Las Vegas is known as THE city to gamble but it is also a city where you can do a lot more other things. Everything you dream of, you can do here. We already visited Las Vegas three times and did a number of things outside of the casino’s, well sort of. Because in the casino’s along The Strip, there are much more things to do.

Shop

Shop till you drop is something that you for sure can do in Las Vegas. Not only are there numerous shops and malls in the casino’s along the Strip but also outside this area you can do some shopping. At the north and south end of The Strip are some outlet malls that feature a lot of designer and brand outlet stores. These are complete shopping ‘villages’ with not only shops but also restaurants and places to drink.

 

Go to Red Rock Canyon

This conservation area is located 24km outside of Las Vegas and is composed of red rock formations (hence the name 😉 ). You can drive the loop road to see the main features of the area and stop at several places to explore the rocks from up close. If you are planning on hiking some of the trails, don’t forget to bring a lot of water.

And don’t forget to say hi to the desert tortoise that you can see at the visitor centre.

 

Go shooting

If you want to know what it is like to fire a gun, you can go to one of the shooting ranges in Las Vegas. You can fire any weapon you want, even older weapons. At Battlefield Vegas we shared the SWAT package that allowed to shoot with a Glock, a sniper rifle, and even a shotgun. I was surprised that the kickback was so powerful. This is an amazing experience because it is not every day you get this opportunity. Before and during the shooting, you get all the instructions that are needed to shoot in a safe way.

 

Stratosphere

At the top of the Stratosphere there are a number of thrill rides that are fun to do if you are not afraid of heights anyway. The Stratosphere being the tallest building of the Strip gives the attractions on top of it an extra dimension. There are three rides: Insanity, X-Scream, and Big Shot. When we were staying at the Stratosphere we only did X-Scream, that propels you headfirst out over the edge of the tower, and Big Shot, where you are shot 160 feet in the air followed by a free fall. Insanity was closed that day because there was too much wind.

 

Eat

Being in Las Vegas also means eating and drinking. You can try one of the many buffets at the hotels or have some fantastic burgers at for example Gordon Ramsey´s BRGR.

 

Go to Valley of Fire

Valley of fire, the oldest State Park in Nevada, is located 80k northeast of Las Vegas. It got his name because of the red Aztec sandstone formations. At several places in the park, you can see some petroglyphs left by the Anasazi. This is a really nice day trip away from busy Las Vegas.

 

Visit a ghost town

We visited Rhyolite on our way from Death Valley to Las Vegas. It is around 190 km outside of Las Vegas. In early 1905 it was a mining village, now there are just ruins left that are perfect for taking beautiful pictures.

 

Go to the Neon Museum

In downtown Las Vegas, you can visit the Neon Museum which shows signs of old casinos. The museum is restoring old neon signs and places them around the Fremont Street Experience. During an hour guided tour (which I recommend doing when it is dark), you learn more about neon signs but also about the history of Las Vegas. I would recommend buying your tickets in advance, as it sells out quickly, especially the night tours. And take a cab to the museum, it is located in a rather sketchy neighbourhood.

 

Visit Fremont Street

The Fremont Street Experience is a mall and attraction in Downtown Las Vegas. Each light show starts by turning off all the light of the buildings AND the casinos under the canopy. Concerts are held on three stages throughout Fremont Street. There is also a zip line for the brave ones.

 

Discover the inside of the beautiful casino’s

Casinos are not only the place to be for gambling. A lot of them are also very beautiful inside. Walk around in the Venetian and think you are in Italy, or go to the botanical garden of The Bellagio.

I have been to Las Vegas 3 times already and it still is a city I want to visit again, but just for a few days at a time. I especially like the atmosphere during the evening at the Strip and the buffets, they are amazing. I am already looking forward to my next visit.

What do you like/don’t like about Las Vegas