Exploring Nevada: Your Ultimate Guide to the Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas
Planning a trip to Las Vegas this spring or later in the fall? There’s a long list of activities to enjoy or places to visit than most visitors can reasonably fit into a single itinerary. Nicknamed Sin City, Las Vegas thrives for its pulsating energy, extravagance, and, of course, its legendary casino culture.
From world-class entertainment and luxury resorts to iconic nightlife and unforgettable dining experiences, the options can feel endless. You could quite literally spend your day in the city jumping from a Michelin-starred dinner to a sold-out concert and then buzzing blackjack tables before finally unwinding in one of its lavish five-star hotels.
With that in mind, here’s our curated guide to the very best things to do in Las Vegas.
Visit the Grand Canyon
A trip to Las Vegas without a detour to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon will feel incomplete. While the Grand Canyon is a two-hour road trip from the resort city, helicopter rides cut that travel time by half with additional delectable experiences. You can enjoy lavish champagne on the ride, sky dive or even bungee jump.
Online gambling is also legal in Nevada, so if you never plan to visit the Strip, you can check out casinos from thousands of feet in the air, overlooking the steep-sided canyon. Leveraging a comparison platform like Casino.com USA makes finding a top-class casino easy, whether you’re standing atop the Gorge or in a lounge in the Grand Canyon Village.
Get a View of the Bellagio Fountains
Unlike a visit to the Grand Canyon, the famous Bellagio Fountains are free to watch. The display shows you approximately 1,210 water jets going off to a choreographed tune.
You can watch one of the displays at every 30-minute interval during the day, or every 15 minutes from 8pm. A good tip is to stay in a hotel room in the Bellagio overlooking the lake or have dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants with a splendid view.
Climb to the Top of the Strat Tower
Observe the rest of the city when you climb to the tallest freestanding observation tower in the U.S. The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower allows you to climb the 1,149-feet tall SkyPod for an impressive view of the Vegas nightlife, especially the Strip.
Consider riding the Big Shot, an adrenaline-pumping attraction that launches you 160 feet above the SkyPod at speeds of up to 45 mph. There’s also the X-Scream which lives up to its name by propelling you headfirst 27 feet from a staggering 866 feet above the ground.
Book a Gondola Ride
The Venetian Las Vegas, one of the city’s luxury hotel and casino resorts, recreates Venice’s Grand Canal, in what can be considered a sublime imitation of human engineering. Book a gondola ride to visit The Venetian or Madame Tussauds, all while enjoying the singing of your gondolier.
Ride the High Roller Observation Wheel
Located on the LINQ Promenade, the High Roller Observation Wheel is America’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet. A full rotation on the wheel takes 30 minutes, so you have ample time to soak in the Strip and the landscape behind it. For a better view, take the Ferris wheel ride at night.
Visit the Red Rock Canyon
Just outside Las Vegas, some 15 miles west, you have the spectacular Red Rock Canyon, home to Nevada’s foremost National Conservation Area. The Red Rock Canyon draws over three million visitors every year.
Popular activities include hiking along one or more of the 26 scenic trails, rock climbing, or simply driving through the Mojave Desert to admire its burnt-orange sandstone formations and desert wildlife.
Watch a Cirque du Soleil Show
Arguably the largest contemporary circus producer globally, Cirque du Soleil are prominent for their shows around the world. One standout show is the ‘O,’ the French word for water. Featuring 75 artists and built around a 1.5-million-gallon stage pool, you can watch Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio.
Enjoy the Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street in downtown Vegas is a five-block entertainment center known for impressive tourist attractions. The Fremont Street Experience features Viva Vision Light Shows, a 1,500-foot-long LED canopy screen, the Golden Gate Casino (Vegas’ oldest casino), Neon Museum, and SlotZilla Zipline. A few blocks away is the Mob Museum which brings to life Nevada’s long history with mob families.
Try Your Luck at the Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is reputed for its high concentration of casinos, hotels and entertainment centers. If you’re so inclined, you can explore iconic gaming floors at MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Wynn Casino or the recently opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
For visitors who prefer to skip the casino floors, the Las Vegas Strip still offers no shortage of upscale experiences, with its adults-only pool clubs, vibrant nightclubs and cocktail bars located throughout the city’s luxury resort hotels.
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See the Hoover Dam
Wrapping up your trip to Las Vegas? A visit to the Hoover Dam might be just what you need to close an adventurous chapter. The 35-minute drive takes you to what was the highest dam in the world upon its completion in 1935. It is named after President Herbert Hoover and is as tall as a 60-story building.
Final Thoughts on Enjoying Your Vegas Adventure
Las Vegas has far more to offer than any single visit could possibly cover. Still, these 10 standout attractions provide the perfect starting point for anyone looking to experience Vegas in with its neon lights and vice. If you’ve been considering a trip to Vegas, now is the time to start planning and truly discover why this iconic city is the Entertainment Capital of the World.
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