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The Last Update And Podcast Episode Before Vegas! And Our Most And Least Favorite Tourist Traps!

September 6, 2018 By Jeff 18 Comments

I just uploaded the 20th episode of The Jeff Kay Show podcast, over at Patreon. It went well, I think. Some of ’em go better than others. This one flowed, in some kind of highly amateurish way. The title: The Swirl Was Starting To Sag! And the description:

In this one, I power through several topics I had scribbled in my big notebook o’ nonsense. Including an update on the brand new Dairy Queen near our house, the reason I can’t return to the KFC near my job, a crazy man with a dog inside Costco, our son who likes to run up restaurant tabs, a man who’s reportedly never burped, and a Beatles-themed Whistle Dick of the Week. There might be other little tidbits in there too that I’m not remembering, but those are the “highlights.” Enjoy!

I’m getting mixed signals on the podcast. On one hand… almost no feedback. That indicates to me that it’s not very good. However… the Monday episodes are being downloaded in large number. So, I don’t know. I’m not sure what’s going on. In any case, I’m having a blast doing them. It’s fun, and I’m frankly surprised that I’ve been able to pull it off so far. Twenty episodes already! That’s crazy.

Anyway, this is a Thursday episode, available to Patreon supporters only. But there are five episodes available at all the normal podcast places. Including — as of just a few days ago — Spotify. They’re the most difficult, requiring a lot of hoops-jumping, etc. Even more than Apple, if you can believe it.

So, there you go. I’m loving the podcast so far. I hope you guys are getting some enjoyment out of it too.

This is my last update for a while. Toney and I leave on Sunday, for our big Las Vegas trip. I told her I’m only going to care about two things next week: Carrot Top and roulette. That’s a joke, of course. I have no idea how to play roulette and no interest in learning. If there’s any gambling at all, it’ll be twenty bucks in a slot machine. And even that probably won’t happen. With twenty bucks I could go full-all you can eat somewhere. Ya know?

And Carrot Top… I sneer at the man because he pulls a trunk full of props onto the stage. Right? And that screams hack. But the thing is, he’s a pro and I’d probably be laughing my ass off. I won’t be finding out, however. There will be no Carrot Top in my near future. You know, as far as I know.

No, it’ll be all about food and beverage, a day trip to the Grand Canyon,  the Neon Museum, a few other odds and ends, and some more food and beverage. Follow me on Instagram and I’ll keep you updated on our whereabouts. Should be fun!

When I lived and worked in California we had multiple “meetings” in Las Vegas, and always stayed at Treasure Island, for some reason. My boss’s boss LOVED going there and booked as many so-called meetings in the city as possible. After his best friend dropped dead at an early age, he took an early retirement and moved to his beloved Las Vegas. He planned to travel the world, and not squander his remaining time working. And… he was promptly murdered. At a Vegas car wash. And how’s that for an uplifting story?

But I’m hoping to understand his love for the place. I’ve been there multiple times, and it’s… interesting. But I never fully understood why he was so enamored. He’s literally one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met. I’m hoping to unlock the mystery next week. We’ll see what happens.

For a Question, I’d like to know your favorite tourist traps. You know, places that attract massive numbers of tourists… but are just super-enjoyable regardless? Myrtle Beach jumps to mind. It’s the definition of touristy, and hipsters turn their noses up at it, but I have a blast every time. Without exception. I’m hoping to add Las Vegas to the list, but it’s still undetermined. What do you have on this one?

Also, what were the most disappointing tourist destinations? The automatic answer for me: Niagara Falls. I was bored within the hour, and everything felt kinda… seedy. Help me out with this one too, if you’re so inclined.

And I’m going to call it a day here.

I’ll be back on September 17, with a new Surf Report update and a new podcast episode.

Follow me on Instagram for ridiculous travel updates, as well as my world famous #baseballweirdness photo series. And I use the term “world famous” loosely, very loosely.

Have a great weekend!

Now playing in the bunker
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Comments

  1. Ognir says

    September 6, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    That neon place seems cool.

    Reply
  2. Joe T says

    September 6, 2018 at 1:39 pm

    Favorites include Las Vegas and Ocean City, MD.

    Disappointment, Cape Cod. I was bored off of my ass there.

    Reply
  3. Tiff says

    September 6, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    Favorite tourist trap: anything with a ‘Mystery Hole’ type feel. All those optical illusions are more fun than they ought to be.

    Worst (though probably it’s on purpose): South of the Border. Yuck.

    Reply
  4. Root 66 says

    September 6, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    Favorite tourist trap: Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s kitschy for the most part, but we go there for the Smokys, which are amazingly beautiful!

    I agree with Niagara Falls, unless you go to the Canada side. It’s nice and clean and almost has an amusement park feel to it. The American side seemed run down and shady. But yes, there’s only so much water you can see going over a waterfall, and then you’re done!

    Reply
  5. madz1962 says

    September 6, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    NYC love it, hate it, will defend it and abhor it.

    Stonehenge disappointed me. It was roped off when I saw it.

    Reply
  6. Sebastian Valmont says

    September 6, 2018 at 10:16 pm

    Favorite tourist trap: anything Route 66 related. I’ve driven almost the entire length of I-40 and I-44, which runs almost entirely concurrently with the old Route 66. I love taking the long way along where 66 used to run, my favorite section between Kingman, AZ and Needles, CA where it is very windy.

    Least favorite: Times Square and Hollywood Boulevard are definitely my top answer, but a more obscure one would be Voodoo Doughnut in Downtown Portland (and several other locations now). Their donuts are vile, and you get hounded by drug addicts and alcoholics while waiting in the longass line. To top it off, they are cash only, and the rudeass grimepunks at the counter will make you use the ATM of shame, while staring off into space and working as slow as possible.

    In regards to the podcast, I personally love It and have a great time listening to it. I’ll be sure to leave more feedback when I listen to each episode.

    Reply
    • johnthebasket says

      September 7, 2018 at 1:29 pm

      I miss both Route 66 and Hoyt Axton, who was also headed for Las Vegas. jtb

      Reply
      • johnthebasket says

        September 7, 2018 at 2:54 pm

        We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.

        Reply
        • Miney says

          September 9, 2018 at 11:53 pm

          Bahahahahaha.
          Love me some Fear and Loathing.

          Reply
  7. Mookie325 says

    September 8, 2018 at 9:52 am

    Absolutely love Myrtle Beach, and the fact that the hipsters don’t go there makes it all the better. Plan to retire just outside of Myrtle in a couple years. And the key to Niagara Falls is, like Root 66 said, is to stay on the Canadian side and only stay for 2 days or so. The novelty of the crashing water going over the falls wears off pretty quick, but the town of Niagara Falls has a lot of quaint eateries and bars – kind of old-fashioned places you could hang out and know everyone. Then again, I haven’t been there in 20 years so I may be talking out of my arse.

    Reply
    • revashanes says

      September 9, 2018 at 7:52 am

      Keep your fingers crossed Mookie because we, Myrtle Beach, is about to get our arse kicked.

      Reply
      • Clueless says

        September 10, 2018 at 10:48 am

        Stay safe!

        Reply
      • Mookie325 says

        September 10, 2018 at 5:17 pm

        Hoping for the best. We’re coming down for the 2nd week of October. We were supposed to fly down two years ago when the last hurricane hit and we got delayed for two days. I was surprised at how well everything was restored in just two days. When Sandy hit up here we were screwed for weeks.

        Reply
      • revashanes says

        September 11, 2018 at 6:07 am

        We are going to hang for another 24 hrs then high tail it outta here. We are driving to the town of Florence to wait out Florence. What is that? Ironey, coincidence. Wilber the horse needs as many good vibes as you can send. He’s 7 miles inland with nowhere to go. Pat Robertson I hope you have a hot line to God.

        Reply
  8. druglife says

    September 8, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    Jeff, you should check out this place while in Vegas. https://www.battlefieldvegas.com/ would love to see ya on IG firing machine guns.

    Reply
  9. The Qweezy Mark says

    September 8, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    The Archbald Pothole. Everything else is a minor day trip, in comparison.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI9Ie7NSHnk

    Reply
  10. oldSidney says

    September 10, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    I hear the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
    gets crazy this time of year.

    Reply
  11. Lester Bangs says

    September 13, 2018 at 10:36 am

    Your old adage about all golfers liking women no longer holds water:

    https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2795461-golfer-tadd-fujikawa-comes-out-as-gay-1st-male-professional-to-do-so?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

    Reply

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