Of course there are a ton of things to do in Las Vegas, but while most people will head right for the casinos, we know there are tons of other amazing activities in and around Sin City. Read on for the coolest things to see and do in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Located just 17 miles outside of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is worth a visit to get outdoors and explore beyond the typical Las Vegas Strip scene. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the 19 marked trails through the park, enjoying the splendor of the crimson rock formations and vibrant desert colors. Occupying 195,819 acres within the Mojave Desert, Red Rock features breathtaking geological masterpieces like cliffs of Aztec Sandstone.
Explore a unique side of American history by visiting The Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Hear true stories about organized crime and law enforcement in this interactive and world-class museum. From exhibits on wire-tapping and the Federal Government’s handling of mobs to the way mobs have been portrayed by Hollywood films, the museum is extensive and very visual.
Price: Mid-range
Hours: Daily 10 am-7 pm
Watch out for: Interactive exhibits and visual media
Located inside the Bellagio hotel and casino, the gallery holds paintings by Monet, Rembrandt, and Andy Warhol. If you’re looking for something fun and usual to do, try the ‘Art & Wine’ event from 5pm to 7pm, where wine is paired with the featured artwork and an interactive wine and art discussion begins at 6pm.
A five-block entertainment district in downtown Las Vegas, you’ll find all sorts of wild activities like free light shows every night of the week, the ‘SlotZilla’ Las Vegas zip line, and the three-story waterslide at the Shark Tank at the Golden Nugget. There are all sorts of bars, restaurants, and casinos at the Fremont Street Experience, including Hogs & Heifers Saloon, frequented by many bikers, and Nacho Daddy, where you can try their scorpion shot, featuring an actual scorpion in your shot of choice.
Price: Mid-range
Hours: Open 24 hours
Watch out for: A chunk of the Berlin Wall inside the Main Street Station men’s restroom. Women can be escorted in by security to see it too.
A museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution, The National Atomic Testing Museum is a science and history museum designed to tell the story of America’s nuclear weapons testing program at the Nevada Test Site. You’ll find all sorts of interesting exhibits, including the opportunity to experience a simulated atmospheric bomb blast, an exhibit on the creation of the atomic bomb, and an exhibit on radiation.
Price: Mid-range
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-5 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12 pm-5 pm
Swept away from the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip, experience Paris Las Vegas, complete with dining, nightlife, and, of course, the lit-up, half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. Ride up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or stop halfway up at the mid-air French restaurant. You can find all sorts of classic French food served in restaurants beside cute boutiques as you stroll along narrow and winding alleyways.
Price: Mid-range
Hours: 8am-2am
Watch out for: Cute boutiques and French-inspired cuisine
Featuring aquatic animals from tropical places around the world, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is a journey through an oceanic palace. Rare animals not normally found in zoos include the Galapagos Shark and the Black Piranha. The reef also features endangered fish including the sawfish and the arowana.
The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is an oasis of nature away from Las Vegas’ neon lights and bustling casinos. You’ll find all kinds of things to do in this area from a visit to the Nevada State Museum, complete with a massive mastodon skeleton, to a tour of the botanical garden. The botanical garden is home to the largest collection of Mojave Desert cacti and succulent plants.
With all sorts of rides and attractions, including rollercoasters like the ‘Canyon Blaster’ – the world’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew rollercoaster – you won’t be bored here. Adventuredome is a great place to take the whole family, offering junior rides for the younger kids.
A brand new museum opened in 2012, The Neon Museum includes the ‘Neon Boneyard’ where most of its signs, more than 150, are exhibited to inspire everyone from artists to designers to historians and students. You can take a guided tour of the Boneyard, getting close up to the signs that are loaned or donated to the museum by sign companies, individuals, and businesses.
