The bed was clean, and so was the toilet, but I would be lying if I said I'd miss the Rio. It served as a good place to stay while experiencing Las Vegas for the first time. Still, between the poor check-in experience, lack of housekeeping, indoor smoking, and overall dead mall vibe kept alive by blinking slot machines and the haunting stares of posterized Penn and Teller in every direction, I was ready for a change of scenery. I had one more night left to go, so I straightened my bed to make it feel a little less lived in when I returned later that evening. The experience was a positive one overall—I know it is a place Ashley wouldn't pay to stay in, and having that experience despite our relationship is important to me. When I return to Vegas in the future, though, I'll probably try somewhere else.

This is the final installment of ‘A Trip to Vegas.’ If you missed the previous entries, here are Days 1, 2, and 3.

Justin was sitting down in the lobby in his ripped faux leather chair, his cellphone up to his ear with Annie on the other end of the line. Travis joined shortly thereafter, though he'd be leaving to fly back to Cincinnati within a few hours. We had him for enough time to get a hearty breakfast at Peppermill on the Strip.

Our arrival at Peppermill couldn't have been timed any better. As soon as we put our name in for a table, the breakfast rush hit the door, queueing many ravenous tourists in front of the hostess podium. As we waited alongside the hungry horde, I took in the scene around me.

The neon jungle aesthetic of Peppermill was a delight. From the plush banquettes to the stained glass flamingo lampshades, everything about Peppermill looked like it was straight out of 1994-trying-to-evoke-1954. Behind me was what looked to be an empty bar and lounge drenched in magenta and purple light. I imagined it would be open later in the day.

After sitting down, a waitress brought by free baked goods. I had the best lemon blueberry muffin of my life, followed by an excellent breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and black coffee. Another lady swung by the table and took our photo, which she then returned to give to us later. We'd been taking photos all week, but this was the first time someone outside our party gave us the chance to be in a photo together.

We hadn't really done proper breakfast any of the other days, instead opting to get a scone at Whole Foods or a quick bite at a coffee shop, so Peppermill stood out in my mind as a fantastic treat. It was a perfect way to end our time with Travis, who dropped us off at the hotel before heading to the airport.

Without a vehicle to get us around, our mobility was limited. Wanting to process our photos, I walked around the Rio trying to find a place where Justin and I could sit, have a drink, and go through everything with our laptops. It being Vegas, however, every barstool is accompanied by a counter-mounted video game, and none of the restaurants had a place for us. We decided to meet back up later for one last attraction.

After a few hours and a brief nap, we hailed a Lyft and directed it toward the Neon Museum in the northern part of downtown. Our driver wordlessly dropped us off, and we paid admission to go in.

The bad thing about the Neon Museum is that you aren't allowed to bring a bag or a proper camera inside. With phones being the exception, no photography is permitted within the museum, which honestly dampened the experience for us. I would've loved to have photos from my time there on my Z6 or film, but I had to settle for iPhone photos instead. We had to check our bags at the front desk before heading inside.

Despite the unreasonable photography policy, the museum is worth seeing if you appreciate that classic Las Vegas aesthetic. Unlike Cincinnati's sign museum, though, it's all outdoors (called The Boneyard), and you're directly in the sun depending on the time of day.

Some signs are in better condition than others. Several still light up, even. I would like to do a walkthrough after the sun sets as it would surely provide a different experience than seeing it during daylight hours.

One of the best parts about the Neon Museum is the history showcased within it. Yes, the signs are pretty and interesting from a design perspective, but where they once hung and when is the most exciting part. The indoor area where you buy your ticket is formerly the La Concha Motel's lobby, adding a whole other layer to the history showcased within, too.

In the back of the Boneyard, a volunteer docent under an umbrella noticed my Donatos shirt and told me he was originally from Dayton. We chatted about how he'd found himself relocating to Las Vegas and shared emotions about growing up in Ohio. Running into another Ohioan wasn't surprising in a touristy part of the United States, but it did make me laugh at the thought of never really being too far removed from the Midwest.

After seeing all there was to see and hitting the gift shop on the way out, Justin and I Lyfted to Del Taco for a final meal together. We called it a day afterward.

My flight out of Las Vegas was early enough in the morning that I needed to be up at 4 AM to make it to the airport. Not wishing to be exhausted for the day of travel ahead of me, I laid in bed and watched a storm spit lightning over Las Vegas through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city, with all its dazzling lights and miles of multicolored blinking neon, had one final, quietly beautiful show to give.

This trip had the right balance of city life, rural life, and natural beauty to introduce me to living in the West. We'd driven hundreds of miles, walked thousands of steps, visited three states, and saw everything from Vegas casinos to abandoned buildings in the desert. My itch to travel, ever-insatiable as it may be, had been sufficiently scratched for the time being. I always believed that the mark of a good trip is returning home satisfied rather than sad to go home.

Thank you for reading this. I'm not sure anyone outside our party of four will, but if you're here, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read along.

And thank you to Travis for putting together the general itinerary and leading us through every hoop to make the trip a memorable one. Thank you to Rob for sharing snacks in the car and photographing my stupidity when requested. And thank you to Justin for making every day more fun by being a first-timer like I was and sharing that inaugural experience with me. ~