Fresh off of a Virgin America flight, I am reporting to you from my home-sweet-home, New York, New York. Just last night, I was peeking out from the small oval window of my plane tickled by the sight of flashing lights and buzzing highways. My first thought came with a deep exhale and popping ears: “There’s no place like home!”

This past week, seven of my college “besties” and I, journeyed off into another time-zone in pursuit of bright lights, colorful shows and exciting nightlife. Being that we are all from New York, there was only one comparable option on the West Coast: Las Vegas!

Upon our arrival, we felt like kids in a candy store. There were shopping centers galore, gorgeous hotels, poolside piña coladas, a penthouse suite and all-you-can-eat sushi across the street from our hotel. Each day we would indulge in shopping trips and sight-seeing adventures. From standing beneath a 700-pound lion and holding a baby Simba to riding a wild rollercoaster called “New York, NY” that flung us out past a life-like setting of New York City, we had the time of our lives! Of course, my favorite part of the trip was seeing Cirque Du Soleil’s Mystere; the dancing and acrobatics were mind-blowing and inspired me to consider taking a trapeze class back home in New York.

Despite the glitz and glam of Vegas, I must say that throughout the trip I felt a lingering sense of homesickness. The Vegas Strip just could not compare to Times Square, and even the all-you-can-eat sushi didn’t compare to my beloved Asian Station. Not to mention, all the Elvis look-alikes in the world can’t trump the Naked Cowboy.

So, as my newly tanned girlfriends and I piled onto our Virgin America flight, we could not help but to break into a rousing rendition of “New York, New York” —complete with Rockette-style kicks!