Mr. Langford
English 15- Section 86
2 October 2012
Sin City ≠ Small Children The lights, the shows, the money; welcome to Las Vegas, Sin City. It is the perfect destination for bachelor parties—as portrayed in the wildly popular comedy, The Hangover. It is an ideal getaway for young couples, the perfect place for a girls’ weekend out, and a super spot to get hitched. Vegas is a lot of things—flashy, exciting, and scandalous, just to name a few. There is one thing Las Vegas is not, though. Las Vegas is not a family friendly city. If the infamous slogan of Sin City, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” does not already say enough, Las Vegas is the worst destination for a family vacation, as it fails to provide a relaxing, stress-free environment that all members of the family can enjoy. Instead of feeling relaxed after going on vacation to Las Vegas, one will feel tired and over-stimulated. Picture an ideal getaway. Maybe it is an exotic, lush island, or maybe it is a Rocky Mountain retreat. Most people go on vacations to get away from their hectic daily lives. They seek serene and peaceful destinations. Las Vegas could not be further from a peaceful destination. First of all, it is a big, bustling, crowded city with a 2011 population estimate of 589,317 ("Las Vegas (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau"). In comparison, the 2011 population estimate of Maui County, Hawaii (a lush, tropical island) was 156,674 ("Maui County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau”). Although some may enjoy this hurried and lively environment of Las Vegas, it is just too much for many—especially young children. Family vacations are supposed to allow busy family members to unwind and spend quality time with each other. This level of relaxation is nearly impossible to attain in Las Vegas, a city where one can walk into virtually any casino at two in the morning to find drained and depressed looking adults slouched over slot machines. A dark, smoky casino