A New Desert Destination, Retirement in Las Vegas
- Lifestyles
- Travel & Leisure
- Travel Destinations
Author: Nancy Ackerman
Released 8 April 2006
Inside Luxor Las Vegas Resort Hotel and Casino
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
Easing into the landing pattern, seat belts firmly buckled for the usual turbulence as you tip over the surrounding mountain ranges into the flat basin that contains Las Vegas, you begin to marvel at the contrasts…the gorgeous sapphire blue waters of Lake Mead, the series of mountain ranges (five of them) that circle the city, and the straggly edges of sandy desert that seep out from the city as it expands at a terrifying speed.
The ‘Strip” is clearly visible but toy-like, until your wheels touch down and you are zipping right past The Luxor, Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand, up close and personal. McCarran International Airport is smack in the center of Las Vegas.
This is your introduction to a city of stark contrasts, endless clichés, and many secrets known only to those of us who live here. It’s called Sin City (we don’t care) and we love the tourists who come here, more every year, who encourage us to constantly expand the attractions of live theatre, mega star productions, gourmet restaurants, world class shopping, and every imaginable touch of luxury for body and soul. I love knowing it’s all there.
Yes, it’s all based on the currency of gambling…you can take it or leave it. But try it once even if you put a whole dollar into the penny machine and lose every cent. And then, I love the story of an ex-Aramcon who came here for the 5678! Reunion last June, put a few pennies into a machine, and left town $11,000 richer. Las Vegas does things like that.
Inside The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
As a visitor you can enjoy a huge variety of entertainment without leaving the Strip, and of course have a wonderful time. But if you care to learn a little more about what the city is really like, away from that short, narrow corridor lined with glittering casinos, you will begin to understand why so many former Aramcons live here, and why there is such a huge exodus from Southern California trading the Pacific Ocean (and San Andreas fault) for our mountain ranges, water attractions and ski resorts. Ski resorts? A mere 40 minutes from the Strip takes you to Mt. Charleston and another world. Not many people know that.
Las Vegas sprawls in many directions. There are roads that will lead you into the scenic area of Red Rock Canyon, another will take you up (your ears will pop at the altitude) the winding two lanes through Joshua National Park to the coolness of Mt. Charleston (the closest description I can offer is that it reminds me of Yosemite National Park in California with the fragrant pine trees, sheared mountain faces, lodges, horse sanctuaries, ski resorts and picnic groves). Driving south takes you to Henderson, the upscale "buzzy" community much loved by professional people as well as people of a certain age who love the Del Webb developments of Anthem; the amenities there are vast and wonderful, and the panoramic views of Las Vegas are awesome. Another highway leading southeast will take you to charming, old, Boulder City which sits high on the edge of Lake Mead – and is the gateway to the engineering marvel of Hoover Dam. This is my husband Bob’s favorite attraction and when we have new visitors, he jumps at the chance to take them there. And if you keep going, you’ll be at the south rim of majestic Grand Canyon, in Arizona, before it’s even lunch time.
When people learn that we live in Las Vegas, they often assume we are party people, play video poker in the supermarkets when we buy our bread and milk, and wear rhinestones every day. Sometimes its fun to let them think that.
Inside Wynn Las Vegas
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
But what we really enjoy about living here is the weather, the lifestyle, the entertainment possibilities, the international airport on our doorstep, excellent medical facilities, the wonderful off strip restaurants and shopping areas, and yes, again, the weather. 10 months out of the year it is simply perfect. We have days of sizzle…but everything is air conditioned, and we have days of hail and snow, and take lots of pictures to prove it. I am in the pool every morning at 7 a.m for 8 months of the year and during the cold months of December, January, February and March, I work out at the Las Vegas Athletic Club. Others bike on the nearby mountain roads, hike Red Rock, water ski at Lake Mead, snow ski at Mt. Charleston, or golf at one of the many emerald green courses that are found all over the valley. And many retirees enjoy returning to academia, taking courses at the University of Nevada, and cheering on the Rebels.
The icing on the cake, for us, is knowing so many other former Aramcons who live here. It’s a wonderful extension of the friendly days we so enjoyed while living in Dhahran, with Aramco.