Luck was NOT a lady today!

Picture this:

...a set of stairs leading up to the Vancouver Art Gallery
...on the stairs 150 white cowboy hats...15 rows of 10 across
...under one hat, a red envelope holding a prize of an all expense paid trip for 2 to the Calgary Stampede
...price of admission...FREE

On my way to lunch at one of the food trucks near Robson Square in down town Vancouver, I happened upon this little promotional event.  I've got time, so I sign up and get a little yellow coloured bracelet promising me an opportunity to pick a white hat which may have this free trip underneath.  Every 30 seconds, 10 people will be permitted into the area to select their hat by standing beside it.  I'm in the 5th group of ten to select.  Right from the get-go a little voice tells me "pick a hat that's 2nd in from the outside".  Well, that doesn't really narrow it down.  Should it be 2nd in from the left...from the right....up high....or down low???  Some of the choice had been removed from my hands as 50 some odd have already chosen their hats before it's my turn.  I find a hat, second in from the right hand side, up near the back...3rd row down from the top.  Very shortly after, all hats are picked...the countdown begins....3.....2....1, I bend down with the 149 others to pick up my hat....it does NOT contain the red envelope holding the free trip.  The winner of the free trip???  The young guy standing right in front of me....2nd hat in from the right....4th row down from the top.  The only consolation....he was already in place when I took up the spot behind him.  Oh well, my little voice got me as close as it could given the choices I had to make.  Everything happens for a reason....today, luck was not a lady....it was a young guy.  Tomorrow....you just never know!

I didn't win the trip...but I got to keep the hat.  Not too shabby!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  Vancouver is a nice place to visit....don't think I'd want to live here!!!  It's just too big and reminiscent of my days in Toronto!  But had I won a trip to Calgary today....then both Vancouver AND Calgary would have been my favourite places!!!!

That's Insanity!

It's been a long 10 days here in Vancouver, so as a reward I bought myself something that I've been hearing a lot about lately.  It's a 60 day workout program called "Insanity".  Who'd have thought the day would come that I would consider a workout program a reward?!  That's how serious I'm starting to take the East vs West Weight Loss Challenge.  (Watch out Shelley....I'm gunning for you now!!)  I've got to get with the program...and when I get away from these Purdy's Chocolates, we'll ALL be better off!!!  Unfortunately, I won't be able to start my 60 days until I get my knee looked after next week.  All the R&R just haven't fixed it, not to mention all the jet therapy in the hotel hot tub.

It's been a very interesting visit here, and I've got to spend time with my old friend Maureen.  We've taken in 2 documentary films with the DOXA Film Festival, ate out at some very retro diners (the Acme Cafe...where I had THE BEST tomato soup....ev-ah!, and Save-On Meats), and saw lots of tourist attractions.  The only way to top this whole trip is if I get that elusive upgrade to business class on my return flight home.  Time will tell!!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  There's a new program offered at the Starwood Hotel Chain.  If you forego housekeeping services, you'll be offered a $5 coupon towards food service in your hotel.  It's called "The Green Choice".  It can be accumulated, but must be used prior to check-out, or can be converted to 500 loyalty points per coupon...so tomorrow night, I'll be dining in the hotel restaurant with some nice credits, compliments of the Sheraton.

And oh what heights we'll hit....on with the show, this is it.

It's been a weekend of facing my fears, moving outside my comfort zone, and scaring the bejeezers out of myself.  Why do we do these things to ourselves??  What is the purpose of it??  It's not like I'm competing in the Amazing Race and have to do these things for a million dollars.  (BTW my team won the Amazing Race last night....yeah Rachel and Dave!)  I just wanted to be able to say I did them....I guess.  My Saturday started with a trip up Grouse Mountain on the gondola.  Don't remember the exact figure, but somewhere in excess of 3000 meters.  I was just one of many sardines jammed into the gondola...only I was right by the window...and for some strange reason, all I could think about was the headlines in the paper should the gondola, or the sardines inside, fall to the ground.  Coming down seemed easier.

Wayyyy up....and I'll call Rusty!

View of Vancouver from the gondola

Once I got over that little excursion, we stopped at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  Imagine how thrilled I was to learn that they've expanded beyond just the Suspension Bridge, and now have a Tree Top Walk and Cliff Walk.  I mean really....how difficult can it be....I've done a Suspension Bridge in Northern Ireland, and a Tree Top Walk in Australia...so how bad could it be....right??  Well, the bridge was tons longer than the one in N. Ireland...and much bouncier!  There had to have been 30 people on the bridge at one time!!!  It was verrrryyy scary.  But, applying the philosophy of mind over matter....I got across...and then back.  Again...I just kept imagining the headlines in the paper...

The return trip across...you may notice a "deer in the headlights" look.

Then there was the Tree Top Walk.  It wasn't as tall as the one in Australia...but I was reeling after having just moments before gotten across the bridge.

Luckily you can't see the white knuckles!

And if those two things weren't enough....we had to do the Cliff Walk...with the glass overhang.  Could it be any worse than what I'd just done??  Well, maybe not worse, but definitely equally as scary.

Maureen right out on the end of the overhang....I drew the line at that!

Maureen and I on the Cliff Walk

After I accomplished all these things, I had to go into the gift shop and get my completion certificate and a commemorative t-shirt.  I wasn't counting on the chest pains that came as my heart started to return to a normal rhythm!  But, alas, it was just what my mother would call a "stitch".

Needless to say, the observation deck that we went to when we got back into Vancouver was nothing after what I'd already been through!!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  I really don't like heights....so I think that dream of a hot air balloon ride...well, I'll defer that.  Not much sense paying big $$ for a balloon ride and then spending the entire time curled up in the fetal position on the floor of the basket!!!

Good news, bad news

There's been a few minutes of sunshine here in rainy Vancouver, so I headed out to enjoy some hot tub time.  I wanted to get some heat/jets on my knee injury that just won't go away.  It was certainly a worthwhile exercise as my knee feels better already.  I'll have to incorporate this jacuzzi time into the rest of my days here and perhaps my knee will be totally fixed by the time I head home.  It seems that with every month I develop a new ache or pain.  Shoulders, knees, what next??  The good news is that at least my bones aren't brittle...the bad news is that I had to have a fall in the bathroom to confirm that.  Yup, it was a bad combination of marble floor tile and wet feet.  All the good of the hot tub may have been quickly erased.  I'll know more in the morning if I can't get out of bed!!

Looking forward to Thursday evening when I'm meeting an old friend for dinner.  I met Maureen 20 years ago when I took a trip to Mexico and got roomed with her.  We got along so well as travel mates that we ended up taking another trip together a couple of years later.  I haven't seen her now for about 8 years, so we're getting together to catch up.  Although contemporaries, we are certainly from opposite ends of the spectrum as far as personalities/interests/hobbies goes.  I guess she might be called a "granola head".  But we always have a great time when we get together and she leaves me motivated to "get involved"...she's big into community, culture and networking.  Where I'd go see the latest Hollywood blockbuster, she goes to a Documentary Film Festival.   I'm anxious to see what restaurant she recommends...I'll keep you posted!!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  Most gifts have strings attached....well, those from Air Canada certainly do.  After our trip to Australia last year, we earned "Prestige" status on our Aeroplan accounts.  With this status, we got to pick some "perks", so we opted for passes to the Maple Leaf Lounge and some upgrade coupons.  To date, we've not had any luck using the upgrade coupons, and I couldn't figure out why.  We are permitted to request an upgrade 48 hours prior to our flight departure.  Twice now I've made the request, but have not been successful.  On my flight out to Vancouver, I requested the upgrade at precisely 48 hours before departure.  "I'm a shoe-in", I figured.  Imagine my surprise when I didn't get the upgrade....again.  I did find out why, though, so all was not lost.  I didn't get the upgrade because most other people of a higher status get to request their upgrades 96 hours in advance of their flights.  Gee, thanks for that gift....yeah, thanks for nothin'.

Upgrade, smupgrade!

How was Vegas, you ask?  Well, it was hot....stinkin' hot!  For the first time in the past couple of years, we've actually had fabulous weather.  The last few times we've found it cold there.  This time the weather was hot...but the machines were cold.  No luck!  None at all!  Nodda!  But hey, it's "Vegas, baby"...there's no such thing as a bad time.  Although we did agree, this will likely be our last trip down.  No....really....we mean it this time! 

It may be soap box time again....wait a second....while....I....pull.... this...heavy.... platform.... over....and climb up on it....so as better to project my rant.  What this time, you ask??  Incompetence.  It's rampant!  Some say it's the new generation.  I don't know if you can generalize.  "Why this" and "why now", you ask?  Well, it's all about this waitress...oh, excuse me...server we had for our last supper in Vegas.  We had a perfectly lovely meal at a trendy pizza joint.  We had just learned that we had $44 in primary comps which we had to use before leaving town, and also $35 in other comps that we could save for a later date.  The fellow with the rewards desk told us to enjoy our dinner, use the $44 first and any overage, take from the $35.  "Just tell them to use the 'primary comps' first".  Simple....right??  It's not simple when you've got an incompetent server who doesn't really like her job.  To make a rather long story short, we almost got arrested for the ole "dine n' dash".  It all got straightened out, but not before little miss ray of sunshine...or should I say, little miss mid-life ray of sunshine (she was no young thing with cushions on her shoulders which her head bobs off of with each side to side exclamation of "what-ever") dismissed us....totally...we had more questions for her and she just walked away..."dissed" ..totally. Guess I should have taken Kier's advice and lightened up her tip a bit, which she foolishly left on the table....oh well....what-ever!

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  Upgrades are not always better.  I learned this at the hotel we were staying at this trip.  It's actually a first that I insisted on being moved to a lesser room because it was nicer than the upgrade.  First of all, we reserved a king room, non-smoking.  Pretty simple request, I thought.  Apparently not.  We got 2 queen beds in a non-smoking room that smelled like the Marlboro Man had stayed there and chain-smoked for a month.  The peep-hole was gone from the door.  No, the hole was there....just the little peep hole that prevents people from looking back at you when you look at them...or worse, from them putting something into your room through this 2 inch diameter hole in your door.  Oh, and did I mention that you couldn't change your mind in the bathroom, the safe was locked OPEN and the curtains were broken?  When we went down the next morning the woman was quite indignant that we didn't appreciate the upgrade we'd been given.  I told her that if that was an upgrade, then for heaven's sake...DOWNGRADE ME PLEASE!!!  I tried to tell her that for an upgraded room, they might want to fix some of the things that were wrong with the room....but she interrupted me with something else and wasn't interested in hearing about the problems...did I mentioned how I abhor incompetence??  I know what you're thinking....."what-ever"!!

I'll have the burger...but hold the ham!

I have this friend.  I used to travel with her.  After 3 trips I realized that she couldn't be pleased, so I vowed never to travel with her again.  Apparently I'm insane...after all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results... but it was always the same..."there's nothing good to eat"; "the yogurt's too runny"; "the sand is too sandy".  (Okay, I just made that last one up...but it was almost that bad!!)  I tried to maintain a friendship with this person and went for the occasional meal figuring that was safe.  Wrong!  I remember one lunch in particular.  She ordered the lunch special which was pizza.  Pretty simple, right??  Wrong, again.  This is how the order went:  "I'll have the lunch special...but instead of pizza sauce, I'll have tomato sauce on my pizza.  Oh, and no onions.  And extra mushrooms in place of the onions I'm not having.  And no onions on the salad.  And can I have the salad dressing on the side??"  Oh, you just know that didn't go well!  Okay, so travel is out, and meals are out...but surely the occasional movie would be alright.  I mean, really, what could go wrong at a movie??  The other night I found out just what can go wrong at a movie.  She made the choice (I always let her pick...it's just easier that way) and advised it started at 6:45.  We arrived at exactly 6:45 (did I mention she's ALWAYS late??), the movie started at 6:30.  So...we're entering the theatre in the dark, the movie's already started...and it's packed!  I head to the front...there are empty seats in the third row back from the front.  It's a bit close for my liking, but it's easy...and when you're arriving after the movie has started, it's always best to opt for easy.  My friend comes behind me and eyes 2 seats in the 5th row back...but there are 2 elderly men sitting at the aisle.  I hear a real loud whisper...what I would call an "outside whisper"...ie not real quiet.  "I can't be bothered." followed by "He's got a cane!".  I immediately do an about face, and return to the 3rd row where I was ready to sit all along...but when I didn't respond, she interpreted my silence as not having heard her the first time....so she repeated "I can't be bothered....he's got a cane!".  The entire theatre must have heard her.  You ever have one of those moments where you wish the floor would open up and swallow you?  I just wanted to tell her "Do you think he just dug out a cane for the night to INCONVENIENCE YOU??  But I'm sure it would have been lost on her.  So, as I was saying...I have this friend....who I don't do anything with...

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  I don't like high intensity.  So I didn't like "The Hunger Games".  When it was over, I couldn't get out of the theatre fast enough.  I didn't even wait for the lights to turn on...and it wasn't entirely because I didn't want anyone to see who was with the nasty woman who was harrassing the elderly man with the cane ;)

Hoppy Easter everybunny!!

Okay, first week of the new job completed.  So far I've worked 4 days and have 4 days off.  Then I'll work 10 days and have 10 days off.  I'm thinkin' this is a good gig!!   Can we continue on this pattern for the next 18 months??  Yup...18 months, not a year.  The contract has already been extended.  Go figure.

We've had a few treats over Easter.  One worth noting is an ice cream called Egg Hunt.  It kind of tastes like someone put the Easter Bunny in a blender...quite sweet.  And it's yellow and purple colouring with little chocolate Easter eggs only adds to the sweetness.  And, of course, it wouldn't be Easter w/o a few Easter Creme Eggs...they're my favourites.  Well, those and Cadbury Mini Eggs...I like them too!  Okay, okay, I like just about anything that involves chocolate....Easter or not.  But tomorrow....back on the diet....I hope! 

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK:  I learned a couple of things this week.  First off, you appreciate time off more when you work then when you're retired.  For the year I was off, everyday seemed like Groundhog Day...but now that I'm back at work, I couldn't wait to have that 4 days off.  I really appreciate the time off now.  And secondly...I learned I don't like rapini.  I've been reading that it's just a wonder vegetable...but, alas, I've tried it, but don't like it.  Too bitter for me.  Yuck!  Back to broccoli I go.

Woohoo Foxwoods!!

It was a long trip home, and we arranged to spend a night in Mystic, Connecticut.  Why Mystic, you ask?  Well, for you trivia buffs, one of Julia Roberts' first movies was called Mystic Pizza.  It was about a young girl who worked at a Pizza shop in....you guessed it, Mystic, Connecticut.  I'd like to say that it was such a good movie that I've always wanted to go see Mystic, Connecticut...but that wouldn't be necessarily true.  We stayed the night in Mystic because it is verrrrry close to Foxwoods Casino, and the hotels are much more reasonably priced there than at the Foxwoods Resort complex.  But let me tell you, anyone that is as interested in casinos as we are, but doesn't want to go to Vegas or Atlantic City, Foxwoods is a very good option.  It's only about a 1 hour drive past Boston and is actually 3 casinos in one complex.  It is huge, and quite good really, with lots of restaurant and shopping options to boot.  Plus, Mohegan Sun is very close by.  It's another casino complex, although we didn't have the time to check it out.  So, if Moncton and Bangor casinos are too small, then consider a trip to Foxwoods.  You won't be disappointed.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  After this trip to Myrtle Beach, our plans of taking a month long trip to Florida next year will likely be cancelled.  After this trip, we just don't want to spend that much time on the road.  Florida would be another 2 days driving beyond Myrtle Beach.  So, if we decide to do Florida, we'll fly there for a couple of weeks and rent a car.  No more long car trips for me...

BTW - There will be a change in frequency of my blog posts due to my new employment status.  So, you'll be seeing "WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK", as I will only be posting on the weekends from now on.  Stay tuned!

Ick, ick, ick, ick, ick

Several years ago there was a movie on that became a bit of a cult sensation.  It was called Snakes on a Plane.  I wouldn't go see it cause, like my friend Joanne, I HATE snakes.  Well, imagine my displeasure when I discovered "snakes in the lakes"!  Well, it was actually more like "snake in a lake", cause I did only see one.  But when you hate snakes like I do, one is definitely enough.  Ew, ew, ew, ew ew....I was going after one of my balls that went "astray" into some water on the 4th hole.  When I saw what appeared to be a little head in the water, I wasn't put off cause I'd seen so many turtles in the golf course waterways, I just assumed it was another cute little turtle.  Wrong!!  Ew, ew, ew, double wrong.  It was a 2 foot long black snake.....ick, ick, ick, ick, ick!  Needless to say, I didn't go near any other water on the course.  I'm sure the trauma of the event put me off my game...cause I lost today.  Mind you, it was one of the worst courses of the whole week, and it was an extremely slow game and a very hot day.

To run down our week's courses for any of you contemplating coming to Myrtle Beach for golf in the future, this is how we rate them:

1)  River Oaks - a 27 hole course that was in great shape...I liked it best cause it's where I played my best game.  You don't get to pick your 18 holes, though.  The starter assigns you to 2 of the 3 courses.
2)  Wicked Stick - a great course, well maintained, and great staff
3)  Possum Trot - also a great course, although not worth the extra $$.  It was our most expensive course, but I didn't see the value for the extra $$, so I rated it third.
4)   Azalea Sands - the only reason it got rated fourth was cause they had nicer golf carts here than at the #5 course.
5)  Indigo Creek - it was probably a bit better course than #4, but they had such terrible golf carts that they got listed as the worst.

If I was ever to return to Myrtle Beach, I likely wouldn't play #4 or #5 again...and I'd think long and hard before paying to play #3 again.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  There's a new Pepsi on the market down here in the U.S.  It's called Pepsi Next.  It has 60% less sugar than regular Pepsi, so suits people like me who don't like the taste of diet soft drinks, but are trying to avoid the high test stuff.  It tastes every bit as good as regular, and you can drink it w/o the guilt.  It's much better than the new Dr. Pepper 10 that is new on the market.  It has only 10 calories.  Unfortunately, it tastes too much like Diet Dr. Pepper for my liking.  Pepsi Next reminds me of that Coke product that was on the market several years back.  I think it was called C2.  It was 1/2 the sugar as regular Coke, but didn't stay on the market very long.  I'm hoping that today's society is more health conscious, so perhaps this new product will have longer shelf life.  I'm not taking any chances though...I'm filling the trunk with it before I head home!!!

Once may be luck...but three times is skill!

The first victory might have been chalked up to luck, but when I beat Kier yesterday when playing at River Oaks, and again today at Wicked Stick, it can only be attributed to my developing skills.  Yesterday was my best round EV-AH!  I broke 100, scoring 98 on 18 holes.  We played the first 9 with a couple of fellows from Ottawa, who I labeled my "lucky charms" as I finished the front 9 with a score of 46.  Today's win wasn't quite as pretty, but a win none the less.  Tomorrow is our last 18 holes at a course called Azalea Sands.  The pressure will be on!

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  Golf is way more enjoyable when you're winning!

Have I mentioned that it's a small world???

Yesterday it was golfing at Indigo Creek.  Have I mentioned how I prefer to golf in a twosome, instead of getting paired up with someone else and feeling like every shot is being scrutinized by strangers.  Well, it doesn't happen very often here in Myrtle Beach that they let you go out by yourselves.  They say it's for our benefit, so we aren't sitting and waiting so long when the courses are so crowded.  Nay, nay, I say, it is for their benefit...more paying customers per hour.  We were fortunate on our first day out that there were no other twosomes to pair us up with.  Yesterday, though, we did get paired up.  And where did this couple come from??  Would you believe Canada?  Would you believe N.B.?  And would you believe Rothesay, N.B.?  They live just 10 minutes from us.  Who would have thought!!  Today while playing at Possom Trot, we were paired with a couple from Boston.  Both days we got along famously.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring??  Who will we meet?  Where will they be from?  Will it affect my performance??  Time will tell...

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR ON THIS TRIP:  I am getting better at this golf game.  Well, that or Kier is getting worse....cause I BEAT HIM!  I...BEAT...HIM!!  I WON, I WON, I WON!!  He LOST, he LOST, he LOST!!!  Woohoo!!!  I WON, I WON, I WON!!  And no...I didn't rub it in...not much anyway!!  ;)

Shopping Heaven

I've been in a shopper's heaven since leaving home.  There were great outlets in Atlantic City, and then great shopping in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  And I haven't even mentioned JR's.  It's a spot at Exit 97 off the I-95 through North Carolina.  It can only be compared to a Mardens on steroids.  But be prepared to leave there feeling depressed.  There's a sign posted on the door that anyone looking younger than 40 will be asked for identification when purchasing liquor or tobacco.  So, when I'm checking out with my 3 little daiquiris I tell the cashier "I've got ID here, cause I saw the sign so I know that anyone who looks under 40 will be asked for ID".  Her reply..."that's interesting"...but she didn't want to see the ID.  And then, to add insult to injury, when Kier stepped up with his bottle of wine, the cashier says...you guessed it...."Do you have any identification?".  Maybe it's time to go back on the bottle....the dye bottle that is!!

Shopping here in Myrtle Beach is certainly plentiful, too.  There are outlet malls, Kohl's stores and our all time favourite, Ross Dress for Less.  It's the best.  I think that's where we're off to until our tee time after lunch.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR ON THIS TRIP:   When you've got a Cadillac, it's hard to be happy in a junker.  My treadmill is the best....as far as treadmills go.  It does everything but run for you.  So imagine my disappointment when I went to use the fitness room and found the treadmill to be inferior to what I have at home.  You'd think these facilities would have the best...but I guess with the ocean at your doorstep, most people opt to run outside...but not me...I don't want to get a mile or so down the beach and be too tired to make it back.  Ya just never know!!

How do you spell "Lucky"??

I was all set to tell you about how much luck I've enjoyed since leaving home on this trip.  I mentioned before how I was able to gamble for 2 days in Atlantic City using THEIR money.  Of course I did dip into my own funds on day 3.  We made it the rest of the trip w/o incident, and arrived to find our unit was a beautiful one-bedroom apartment with an ocean view.  Check this out...

Okay, so it's not an UNobstructed view, but hey, by the look of that short little building, it could collapse any day now!  And my good luck peaked when I put on my golf outfit this morning and reached inside my vest pocket to find...$129 US (woohoo...don't ya just love 'found money').  Then...well, then we went to play golf at Wicked Stick.  After a few holes in torrential rain, we decided it was time to put away the lightening rods and pack it in.  We got a rain check (no really...now I know where that term came from), so will return on Wednesday to play 9 more holes.  Tomorrow it's Indigo Creek...and let's hope for better weather.  Although they do say the odds are one in a million that you'll get struck by lightening...hmmm....that would be my luck!!!

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  You just can't have blind faith in a GPS.  Especially one that hasn't had the maps updated for a few years!!  After a little incident in/around Boston, we had some real issues in North Carolina.  There was one point that the "dash bitch" almost found herself re-cal-cu-lat-ing on the side of the I-95, but thanks to an old fashioned Rand McNally, we were able to find our way.  And of course, using our own brains once in a while has proven helpful!!

Atlantic City or Las Vegas

It's been 24 years since I first visited Atlantic City.  To say that it has changed would be an understatement...if I could remember what it was like on my first visit, that is.  So, the big question is, how does it compare to Las Vegas.  I knew you'd be asking, so here goes:

Weather - well, it's a no brainer.  AC being in "Joisey" means that this time of year it was quite cool.  It wasn't too bad, but lets just say, the short pants never got out of the suitcase.  Fog seems to be an issue too,  as we had it every day.   Vegas on the other hand....always guaranteed good weather, no fog, always warm.

Flights - for us on the east coast of Canada, a short flight out of Moncton to Philadelphia and then another short connector into AC makes for little time in the air/airport.  Plus, if you play your cards right, you can use Aeroplan points of about 15,000 for the flight.  Vegas means a good 10-11 hours travel time and if you're lucky enough to use 25,000 Aeroplan points, you'll be getting that lovely "red eye flight" home.

Resorts - there are fewer hotels to pick from in AC, and the ones there are quite spaced out.  Four downtown, 2 more on the end of downtown, and 3 more at the marina, which is a bit away from downtown.  Vegas, of course, has the entire Strip full of options.  Having said that, we had the BEST room EVER while at Caesar's in AC.  A nice upgrade to a corner premium room with a view of the ocean didn't hurt.  And to prove it...just check this out....

Colliseum Tower Room 3818

Activities - the boardwalk is certainly a plus in AC with nothing to compare in Vegas.  You can walk/run for miles.  I did find one "water show" in the Pier at Caesar's.  It is a bit of a take-off of the Bellagio fountains, but that was about all I could find.

Shopping - in this area, AC has it heads and tails over Vegas.  You can just walk from Caesar's to the outlet stores.  There are about 40 - 50 in an area called "The Walk".  Very convenient.  Although Kier says the deals aren't really "outlet worthy".  Vegas you have to take a bus to the outlets.

Gaming - well, as usual, I can only speak about the slots, cause that's all I play.  And I'd have to say that I had more luck in AC as far as how long my luck lasted.  I was still playing with "their money" after 2 days.  I didn't win any big pots like I did in Vegas the last time, and I didn't come home with any extra money, but overall, it seemed the slots in AC are "looser".  Kier would certainly disagree!!

So, all in all, we figure we may make a trip to AC again in the future, especially if we can use our Aeroplan points to fly there and Caesar's will comp us again.  Don't know that I would drive there again.  Why, you ask?  Well, just see below.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  I've become a very nervous passenger.  Not so bad when I'm behind the wheel, but I'm definitely nervous in that right hand seat.