Bowling Nationals, Las Vegas Style
Bowling nationals has taken me to some interesting places over the years.
My first was in Baton Rouge in 2017 (which included stops in Memphis and New Orleans), followed by Wichita for the 100th anniversary, then Reno and Chicago. Las Vegas was one I’d been wanting to see for a while, so this year, I finally made it.
On June 27, I flew out with my bowling team for the USBC Women’s Championships. As we came in to land, I caught the Sphere on video. It’s pretty cool seeing that giant glowing ball come into view from the air.
And that was just the beginning of a few days of sightseeing, bowling, and exploring Las Vegas.
Red Rock Canyon
On Saturday, June 28, we headed out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. We walked the short trail to the Petroglyph Wall, where we got to see the ancient rock art up close.
We also spotted a lizard and a jackrabbit along the way. You never know what you’re going to run into when you get out and explore a little.
Nearby is Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, a historic ranch with a big main house, so we stopped there, too.
That night, we had a pretty great view of the Sphere from our hotel window. Naturally, I took pictures and videos. It’s hard not to be fascinated by that thing, especially when you can see it lit up against the night sky.
Hoover Dam
Sunday, June 29, started with a little sightseeing along the Strip.
We walked past several celebrity-chef restaurants, including Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Burger, and Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen + Bar. We didn’t eat at any of them, but I got pictures.
Then we headed out to Hoover Dam.
We stopped at a rest area overlooking the lake before continuing to the dam itself. I got pictures of the Welcome to Hoover Dam sign and the bridge, and I even managed to get a photo of the Nevada–Arizona state line while standing on the bridge across the dam.
It’s not every day you get to stand in one state and take a picture of the line separating it from another.
That evening, it was time to bowl. We got our official team photo, the four of us standing in front of the sign.
After all, we were there for bowling nationals. We couldn’t spend the entire trip sightseeing!
Horse Show, the Strip, and Fremont Street
On Monday, June 30, before the second day of bowling at South Point, I got to watch the beginning of the EMO Western States Championships. I think it was the preliminary rounds, or maybe practice. Either way, it was fun to catch some of the action.
Later, we headed out to walk around and see more of the Strip.
We came across a Brahma shrine, and the Bellagio had some beautiful flower displays, including a flamingo and a zebra. We also passed some of the familiar sights, including the Eiffel Tower and Cabo Wabo Cantina.
There’s certainly no shortage of things to look at in Las Vegas. Even just walking around, you keep coming across something worth stopping for.
That night, we went to Fremont Street.
My friends like to shop. I don’t always share their enthusiasm for shopping, so while they browsed, I found a taxidermy bear and a horse and took some silly pictures with them.
Because apparently, that’s what I do when I’m bored in Las Vegas.
Heading Home
On July 1, it was time to head home.
Or at least, that was the plan.
A dust storm rolled in while we were at the airport, and our flight ended up delayed by about three hours. I got pictures of the storm coming in while we waited.
The delay meant we’d be getting home after midnight, followed by another hour’s drive. Not exactly the ending I’d planned for the trip, but that’s how travel goes sometimes.
All in all, it was a fun trip. I got to bowl with friends, explore some places I’d been wanting to see, and experience bowling nationals in Las Vegas.
And, of course, I came home with a camera roll full of pictures and videos.
Which means you get to see some of them, too!
