- My family and I moved from Texas to Las Vegas in 2014.
- The major tourist destination has been a surprisingly great place to raise a family.
- Here in Vegas, we have access to great entertainment, outdoor adventures, and a major airport.
Before moving to Las Vegas in 2014, my wife and I had been wrestling with the idea of leaving Texas for a while. We spent 30 years in Beaumont, a small city in the southeast part of the state, and craved a fresh start.
So, we set our sights on Vegas, a place we had vacationed to and enjoyed. It seemed like a bold change, and the city's energy was infectious every time we visited.
Making the move wasn't easy. We didn't have a safety net of friends or family in Vegas, and our two children had to stay behind with their grandparents for a bit to finish their school year. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved.
But now, more than a decade after our move, we can confidently say that our decision to uproot our family was the best thing we've ever done.
Here are just a few of the many reasons we enjoy living in Sin City.
Outdoor adventures are surprisingly easy to find in Vegas
When friends ask about our lives in Vegas, most are surprised at how often we go on outdoor adventures.
Of course, there were plenty of opportunities to get outside in Texas, but very few of the major destinations were near our home.
Here in Vegas, however, we have access to plenty of national forests, state parks, and national parks. For example, in 45 minutes, we can visit Valley of Fire State Park, home to 40,000 acres of bright-red Aztec sandstone.
And in 15 minutes, we can travel to Red Rock Canyon, a gorgeous conservation area with a 13-mile scenic drive, rock climbing, and hiking trails.
Las Vegas is an excellent base for travel
Before our move, I never realized how strategically placed Sin City is for road trips. While living in Beaumont, driving 11 hours west meant we were still in Texas.
Now, we spend lots of time in cities like Phoenix, San Diego, and Los Angeles, all within a few hours' drive from home.
Living close to Harry Reid International Airport has been another incredible convenience, with affordable flights to destinations across the West Coast, Mexico, and Hawaii.
Back in Texas, with only a small regional airport in our immediate area, traveling out of state was a chore. Sure, we could head further east along the Gulf Coast, but it was more of the same landscape.
World-class entertainment is always minutes away
The closest entertainment options in Beaumont were typically a two-hour drive to Houston. Although artists sometimes swung through, we often found ourselves without any viable concert options.
Now that we're in Vegas, however, we're spoiled when it comes to entertainment. When the best musical acts in the world announce a tour, we typically don't have to hope they include our city.
Vegas also has several major-league sports teams and has hosted massive events like the Super Bowl, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, NASCAR races, and rodeo championships.
Away from the Strip, the Las Vegas suburbs have a small-town vibe
When I lived in Texas, I thought a city like Las Vegas would be sensory overload and a terrible place to raise a family.
It's true that if you spend most of your time on the Strip, the crowds, noise, and constant barrage of lights and music can lead to overstimulation.
However, when you step away from those areas, you discover that Las Vegas and its suburbs have small-town charm. For example, throughout the year, we enjoy community Christmas parades, Fourth of July celebrations, and cultural festivals scattered across the city.
We've found it easy to carve out a peaceful but fulfilling life here, a few minutes from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
It may not be perfect, but for anyone willing to look beyond the bright lights, the city shows itself as a diverse and welcoming community.
