Top 3 Things I Did with Greg Voakes on His Recent Vacation

Damn what a fun guy Greg Voakes is.

The 21 year-old social media dude from Victoria, British Columbia is an absolute blast and hella laid back. He took a one-way flight to Vegas, where he and I proceeded to crash a bachelorette party, go on a roller coaster drunk and walk miles in our dress shoes while the sun began to rise at 5 a.m. And that’s all just in the first 24 hours or so after meeting him for the first time in person. Although I only met Greg like 3 months ago on chat, he quickly has demonstrated all the aspects of a great person that I want to have around in my life. Greg is @gvoakes on Twitter and the same thing on Digg. Being around the guy has been a non-stop series of adventures, as this short list demonstrates.

3.) 12-hour Roadtrip from Vegas to SF

We kicked off the trip by going to busiest store in all of the In ‘n Out Burger restaurant chain, which is located in Vegas. Greg had been squawking about going there for the three or four days that we had been loosley planning the trip. Double Double “aminal style,” as Greg would say, is what we had. That was followed by a gloriously epic, if exhausting, 12-hour jaunt through the desert and California Central Valley, from Vegas to San Francisco. Bowie, The Who and Rush filled the car. Some of the best scenery in the country greeted us. We even got work done through the wi-fi on our laptops. I was SO happy to get back home to the Bay Area, but Greg made the trip fly by.

2.) Drunken New New York Roller Coaster Craziness

There’s nothing like lining up and packing all your possessions into a locker while your three sheets to the wind in preparation for one of the funnest roller coasters in Vegas.

After meeting with girls at the Wynn to start the night, we proceeded to hit the Casino Floor, place blackjack bets for the bachelorette queen Molly, and then hop into multiple taxis to the New York, New York, where the roller coaster there was calling us. The nervousness was washed away by multiple vodka sodas and there was nothing but excitement left to me as I, Greg, and seven lovely ladies were carried up to the top of the massive first drop on the ride. The ensuing plunge, corkscrews and various upside-down insanity left us dizzy with happiness and joy when we stumbled off the ride less than two minutes later.

After the New York, New York we went to the Mandalay and the Imperial Palace, followed by a long walk home in the dawn of the new day. We actually spent only about 48 hours in the City of Sin, but as usual it left its mark. And by the way, whatever happens there, will not stay there. I’m more likely to shout it to the world.

1.) Greg Meets and Defeats the Great Hooka Challenge

This kid knows how to step it up a notch when partying is at stake. He’s a very thoughtful, sensible person. But beyond that, he knows how to throw caution to the wind a little bit and let loose, as the photo of him at a San Francisco hooka bar demonstrates. He almost always brings a fun-loving positive attitude to the table, no matter what the situation. Even though he’s a young guy, he already has a bit of wisdom that results in much-needed words of advice.

On this specific night we went to four places in San Francisco with the gang from SF Weekly and LA Weekly. We started out at an old Italian restaurant in North Beach, then moved off to one of my favorite haunts in the Haight. That was followed by an upscale hooka bar in the Mission, which essentially kicked ass during the roughly two hours we spent there. After that Greg and I went dancing at the DNA lounge in SOMA, where he wasted no time before finding a 31-year-old girl to lock lips with, all while dancing to Duran Duran. This is the definition of good times.

Beyond all that though, in closing, I will say that the best times with this guy are just the simple, chill moments, hanging out by the pool, or watching some comedy on the tube. G-Voakes is Great Folks!