18 Best Things to Do in Las Vegas, NV – Road Affair

Las Vegas is a type of locations that one way or the other manages to be precisely what you count on and nonetheless catch you off guard. I got here for the neon lights, casinos, and over-the-high lodges, however I left realizing how rather more the town has to supply. From world-class reveals and putting structure to unforgettable meals, desert adventures, and hidden native gems, Vegas consistently reinvents itself.

Whether it’s your first time strolling the Strip or your fifth return, Las Vegas rewards curiosity. In this information, I’ll stroll you thru the very best issues to do in Las Vegas, one attraction at a time, sharing what stood out to me, what shocked me, and the way to expertise every cease like a savvy traveler relatively than a rushed vacationer.

Let us begin with absolutely the should sees.

Try Your Luck Gambling

Let us get the obvious Las Vegas expertise out of the way in which. Gambling is woven into the material of the town, and whether or not you might be inserting your first-ever wager otherwise you already know your manner round a desk, Vegas makes it accessible, thrilling, and surprisingly social.

One of the most important misconceptions about playing in Las Vegas is that you just want to be an knowledgeable or threat some huge cash to get pleasure from it. In actuality, many casinos cater to inexperienced persons with decrease minimal bets, pleasant sellers, and even free playing classes. These courses are a implausible manner to study the foundations, perceive fundamental technique, and get snug earlier than placing actual cash on the road.

During my go to, these classes felt genuinely low-stress and pleasant. They are sometimes held proper on the on line casino flooring throughout quieter hours, the place you possibly can ask questions, observe arms, and watch demonstrations with out feeling rushed into inserting a wager.

Here are a number of the greatest locations in Las Vegas providing free playing courses:

Circus Circus

• Blackjack — Daily at 10:30 a.m.
• Roulette — Daily at 11:30 a.m.
• Craps — Daily at 12:30 p.m.

Golden Nugget

• Poker — Daily at 10 a.m.
• Craps — Daily at 10 a.m.
• Pai Gow — Daily at 10:30 a.m.
• Roulette — Daily at 11:30 a.m.
• Blackjack — Daily at midday

The Venetian

• Craps — Monday by means of Friday at 11 a.m.

South Point

• Craps — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:15 a.m.
• Craps — Saturdays at 11:15 a.m.

The STRAT

• Poker — Saturdays & Sundays from 8–9 a.m.

Even if you don’t plan to gamble a lot, strolling by means of the on line casino flooring is an expertise in itself. Each on line casino has its personal character, from old-fashioned glamour to trendy luxurious, and the vitality is fixed regardless of the time of day. If you do determine to play, set a finances, think about it leisure relatively than an funding, and benefit from the uniquely Las Vegas thrill of all of it.

Take a Picture on the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

No first journey to Las Vegas feels full with no cease on the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas signal. It is likely one of the most recognizable landmarks in the town, and seeing it in particular person one way or the other makes the journey really feel official.

The signal is situated on the southern finish of the Strip, with a small parking zone and a clearly marked walkway that makes it simple to entry. There is normally a brief line, but it surely strikes shortly, and persons are typically completely satisfied to take pictures for each other. 

Early morning is the very best time to go to if you need fewer crowds and softer mild for pictures. Sunset and nighttime are additionally common, particularly if you need the glow of the neon in opposition to the darkish sky, however count on to wait a bit longer.

Watch the Fountains of Bellagio and Wander the Conservatory

Few sights in Las Vegas are as immediately recognizable because the Fountains of Bellagio, and experiencing them in particular person really lives up to the repute. Set on a large lake proper alongside the Strip, the fountains carry out choreographed water reveals all through the day and evening, set to music starting from classical to pop. Each efficiency feels barely completely different, and regardless of what number of occasions I finished to watch, it by no means felt repetitive.

The better part is that the present is totally free. You can watch from the sidewalk, from throughout the road, and even whereas strolling by and abruptly discovering your self pulled in by the music and motion. At evening, with the Strip glowing behind it, the fountains grow to be one of the crucial photogenic sights in the town.

Right contained in the Bellagio, the Conservatory gives a quieter however equally spectacular expertise. This indoor backyard is remodeled seasonally with elaborate floral shows, sculptures, and themed installations. Every element feels intentional, from the colours to the scent of recent flowers, and it’s onerous to imagine the house is redesigned a number of occasions a 12 months.

After the vitality of the Strip exterior, wandering by means of the Conservatory feels nearly meditative. That makes it a simple cease whether or not you might be passing by means of or deliberately constructing a Bellagio go to round it.

Together, the fountains and the Conservatory showcase two sides of Las Vegas. One is daring, dramatic, and meant to be seen by everybody. The different is refined, inventive, and greatest loved slowly. Both are unforgettable.

Experience Iconic Vegas Attractions

Some Las Vegas points of interest are well-known for a purpose. Scattered alongside the Strip, these experiences are those individuals image after they think about the town, massive views, over-the-high themes, and a mixture of thrills and spectacle. I attempted a handful of probably the most iconic ones, and every supplied a unique manner to see Las Vegas from a special approach.

The Gondola Rides at The Venetian had been way more stress-free than I anticipated in the center of such a busy space. Floating by means of the canals felt like stepping out of Vegas for a second with out ever leaving it. It is undeniably touristy, however in a manner that’s simple to get pleasure from.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck at Paris Las Vegas gave me one among my favourite views of the Strip. It is excessive sufficient to take every little thing in with out feeling overwhelming, and looking out down on the Bellagio fountains from above is definitely worth the journey alone. Nighttime is very magical when the lights stretch endlessly in each instructions.
→ Get tickets for the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck here

If you might be in the temper for one thing sooner, the Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York delivers immediate adrenaline. The coaster races across the lodge with sharp turns and large drops, and the truth that it’s proper on the Strip one way or the other makes it much more enjoyable. You can hear riders screaming lengthy earlier than you see the observe.
→ Get tickets for the Big Apple Coaster here

The High Roller is the exact opposite expertise, sluggish, clean, and all concerning the view. Riding it because the solar goes down was a spotlight for me. Watching the town mild up steadily beneath offers you an actual sense of how huge and shiny Las Vegas really is.
→ Get tickets for the High Roller here

Then there’s the STRAT Tower, which isn’t for the faint of coronary heart. The remark deck alone gives unimaginable panoramic views, however if you need to push your self, the fun rides and the SkyJump take issues to one other stage. Standing on the edge and looking out straight down is a type of moments you’ll both love or swear you’ll by no means do once more.
→ Get tickets for the STRAT Tower Observation Deck here

Recommendation: Make probably the most of your Las Vegas journey with the Go City Las Vegas Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass. Enjoy skip-the-line entry to high points of interest just like the High Roller, Eiffel Tower Observation Deck, Madame Tussauds, and extra—all at one discounted value. Whether you’re a primary-timer or a returning customer, this go helps you lower your expenses, plan your itinerary simply, and expertise extra with out the effort of shopping for particular person tickets.

Explore the Fremont Street Experience

If the Las Vegas Strip feels polished and theatrical, Fremont Street feels uncooked, loud, and unapologetically enjoyable. This is downtown Las Vegas at its most energetic, and it shortly turned one among my favourite spots to wander with no plan, simply rating among the many greatest locations to go to in Las Vegas.

The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian-solely stretch coated by the large LED Canopy, which lights up with dazzling visuals and music reveals all through the evening. Standing beneath it, surrounded by flashing neon and previous-faculty on line casino indicators, looks like stepping right into a dwelling time capsule that one way or the other nonetheless feels trendy.

One of the very best methods to expertise Fremont Street is to merely stand again and take all of it in. Street performers, musicians, zipliners flying overhead on the enduring SlotZilla, and guests from each stroll of life create a nonstop spectacle. You may stand in one spot for 20 minutes and by no means see the identical factor twice.

Free dwell music is one other main draw. Multiple phases host bands and performers each evening, and the vibe ranges from traditional rock to pop to digital. It is straightforward to bounce from stage to stage with a drink in hand and stumble right into a present you didn’t count on to get pleasure from as a lot as you probably did.

Fremont Street can also be dwelling to a number of the metropolis’s most historic casinos, like Golden Nugget, alongside newer additions that preserve the world feeling recent. Whether you might be there for the lights, the music, or the sheer chaos of all of it, Fremont Street delivers a model of Las Vegas that’s inconceivable to ignore.

Step Into Another World at AREA15

AREA15 looks like Las Vegas determined to lean totally into the bizarre, immersive, and futuristic and I imply that in the absolute best manner. Located simply off the Strip, this huge leisure advanced is designed for guests who need to be a part of the motion relatively than simply observe it.

The headline attraction right here is Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, an interactive artwork set up disguised as a surreal grocery retailer. At first look it appears playful and odd, however when you begin exploring, hidden passages, secret storylines, and thoughts bending rooms open up. You can spend an hour right here or lose half a day with out realizing it. Even if you don’t observe the narrative, merely wandering by means of the house is definitely worth the go to.

For thrill seekers and horror followers, Universal Horror Unleashed delivers a very completely different form of immersion. This attraction brings cinematic scares to life with detailed units, actors, and atmospheric results that make you’re feeling like you might be inside a horror film. It is intense, polished, and never for the faint of coronary heart.

Fans of motion motion pictures shouldn’t miss the John Wick Experience, which drops you into the glossy, harmful world of the movies. The consideration to element is spectacular, and the interactive components make it really feel extra like a task enjoying mission than a standard attraction.

Even exterior of those headliners, AREA15 is full of bars, artwork installations, and surprising surprises. It is the form of place the place you go in planning to see one factor and find yourself staying far longer than anticipated. If you might be on the lookout for one thing that feels utterly completely different from traditional Vegas, AREA15 stands out as one of the crucial distinctive points of interest in Las Vegas.

Experience the Sphere

The Sphere is not like anything in Las Vegas, and it has shortly grow to be one of the crucial talked-about points of interest in Las Vegas. Seeing it from the skin is spectacular sufficient, however stepping inside utterly adjustments how you consider dwell leisure.

Inside, the display screen wraps round you in each route, creating an immersive expertise that feels extra like stepping right into a world than watching a present. Concerts listed here are elevated by the visuals, with artists just like the Backstreet Boys performing in opposition to huge, cinematic backdrops that transfer and shift across the viewers. Even in case you are not usually drawn to area reveals, the setting alone makes it value contemplating.

Beyond concert events, the Sphere additionally hosts immersive productions designed particularly for the house. Shows like The Wizard of Oz reimagine acquainted tales utilizing the Sphere’s expertise, pulling you into scenes in a manner a standard theater by no means may. The sound, visuals, and scale work collectively to create one thing that feels really subsequent stage.

If you might be selecting one trendy, massive-ticket expertise in Las Vegas, the Sphere is a simple advice.

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Catch a Live Show

Las Vegas is a present metropolis at coronary heart. No matter your style or finances, there’s nearly all the time one thing occurring on a stage, in a theater, and even in the center of a on line casino flooring. Catching not less than one present throughout your journey feels much less like an optionally available exercise and extra like a part of the Vegas expertise.

For massive, ticketed productions, the town delivers on the highest stage. Cirque du Soleil stays a standout, mixing acrobatics, music, and theatrical storytelling in ways in which really feel uniquely Las Vegas. Blue Man Group gives excessive vitality, viewers interplay, and a way of managed chaos that makes each efficiency really feel alive. If you like comedy, Carrot Top is a traditional Vegas staple, whereas Absinthe pushes boundaries with its mixture of circus acts, grownup humor, and an intimate, something may occur ambiance. For followers of magic, David Copperfield amazes audiences with jaw-dropping illusions and interactive methods.

What shocked me most, although, was what number of genuinely entertaining reveals are utterly free. These are good if you need a break from strolling the Strip or try to preserve prices down with out sacrificing enjoyable.

The Dirty at 12:30 Comedy Show at South Point Casino is a free present that lives up to its identify. It is quick paced, uncensored, and undoubtedly not for delicate ears. At Circus Circus, the Free Circus Acts characteristic dwell acrobatics and household pleasant performances that really feel like a traditional Vegas throwback. For one thing really surprising, the Mermaid Show on the Silverton Aquarium can also be free and has performers swimming alongside fish in a large tank, mixing fantasy and spectacle in a manner solely Vegas may pull off.

Whether you splurge on a headline act or stumble right into a free efficiency, reveals are one of many best methods to perceive why Las Vegas is named the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Explore Vegas Through Its Museums

Las Vegas could also be identified for its reveals and casinos, however its museums inform a number of the metropolis’s most attention-grabbing tales. From classic neon indicators to organized crime historical past and arms-on nostalgia, Vegas museums supply a slower, extra considerate manner to expertise the town with out dropping its sense of enjoyable.

The Neon Museum is a should. This outside assortment of restored and unrestored on line casino indicators looks like strolling by means of the town’s visible historical past. Seeing these huge neon icons up shut offers context to how Las Vegas reinvented itself over the a long time, and the nighttime expertise is very memorable when the indicators are lit.

For a deeper dive into the town’s previous, the Mob Museum explores the function organized crime performed in shaping Las Vegas. The reveals are participating and interactive, and the storytelling strikes an ideal stability between historical past and leisure. Even in case you are not normally a museum particular person, this one pulls you in shortly.

On the lighter facet, the Pinball Hall of Fame is pure pleasure. Packed wall to wall with classic and trendy pinball machines, it feels extra like a retro arcade than a standard museum. Most machines are nonetheless practical, and some {dollars} can simply flip into an hour of nostalgic enjoyable.

Beyond these standouts, Las Vegas is filled with smaller, artistic museums value exploring. The Museum of Illusions leans into optical methods and interactive photograph alternatives, whereas the Arte Museum blends digital artwork, sound, and scent into an immersive expertise. And these are only a few examples, new reveals appear to seem nearly as usually as new lodges.

If you want a break from the Strip however nonetheless need one thing uniquely Vegas, the town’s museums ship historical past, creativity, and surprises, making them a number of the most underrated issues to do in Las Vegas.

Test Your Skills in an Escape Room

Escape rooms in Las Vegas go far past fixing puzzles in a locked room. Many of them are constructed like film units, with excessive manufacturing worth, particular results, and storylines that really feel totally immersive. Even when you have performed escape rooms elsewhere, the manufacturing high quality right here makes them really feel way more cinematic.

If you might be on the lookout for experiences you possibly can solely discover right here, begin with Escape IT, SAW Escape, and Escape Blair Witch. These points of interest lean closely into horror and suspense, with detailed units, dwell actors, and cinematic pacing. They really feel much less like conventional escape rooms and extra like interactive thrill experiences. You don’t want to be a hardcore horror fan to get pleasure from them, however you need to count on rigidity, bounce scares, and moments that make your coronary heart race.

For one thing extra traditional and puzzle centered, The Escape Game is a strong selection. It gives a number of themed rooms with intelligent design and polished gameplay, related to what you may discover in different main cities. While these rooms aren’t unique to Las Vegas, they’re properly executed and an ideal possibility if you need a problem with out the depth of horror components.

Escape rooms make an ideal indoor exercise through the warmth of the day. If you need an expertise that feels interactive, memorable, and distinctly Vegas, the town’s escape rooms are properly value your time.

Party at a Vegas Pool

Pool events are an enormous a part of the Las Vegas expertise, particularly through the hotter months. What appears like a easy lodge pool through the day usually transforms right into a full-scale get together with DJs, cabanas, drinks flowing, and a crowd that treats the afternoon like a nightclub in swimwear.

Some of probably the most properly-identified pool events happen at resorts like Encore Beach Club, Sapphire Pool, Tao Beach, and Daylight Beach Club. Each has its personal vibe, starting from excessive-vitality dance flooring to extra relaxed however nonetheless energetic scenes. Music is entrance and heart, and it’s not unusual to see massive-identify DJs performing daytime units.

If full-on partying just isn’t your factor, many Vegas swimming pools nonetheless supply a social ambiance with out the membership-stage depth. These generally is a nice possibility if you need music, cocktails, and sunshine with out the crowds and chaos.

Whether you go all out with a cabana or simply cease by to expertise the scene for an hour, Vegas pool events are a enjoyable and really memorable manner to spend a day in the desert.

Dine at World-Class Restaurants

Las Vegas shocked me greater than something when it got here to meals. The metropolis is full of world-class eating places, many run by celeb cooks, and consuming properly right here doesn’t really feel like a bonus. It looks like a part of the primary occasion.

Some of probably the most talked-about eating experiences embrace Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, the place the ambiance is simply as dramatic because the meals, and Joël Robuchon, which gives a sublime, positive-eating expertise that’s usually thought of top-of-the-line eating places in the town. For one thing trendy and daring, é by José Andrés delivers a artistic tasting menu the place every course arrives with its personal story and presentation.

If you might be on the lookout for one thing barely extra approachable however nonetheless distinctive, Beauty & Essex combines upscale dishes with a enjoyable, energetic setting, whereas Best Friend blends Korean flavors with an informal, excessive-vitality vibe that feels very Vegas. SW Steakhouse is a traditional selection for steak lovers, particularly with its view of the Lake of Dreams present at Wynn.

In Las Vegas, eating isn’t just about consuming. It is one other type of leisure, and one that’s properly value constructing into your journey.

Escape the City at Red Rock Canyon

Just a brief drive from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon looks like a very completely different world and is usually thought of top-of-the-line locations to go to in Las Vegas for outside lovers. The neon lights fade away and are changed by towering pink sandstone cliffs, sweeping desert views, and a quiet that makes you overlook how shut you might be to Las Vegas. It is the form of place the place you possibly can decelerate, breathe, and truly discover the desert round you.

The park is ideal for mountaineering, scenic drives, or simply stopping to take in the view. Trails vary from simple strolls to tougher climbs, so it really works whether or not you desire a fast nature break or a full outside journey. Even if mountaineering isn’t your factor, the scenic drive alone is value it, particularly in the early morning or late afternoon when the rocks glow in each shade of pink and gold.

If you do need to hit the paths, the Calico Tanks Trail is the preferred for a purpose. This 2.4-mile average hike normally takes about two hours and winds by means of colourful rock formations earlier than ending at a pure water basin with panoramic views of the encircling cliffs and even the Strip in the gap. It is difficult sufficient to really feel like an accomplishment however nonetheless accessible for many guests.

Spending just a few hours right here adjustments the tempo of your complete day. The trails, open views, and regular desert quiet make it simple to decelerate and keep longer than you deliberate.

Marvel on the Hoover Dam

Just a brief drive from Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is likely one of the most spectacular feats of engineering in the United States. Spanning the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, it’s huge, dramatic, and surprisingly accessible for guests. Even in case you are not normally drawn to structure or engineering, seeing it in particular person is awe-inspiring.

The dam gives a number of methods to discover. Walking throughout the highest offers unimaginable views of Lake Mead on one facet and the river gorge on the opposite. The customer heart offers reveals concerning the dam’s development, historical past, and influence, whereas guided excursions enable you to see areas which can be off-limits to informal guests, together with the large turbine halls inside.

Visiting Hoover Dam is a simple day journey from Las Vegas and gives a change of tempo from the town. It is a component historical past lesson, half outside journey, and half jaw-dropping view—an iconic cease that provides a unique perspective on the area and its exceptional human achievements.

Recommendation: Don’t have a automobile? No worries — this guided Hoover Dam tour consists of spherical-journey transportation to and from Las Vegas and a educated information who shares the historical past, engineering, and enjoyable details alongside the way in which.

Take a Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon

If you might be on the lookout for a once-in-a-lifetime expertise from Las Vegas, a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon is tough to beat. It is likely one of the most unforgettable methods to see the size of the desert panorama, and it turns what could be a protracted drive right into a clean, scenic journey.

Flying out of Las Vegas, the views change shortly. The Strip shrinks into the gap, the desert opens up, and abruptly you might be hovering over rugged terrain, winding rivers, and dramatic rock formations. Seeing the Grand Canyon from the air offers you a way of its measurement that pictures merely can not seize.

Many excursions embrace a touchdown inside or close to the canyon, which provides you time to step out, take pictures, and really take in the environment. Everything feels larger and quieter as soon as you might be there, and the distinction with Las Vegas makes the expertise much more putting.

If a Grand Canyon helicopter tour looks like an excessive amount of of a splurge, there’s a nice different. Many helicopter corporations additionally supply shorter night flights over Las Vegas. These excursions fly over the Strip after darkish, when the town lights are at their brightest, and nonetheless provide the thrill of using in a helicopter with out the excessive price ticket.

Whether you select the Grand Canyon or a nighttime Strip flight, seeing Las Vegas and the encircling panorama from the air is an expertise you’ll not overlook.

Kayak to Emerald Cave

Kayaking to Emerald Cave was one of the crucial unexpectedly peaceable experiences of my whole journey. After days of shiny lights and fixed vitality, being out on the water felt like hitting a reset button. Out on the water, the one sounds are paddles dipping into the river and the wind shifting by means of the canyon partitions.

Emerald Cave itself is a small however putting spot, named for the vivid inexperienced glow created when daylight hits the water excellent. The paddle to get to Emerald Cave is as rewarding because the vacation spot. You begin on calm water with desert surroundings round you, then slip right into a slender canyon the place towering rock partitions create a serene, nearly otherworldly ambiance.

If you desire a stress-free expertise, I extremely advocate booking a guided kayak tour. These excursions sometimes embrace transportation, tools, and a information who shares attention-grabbing particulars concerning the space whereas conserving the tempo relaxed. This is a superb possibility if it’s your first time kayaking or for those who choose having every little thing dealt with for you.

If you might be extra unbiased, you too can rent kayaks and go on your own. This possibility offers you extra flexibility with timing and the way lengthy you spend on the water. As lengthy as you might be snug navigating and planning your route, it’s a rewarding manner to expertise the world at your personal tempo.

Fire Machine Guns or Drive a Tank

Las Vegas has a manner of turning excessive experiences into one thing surprisingly accessible, and this is likely one of the wildest examples. If you might be on the lookout for an adrenaline rush that you just really can not replicate wherever else, taking pictures machine weapons and even driving a tank undoubtedly qualifies.

At Machine Guns Vegas, the expertise is designed like a lounge relatively than a firing vary. This is the one place in Las Vegas the place you possibly can fireplace the identical highly effective weapons utilized by elite army models just like the SEALs and Delta Force, all beneath the supervision of skilled professionals. Everything is tightly managed, and the employees walks you thru the expertise step-by-step, which makes it approachable even when you have by no means touched a firearm earlier than.

For one thing even larger, Battlefield Vegas takes issues to one other stage. With over 1,000 completely different weapons methods obtainable, together with uncommon and historic firearms, the sheer scale of the gathering is spectacular. What actually units it aside, although, is the power to drive and fireplace an actual tank. Yes, an precise tank. It is loud, highly effective, and utterly excessive in a manner that solely Las Vegas may make potential.

This just isn’t an expertise for everybody, however for these inquisitive about army {hardware} or on the lookout for an unforgettable adrenaline hit, it’s onerous to discover something extra excessive. Like many Vegas points of interest, it leans totally into extra, and that’s precisely what makes it memorable.

Say Your Vows on the Graceland Wedding Chapel

Las Vegas is known for its weddings, and no expertise captures the town’s playful facet fairly just like the Graceland Wedding Chapel. Whether you might be getting married for the primary time, renewing your vows, or simply celebrating a enjoyable second, this chapel gives a ceremony that feels uniquely Vegas.

For followers of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis-themed weddings are the primary attraction. You can trade vows with an Elvis impersonator officiating, full with music, costumes, and loads of photograph alternatives. It is lighthearted, memorable, and fully excessive in one of the best ways.

If Elvis just isn’t your fashion, the chapel additionally gives conventional weddings and vow renewals. The employees is skilled at making the ceremony clean and particular, whether or not you need one thing intimate or a extra elaborate celebration. No matter which possibility you select, the expertise is fast, handy, and distinctly Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is way over casinos and nightlife. From outside adventures and immersive points of interest to world-class eating and unforgettable reveals, the very best issues to do in Las Vegas cowl each form of traveler and each fashion of journey.

What makes the town particular is how simple it’s to combine the enduring with the surprising. You can plan round well-known landmarks or uncover one thing new just by saying sure in the second. No two visits ever really feel the identical, and that’s what retains individuals coming again.

However you select to expertise it, Las Vegas has a manner of turning even a brief journey into a long-lasting reminiscence.