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Laughlin - uncomplicated gambling for ordinary people

Ask this member a question. BrotherSmith Recent stay in Laughlin
Jun 13, 2006
4.0 of 5 stars based on 2 votes
Laughlin is a created casino town near Las Vegas. Only a tiny proportion of the millions who visit Sin City each year make the short journey to visit the town. Laughlin is a distinct destination in its own right, very different to its illustrious neighbour and definitely worth a visit. If Laughlin had a theme it would be uncomplicated gambling for ordinary people. I loved it.
  • Explore locations featured in this goList: Laughlin
  • Category: Recent trip
  • Traveler type: Sightseeing, Never been before
  • Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Singles, Large groups, Seniors, Budget travelers, Tourists
  • Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Tags: Las Vegas, Gambling
1. Golden Nugget Laughlin
Golden Nugget Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada
Ave price: $48
The Golden Nugget is rated Number 1 in Trip Advisor's popularity index of Laughlin's hotel-casinos. It is an excellent place to stay: clean, comfortable and cheap. I paid $280.13 (including taxes) for a riverside-view room. We booked with the hotel direct, via their website. Our room was spacious with a huge king-sized bed. There was a coffee maker with comped coffee provided. The bathroom (standard hotel-casino design) had recently been refurbished. The room's window actually opened to let the fresh air in - a welcome respite from the air conditioning.
2. Golden Nugget Casino Laughlin
Golden Nugget Casino Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada
I enjoyed gambling in the casino (although I lost). There is a much higher ratio of slots and video poker to table games than in Vegas. This suited me as I play video poker. The Slot Club was offering various promotions for new members - I lost but won mugs, a magi-lite torch and a bag. The Slot Club does not give cash-back - you have to spend anything you earn in the hotel.
3. Harlow's coffee shop in the Golden Nugget, Laughlin
http://www.harlowsrestaurants.com/
The Harlow's coffee shop serves cheap IHOP-esque food. The server was friendly and helpful.
4. Laughlin River Stampede Rodeo
The River Stampede Rodeo was in town when I visited. It provided an entertaining, exciting, ethnic experience - pure Americana. I munched Bear Kountry Kettle Korn - delicious fresh caramel popcorn and watched Bareback riding (sponsored by McCormick Realty); Steer Wrestling (sponsored by Mission Industries); and Tie Down roping (sponsored by FHI Plant Services) - rodeo like the rest of America is about big business. I was impressed by the bravery and expertise displayed by the cowboys with unusual names: Cimmaron, Forest, Dustin, and Zach, who came from towns I had never heard of: Midwest City, Oklahoma; Beaumont, Texas; Mount Vernon, Oregon; and South Jordan, Utah. I even joined the line of older gentleman so I could get a photo signed by Miss Rodeo America.
5. Country Battle Of The Bands
In Las Vegas a show ticket will cost you a small fortune - $100 plus to see Celine Dion or Cirque De Soleil. At Laughlin's Country Battle Of The Bands, held outdooors in The Colorado Belle's parking lot, I listened for free to excellent country music - traditional twangy Hank Williams through to "Toby Keith covers sung from a woman's perspective".
6. Country Music USA at The Ramada Express
I joined the Ramada Express Players' Club, lost $25 playing video poker and received a free ticket for Country Music USA - a country tribute show. I enjoyed it so much that it made me buy my first Garth Brooks CD (I am from the UK).
7. In and Out Burger
http://www.in-n-out.com/
Laughlin has a branch of the legendary In-and-Out Burger chain. Situated at 2085 S. Casino Dr, it serves the freshest, beefiest burgers I have ever scoffed.
8. Windows & Clocks
The lack of clocks and windows in casinos is a Las Vegas cliche. In Laughlin all the casinos have windows to the world. Whilst I sat at a bar playing video poker I glimpsed jet skis racing up and down the river and Arizona - one hour away. The Riverside Resort has a Discount Clock Store. It is also home to The Watch Man, which the Laughlin Entertainer describes, as the town's, "Number 1 visitor attraction". Apparently, it is also the "world's largest watch store" It didn't seem that big to me - but it was fascinating. Open 365 days a year it sells $19.97 watches with faces inscribed NASCAR 4 Bush and Colin Powell For President in 2008. The faces of other timepieces contain portraits of Jimmy Hoffa, Martin Luther-King, or Elvis Presley. One even contained a smiling Tony Blair.
9. Laughlin's Shopping
Las Vegas is full of designer shops - Gucci; Vuitton; Hermes; Rolex et al. In Laughlin's Colorado Belle, a fake Mississippi paddle steamer outside and done up like a gambling hall from the westerns inside, you can buy NASCAR souvenirs; beef jerky (marinated beef strips); and religious garden statues stamped "bless this garden". In the Riverside Resort there are quirky shops selling: pins ; smokes ; and classic restored one-arm bandits. You can also buy a framed autographed portrait of Don Lauglin, Laughlin's founder for $79:50.
10. Plain Folks Americans
Laughlin's biggest and best difference from Las Vegas is the people it attracts. The Vegas Strip is a magnet for the mega-rich, beautiful people and celebrities. Laughlin draws everyday blue collar Americans - the plain folks. I saw real and urban cowboys wearing the Stetson, tight Wrangler jeans held up by a belt with an ornate buckle, checked lumberjack shirt and cowboy boots uniform. There were also bikers wearing bandanas and Willie Nelson pigtails. They were joined by rednecks in baseball caps and T-shirts with political slogans: Freedom Don't Come Cheap, Proud To Have Served, and America's True Blue Collar Worker, were all popular. The women looked like LeAnn Rimes or Dolly Parton: cute cowgirls; single younger women looking for love "Single & Fabulous" read ones T-Shirt; and "blonde" older women who had obviously had breast enlargement surgery, and had pink roses embroidered on their tight jeans. The men were impeccably polite and said, "Yes Mam". The crowd was almost all-white, except for a sprinkling of leather skinned American Indians and a few Latino cowboys. A man in a Mexico 2006 World Cup shirt looked very out of place. Everyone was friendly. I preferred Laughlin's clientele.
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