Las Vegas, Sin City, known as the home of all things flamboyant and indulgent. There is so much more to this city than blackjack tables and roulette wheels. Read on to discover what to do in Las Vegas besides gambling.
Someone once told me that the person who doesn’t like Las Vegas must not like life, because Vegas can be whatever you want it to be. Having visited since then, I agree wholeheartedly, although it is not a place for somebody who doesn’t like crowds, noise, or excessive dry heat. Make sure to carry a bottle of water at all times, and watch out for guys waving their snake around on the street (I mean that literally, not as some sort of weird innuendo).
Where To Stay
First let’s talk about where to stay in Las Vegas. There are so many options that it can actually be confusing. Each hotel is like a small town with its own theme, boasting numerous restaurants, bars and shops. You can get a really nice hotel room for a lot less than you would pay in some of the big cities. Just don’t forget that the price you are offered is usually BEFORE tax, so you don’t get a nasty shock later when you see what you will ACTUALLY be paying.
We stayed at the Signature at MGM and I absolutely recommend it. The suites are more like studio apartments, so you have a fridge and cooking facilities if you want them (we didn’t actually use them but it’s nice to have the option), plus a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. The big advantage is that the Signature is actually a trio of tower blocks at the back of the MGM Grand itself. They are connected by indoor moving walkways and we had all the perks of staying at the MGM itself, such as use of their amazing pool area. The tower blocks have no casino though, so if it’s a non-gambling holiday you’re looking for, they are the perfect choice.
Visit The Grand Canyon
Vegas is close enough to the Grand Canyon to make a day trip an option. It’s a long day, with a 4-5 hour drive each way, and usually just 2-4 hours at the canyon itself, so honestly it wouldn’t be my first choice for how to visit. But if you haven’t been before, I think it would be an absolute shame to leave Vegas without making the trip.
The Grand Canyon is truly the most overwhelmingly vast and beautiful place I have ever had the good fortune to experience. No words can describe it. If you have time and are reasonably fit, I recommend taking a walk part of the way down the Bright Angel Trail to experience it below the rim, and away from some of the crowds.
See A Show
You can find shows to suit literally any taste (and almost any budget) all along the Strip. With most of the hotels having their own theatres, you can choose from big name performers on residency, comedy shows, several different Cirque du Soleil shows, and tribute acts, plus a lot more in between.
There are booths at a couple of locations along the Strip selling reduced tickets for that nights shows, so if you don’t want to pay full price, and are flexible on what show you want to see, it’s a great option for an inexpensive nights entertainment. It also means you can keep your plans more spontaneous and just decide from day-to-day what you want to do.
Hire A Cabana For A Day
If you want to enjoy some pool time, I advise looking into hiring a cabana for a day. Each hotel has their own varying rates and conditions but daily rates seem to start from around $200. We were very lucky that the MGM pool hires their cabanas on a minimum spend policy rather than a daily rate. So we paid $200 (plus taxes) for the cabana for the day, but we also received $200 food and beverage credit, so the cabana was basically free.
We headed down there when the pool opened in the morning and had breakfast there. We also had a late lunch before we left, plus a few drinks throughout the day, all as part of the $200. We had a great relaxing day at the pool without worrying about getting burnt in the hot Vegas sun (we’re Irish, our skin is not used to seeing a lot of sunshine!).
Hire a cabana for the day.
Pose For Photos At The Las Vegas Sign
I have to admit that I didn’t actually even see the Welcome to Las Vegas sign when I was there. It is one of the most iconic Instagram spots on the Strip though, so if you have time, I recommend popping down to take a selfie or 2. I have read that there are queues for photos so allow for a bit of a wait if you decide to go.
Take The Zipline At Fremont Street
The Fremont Street experience, located in downtown Las Vegas considers itself the entertainment district of Vegas. Spanning 7 blocks, with a huge video screen overhead, this is where you will find live concerts and free nightly light shows. The Slotzilla zipline and zoomline bring you flying underneath the canopy of lights, over the heads of the crowds below. A ride on the zipline (starting from 7 stories up) will cost you $25 while a flight, Superman-style, on the zoomline (starting 11 stories up) will set you back $45. The area also has its own selection of casinos, hotels and restaurants. Make sure to ring ahead and book. We showed up on the night hoping to do the zoomline but couldn’t do it as they were fully booked for the night.
Check Out The Shops
For all the shoppers out there, Las Vegas is the place to be. There are shopping options to suit pretty much any budget. The hotels all have their own shopping areas with the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace probably being the most famous. There is also the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip. I’m not a big shopper myself but I did check that one out to get some presents to bring home to the family. And for the more hardcore shopaholics there are 2 outlet malls, one at the north end of the Strip, and the other at the south end.
See The Bellagio Fountains
If you don’t feel like shelling out big bucks for tickets to a show but fancy some spectacular entertainment, you can check out the free show at the Bellagio fountains. With 1,214 jets of water perfectly choreographed to a selection of songs, every show is different but always a treat. With a staff of 30 working 7 days a week to maintain the fountains and keep everything running smoothly, the Bellagio fountains promise to never disappoint the viewer, no matter how often you go. You can find details of show times and frequency here.
Explore The Hotels
As I mentioned earlier, each hotel has its own theme, with a selection of shops, restaurants and bars designed around this theme. You could honestly spend hours just exploring the different hotels to see what they have on offer. My personal favourites, after the MGM where I stayed, were the Paris Las Vegas, with its replica Eiffel Tower (check out my post on the Eiffel Tower, France here) and Arc de Triumph, and the New York New York, with its Irish and Coyote Ugly themed bars. I didn’t get a chance to see them all though, so I look forward to going back to experience the ones I missed first time round.
Ride The Roller Coaster At The New York New York
The Big Apple Coaster is apparently “the first to feature a 180-degree heartland twist and dive manoeuvre” (I’m honestly not sure what that means but I’m hoping the thrill seekers out there will). It travels at 67 miles per hour so it’s not the most thrilling ride in the world, but offers an unusual view of the Strip from its location on the roof of the New York New York hotel.
Prices are thought by many to be a lot more than the ride is worth, with a single ride costing $15. There are also no personal belongings allowed on the ride (logically enough) and locker rental increases the cost of the experience further.
Visit The Hoover Dam
This is another day trip option for those wanting to get off the Strip for the day and see something other than the neon signs and glitzy hotels. It’s a lot closer than the Grand Canyon so a one-day trip will give you plenty of time to see and hear all about the dam and its history. It’s less than an hours drive from the Strip so if you have a car self-drive is probably the fastest and cheapest way to get there. There are plenty of tour companies running trips though, so if you do not have access to a car, your hotel will most likely be able to find you a reasonably priced one you to take you there.
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