While many people know the terms “Gaming” and “Vegas”, our gaming was a different type. We went for “Dice Tower West”, a convention celebrating on boardgames, dice games, and card games.
We traveled with friends, Ashley and Jed. We met them several years ago at a gaming convention in Indianapolis, IN called GenCon. We traveled to Indy as an annual pilgrimage as did they. Hotels for conventions are expensive. Someone brought up that perhaps we could share a room to save on expenses. It took some convincing, but the next year we shared a room. Since then, we’ve traveled to each others homes and been to many conventions. Finding travel companions like this can be a good boost to your travel budget.
The gaming convention was four days long. We made sure to get there early to see some sights, like the “High Roller”.
We shared a meal completely in the dark. And when I say in the dark, I mean it. “Blackout: Dining in the Dark” was a wonderful experience where you are led into a room past tables that you cannot see. You left all your electronics and ANYTHING that can produce light in a locker. You hear the murmur of people talking, of flatware and glasses clicking, and you cannot see a thing. Your hands are on the shoulder of the person in front of you. Your waiter/waitress leads you to your seats using night vision goggles. You are seated and given an orientation, “Your plate is directly in front of you. Your fork is on the left, on the right is your knife and spoon. Follow your knife up and there is your glass.”
As we sat in the dark, talking to each other and realizing just how much I use my hands to talk, I said something like “Why am I using my hands? No one can even see me.”
A whisper in my ear said, “I can” and our waiter announced the first of the seven courses was in front of us. We enjoyed the food and drink…. exploring the tastes and trying to decide what we were eating. It was also safe for Teresa as the menu is 100% plant based (and the rest of us didn’t even miss the meats).
And before you ask, NO, we cannot tell you want was on the menu. The wait staff will not tell you before (though you can let them know of food allergies). When the experience is over, you are then allowed to see the menu. No pics are allowed and they ask that you do not discuss it other to than to explain the experience.
One of the things we like about the smaller conventions is the opportunity we get to play games with the convention organizers, the “stars” of the podcasts and vlogs, and more. These smaller conventions only host 1500 – 3000 people or so. Above, Jed and I got the chance to play a game with Tom Vassel and it was a game we had not heard of before.
One our last day, we went out to the Neon Museum. On display there are many of the old neon signs from the old days of Vegas. Some were from casinos long gone, while others were discarded signs after a casino rebranded. It was amazing.
And the strip is not the only place to visit. Downtown Vegas has some wonderful sites. One of this a zip line over Freemont Street.
We had a wonderful time and we are already talking about our next trip.
