Things to See and Do in Las Vegas, Nevada

Planning a trip to LAS VEGAS? Below is a list of “Insider Tips” for things to see and do in Sin City.

A must-do in Vegas, especially for the first time visitor, is to see all of the hotels and casinos on the strip.  Each one is an attraction of its own, with its own theme. The shows in Las Vegas are also really like nowhere else in the world. One show I always take visitors to is Mesmerized- a hypnosis show. I’ve seen it several times and still am amazed every time at the things the hypnotist makes the audience do.

If you are looking for typical Vegas cuisine, I recommend the buffet at the Wynn. Las Vegas is the city of gluttony and this place is the ultimate in great food in exorbitant amounts. The buffet has just about every kind of food you can imagine – from Kobe beef burgers to pizza to sushi- and it’s all exceptionally well done.

Looking to get away from the bright lights of the city? Take a day trip to the Grand Canyon. No place can make you feel as small as this massive canyon in the middle of the desert.

Las Vegas casinos

When you come to Las Vegas, take your picture in front of every casino on the strip.

Seeing a lot of gambling? Las Vegas is best known for its casinos. However, Las Vegas has plenty of other entertainment like the amazing shows for you to enjoy while you’re in town. Las Vegas is also host to plenty of trade shows during the year such as Luxury Travel Expo.

 

Views of the Las Vegas strip at night

The observatory on top of the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, the Eiffel tower at the Paris Hotel & Casino and the MIX lounge at the top of the Mandalay Bay offer an amazing view of the Strip at night.

If you feel like escaping the big city of Las Vegas, there are plenty of activities and parks to see around Las Vegas. Just to name a few: Mount Charleston, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, Area 51 and the Grand Canyon.

 

The casinos on the strip are so huge you will do quite a lot of walking in Las Vegas, make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. In case you are wondering, walking is definitely the best way to explore the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Museums
Las Vegas has a few interesting museums you might want to consider checking out while in town. The most popular ones are: Atomic Testing Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, The Neon Museum and the Madame Tussaud’s Museum.

Enjoy a night out on the town? There are plenty of options to choose from and your dancing doesn’t only have to happen at night. There are some great daytime pool parties during the warmer months from April through October like Encore Beach at the Encore, Rehab at MGM Grand, and many others. At night, some of the most popular dance clubs are Tao at The Palazzo, Lavo, and XS.

If you have some extra time you should go downtown and check out Fremont Street for a somewhat more local feeling of Las Vegas. View the Fremont Street Experience and other street performances.

Traveling with kids in Las Vegas

If you are traveling with kids, you might want to take them to the Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus Hotel. If you are able to afford a big splurge, I think a better spend would be on one of the many Cirque du Soleil shows. I went to “O” at the Bellagio and it was fantastic!

What are your favorite things to do in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Thanks to Eran Ackerman, founder of  SmarterVegas.com for assistance with this post. Grand Canyon photo courtesy of Luxury Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown.