Welcome Wes.....I would recommend you start right where you are, this site. Read the posts, you will learn more than you remember. Ebay is a source for alot of chips, but you best bang for the buck would probably be on here. Get some "traders" on your trip and start trading, of course most would take cold hard cash as well. As you learn for you can start to focus of particular types, colors, themes locations etc. I find it can almost be a little overwhelming when first starting out, but soon, the fever will take over. Ask questions, I find almost everyone on here to be more than happy to share their knowledge. On occasion a little heated discussion will break out but even those seem to smooth out quickly and provide more opportunity to learn. I would also recommend getting a price guide, not so much for purchase in the beginning but for providing a little insight into the sheer number, of casinos, chips, designs, molds etc. This will help you start to identify your likes, dislikes etc. The Chip Rack (11th edition is due in May) and The Official US Casino Chip Price guide (4th edition just came out)are both great resources and will accelerate your ability to identify and put in context most Nevada (and some other states) chips, There are alos Antique, Illegal, and other guides, not to mention a ton of websites. More later but I dont want to write a book for you just yet. Bottom line, read all, ask anything, enjoy totaly.

Sean

PS You dont need to be a member of the CC>CC but it helps and is well worth the dues just for the magazine, and for developing a reputation amoung many other chippers.