WSOP Distractions: What to do When You're Not Playing Poker
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| If you need a break from the WSOP, there's plenty to do in Vegas that won't give you a hangover. (AP Images) |
Dreaming in royal flushes? Obsessed with those elusive pocket aces? Getting lost between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, only to find yourself on Seventh Street without a hope? You need a break from the poker table, a chance to step away from the noise of chips and the stink of stressed-out contenders. You need an old-fashioned Sin City distraction, something to blow off steam, to relax the mind and provide the extra edge you need to conquer the World Series of Poker.
Fortunately, Las Vegas is teeming with scores of distractions and attractions, most of which involve serious substance abuse. From peelers to party spots, Sin City openly encourages visitors to drop those old inhibitions in favor of a big night out. Locals never tire of the classic "mom dancing on the piano" routine, that Midwestern accountant performing a lap dance for her equally square partner in domesticity. Real WSOP contenders know, however, that a night of heavy boozing may have catastrophic results in tournament play. So the question is: What else is there to do in Vegas but drink?
Chillaxin'
Of course, the summer temperatures in Las Vegas will keep most gamblers restricted to only a few minutes outdoors. What sane human enjoys a stroll down sticky sidewalks at 110 degrees? There is, however, no shortage of lush resort pools for cooling off. Every resort has its oasis, but the best in town is the Mandalay Bay's giant 11-acre outdoor water park, complete with cabanas, misters and swim-up bars (you are never far from that devil cocktail.) Some pools even advertise (in true Vegas fashion) topless girls. Sound relaxing? The new trend in pool lounges is the Euro-style nudie bathing, meaning several beautiful waitress-cum-models are paid to loaf around certain "adult areas" with only a thong to protect them from the elements. Fancy some silicone with that sunburn?
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