Las Vegas Off the Beaten Strip

What is it like to live in Las Vegas as a local? Tourists flock to the Entertainment Capital of the World, bedazzled by the sparkling lights of Sin City, its promises of quick fortunes, and spectacular shows. We are no exception since it’s such an easy weekend getaway from the San Francisco Bay Area, just under a 1.5-hour flight, or under eight hours by car. We’ve done both, but never ventured off the Strip. So, enjoy this guest post by our friend Tom “Frilock” Tozier, who lived in Las Vegas for four years and is happy to share some of his favorite places in Las Vegas as a local! 

I wouldn’t say I’ve led a nomadic life, but over the last twenty or so years, I lived in Pasadena, California, moved north to Santa Cruz, California, from there to Boulder, Colorado, and then to Denver. And for four years, I “commuted” between Denver and Las Vegas, Nevada. These days I’ve pretty much settled down in Denver… for now.

It’s some of the experiences in Las Vegas I want to share. During those four years in Vegas, I wasn’t a tourist, I was a “local”. Living in Las Vegas is like no other place in the world. I must tell you there is a side to Las Vegas that not many visitors see or even think about. Before I moved there when I was a visitor, I never gave Vegas a thought beyond the casinos. I did contribute a lot of my money to the local economy though, way too much money!

Living in Vegas is pretty much like living in any large city — the population is almost 700,000. And like anyplace you shop for groceries, household goods, have a mortgage or rent, and all those typical expenses we all pay, one cool thing… there is no State Income Tax. And unless you worked at a casino or hotel, you wouldn’t usually go to the Strip or Downtown very often, if at all. So where do the locals go, what do they do? Here are a couple of places where locals go to have some fun, eat great food, and you can check them out too.

It’s… Fantastik!

First, do you like Swap Meets, Flea Markets, and Outlets? Well, Vegas has a fantastic indoor Swap Meet called Fantastic! that locals love.

This place is huge, over 150,000 square feet! There are literally hundreds of booths where merchants sell unusual and unique items, from Artwork to Zebra Dolls and everything in between. It also has a number of merchants that use their space as an outlet market for stock overflow. You never know what deals you may find. There is such a variety of products and services you’re bound to find just the right thing. Here’s a good example of diverse offerings — there is a computer repair booth, and this tech brought my dead Mac back to life!

Throughout the place are many food booths. My favorite is a little space way in the back, no name just an “older” couple that sells Gyros and some other Greek specialties. I had the most amazing, best Gyro I have ever eaten there. The real deal! In fact, while he makes the Gyro, his wife makes fresh tzatziki sauce! I found a great place for Thai beef jerky in Fantastic too.

Located at 1717 S. Decatur Blvd. on the corner of Decatur and Oakey, Fantastic is only open Friday thru Sunday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. There is an entrance fee of $1.00 for adults. That’s right, one dollar! Seniors get in half price .50, and Kids are free!
Now I’d buy that for a dollar!

Happy Hour like a Local

Where do locals of Las Vegas go for a Happy Hour? On the other side of town, about 2 miles east of Las Vegas Blvd. (the Strip), there is a somewhat hidden gem of a Mexican restaurant — Tacos & Beer (located at 3900 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas). For a few years I worked at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), which was just a mile or so down the road from Tacos & Beer, it was (and probably still is) the campus after-work happy hour destination.

That says a lot for a town that literally has hundreds of bars, pubs, and watering holes; and why is Tacos & Beer our happy hour home — they make some of the best tacos you can get this side of Mexico City. Pair those tacos with an ever-changing offering of micro and specialty beers at “happy hour” prices, and this is one of the best bets in town, for food and drink that is.

Along with the expected Carne Asada, Pork Al Pastor, Carnitas, and such, they have some interesting fillings like:
Puerco Verde
Chicken Tinga
Beer Battered Avocado
Costra De Queso Con Barbacoa
Vegan Korean BBQ

And the last time I was there, they had over 75 beers available. 36 of Rare and Limited brews, many of which are on tap.

They don’t just do Tacos, there is a whole menu of Mexican fare, and it’s all good. This is a good neighborhood Mexican restaurant where you can have some fun, watch the game on the semi-big screens, and hang with fans. It’s not typical Vegas: no video poker at the bar, and no craziness that will be there when you leave Tacos & Beer.

Ready to experience more of Las Vegas like a local? Ask questions, will be happy to answer! All images in this post are Tom’s own or public domain images.

Hope you enjoyed reading Tom’s guest post! For more Las Vegas and other weekend trip ideas from the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Viva Las Vegas: A Whirlwind Weekend of Neon Lights, High Stakes, and White Castle Bliss! , Bespelled by the Oregon Coast — Road Trip, Solvang, CA: Town of Sweet-Tooth Vikings, 3 Memorable Days in Zion National Park, Utah, to start. Comment below and subscribe to our blog!