My Visit to Lake Las Vegas Resort

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Deep and restful sleep has been eluding me more and more lately.  Long before dawn today, I tossed and turned, alternating between punching and hugging the pillows, my head coming up like a periscope every so often, one nearsighted eye squinting open to check the glowing blue time numerals of the clock radio on the nightstand. Damn, it is only 4am, and I think it is a Sunday; yes in fact I'm sure it is a Sunday.

I tried without success to drift back to sleep, so finally gave up waiting for that appointed hour when my iPod Nano clock radio comes to life and surprises me randomly with one of its almost five hundred recorded songs.  so I finally surrendered, waved the white flag, well actually it was the white top sheet I was sleeping under, and conceded that sleeping late was just not in the *cards* ( this is a gambling town!).

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I shuffled down the stairs, ground some coffee beans, and anticipating a looong morning, brewed ten cups worth. Poured some in my oversized Cal alumni mug, grabbed the laptop, and stepped out on the patio; a Las Vegas advantage in august, it's 75º F at 5 o'clock in the morning. I must confess I do enjoy this part of the weekend, I just wish it was a wee bit later in the morning.

After three cups of coffee, I finally decided to try and break out of my funk and take a day trip.

The folks here have been telling me about a new resort called Lake Las Vegas, located in Henderson, about 30 miles away from my house (about 18 miles east

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of the Strip). I had been planning to visit when my wife was in town, but it hasn't happened yet, so I decided to venture forth solo.

What I found is a vast partially completed development, situated by itself, after traveling through a couple of miles of empty areas, built around a private 300 acre lake, expensive homes and some condos in hilly settings, a lot of Italian architecture, a Ritz and two other hotels, three golf courses, lake top recreation picturesque streets with some shops and lakeside restaurants, event activities (last night was "Jazz on the Lake" I think) and so forth. A lot of water and greenery.

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My wife would have enjoyed it.

Travelers may like visiting this resort town for a break from gambling on the Strip (yes, they do have a casino as well if one must continue gambling!). Their web site: www.lakelasvegas.com has pictures and info.

For me all I can say: been there, done that.