When most people think of Las Vegas, the obvious thing that comes to mind is gambling. But there is so much more to Vegas!
I have been there five times now and whilst I confess to have played on the odd slot machine, it is certainly not the gambling that brings me back. It’s the numerous other activities and the bright neon seduction of this ostentatious town surrounded by scenic desert landscape.
Most visits have been as a couple, with my hubby, but we have also taken our children: once our son when he was only 1 year old and then 10 years later, we took the two children, when they were aged 11 and 7 years – we never had any problem finding kid friendly activities to enjoy.
These are my top ten things to do in Vegas:
1. Check out the hotel resorts – my absolute favourite thing to do is to visit the hotels and resorts – just to look at opulent themed architecture and extravagance – inside and out. The best ones in my opinion are along the main Strip, with magnificent displays from pirate ships, to volcanoes, huge water features and fountains. Aside from their casinos which are open 24/7, they also offer cafes, restaurants, and shops which are also open long hours. The decor is generally in a theme and their lobbies expansive – the Mirage for instance has a magnificent 20,000 gallon saltwater fish tank by their check-in desk. You can sample an experience from different countries and cities around the world (Paris’ Eiffel Tower; Venice’s canals and gondolas; New York’s eateries; and an Egyptian pyramid); or you can stay in a themed hotel such as Circus Circus, MGM Grand, Treasure Island or the medieval Excalibur. They truly come alive after dark as they are lit up with colourful neon lights.
There are also some beautiful shopping areas adjoining some of the casinos, such as the Forum shops at Caesars Palace, complete with DaVinci painted ceilings and Trevi fountain; and the canal shops at the Venetian which even offers a trip on a gondola. I still can’t decide on my favourite hotel. So far we have stayed at Circus Circus, MGM Grand and Treasure Island (TI) as well as the no longer existing Riviera and Stardust. On my bucket list for future visits are Luxor and the Venetian.
2. Red Rock Canyon -is worth a drive for some lovely scenery if you have a car. It’s not far from Vegas, only about 25 mins drive west of the Strip. Turn off the main road (159) when you see the signs for Red Rock Canyon and follow the one way ring road drive around the national park. We took a leisurely couple of hours driving through, allowing for viewing and photo stops. There are lots of hiking trails if you have both the inclination and more time.
If you don’t want to hike or walk you can just drive through and admire the scenery. On the other hand, if it’s not too hot, there are several small car parks to enable you to get out for hikes, as well as a couple of picnic and camping spots. At certain times of the year I imagine it could get very busy but when we arrived at 4pm on a mid week day in May 2017 we only passed one or two cars on our scenic drive.
You are taken around in small groups of a manageable size and at a good pace, allowing plenty of time for photos and to take it all in. They also loan out sun umbrellas to provide a little shade from the intensely hot sun. If you are visiting during warmer months I recommend booking a viewing earlier in the day before the sun is too unbearable. Even early in May at 10am when we visited, the sun was scorching.
5. Mob Museum – Make sure you allocate several hours for this museum, which is spread over several floors. Not for the faint hearted, there are plenty of grim tales and items on display.
You can even see the actual wall relocated from Chicago where the St Valentines day massacre took place, complete with bullet holes. We underestimated how much memorabilia they had and unfortunately didn’t allocate enough time.
You can buy tickets online in advance on their website but we bought our ticket as a combo with a Neon Museum guided tour which gave a slight discount.
6. Cirque du Soleil – fun for all ages and several choices of shows to choose from in Vegas. We saw Ka at MGM Grand with the children and the whole family was enthralled and entertained by the talented performers throughout the entire show. We were able to pick up tickets from the box office at MGM Grand at relatively short notice (same day) but to avoid disappointment think about booking in advance if you can. Also, don’t bother or even try to take your camera – they are strictly forbidden.
I had no idea there were so many M&M or Hersheys branded items you could buy – everything you can think of from toys and clothing to playing cards and kitchen items; certainly not just confectionary. In M&M’s World there was even a small cinema showing a short film every 30 minutes. We spent over an hour in M&M’s World and almost as long at Hershey’s Chocolate World. The kids loved it but have to admit we adults in the family enjoyed the visit too. Both stores are worth a visit, especially to check out the huge Statue of Liberty made from Hershey’s chocolate- avoid the temptation to touch (or lick) it though!
10. Shopping– You can go shopping anywhere of course. Though the shopping in Vegas should not be missed. Aside from the casino shops and Freemont Street mentioned above, there are North and South Premium Outlets on the Strip where you will find all the high end brands for clothing, footwear and other apparel, like Guess, Coach, Calvin Klein and Skechers. The Crystals mall near Aria Resort and the Cosmopolitan is also great for browsing and high end shopping plus it’s a beautiful mall with some interesting sculptures and water features.
But wait there’s more…
It would be remiss of me not to mention all the other attractions, like the reasonably priced buffets and the numerous shows to choose from, some of which are resident, showing most of the year round (think Mariah, Britney, etc). You could also take a day trip to see the Hoover Dam 45 mins away by car or travel in the opposite direction 2 hours drive to the west of Vegas to visit Death Valley. If you have plenty of money you can also take helicopter tours over Vegas by day or night or you can venture further to take in the views over the Hoover Dam and as far as the Grand Canyon.
So as you can see there is a lot to see and do in Las Vegas. Don’t be put off by the brash, bright lights, loud slot machines and emphasis on gambling.
My tips
- Save money by taking advantage of the cheap cocktails and meals in the casinos which are subsidised by the gamblers and remember if you stay mid week the cost of accommodation is much cheaper too.
- Beware of the dressed up people on the Strip who seem to be offering to pose for a free photo but then expect and insist on a tip. Not much in life is free!
- When inside casinos the exit signs are difficult to find- obviously they don’t want you to leave. Make sure you take note of your bearings if you want to find your way out.
- Be prepared for the air conditioning – while very welcome in the hot desert conditions, it can cause havoc with sinuses for some people. Many people I know have told me they have suffered nose bleeds on their visits to Vegas. And it can be so cool in some places you might need a cardigan.
