"I never realized it before," says Matt, watching the Statue of Liberty drift out of sight, "but I've always wanted to go on a cruise."

And really, that's the meat of it. You've got a rum punch sweating on the balcony, a blissfully open itinerary, and zero pressure to do anything except enjoy yourself--an easy task when you're on a ship as well-equipped as the Norwegian Epic.

Just look at this thing!

I'm still paying off sleep debt from my Las Vegas vacation. Between the electric-tinged twilight of the casinos and the uncertain daylight of Nevada's winter, I found myself waking at a different hour every day. Lucky for me, it didn't matter if I was up at 8am or 8pm. Vegas was true to its 24-hour nature. I could always find breakfast.

Breakfast in Las Vegas is a fantastic affair. You get lavish buffets, roadside diners, gourmet sit-downs--every option imaginable stuffed into a few sparkling miles of Strip. There's zero excuse for a cigarette and espresso breakfast. Not that you'd want an excuse.

I have a friend who says that when he gets married, he wants a pirate-themed wedding, where instead of marching down the aisle, the bride and groom walk a plank (note: he’s yet to find a bride taker). If he can find it anywhere, he can find it in Vegas, where wacky weddings are a whimsical nod to what’s otherwise a rather stuffy institution.

In 2007, Clark County received over 108,000 marriage applications. That number was expected to rise in 2008, and although weddings are a year-round business in Las Vegas, the month of March kicks off the “I do” high season in which Elvis and a whole host of other characters are ready and willing to officiate your Nevada nuptials.

I’m back from Las Vegas and am proud to say that I only lost $5. My Vegas experiences have varied widely, from the time my friends won big at the craps table and sprung for a hot tub suite, to the time I went with my parents to see Siegfried and Roy, to the time I was attending all-day work meetings. Through all these visits, though, one thing remains constant: this is a city that always outdoes itself, over and over again.

*Photo courtesy of Byron Lobos.

This weekend, I’m heading to Vegas. Sin City, baby. Neon lights and desert sights. It’s been a few years since I went last and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed. One thing that I know is different is that the Stardust Hotel is no longer. One of the Vegas originals, it was imploded earlier this week, leaving only Stardust memories.