[Van Hagar]

Alaska is number one on my list as well, and me and the missus are going next summer to celebrate, as I am retiring next January.
  If you’ve never been to New Orleans, I would recommend it to anyone. Vegas is crazy, but in a sort of corporate way. New Orleans—-them folks just plain crazy! On my first visit, walking down Bourbon Street on just a regular June Tuesday afternoon, I saw more craziness than I had seen in a lifetime. It’s not for the faint of heart.

You've got THAT right!!!  First time I walked down Bourbon Street, I was slack jawed and just staring.  Loud, obnoxious and drunk!!  But I never saw the slightest bit of confrontation or fighting.  I was lucky.  I was also fascinated.  And the food!!!  

Congratulations on your retirement.  I sincerely hope that you enjoy your retirement as much as I do.  Hope you post pictures here of your Alaskan trip!!

I've been to Vegas twice.  Last time was because I was traveling with folks who had never been.  I'm glad to have seen Vegas but have NO desire to see it again.

Thanks so much! I’m sure I will enjoy retirement, my wife looooves it, she put in 30 years as a certified pharmacy tech.
Let me tell you two true stories that iliustrates to me how crazy New Orleans is. When Mrs. Van Hagar and I got there we checked into the Hotel Dauphne which is in the French Quarter, a couple of streets north of Bourbon St. The desk clerk was giving us directions, and she said “anywhere from here south to the Mississippi River you should be fine. Anything behind us to the north, don’t go that way after dark, you might get murdered.” And she didn’t have a hint of a smile, she was dead serious.
Then, within 30 seconds of walking hand-in-hand onto Bourbon St. in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon we hear ‘Hey!’ We looked to our right, and in front of one of the hurricane bars, is a young lady wearing a tiny string bikini. “You all interested in a threesome?” I mean, I’m sure a lot of cash would have been involved, all of it mine. Unbelievable. Welcome to New Orleans.


As for Vegas, on my one time there we stayed at Treasure Island. Coming back to the room one afternoon, walking through the lobby, I hear “Hey, Van Hagar!” To say that freaked me out would be an understatement. But when I looked around it was the brother of one of my son’s high school baseball teammates, just on a vacation with his wife and her family. I mean what are the odds of running into someone from your own small town in a huge city crawling with tourists? It’s always seemed incredible to me.