I like to gamble but I don’t like really like to gamble and I’m a cheap nit. If you avoid the strip Vegas has the best odds combined with the lowest limits in the world. That + free drinks. I know it’s a negative for most but heck Vegas is one of the few places you can still smoke like it’s the 50s or something. I actually only really smoke when in Vegas.

I have yet to go to Arches, Canyonlands, or Capitol Reef, but I've done some day hiking in Zion, went to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back in a day, and did some day hiking in Bryce.

If you want to go where you are 100% guaranteed not to see a single person for multiple days, I would suggest doing the 42 mile backpack trip one way from Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch out to the Paria River and ending at Lee's Ferry. They only allow a limited number of people per day enter to do this trip. Just typing this I can't believe I actually did it as I'm completely out of shape now. But for me anyways, that was a once in a lifetime type adventure.

Also another less traveled area around S Utah is the Escalante River. Not nearly as remote as the hike described above as it's located right near Escalante, Utah and the trailhead is easy accessible. You won't get the 11 mile slot canyon like Buckskin Gulch, but you'll still be able to hike up a river inside a pretty cool, wide canyon. And you can camp out along the river. Not a day trip from Vegas, but you could make a side trip up there as it's like a 5 hour drive each way. The scenery along the drive on Utah Hwy 12 is just awesome. So many hiking opportunities if you are a more serious slot canyon person.

So yeah there is a whole lot to see within 4-5 hours of Vegas.

I can get casino gambling near home. I can get cash games near home. I can get great food near home. I have no interest in clubs/pools/the scene.

But the one thing Vegas has, especially between mid May and mid July, is tournament offerings that dwarf the offerings at regional casinos even when a WSOPC or HPT or whatever is in town. Especially if you want to play other than NLHE.

So I'll continue to go for 1-2 weeks in June for a long time as work/family demands permit.

But my wife and I are having the same conversations many in this thread are having. We're getting burned out. We've discussed it and our twice-yearly trips will become once yearly and we'll makesure to include a side trip since Vegas remains a great base for seeing much of the western US. I'll continue to go in June when I can, but probably without her next year.

Absolutely a lot to see if you head up to Utah. I like Bryce best for day hiking.

Canyonlands is cool, but slot canyons. which are really narrow, scare the crap out of me in the spring.
Sh*t the size of small cars crashes down from the walls due to melting snow splitting off whole slabs of rock.

It is pretty isolated. One time I was camping there and a Bandits motor cycle gang pulled in to stay a few days. (They were laying low because a federal judge in Texas had been killed and they wanted to avoid harassment.)

Mob Museum - plan 3 hours if you want to enjoy it all

You sir are the definition of bitter old man, but with a name like OldManRacist not surprised. I've lived there nine months total over four trips. It's absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go back whenever that is.

If poker does not excite you - take a break and try the hookers.

Sick bump.

Solid first post there

i admire the dedication required to expend effort creating an account just to craft the response 'take a break and try the hookers'

Man I read the first few posts and assumed this thread started post covid, I can’t imagine what some of the feelings are like now with the increases in pricing, the decreases in service, and the movement away from gambling.

At some point I keep thinking the town will have to move back towards giving the tourist more bang for their buck but I have also been waiting two years for the housing market to crash and nothing has happened.

In many areas the housing market in constant dollars has gone down 10%+.

People started to complain about those things a long time before Covid. It's more of a post 2009 recession development.

Compared to the rest of my life, prices in Vegas don't feel like they went up too much since Covid. Have resort fees gone up again at some places recently? They've been at $45+tax since before or around the time Covid started and I didn't see any change but the last couple times I've booked through websites where they're already included in the listed price.

So many things to do in and around Vegas (or at least short drive from Vegas) other than gambling. My wife and I were there last May and 7 days wasn't long enough.

I know this is an old thread but my guess is OP was 99% gambling/partying in Vegas and got burnt out.