BallReviews
General Category => USBC Tournament => Topic started by: milorafferty on April 02, 2019, 12:22:14 PM
-
I've been making a two week vacation out of the USBC Open since 2009(When it was at the Cashman Center in Vegas). Instead of just going for the tournament, I spend time either in the area, traveling to and from or doing stuff in the area.
For Syracuse, we flew into Chicago-Midway(from Sacramento) and drove up through Michigan and across Canada to get to Syracuse. We spent three days in Niagara Falls, visited Toronto and Montreal, then came down through Vermont and back across New York to Syracuse. After the tournament, we drove back to Chicago along the southern edge of the Great Lakes, made several stops in Amish country and spent a day at Cedar Point. We spend the last day in Chicago exploring Lake shore drive on Segways.
Two years ago in Las Vegas, took the helicopter tour of Hoover Damn, drove exotic cars at the Las Vegas Speedway, took a whisky tasting class, ate at way too many restaurants and saw a few shows. We drive from No. Cal through Yosemite National Park and down the eastern slopes of the Sierras rather than the boring trip through Fresno and Bakersfield.
I made a similar trip out of Baton Rouge and El Paso, but we have pretty much done Reno so many times there isn't much left to do, so next year we will bowl then fly to Disney World instead.
This year in Vegas we are planning the Segway tour of Red Rock Canyon, several shows, dinners at Joel Robuchon, two different Jose Andres restaurants and a few other higher end restaurants along with the normal "Vegas Stuff", but no gambling.
Of course, we bowl the main tournament, the 40 Frame game, BTM and Bowlers Journal as well.
So do you just fly/drive into town, bowl the tournament and go home or make a vacation out of it?
-
I would go see Furnace Creek (Death Valley, only 2 hours away IIRC). If go in summer might get lucky and get to see what 130 degrees feels like. Always wanted to but hard to get in a car and drive six plus hours (from Phoenix) when its already nearly 120 degrees to go somewhere even hotter.
-
120 or 130, there is no difference. Both are too f*(&ing hot.
Actually, we will be driving right through Death Valley on our way to Vegas.
I would go see Furnace Creek (Death Valley, only 2 hours away IIRC). If go in summer might get lucky and get to see what 130 degrees feels like. Always wanted to but hard to get in a car and drive six plus hours (from Phoenix) when its nearly 120 degrees to go somewhere even hotter.
-
If you want a classic trip, rent a car and head down towards Laughlin. About 5 miles south of town, you can pick up old Route 66 and drive it into Oatman, which was a ghost town that now is a HUGE tourist trap, in the form of classic Route 66. They've restored all the original buildings, and really did the place justice. Plus, you'll see all the classic cars and gas stations, especially if you drive it all the way back to Kingman. All of it is still there.
Outside of that, I still live part time there, so outside of Redrock Canyon, I don't generally touch the tourist trap except to eat at the buffets where locals get the discount.
Oh, also, if you're into old school video arcades, the Pinball Hall of Fame is open on Tropicana between Maryland Parkway and Eastern. All classic to current pinball machines and classic arcade games are there, and yes, all are only $.25.
BL.
-
Yep, I've done the Route 66 thing, it's a cool trip. We took a road trip from Los Angles to Oklahoma following old 66 a few years back.
-
In no particular order. Bowling, gambling, and high end call girls.
-
It's okay, we know the order. ;D
-
Going to Grand Canyon National Park on the second day that I'm there. Also going to Cirque Du Soleil show (Michael Jackson One). May even drive to the California border since I've never been this far west before.
-
In no particular order. Bowling, gambling, and high end call girls.
Look, this right here is why my BR dream team Nationals team is:
1) Doom - Sets the pace in the 1 hole
2) GTGT - I’ll hide myself and let you all carry me lol
3) notclay - Met him in Syracuse (very nice dude)
4) Luke R - Logical
5) northface - obvious reasons
-
Going to Grand Canyon National Park on the second day that I'm there. Also going to Cirque Du Soleil show (Michael Jackson One). May even drive to the California border since I've never been this far west before.
If you do that, drive out to Primm, and park on the northbound side, and walk to the convenient store. I say that, because out of everything at Primm, only that convenient store is in California, whereas everything else is in Nevada. That way you can say you've been to California, and can just walk back (IOW, nothing to see here, lets get back to the bowling, beer, and buffets!). :P
BL.
-
way off topic, but isn't seeing the Hoover Dam from above is pretty damn cool.
I work on Helicopters for the Navy, and we did a detachment to Nellis AFB. And flying back to San Diego, we went over the top of the Hoover Dam. it was pretty cool.
-
way off topic, but isn't seeing the Hoover Dam from above is pretty damn cool.
I work on Helicopters for the Navy, and we did a detachment to Nellis AFB. And flying back to San Diego, we went over the top of the Hoover Dam. it was pretty cool.
Actually, it's right on topic. This is a thread about what to do other than bowling at the Open. :-)
And yea, we took the helicopter tour of Hoover damn and grand canyon before and it's very cool. On the other hand, the Lake Mead/Hoover dam cruise is about the worst value for the cost I have spent in recent memory.
-
ive kinda given up golfing, but next time i go to vegas i'm going to golf a round at one of the nicer courses out there
-
ive kinda given up golfing, but next time i go to vegas i'm going to golf a round at one of the nicer courses out there
Careful now. Seeing that those golf courses are the only places where there are any trees, let alone grass, you might find it the dog's best places to do their business. :P
Seriously, you should be good for this, especially if you head to TPC at Summerlin, and stay away from anything close to Las Vegas Blvd (too expensive).
Additionally, there is the Neon museum, now that they moved it to its more permanent place than behind Neonopolis on Fremont Street. Seeing all that old neon from the mob days to pre-2000 is really cool and makes you wonder how Vegas looked back in its heyday.
Or better yet, want to do some skiing? TV and Radio down here are saying that the fallout from the storms in California is making the snowpacks stay around a lot longer than they should. Mammoth Lakes is staying open for skiing up until July 4th, and if it extends further down, there may be some snow left on Mt. Charleston.
BL.
-
ive kinda given up golfing, but next time i go to vegas i'm going to golf a round at one of the nicer courses out there
Careful now. Seeing that those golf courses are the only places where there are any trees, let alone grass, you might find it the dog's best places to do their business. :P
Seriously, you should be good for this, especially if you head to TPC at Summerlin, and stay away from anything close to Las Vegas Blvd (too expensive).
Additionally, there is the Neon museum, now that they moved it to its more permanent place than behind Neonopolis on Fremont Street. Seeing all that old neon from the mob days to pre-2000 is really cool and makes you wonder how Vegas looked back in its heyday.
Or better yet, want to do some skiing? TV and Radio down here are saying that the fallout from the storms in California is making the snowpacks stay around a lot longer than they should. Mammoth Lakes is staying open for skiing up until July 4th, and if it extends further down, there may be some snow left on Mt. Charleston.
BL.
Just plan on doing your golfing early in the morning if you are going May or later. We are already seeing 90 degree weather (mid 90s next week) during the day out here in the desert. Dry heat doesn't much matter over 105 to 110 or so (also exposed skin burns in 30 minutes or less, sun doesn't tan here just burns). There is a reason don't see locals outside during the day much in summer. In general be careful in the desert as we get tourist deaths pretty regularly out there in the west.
-
Barbecuing!!
When bowling in Vegas, I usually stay with a SoCal friend who moved there a few years back. He's got a cool backyard set up as an entertainment center, and we usually barbecue Ribeyes after sunset. Of course, that brings in other SoCal bowling transplants to help feast out. There is something special about hanging out in the Las Vegas foothills away from all the usual tourist traps.
If I have a half a day to spare, I'll sometimes drive up to Mt. Charleston to get some daytime relief from the heat. It's only a 35-45 minute drive, and it's a beautiful forested area where temperatures can be 30+ degrees less than the valley below. It's very peaceful, and can be a nice break.
-
ive kinda given up golfing, but next time i go to vegas i'm going to golf a round at one of the nicer courses out there
Careful now. Seeing that those golf courses are the only places where there are any trees, let alone grass, you might find it the dog's best places to do their business. :P
Seriously, you should be good for this, especially if you head to TPC at Summerlin, and stay away from anything close to Las Vegas Blvd (too expensive).
Additionally, there is the Neon museum, now that they moved it to its more permanent place than behind Neonopolis on Fremont Street. Seeing all that old neon from the mob days to pre-2000 is really cool and makes you wonder how Vegas looked back in its heyday.
Or better yet, want to do some skiing? TV and Radio down here are saying that the fallout from the storms in California is making the snowpacks stay around a lot longer than they should. Mammoth Lakes is staying open for skiing up until July 4th, and if it extends further down, there may be some snow left on Mt. Charleston.
BL.
Just plan on doing your golfing early in the morning if you are going May or later. We are already seeing 90 degree weather (mid 90s next week) during the day out here in the desert. Dry heat doesn't much matter over 105 to 110 or so (also exposed skin burns in 30 minutes or less, sun doesn't tan here just burns). There is a reason don't see locals outside during the day much in summer. In general be careful in the desert as we get tourist deaths pretty regularly out there in the west.
heat doesn't bother me much. I've worked at and or deployed to some of the hottest places on earth, and have had to wear long sleeves during it
-
We have tickets to Blue Man Group. It looks like fun to me. The rest is usually me throwing bad shots for 9 games because we bowl end of June and I will not want to put in the necessary practice. That's golf season...
I am anxious to here reports from others when they return. I did meet Good Times and the Magician last year. Both were quality guys.
-
Eh, we're driving, and it's not going to be a super long trip. July 6 and 7 are our bowling dates, so we'll get in middle of the day on the 5th, practice session that night, then we have nice squad times, middle of the day both days, then we'll leave early on the 8th. Not planning any sightseeing, just hopefully some good baseball action in sportsbook somewhere. Parents are going, so might walk through some of the casinos, but planning on spending most of our time watching when we aren't bowling.
-
Going to see Barry Manilow with my wife.
-
Smokin', chasin' and drinkin'.
-
Going to see Barry Manilow with my wife.
If there was ever an example of the need for some form of punctuation, the quoted statement would definitely qualify. LOL
Other than bowling and gambling, my guess is I'll be joining a couple of my teammates casino hopping along the strip and enjoying a few drinks to dull the pain of all the walking.
-
WIZARD .. great catch .. I really missed that till you pointed it out .. ;D
-
If you haven't seen the Hoover Dam, you need to. It's quite impressive.
-
If coming down I15 from the east worth a stop for Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon. Antelope Canyon is amazing as well but bit of detour. Utah highway patrol around St George area is harsh though. Mind your speed carefully.
-
Well. if Barry Manilow has my wife, I'm in trouble. Not to mention he came out as gay a couple of years ago. Thanks for the laugh.
-
Virtual Reality game called The Void at Venetian canal shops.
-
Well. if Barry Manilow has my wife, I'm in trouble. Not to mention he came out as gay a couple of years ago. Thanks for the laugh.
Lolz :P
-
Arriving on the 25th of June from Miami, relaxing. Rest of group arrives Wednesday, drink enough beer\spirits to get beer thumb. Bowl Thur & Fri. Go to Hells Kitchen, catch Ron White at Mirage. Saturday cabana at MGM pool, eat at Mesa Grill, go to the best show on the strip Absinthe after. Fly home hungover on Sunday, thinking about what I should of done on the lanes....