post: Life360 to Las Vegas

Author: XerxesDGreat

_posts/2018-04-21-las-vegas.md

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+---
+title: Life360 to Las Vegas
+date: 2018-04-21
+category: Places
+tags:
+- travel
+- vacation
+- Life360
+- work
+media_subpath: /assets/img/posts/las-vegas/
+image:
+    path: preview.jpg
+    lqip: preview.lqip.jpg
+---
+
+As a reward for the work we'd put in on Project Koko, Life360 took the company to Las Vegas for a few days of fun, play, etc. Vegas isn't _super_ my thing because I don't gamble and don't drink, but I was gonna have a good time regardless! And I'm glad I went because good times were definitely had.
+
+# Top Golf 
+
+On the first night, a group of us went to Top Golf, a driving range that's more fun than just smacking golf balls.
+
+![Top Golf](top-golf.jpg){: lqip='top-golf.lqip.jpg' }
+_Lots of targets to aim at, or just hit it really hard_
+
+However, one of the more memorable things about the night was these DIY filled donut holes; they bring you a basket of fresh donut holes and syringes with different fillings and you can make your own. I loved it; they weren't super great or anything, but it was a lot of fun.
+
+![Donut Holes](donut-holes.jpg){: lqip='donut-holes.lqip.jpg' }
+_Yes, I created one with all the flavors_
+
+# VR at the MGM Grand
+
+Another thing I enjoyed was a VR thing they had at the MGM Grand. This was different than any other VR I've done (admittedly, not much) because you strap the gear onto yourself and then walk around in an empty room; the end effect is _incredibly_ convincing.
+
+![VR gearing up](vr-suiting-up.jpg){: lqip='vr-suiting-up.lqip.jpg' }
+_Lots of gearing up for a game of pretend_
+
+![VR headset](vr-headset.jpg){: lqip='vr-headset.lqip.jpg' }
+_Definitely the new hotness_
+
+I talked them into letting me into the room while everyone was walking around so I could get some pics; it's hilarious. Having played, I knew that what they experience is a huge space, loud noises, guns going off, etc. However, in the room it's quiet except for footsteps and them talking to each other, there's no sound when they hold up the guns, etc.
+
+![VR Arena](vr-arena.jpg){: lqip='vr-arena.lqip.jpg' }
+_I never looked this silly_
+
+This clip in particular shows when people were going over a narrow, high up thing in game; again, really funny to watch people be scared of crossing over... a bare, flat floor.
+
+{% include embed/youtube.html id='S7tQgfy60Wg' %}
+
+# Red Rock Canyon
+
+Despite everything about Las Vegas, I think my favorite thing was going to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It's a desert canyon, good for hiking, about half an hour outside of the city.
+
+![Landscape with people](landscape-with-people.jpg){: lqip='landscape-with-people.lqip.jpg' }
+_Just digging into the hike_
+
+The thing it's famous for is the double-toned composition of some of it's rocks; it's a pretty stunning effect.
+
+![Two-tone](two-tone.jpg){: lqip='two-tone.lqip.jpg' }
+_Geological time is amazing; how else do stripes in rocks work?_
+
+We hiked for a few hours out here, got some long distance views of the city, did some exploring, climbed up a few big rocks to get pics, etc. Despite being quite hot, it wasn't too bad out there; we brought plenty of water.
+
+![Lookin pretty!](lookin-pretty.jpg){: lqip='lookin-pretty.lqip.jpg' }
+_These trees were great and provided a nice splash of color. Not me though..._
+
+![landscape](landscape.jpg){: lqip='landscape.lqip.jpg' }
+
+While I did pal around with them for some of the time, they did a lot of clubbing and drinking and I just didn't feel like going with them; not really my scene since I don't drink. They assure me it was a good time though, and I believe it. For myself, I was able to get some rest, kinda relax, walk around the city some, play some video games, etc. I did gamble a little and won like $20 (whee). 
+
+Any rate, thanks Life360 for taking us to Vegas!
+
+![New York, New York](new-york-new-york.jpg){: lqip='new-york-new-york.lqip.jpg' }
+
+![Luxor](luxor.jpg){: lqip='luxor.lqip.jpg' }
+
+