Las Vegas is almost synonymous with the Strip, but there’s plenty to do in the city that doesn’t involve casinos and gambling. On both of my visits to Vegas, I’ve tried to break away from the glitz, glam, see something new and something different.
One of the first things we did was to head out and take a walk on the strip. Here we found some Uber and Lyft patrons giving away free voucher cards. Now normally I wouldn’t accept any leaflets from street patrons, but as I could clearly see they were Uber/Lyft I took it. These turned out to be an excellent choice of judgment. Having never used Lyft before, being from the UK. These little cards came with a $50 free code you can enter when first installing the app, so If there’s 3 of you in the group and you each install it. That’s $150 worth of travel for free 😀 It’s a max of $10 per ride, but it costs less than that to go from one end of the Strip to the other, so you basically have free travel for the majority of your stay. I feel they may catch on to this and it probably won’t be on offer for long.
Vegas isn’t just about gambling as many seem to make that assumption. Actually gambling is only 5% of the things you can do here. Just wandering the strip, there are so many things to see and places to go. Each and every hotel has it’s own theme with it’s own attractions from an aquarium, thrill rides to Cirque du Soleil. Las Vegas is also a great place to base yourself for nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Death Valley, Area-51, Red Rock Canyon and many more.
Im certainly no gambler myself and I’ve been to Vegas on a few occasions now and each time I have been blown away by the city. With the amazing mix of restaurants, diners, concerts, shows, events and so many friendly people. There is so much more to Las Vegas than just the Strip.
A lot of people have said to me they hate Vegas or they never want to go. “I don’t gamble, it’s overpriced,” yah de yada. The excuses are a plenty, all because Vegas is portrayed through the glitz, glamour and party atmosphere of the Strip. Those people are just focused on the negatives. There is so much more to Vegas than just a long stretch of road full of hotels, casinos and restaurants. Don’t let this aspect of the city keep you away, that would be a mistake. Give Las Vegas a chance. I’ve listed below 21 things to see & do in Las Vegas that prove there’s far more to Vegas than just buffets, drink and gambling.
My first time in Vegas was way back in 2010 and at the top of my bucket list was to head out to the Grand Canyon. I opted to go all out and splashed on the helicopter, river cruise and sky walk experience. It was an early start to the day having to get up at dawn, but it was well worth it. I was picked up from the hotel and we drove the couple hours or so to get to the canyon stopping at a small chocolate factory on the way.
When we finally reached the canyon we were taken to see the eagle, alligator and sleeping dog rocks before walking the Sky Walk. They wouldn’t let us take any camera equipment onto the walk and we had to put covers over our shoes. They definitely didn’t look cool, but It was cool to walk over the glass and see directly below like you’re walking on air. There were some people that weren’t so keen and were crawling around on their hands and knees. You could see why the shoe covers were needed though, as the glass certainly wasn’t as clear as I’m sure it once it was, covered in many little scuffs and scratches.
Now it was time to head to the helicopter, I was super excited at this point. It would be my first experience in one. It was here I made a new friend in Elise, we got along really well and have since in touch. We landed down by the rivers edge and the jumped on a boat for a short cruise down the river. The Heli then met us and flew us back to the top of the canyon. Flying over the canyon was something I recommend everyone has to do.
Another great day out was a trip to Hoover Dam and the Black canyon. Arriving at Hoover Dam we drove over the dam to the far car park on the Arizona side. We then walked across the dam taking in the views, taking in how big Lake Mead really is. You can clearly see how much the water level had dropped from where it used to be.
We paid for the full tour, so got to go inside the dam and see all the workings and down to Black Canyon on the other side. The best view was without a doubt from the canyon below looking up at the dam, you get a real sense of the scale. We jumped on a small boat here and onto the Colorado river in the Black Canyon. The immediate difference is the stark contrast of colour of the water. While at the Grand Canyon it was brown and murky, here the water was crystal clear. It was also freezing cold to the touch, but surprisingly also good to drink straight from the river. They gave us all a cup each to dip in and try. It was super fresh and tasted like good filtered water.
Looking around up at the huge canyon walls, you may spot some wild goats hanging out, somehow balancing and jumping around the cliff face. We also spotted a few turkey vultures flying over head.
We weren’t sure if paying that little extra to go down to the Black Canyon would be worth it, but I have to say it definitely was. If just to get that view and photos of the dam from that perspective and take in the massive scale of it all.
I was also lucky to be in Vegas to bring in New Years Eve 2016/17. They completely closed off the strip to traffic for a few hours and the atmosphere was just electric. There were fireworks set off from some rooftops all along the entire length of the strip. This was an amazing experience and I recommend everyone to put it on their Bucket List.
If you plan on having a few drinks, then I would suggest don’t go having too many shots. As a single shot of sambuca cost $10 and just one Jägerbomb was $12 each! It also seems they don’t understand the bomb, as they served it already mixed together in a tumbler glass, yummy!
As you can imagine we didn’t get much sleep that night. One of us went back to the hotel, only to wake up and realise we still weren’t there. He rang to find we were still at the bar at 6:30am. He came down and found us, saw we were proper hammered, but still being served. He asked why keep serving, the reply: “This is Vegas, you can be on the floor surrounded by vomit and if you ask for a beer they would put it on the floor next to you.” Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever been so drunk in my life, but hey we were still standing and walking.
As you can imagine we slept most of the next day waking up around 1pm. We couldn’t be bothered to go out to find food, so we ordered Uber Eats to the hotel. Only thing we had to go down to the hotel foyer to collect it.
When the time came for us to check out of the hotel we found out that some hotels add an additional resort fee to your bill. According to them, this fee gives you free access to their gym, free local and 800 number calls. In my opinion this is a total rip off, but one you can do little about as apparently it’s completely legal. These fees are not added to your bill until you go to checkout. If you are not sure what the fee is, contact the hotel and ask.
Vegas is an adults playground and the casino’s are more like palaces than they are hotels. Each time I’ve left Vegas, I vow to return to see more. I’d happily pay go out to the Grand Canyon every time If I could.
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Las Vegas, Nevada, USA was founded in 1905 after the opening of a railroad that linked Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Las Vegas is known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World and annually ranks as one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
- The city’s tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, and music videos.
- The Las Vegas Strip isn’t located in Las Vegas. It’s actually within the communities of Paradise, Winchester and Enterprise.
- In 1931 construction began on the massive Boulder Dam (later renamed the Hoover Dam)
- The name Las Vegas, Spanish for “the meadows” was given to the area in 1829 by Rafael Rivera.
- Native Americans lived in the Las Vegas Valley, beginning over 10,000 years ago. Archaeologists have discovered baskets, petroglyphs, pictographs and other evidence in diverse locations. Paiutes moved into the area as early as AD 700, migrating between nearby mountains in the summer and spending winter in the valley, near Big Springs.
- The first person of European ancestry to enter the Las Vegas valley was Rafael Rivera, who scouted the area in 1821 as part of Antonio Armijo’s expedition to open up a trade route
- In 1941 the El Rancho Vegas resort opened on a section of U.S. 91 just outside the city’s jurisdiction. Other hotel-casinos soon followed, and the section of highway became known as “the Strip.”
- In 1946 mobster Bugsy Siegel, backed by East Coast Jewish gangster Meyer Lansky’s Mexican drug money, opened the Flamingo.
- While the Strip was booming, bombs were too. On January 27, 1951 the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission detonated the first of over a hundred atmospheric explosions at the Nevada Test Site.
Remember, you don’t come to Vegas to stay in your room, so why blow your budget on a bed? Save on hotel rooms whenever you can and get more out of your holiday. I’ve stayed at Imperial Palace (Now The Ling) and the Hard Rock Hotel (Now Virgin).
- Hostels there are a few hostels to choose from, all in Downtown Vegas and the best of the bunch is Hostel Cat and Sin City Hostel.
- Airbnb, you can find shared rooms a few streets over from the Strip from $15-25 per night. You can even find entire homes in the same areas for around $55 per night. Get $30 (£25) off your first Airbnb trip of $70 (£55) or more click here.
- Hotels, You can find some budget hotels on the strip like Circus Circus, but bare in mind this is the quiet end of the strip with little to see and do. Many of the nicer hotels start at $100 a night, however it’s always best to check online, there’s always some deals to be had. I stayed at the Hard Rock (Now Virgin) which is just off the strip and only a 10 minute walk to MGM Grand. Just remember to ask about any hidden resort fees when booking.
There are so many places to eat, food is unbelievable in America especially in Vegas, I could definitely get fat if I lived here. If your on a budget then stick to the all you can eat buffets. Virtually every hotel has one and you don’t have to be staying there to enjoy it. Try a different hotel buffet each day. Just don’t expect it to be top notch amazing, you get what you pay for. If you want to try a 5 star restaurant, then look into booking for lunch. Prime time is always evenings and they want to be full during the day to. Often they have happy hour and pre menu deals to get you in.
- Take a Photo Standing Under the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign (Free)
It’s about a twenty minute walk from Mandalay Bay or jump in an Uber/Lyft like me and then walk back. Tourists, stand in line a dozen people deep for the opportunity to have their souvenir photo taken underneath this 25 foot sign. I cheated and just stood slightly off to one side, I didn’t fancy waiting in that queue!
- Check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay 15 species of sharks, as well as a Komodo dragon. It’s the only predator based aquarium in North America. Tickets cost $20.
- Chill in the Minus5 Ice Lounge at Mandalay Place. Everything inside is made entirely from ice. The walls, the seats, the amazing sculptures and even the glasses that you drink from. $20 the the standard experience, $40 if you want to add a couple cocktail drinks.
- See the Bellagio Fountains (Free)
The schedule is:
Monday – Friday 3 pm – 8 pm every 30 minutes
Saturday and holidays noon – 8 pm.
Sunday 3 pm – 8 pm.
Monday-Saturday 8 pm – midnight every 15 minutes.
Sunday 11 am – 3 pm every 15 minutes. - Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Free) Im no gardener, but I have to say the intricate detail in this was beautiful and worth the time wandering around.
- Paris Eiffel Tower The views at the top are some of the best in vegas and it’s also a great place to watch the Bellagio fountains, especially at night. Price is $16 for daytime or $22 at night.
- See Cirque du Soleil Try to see the show you are interested in during the week. Tickets for popular shows are harder to come by on the weekends since they usually sell out quickly. It’s best to book online, prices start from around $59
- Volcano at The Mirage (Free) With two volcano systems, a lagoon and fire shooters that shoot flame on demand. The best view of the volcano show is right in front of the hotel, where you can feel the heat of the flames and hear the soundtrack.
- Gondola ride in the Venetian cost $19.95 (Gondola seats up to 4 adults).
- Meet the Stars At Madame Tussauds well life like iconic wax figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics.
- Auto Collection If you like your cars then check out the collection at the Linq Hotel. Costs $7, but use this link on your phone to get buy one get one free admission.
- Stratosphere Tower With the amazing views from the observation deck and four adrenaline pumping thrill rides on the top. Check the weather conditions though, if it’s windy the rides are unlikely to be running. When your done with the rides the quickest way down is Sky Jump, a controlled free fall $119 per jump and you plummet 855 feet off the side of Stratosphere Tower to the ground below.
- Fremont Experience (Free)
The place to go at night. Spanning five blocks packed with free live entertainment, the world’s largest video screen above the pedestrian mall with light & sound shows. - Slotzilla Zip line There are two lines to choose from the Lower Zipline (I can only presume is meant for kids) only 68 feet in the air and only half the distance. The Upper zipline 108 feet up and sends you soaring in a Superman position across the entire length of the mall. Rides cost $20 for the Lower Zipline and $40 for Upper.
- The Golden Nugget (Free) The 61-pound Hand of Faith is the biggest golden nugget in existence and is on display in the lobby at Golden Nugget Las Vegas.
- $1,000,000 pyramid (Free) If you ever wonder what One Million dollars looks like? Head over to Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel to find out!
- Neon Museum an open air museum housing the retired neon signs of Las Vegas. The boneyard is only available to the public through an hour long guided tour. Tours are available seven days a week.
- Visit the Grand Canyon & Skywalk one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It’ll be an early start if you want to do this in one day, with a 5 hour drive there. I tell you though it’s without doubt worth it and one of the best experiences of my life. Depending on if you drive yourself or do a tour prices vary hugely. Starting from $85, but if like me you want to do/see everything, then do the Ultimate Tour. Ride in a helicopter, a river boat, the Skywalk, get a Hualapai Indian Buffet lunch, walk around Eagle Point and sit right on the edge of the canyon looking in awe at the magnificent sight. To do the Ultimate tour though your looking at costs of $550+
- Visit Hoover Dam & Black Canyon There are guided tours of the dam, it has a museum that includes its history. I included the Black Canyon tour with it, so you get to go to the bottom of the dam and enjoy a boat ride underneath the colossal concrete wall. You can even drink the water straight out of the river here it’s so clean. You can jump in, but i tell you it’s bloody cold!
- Lake Mead for any kind of water based activity you can think of and a great way to enjoy some time on the water instead of having to fight for a spot by the hotel pool.
- Red Rock Canyon Spend a day hiking on a variety of trails and marvel at the views of nature that have not been touched.
- Casino Royale is one of the cheapest places to drink on the Strip.
- Beer Park has a great selection of craft beers and if you grab a balcony seat, it’s a great place to watch the world go by.
- D Bar
- Hogs & Heifers
- Atomic Liquors 1945, Fremont St.
- Peppermill 1972, oldest on the strip.
- Monkey Bar
- Goose Island Pub
- Lounge 107 at the Stratosphere Hotel Casino. Enjoy a 360 degree view of Las Vegas from 107 stories above the strip.
- Enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset at Mix Lounge on the 64th floor of Delano Las Vegas.
- Coyote Ugly If you like 90’s-00’s music and a dance, then this is the place for you. Happy hour is 6-9.
- Top of the World, Stratosphere.
- If you’re feeling really lazy then using your phone, Ubereats will deliver virtually any restaurant takeaway straight to your hotel foyer.
- Uber / Lyft I found this to be the best and cheapest way to get around. If your not already using the apps then pick up a free $50 Uber or Lyft card being offered on street. Although you may now not find a card as it may of been a promo.
- Monorail system $5 dollars one way or $9 return. Gliding above the traffic, you will cover the 4 mile route in approximately 15 minutes. With seven stations, you’re close to just about anywhere you want to go, I’ve listed the operating times below. Download the monorail map here or visit www.lvmonorail.com
- Monday: 7 am – 12 midnight
- Tuesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Wednesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Thursday: 7 am – 2 am
- Friday: 7 am – 3 am
- Saturday: 7 am – 3 am
- Sunday: 7 am – 3 am
- Walking the Strip is fun the first time, but the Strip is long and takes time. With so much to see and do wasting time is not something you want to do.
- Driving There’s not really any need for a car here. Free parking is available, virtually every major hotel offers free valet parking (just don’t forget to tip!) If you do drive, don’t get your fuel on the Strip. They might be conveniently placed, but take a few extra minutes to drive east or west to get it cheaper. Gas stations between the Stratosphere Tower and downtown usually give you the best prices.
- Some hotels add an additional resort fee to your bill. According to them, this fee gives you free access to their gym, free local and 800 number calls. In my opinion this is a total rip off, but one you can do little about as apparently it’s completely legal. These fees are not added to your bill until you go to checkout. If you are not sure what the fee is, contact the hotel and ask.
- Calculate your tip and divide your bill by typing Tip Calculator on google.
- At check-in, remember to ask for a funbook if one is not given to you. A funbook is a little book filled with Las Vegas coupons for a variety of things at the hotel including discount prices of food, drinks, shows, buffet coupons and free slot plays.
- If your not already using them then pick up a free $50 Uber or Lyft card. (That may of been a promo, if you can’t find any you can still use the below links)
- Drink at the casino before hitting the club To cut down on expensive drinks at the clubs, drink on the casino floor. The drinks are free as long as you’re playing one of the games. Sit down at a penny slot machine, play slow, and drink fast. You can have 10 drinks for the price of one at the club! Just make sure you tip the waitress, $1 is expected per drink you receive.
- Gamble responsibly Your in Vegas, of course your going to have a go on some machines, just don’t go wild. Gamble what you can comfortably afford to lose, because chances are, you will.
- If you plan on heading to Stratosphere thrill rides, check the weather conditions, if it’s windy the rides are unlikely to be running.
- Don’t forget to use sunblock, especially if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
- Casino bartenders, even in showrooms and lounges will give you a glass of ice water for free although a $1 tip will be appreciated.
- Casino Royale is one of the cheapest places to drink on the Strip.
- Remember to ask about any hidden resort fees.
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