| Natalie MacLees | http://www.nataliemac.com |
| natalie@nataliemac.com | © 2002 |
Written August 2002
If you’re in the mood for some gambling, but don’t fancy the crowds, expense and debauchery of places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas, why not pay a visit to Laughlin, Nevada? Laughlin is a sweet little retirement community just about three hours south of Las Vegas on the Nevada/Arizona border.
Laughlin boasts its own little "strip," maybe even better than the one in Las Vegas because it's right on the Colorado River. The time zone changes from Pacific to Mountain once you cross the river from Nevada to Arizona, so be prepared if you ask anyone for the time. The typical response is, "On what side of the river?"
Many of the Las Vegas casinos have Laughlin counterparts, so you won't miss out on Harrah's, the Colorado Belle, the Golden Nugget, or the Flamingo. And the best part is the price: rooms can be found for as low as $15 a night, and even "deluxe" accommodations are rarely more than $25. Quarter table gambling and nickel slots are plentiful. "High Roller" gaming areas are few and far between. The Edgewater Hotel and Casino offers an outstanding all-you-can-eat buffet for $5.25 at dinner time.
You also just feel a lot safer in Laughlin. Senior citizens seem a lot less threatening than the loud crowd that populates the streets of Las Vegas. And it's so cute to be constantly called, "sweetheart" and "honey" by other people's grandmas, who always seem to be dressed in white canvas sneakers and gold lamé.
The casinos in Laughlin have special programs for you to get back at least some of what you gamble. You sign up and get a card that looks like a credit card. Each table, slot machine and video poker machine has a little slot that accepts the card while you gamble. The card keeps track of each bet you make, and you earn "points," sort of like playing skee ball. The points are redeemable for all kinds of prizes, from coffee mugs and keychain souvenirs and to hotel nights and free meals. The only problem with the cards is remembering to take them with you when you leave your machine.
The locals have devised a way to always remember their cards: they punch a hole in the card, attach a cord to the card and tie the cord to their shirts or jackets. Very clever.
The one area where Laughlin is really lacking is in entertainment. There's really not much happening in town outside of the strip. You won't find any big stars performing here and you won't find any out-sized magic shows. But, there is a movie theatre, and many of the casinos feature impersonator shows that are either very cheap or free. And once in awhile, they'll have a rodeo, flea market, or some other traveling attraction. Every April, you can visit Laughlin to participate in the River Run®, a motorcycle event that includes poker runs, a bike show and the Ms. River Run Contest.
If the desert heat gets to be too much for you, you can take to the water. Many of the casinos offer kayak, jet ski, and fishing boat rentals. And of course, you're only about a three-hour drive from Las Vegas and about four hours from the Grand Canyon. You're also less than an hour from the burros of Oatman, AZ, mentioned in my earlier article on Arizona.
Local recreation areas include Davis Dam, Lake Mojave, Big Bend State Park, and the cool and densely forested Hualapai Mountain County Park. Also nearby you can examine Indian petroglyphs in the Christmas Tree Pass area of Grapevine Canyon and visit the world famous London Bridge in Lake Havasu City.
When I retire, you will find me in Laughlin. I will be wearing white canvas sneakers and gold lamé. I will sit at a nickel slot machine, tied to my little card, and gamble until I win a free night in the Flamingo. Come sit next to me, and I'm likely to say, "This machine isn't very lucky for me. Why don't you try it, honey?"