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The best things to do in
Las Vegas

Language:   English

Currency: USD

Sales Tax: 8.38%

Whatever happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. At least that’s what used to be said. However, this Mojave Desert city is also home to lesser-known attractions that travelers will keep talking about long after the trip.

Considered by some as the world's most entertaining city, Las Vegas is far more than large hotels and overstated casinos. There are many exciting things to do in Las Vegas for the whole family. The city also offers car enthusiasts two of the world's best exotic car driving experiences. Here are some of Vegas' best attractions:

Fremont Street Experience

Fremont Street Experience

While the Las Vegas Strip with all its glamorous hotels and casinos, is synonymous with the city, the Fremont Street Experience is an iconic Vegas attraction you shouldn’t overlook during your visit to the city. This pedestrian mall’s main attraction is the 90-foot-high barrel vault canopy. The Viva Vision LED Canopy screen is the largest in the world, and with its recent upgrade, it offers breathtaking light shows you may not find anywhere else.

The attraction also plays host to live music and free concerts and is home to SlotZilla. SlotZilla offers the traditional zipline(Zip-Zilla) and the Super-Hero Zoom (Zoomline), which offers the illusion of flying like your favorite Marvel character. Both let you 'fly' from one end of the canopy to the other in what you'll find to be a unique experience that allows you to enjoy views of the mall and other downtown Las Vegas attractions, including the oversized dice and martini glass. But don't let all that flying stop you from walking through the five-block-long mall. That's a key part of the experience.

High Roller Ferris Wheel

High Roller Ferris Wheel

One attraction that will likely be of interest to all visitors is the High Roller Ferris Wheel. Opened to the public in March of 2014, with a height of 550 feet, it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel until the Ain Dubai came along. However, since Ain Dubai has been closed since March 2022, technically, the High Roller holds the title.

So long as you're not scared of heights, the High Roller's 30-minute ride in one of the 28 large cabins offers terrific 360-degree views of the city and the desert beyond city limits.

Lake Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas is a 320-acre artificial lake built 16 miles outside of the city. The area is currently home to three resorts, giving families who prefer a quiet and stress-free vacation a great alternative to the crowded city center.

The lake was created thanks to a dam that stands 18 stories high. It is claimed the earthen dam has the same amount of dirt in it as the Hoover Dam has concrete. While this part of Las Vegas has seen significantly less commercial success when compared to the city center, its serene environment should be given a try by tourists.

Helicopter Tours of Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam

Helicopter Tours of Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam

Visitors to Las Vegas will find a number of companies advertising helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. It is an unforgettable experience being in a helicopter looking down at two of the most iconic destinations in Nevada.

The Grand Canyon is more than a four-hour drive from Las Vegas. However, travelers can get to the site in no time via a helicopter tour. Some companies offer a full-day excursion that takes customers to the Grand Canyon and drops them off at the Colorado River. There, adventurers can take a boat ride down the river and have lunch near the landmark.

Although the Hoover Dam is just a 40-minute drive from the city center, it is an amazing humanmade site to view from the air. The helicopter tour will take adventurers over the dam and around Lake Mead and the Black Canyon.

Dream Racing

Dream Racing

Exotics Racing

Exotics Racing

Adventuredome

Adventuredome

The Adventuredome is an indoor theme park located at the Circus Circus Hotel directly opposite the Las Vegas Convention Center. Contained in a large glass dome covering a 5-acre area, it may not be as large as other well-known theme parks, but it does offer plenty of rides to keep you entertained, and you won’t have to worry about the weather. The park also has the added benefit of not needing to travel out of town as you would with most large outdoor theme parks.

While it’s not Disneyland or Universal Orlando, don’t let the relatively small space fool you. The park has enough rides and attractions to appeal to visitors of all ages. Popular rides include the rotating B.C. Bus, the Slingshot, the Canyon Blaster roller coaster, and the Inverter (which, as the name suggests, will have you upside-down for some time). However, the one that tops them all is the El Loco roller coaster, which offers excellent views of the park while doing its best to give you a thrill you won’t soon forget.

Mob Museum

Mob Museum

Located in downtown Las Vegas, the somewhat controversial Mob Museum is a unique venue that looks into the history of organized crime in the United States. This one-of-a-kind attraction has exhibits and interactive displays that detail the lives and stories of some of the most notorious gangsters, their crimes, and how the justice system attempted to thwart them.

The 4-level museum includes interesting artifacts and exhibits, which include the brick wall from the 1929 St-Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago and an interactive crime lab that offers insights into how much work is required to gather and secure evidence needed to put the bad guys away.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park

Driving through this park is a joyful experience as you soak in the incredible rock formations. Surely, it is one of the best scenic drives one can embark on. As you can imagine, the park is a great location for hiking, camping, and rock climbing. You should start your exploration at the visitor's center. It is a wonderful place to learn more about the park and the surrounding regions. The center has multiple exhibits showcasing the park's ecology, geology, and history. You'll no doubt find that the effort to get here is rewarding once you've explored this amazing natural park.

The Sphere

The Sphere

Every major city has at least one landmark that is synonymous with the city. Some places have so many iconic landmarks that it’s difficult to pinpoint one as the most prominent. Las Vegas falls into the latter as its numerous grandiose hotels, casinos, and other extravagant buildings make a choice impossible.

However, with the opening of the Sphere in September 2023, that may all change. Opened with much fanfare and captivating locals and tourists alike, the breathtaking Sphere is an arena for concerts and other events. However, this isn’t just a regular event venue. The 366-foot high and 516-foot wide building boasts a wraparound 16K interior LED screen and state-of-the-art speakers to make any experience within it immersive. But its claim to fame is the display its exterior LEDs offer. That’s bound to keep onlookers spellbound.

During its opening, the Sphere mesmerized everyone within viewing distance with breathtaking images of different things, including a basketball and the earth. Even if you don’t intend to attend an event in the building, its proximity to Las Vegas Boulevard means you have little reason not to soak in whatever is displayed on the LEDs during your visit.

Neon Museum

Neon Museum

One thing you'll certainly get more than enough of in Las Vegas is the sight of neon signs. But if you want to explore the history of these signs, the Neon Museum is the place for you. The museum boasts an extensive collection of neon signs from the city.

With a focus on restoration, the classic signs find a home in the museum's Neon Boulevard, which displays these restorations as art. Aside from showcasing the exhibits, the Neon Museum also hosts light shows with the restored signs.

Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip

Each resort offers unique attractions, such as the famous Bellagio Fountains, canals at The Venetian, and lively casinos that are open 24/7. For entertainment, the Strip is unrivaled, with nightly performances ranging from magic shows to concerts by famous artists.

In addition to entertainment, the Las Vegas Strip offers a world of dining, shopping, and sightseeing. Visitors can enjoy gourmet meals at celebrity chef restaurants or more casual dining at an endless variety of international eateries.

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is just 17 miles west of Las Vegas. It is a stunning natural area that offers a stark contrast to the bright lights of the nearby Strip. Known for its red sandstone formations and desert landscapes, the canyon is part of the Mojave Desert and is a designated National Conservation Area.

Red Rock Canyon draws visitors from around the world, offering a variety of outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing. The 13-mile scenic loop is a popular way to explore the park, offering many spots to stop and take in the views.

Some of the most popular trails include the Calico Tanks and Ice Box Canyon trails, which include canyons, waterfalls, and panoramic views of the Las Vegas Valley.

Beyond outdoor recreation, Red Rock Canyon holds historical and cultural value. The area is home to petroglyphs and ancient rock art left behind by Native American tribes who once inhabited the region. Visitors can learn about the history and significance of the canyon at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center.

Las Vegas doesn’t have to be about gambling. The city offers so much more to holidaymakers these days. The desert city may have been made famous by its casinos and extravagant hotels, but it’s definitely the best holiday destination in the world for a car enthusiast.

Weather

Chicken Fried Lobster

Local Favorite: Chicken Fried Lobster

If you want something uniquely Las Vegas that has been exported to other locations around the United States, then head to Binions for chicken fried lobster. The dish's popularity has now seen it become available at a variety of dining establishments in Las Vegas. The dish is a large lobster tail deep-fried into a crunchy piece of heaven on a plate. Chicken fried lobster is served with baked potatoes, biscuits, and other fixings. It is a massive meal that will leave you feeling full. What makes the dish so good is the crunchy fried chicken batter it is dipped in before being plunged into the fryer.

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