When someone says Las Vegas, one of the first things that comes to mind are casinos. And with reason. However, it’s not the only thing that you have to look forward to. Once you get past the glitz and magical lights, you’ll find a town filled with other equally exciting activities, such as world-class shopping, outdoor hikes and tours, shows and performances, and museum hopping.
If you are looking for other things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada, here’s a list of some of the best Las Vegas activities you can add to your itinerary.
AT A GLANCE:
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Often referred to as Sin City, Las Vegas is located in the Mojave Desert. Right smack in the middle of the city is a 4.2-mile stretch called the Strip, which houses some of the world’s largest and most extravagant casinos.
While two of the most iconic casinos along the Strip are the Bellagio and the Venetian, they offer more than gaming. The Bellagio is also famous for its stunning fountain and synchronized performances. The Bellagio also has a beautiful indoor conservatory and botanical garden, and rooms from which you can see The Sphere, the latest Las Vegas attraction that has generated worldwide buzz.
In fact, it tops our list of things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada:
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EXPERIENCE THE SPHERE
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EAT OFTEN AND WELL
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EXPLORE ‘OLD’ LAS VEGAS
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SEE THE SIGHTS BY HELICOPTER
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GET A FULL LUXURY SPA TREATMENT
- Choose the right spa. This is key to addressing your goal or problem area Check out reviews and coordinate with the spa, especially if you have health concerns like allergies.
- Ask about packages and promos. If you want to get the most out of your day, inquire about spa packages or promos, especially if you’re a hotel guest. Buying a package usually means being entitled to multiple services at a discounted price.
- Do the services correctly. For treatments with multiple services, ensure you schedule them in the correct order. For example, it’s ideal to have a massage before the facial because the massage can relax and invigorate your skin. Consult the specialists.
- Bring the right companion. You can have a spa day by yourself and get some quality “me” time, but if you choose a friend, choose someone who enjoys treatments and someone you’re comfortable with.
- Don’t rush. Consider making your spa visit a whole-day event if your schedule permits. After relaxation treatments, having a hectic schedule afterwards can be counter-productive.
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TAKE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
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DISCOVER WEIRD AND WONDERFUL MUSEUMS
By now you must have seen the mind-blowing clips of the band U2 performing at The Sphere, the new 366-foot-tall, 20,000-capacity entertainment venue in Las Vegas. It opened October 2023 and provided an immersive experience thanks to the high-resolution LED screen that wraps itself halfway round the venue and a sound system that allows the audience to feel sound vibrations.
The exterior is no less impressive. The Sphere has already changed the Las Vegas skyline, with 580,000 square-feet of fully programmable LED lights that allow it to change its appearance depending on occasion or time of day.
Book tickets to some of its immersive shows, including repeats of the U2 concert in January and February 2024, interactive experiences, and multi-sensory films. Explore what you’re in for and be prepared for your jaw to hit the floor.
Over the years, the Las Vegas food scene has evolved from a city of hotel buffets and steakhouses to a culinary mecca with top-tier restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs. Choose any cuisine, and you’ll likely find one or two popular outlets within walking distance from where you stand. Food hopping and trying the different restaurants in the city is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cathédrale. This French-Mediterranean restaurant and bar is located in the ARIA Resort and Casino lobby. Cathédrale by Tao Group Hospitality oozes urban decadence and grandeur. Its must-try dish is the ] Omelette, a signature dish from the New York site. This egg dish is filled with crème fraiche and chives topped with fingerling potato chips and Kaluga caviar.
Mizumi. If you’re looking for modern Japanese food in a fine-dining setting, Mizumi’s sushi and sashimi will satisfy that craving and more. Located inside Wynn Las Vegas, Mizumi offers imaginative dishes like the bluefin tuna tataki with emulsified ponzu, Japanese onion aïoli, chives, soy marinated garlic, and micro mizuna. It also has a teppan menu featuring Japanese purebred wagyu and signature appetizers for sharing.
Golden Steer Steakhouse. It doesn’t get more Las Vegas than this. This steakhouse has been serving choice chops and seafood items since 1958, making it one of the oldest eateries in all of Las Vegas. It sets the scene for old-school Las Vegas with red-hued booths and vintage memorabilia. If you decide to eat here, the bone-in rib eye is a must.
Wicked Spoon. Try one of Las Vegas’s best brunch buffets. Wicked Spoon at the Chelsea Tower serves all-day brunch and has something for everyone, whether pasta, taco, pancakes, short ribs, or snow crabs.
Cipriani Las Vegas. When it comes to Italian fare, check out this go-to eatery. Their homemade baked tagliolini with ham is addictive with its bechamel sauce and prosciutto. This place gets packed, so call and book a table in advance to avoid long waits and delays because of the crowd.
Spago Restaurant You cannot talk about food attractions in Las Vegas, Nevada, without mentioning chef Wolfgang Puck’s beloved Spago restaurant. This fine-dining establishment is located inside the Bellagio Resort & Casino and specializes in upscale American fare. Its menu includes homemade pasta and 30-day dry-aged steaks. If you like pizza, you’ll love the smoked salmon pizza.
Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets. Don’t miss out on couture doughnuts and beignets like pumpkin spice, crème Brule doughnuts, or Nutella Oreo beignets. Saint Honore is a must-try for dessert lovers looking for high-quality pastries and coffee. Some of their specialty flavors are only available on weekends, and it’s best to order ahead as the shop can get quite full.
Head to “Old Vegas” or Downtown and experience unique attractions and historical sites. Fremont Street and the surrounding areas are referred to as Las Vegas’s Art District, but there are a myriad of things to do in this area alone.
Thrillseekers will enjoy the Fremont Street Zipline that covers five city blocks and descends from a height of 11 stories.
The Fremont Street Light Show pavilion is a pedestrian walkway that’s nearly 1,400 feet long and 90 feet wide. Be there between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. and crane your neck for the gigantic light display and music show. The pavilion is completely free and a great way to spend an evening.
While Las Vegas seems shiny and new, it has a rich history, and those who want to step into the past will enjoy the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic Park. This structure is the remnant of the Mormons who settled in the area around 1855. As a bonus, the park is a short walk to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, which has exhibits on ancient Egypt, dinosaur fossils, and wildlife.
See the Grand Canyon in all its glory – from the top. Several tour companies offer aerial tours from Vegas to Boulder City, allowing you to appreciate this natural wonder from a helicopter. Helicopter tours are available for the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Vegas Strip. In a related activity, step into the vertical wind tunnels of Vegas Indoor Skydiving and feel yourself lift off and hover in the air.
The best time to go on a helicopter tour to see the sites and attractions in Las Vegas, Nevada is early summer because of the milder temperatures. Mornings tend to have clearer skies, but the weather and its variations are impossible to predict.
If helicopter rides aren’t for you, consider riding the High Roller Observation Wheel and traveling 550 feet above ground. The ride is about 30 minutes long and offers a unique city view.
If you want to see the best of Las Vegas, join one of the open-top bus tours around the city. Most bus tours go through Fremont Street. For a truly unique experience, opt for a Segway tour and cover more ground without hurting your feet. As you explore Fremont, you’ll see all kinds of acts, from showgirls and acrobats to celebrity impersonators, musicians, and contortionists.
Just because the city is alive and always buzzing doesn’t mean you need to be on the go each and every moment. Take time to relax at one of the many spas located in the city. Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxing massage or looking for salon pampering, there are many Vegas spa treatments to choose from.
Check out The Spa at Encore and experience tranquility. Treatments include exfoliation and hydration, and you can get two therapists to perform the ultimate synchronized massage. The Spa and salon at ARIA’s stony treatment and the gemstone facial are absolute must-tries. So is the Himalayan salt-air room for halotherapy, a treatment that involves breathing tiny salt particles that are said to have therapeutic effects for people with asthma and bronchitis. Meanwhile, the Spa at The LINQ Hotel offers a poultice massage that uses an aromatic herb bundle for relaxation and energy balance.
If you’re adding a spa day to your list of things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada, maximize the experience and keep the tips below in mind to make the most out of your spa day experience:
If you have a few days in Nevada and want to take in the outdoors, include spending the morning at Valley of Fire State Park in your Las Vegas activities list. The park has several easy hikes and viewpoints to check out. The views are breathtaking, and the scenic drive is one for the books. The Park is about 45 to 60 minutes outside of the city, and sights you cannot miss include the Fire Wave and White Domes Trail, Atlatl Rock, and Mouse’s Tank Road.
If hiking isn’t for you and wine tasting is more your speed, head over to Pahrump. This small town is a mere 45-minute drive from Las Vegas and has three local wineries you can check out. Both Sanders Family Winery and the Pahrump Valley Winery offer free tasting, while Artesian Cellars charges a small fee.
The Lion Habitat Ranch is a great place to learn about the King of the Jungle for people traveling with kids. The whole family can spend the day interacting with lions and learning about animal conservation and responsible stewardship. The Ranch has guided and self-guided tours.
Car enthusiasts must block out time to check out Richard Petty Driving Experience. Do a ride-along with a professional driver and travel 140 miles per hour along the one and only Las Vegas Speedway. You can also get in the driver’s seat and drive a super-fast car on your own.
Museum geeks have multiple options. One of the great things about Las Vegas is that many of its museum attractions are one of a kind. For example, Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum is great for those who love the strange, while the Mob Museum is an excellent way to learn about the history of organized crime.
Las Vegas is also the home of the National Atomic Testing Museum, a facility affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, which features rare artifacts and collections related to the US atomic testing program. Another weird and wonderful museum is the Pinball Hall of Fame. Visit the museum and feast on a massive arcade filled with pinball machines from the 1950s through to the 1990s.
LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both tourists and residents have a lot of experiences and events to look forward to. If you’re interested in making Las Vegas your home, let me, Anthony Romeo, guide you through the process of buying and owning a home in Las Vegas.
Our team has over two decades of Realtor experience within and around Las Vegas, and we can help you find the right investment opportunity.
Live in a city that has loads to offer so you can live your best life. Call 702-353-6759 or contact us here to get started on finding your dream Las Vegas home.