to work on both. In his free time, you can catch Greg riding his bike around town, working out at the gym, hanging out with his Pit Bull (DewPoint), or getting his hands dirty by volunteering across the city of Las Vegas.
