Perception of Las Vegas BEFORE you went and AFTER - did it surprise you?

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I have not only gone to Las Vegas, but I GREW UP there. It's funny that almost every time I tell someone who didn't grow up there that I am from Vegas, they get this wide-eyed look on their face and say something like, "I didn't know people actually grew up there"! There is a perception that you only go to a place like Las Vegas to try to hit the big jackpot or maybe that it's a great place to find drugs and hookers and that the whole thing is just one big group of casinos with everyone on the take in one way or another, which is certainly not the case! I didn't see any other discussion related to this "I Have Been To Vegas" topic, so decided to start one. I'm interested in hearing from people who have been there what their perception of Vegas was BEFORE they went and what their perception of the city was AFTER? Did you only stay on or near "The Strip" or did you venture out into the areas where the "locals" live? What did you do while you where there? Did you like the city or not and would you go back?