Unusual Things to Do in Las Vegas, Nevada

Bootlegger Italian Bistro proves that some things in Las Vegas never change. Open since 1949, the Bootlegger is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, and it has remained a family-owned operation ever since. The restaurant features original recipes of the family matriarch, Maria Perry. It sits on Las Vegas Boulevard south of Mandalay Bay, making it an easy Uber or cab ride from your hotel. Popular menu items include pollo scallopini, tiramisu, and the house specialty lasagna. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

At 520ft (158m) wide, the High Roller is the biggest observation wheel in the world. It sits above the center of the Strip where you can see Vegas in all its garish glory – but standing in a suspended glass cabin above the twinkling lights is not the only thing on the menu. You can opt to ride with an open bar, mixing dazzling vistas with a cheeky cocktail; tickets start at US$25 (GB£18) and the wheel is open from the afternoons till midnight, seven days a week.

The reservoir created by the Hoover Dam, also known as Lake Mead, is a popular place to boat, scuba dive, fish, and to spend holidays. It’s a 45-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and home to the desert mountain sheep, mountain lion, and the great horned owl. There are also hiking trails, lookout points, and campgrounds that offer a picturesque getaway from the bright lights of Las Vegas. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

Located on the far west side of Las Vegas, Americana offers creative dishes in a scenic location. The restaurant sits on the side of a man-made lake, where swans, ducks, and canopied boats drift past. Americana’s menu frequently changes with the seasons and unique takes on traditional dishes are a specialty—calamari is poached and grilled, served with hints of sausage and pepper, while fettuccine is topped with a poached egg dusted with edible gold. A half-price happy hour and all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch offer more opportunities for delicious. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

Currently showing at The LINQ, Divas Las Vegas is the city’s quintessential drag show. Frank Marino, the host and headlining female impersonator with razor-sharp wit, is a classic Vegas performer; his career on the Las Vegas Strip has spanned nearly 30 years and shows no sign of slowing down. The show features Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry, along with an original, heart-wrenching performance of “What Makes a Man a Man.” The show offers a full bar throughout the performance and seating is similar to that found at a dinner theater, so you’ll likely find yourselves sitting across from strangers. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

Zak Bagan has spent years gathering spooky collectibles before curating them into a bone-chilling 30-room museum on Charleston Boulevard in the Arts District. You’ll take a shiver-inducing tour-guided journey through creepy hallways and winding secret passageways, where you might catch sight of Jack Kevorkian’s Death Van, Charlie Manson’s bone fragments and the Conjuring 3’s real-life Devil’s Rocking Chair, lurking in the gloom. The museum is closed on Tuesday and tickets start at US$48 (GB£35), although for US$79 (GB£57) you’ll get extended RIP access.

If you’ve got a car while you’re in Las Vegas, take an hour drive outside of the city to Valley of Fire State Park, which features Aztec sandstone formations, petroglyphs, and a wide variety of wildlife. Valley of Fire has also appeared in a number of Hollywood films over the years, from Viva Las Vegas to Total Recall. Points of interest inside Valley of Fire include the Beehives Formation, Atlatl Rock, and Rainbow Vista Trail. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

If your gambling funds run out, take a drive 17mi (27km) west of Sin City to this magnificent, 3,000ft-high (900m) canyon in the Mojave Desert – a stark contrast to the artificial aesthetic of the Strip. The 13mi (21km) scenic loop drive weaves through spectacular red sandstone formations, but you can also hike one of 26 trails to spot dinosaur footprints, spiky-leaved yucca plants and desert tortoises. Opportunities to rock climb, camp, horseback ride or mountain bike are abundant – just watch out for the rattlesnakes.

One of Las Vegas’ oldest gay bars, Badlands Saloon always stayed true to its creed of a warm welcome and a strong pour. The western-themed watering hole is located in the Commercial Center, near a number of restaurants and other nightspots. Badlands hosts drag shows, bingo and trivia nights, but it’s also a fine place to have a relaxed cocktail in the late afternoon or early evening. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

This kaleidoscopic arcade has just moved to a new site on the Strip to make room for up to 700 machines. You can spend hours testing out the restored vintage machines that date back to the 1950s, surrounded by the sound of flipping paddles and sharp pings. Don’t miss the handwritten cards detailing the history of each machine to fully absorb this niche of pop culture history. Admission is free and the hall is open seven days a week.

ReBar is a unique combination of bar, restaurant and thrift shop. Want to buy that light-up Lowenbrau sign? It’s for sale. That painting of a sad-eyed clown? It’s for sale. The beer stein in your hand? It’s yours for a few bucks. Everything at ReBar is available for purchase: Naturally this makes for eclectic decor. There is a wide array of beer available, with a stress on local brews, as well as specialty cocktails. John Mull’s brats and sausages are also served, adding better-than-usual bar food to the mix. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

The Simpsons House is real – and it’s located on Red Bark Lane, in the heart of a nondescript housing division in Henderson just outside Vegas. Built as a promotional contest in 1997, the house is an exact replica of the cartoon family’s orange two-story home. Today, you can’t go inside as it’s now a privately-owned house that’s been repainted. But the shape and design are still an uncanny match to Marge and Homer’s animated home and is well worth a trip. Note that even the chimney is for show – who needs a fireplace in the sweltering Nevada desert?

Las Vegas is a place where all track of time can be lost, and perhaps the most hours have been frittered away at the Double Down Saloon. The beloved punk-rock watering hole turned 25 last year and has gone from questionable hangout to Travel Channel-featured institution. The walls are covered in graffiti-ed murals, the bar serves Ass Juice and Bacon Martini’s alongside the usual beers and shots, and the entertainment ranges from hardcore bands to blues guitarists to burlesque acts to live radio shows. But perhaps the best entertainment comes from the stories swapped by an ‘only-in-Vegas’ cast of regulars. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

The Simpsons House is real – and it’s located on Red Bark Lane, in the heart of a nondescript housing division in Henderson just outside Vegas. Built as a promotional contest in 1997, the house is an exact replica of the cartoon family’s orange two-story home. Today, you can’t go inside as it’s now a privately-owned house that’s been repainted. But the shape and design are still an uncanny match to Marge and Homer’s animated home and is well worth a trip. Note that even the chimney is for show – who needs a fireplace in the sweltering Nevada desert?

Las Vegas’ nerd clubhouse, the Sci-Fi Center is where you can buy a comic, see a movie, watch a burlesque show and mingle with like-minded folk. It hosts screenings of cult and grindhouse films, as well as binge-watch TV shows. The Cinemondays program stresses classic and foreign films; there is also a monthly B-movie-themed burlesque show and occasional music performances. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

Las Vegas might be world famous for its nightlife, but at one time, it was better known for its alien connections. Alien aficionados, marathon runners, and anyone looking for the infamous Area 51 frequent the Extraterrestrial Highway. The 98-mile (157.7-kilometer) stretch of Nevada State Route 375 north of Las Vegas gets its name from the infamous military facility located in the middle of the desert. Along the highway, you can find alien jerky and an alien-themed gift shop and kitschy little café called The Little A’Le’Inn. Photography is prohibited in and around Area 51, and the guards on duty strictly enforce this regulation. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

At 508 East Fremont Street, you’ll find the pinnacle of surreal Las Vegas dining. Take a bizarre trip into this treasure trove of motorbike stuntman Evel Knievel memorabilia to feast on beer and pizza slices. As your eyes swim with the stickers, the pictures, the hanging motorbike, retro pinball machine and the dusty piano, your taste buds will jump at the unorthodox pizza menu. Be adventurous and try the daredevil toppings, like candied pork belly or rattlesnake sausage.

Purple Reign is a show for all Prince lovers and children of the ’80s. Located inside the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Purple Reign pays tribute to The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince). With beautiful dancers befitting Prince’s band The Revolution, Jason Tenner brings back the spirit of the beloved singer. If you go on a Friday night with a VIP ticket, you can attend the after-party, Purple Reign After Dark. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

One of Vegas’ most beloved dive bars, the Huntridge Tavern has been pouring 24 hours a day for over five decades. The red velvet wallpaper, beer signage and vinyl booths with clunky video poker machines remain largely unchanged. A steady stream of regulars come in at all hours for conversation and a cold one. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, opposite Caesar’s Palace on the Strip, is the idyllic escape from Sin City’s buzz. Soothe your hangover as you walk through the luscious 15 acres (6ha) of gardens, watching pink Chilean flamingos wade beneath the shady green of jungle trees. The whole family can enjoy the streams, exotic birds, waterfalls, turtles and multicolored koi fish free of charge. You can even feed the pelicans or have your photo taken holding a big beautiful parrot. The gardens are open all week from 7am to 8pm.

Cruise through several thousands of costumes, stage props and photographs at the world’s only museum dedicated to Burlesque in the heart of the Las Vegas Arts District. Here, you’ll find Dita Von Teese’s martini glass bath and Gypsy Rose Lee’s traveling truck. Take the opportunity to try out the art of the tease yourself by booking into a class at the Burlesque Hall of Fame’s School of Striptease, or pick up your own props at the gift shop. General admission is US$15 (GB£11).

The Erotic Heritage Museum, near the strip on Sammy Davis Jr Drive, is full of artefacts, fine art, archaeology, physics, technology and culture that are all centered on one thing: humans at our most intimate. Spend an afternoon wondering more than 24,000sqft (2,230sqm) of exhibitions, ranging from the history of human sexuality to sex in space. You can even try one of the naked yoga sessions, or buy tickets to the Puppetry of the Penis show.

For a more traditional Sin City experience, check out these must-see attractions including what to see and do on the Las Vegas Strip. Alternately, check out our top date ideas in Vegas, or take a day trip outside the city. While you’re at it, unwind at one of these top bars or treat yourself to a fine-dining restaurant, before heading back to your boutique hotel or hotel with a balcony to enjoy those Las Vegas views.

Most gift shops tend towards the sweet or at least the silly: Las Vegas Oddities goes straight for the strange. The store specializes in items like a pendant made from a cross-section of a human femur, or an intricate shadowbox of a miniature murder scene. If you need goth woodcuts or vintage pinup photos, Soviet-era children’s toys or steampunk jewelry, they can help you out here. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to miss the Baobab Stage Theater. Located inside Town Square, the Baobab Theater is part fashion boutique and part theater and hosts concerts, plays, and fashion shows year-round. Owner Wassa Coulibaly, a former Cirque du Soleil artist, initially opened the theater to showcase her own play Red Dress but has kept it open since. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

The serenity of Springs Preserve is only a few miles from the overstimulation of the Strip, but it seems much further.The 180-acre site is home to the Nevada State Museum, as well as a reconstruction of turn-of-the-century Las Vegas, Boomtown 1905. Trails wind throughout the property, through spring houses and around tortoise habitats, making it an excellent peaceful escape without leaving the city. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

Las Vegas doesn’t come to mind when you think of water sports. However, at Lake Las Vegas, guests can take part in a variety of activities both on and off the water. Introductory paddle board lessons are available, as well as yoga on paddle boards, Duffy boat rentals, kayaking, wake boarding, and flyboarding. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

For lovers of vinyl, 11th Street Records is mecca indeed. Located at the far end of Fremont Street, the store stocks both new and vintage albums and singles—whether you seek the latest from local hero Shamir, a replacement for your worn-out disc of the Stones’ Let It Bleed or a signed copy of Television’s Marquee Moon. National Southwest Recording is an in-house studio where acts including the Killers and Anti-Flag have recorded. Recommended by Lissa Townsend Rodgers.

Drive-in theaters are a thing of the past, except in Las Vegas. Today, they make up less than two percent of all movie theaters in the United States, but the West Wind Drive-In Theater in North Las Vegas is fully operational. Tickets are cheap, and no one will say anything if you bring food, but there is an old-fashioned snack stand available for popcorn and candy. Visiting the drive-in is a great way to spend the warm summer nights in the city and see a different side of it. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder

First Friday is a monthly, community art event that takes place in The Arts District in downtown Las Vegas. Food trucks, artists, and performers line the streets of the district, making it a fun way to spend a Friday night with friends and family. The event is free to attend, but parking can be problematic, so arrive early, carpool, or take an Uber. Recommended by Lauryn Wilder