Hello Reader,

If Las Vegas is a city that has skipped your bucket list thus far then my god woman, what are you waiting for?!? I am a fan and not for anything other than the fact that you could live there for 50 years and never need to do, see, or eat the same thing twice.

If you are shaking your head and backing away from me slowly let me ask you something, are you thinking stale smoke hanging over casino floors, reservations made months in advance for trendy food choices in trendy settings, or huge crowds on a gaudy neon-lit street? Yeah, that wouldn’t be for me either. So that’s not the Las Vegas I’m thinking of.

My Vegas has botanical gardens (that aren't inside a casino), boutique shops and unique spots at an open-air container park, mom-and-pop eateries off strip that put big-name Food Network star spots to shame, outdoor activities that highlight nature at its best, and steampunk themed distilleries. My Vegas still has cheap (or free) parking and places to eat that don’t require reservations made premeditatively.

For example, our favorite place to eat that the whole family agrees is our must-stop spot every time - KoMex Fusion in North Las Vegas.

I know. I know. Everybody and their dog is talking about Best Friend in the Park MGM. And I loves me some Roi Choy. We were so into this guy we even tried to hunt down one of his food trucks when we were in the Los Angeles area but it wasn’t where it said it was going to be on Insta (apparently socials are not perfect, who knew?!?). Hell, I even bought his book…At. The. Restaurant. When it was cheaper on Amazon (sorry, impulse purchase). But our desire to go there was, if I’m being truthful, part being where everyone else was, and only a tiny part about eating the food.

Drinks were Strip prices (think around $20 a pop - cuz this girl does NOT do beer) We got a few of the “musts,” Kogi tacos, street corn, and a glorious mango dessert thing that wasn't on the menu any more last time I checked. But truthfully, we left Best Friend thinking there were only one or two items we’d go back to try again - maybe.

So we hunted for a Korean Mexican fusion place that was lust-worthy. I don’t know about you but if I can go back to a spot again and again then I’m willing to recommend it. Otherwise, meh. KoMex Fusion is that place. And for half the price! Don't let the little strip mall facade fool you. There are so very many things you'll want to eat! The flautas, the fried rice, the fusion grilled cheese, the wonton soup. I could go on and on! We will literally go there once while we are in town for a “thank god we’re here” sit-down meal and then again on our way out we grab a to-go order for the road. We’ve been met at the door and handed our menus by the owner/cook. My waitress, who I think is family too, once brought me extra napkins when she saw the mess about to happen and said quietly, “I gotchu Mamma.” Yeah, it’s that kinda place.

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This, Bestie, is the Las Vegas I’m talking about.

And that's not the only fun to be had. My latest discovery allowed me to speak with Cirque-style performers after the show and drink rum at 20,000 leagues under the sea. I’m talking about the one and only Lost Spirits Distillery. Damn, I enjoyed that experience! Who am I kidding? I need to write a whole post about the place.

In my opinion, it’s any of the above:

• a great date night
• a good girls' night out
• bachelorette party

Heck, it could be whatever you wanted it to be. Even if you’ve got family in tow. Vegas is kind enough to let you drop the kids off at Area 15 while the grown-ups go do their thing. It’s. Right. Next. Door.

You are walking the circus with the performers and enjoying an adult beverage or two (or 3 or 4) while you walk from experience to experience through the distillery/showrooms. There are acrobats, burlesque performers, live jazz, distillery tours, and a one-of-a-kind steampunk submarine experience complete with cocktails throughout.

The base ticket comes with the tour and tastings. The more you want your experience to include, of course, the more that ticket will cost. Ticket prices vary with locals getting the best deal, but can include access to all four stages, cocktails of your choice, even an elevated box seat over the performances, a distillery tour, and four rum tastings (a rum distillery wouldn’t be complete without that).

After grabbing the Premium cocktail and early 6 PM entry ticket for $99 a person on a Sunday night, I can honestly say I would not do this tour without access to cocktails. Those rum tastings are pretty intense. And by the time you get to tasting numero cuatro (#4), the strongest rum in their repertoire, you are drinking something that would make the gods say “DAMN! That’s intense!” The only way I could get it down without shooting flames out of my mouth was by adding it to the most flavorful cocktail of the night. And that’s saying something because I’m a rum fan (drinking a lovely spiced rum and Coke Zero as we speak)!

As hubby was the designated driver he did not do much more than taste mine (which left him sayin’ the lord’s name in vain) so make sure you’ve got a designated driver for this event who's willing to watch everyone else throw a couple back!

Long story short (too late!) the Vegas I love is behind the curtain of secondhand smoke and neon lights. It’s diving into that authentically local scene that I think gives you the best side of any city and Las Vegas is no exception.

Finding That Magic Wherever You Are

Finding authentic local meals and fun drinks like I did in Vegas doesn't have to be hard. I've got a ton of info on how to get these tasty rewards no matter what city you find yourself in packed in the Find Authentic Food Anywhere Course. I've downloaded a fun infographic for you right here that highlights 5 easy-to-follow tips from the course.

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That's another perk, you don't just have to take whatever deals they send to your email box. Yes, that's great and all but sometimes I know exactly where I want to go! And Going has a fantastic Watchlist feature that I'm using to get notifications specific to the destinations I'm most interested in! If that sounds like a perk that might benefit your travel style then get it for this great price while you can!

Until next time fellow travelers!