Las Vegas, often dubbed “Sin City,” might conjure up images of bustling casinos, extravagant shows, and high-roller spending. For many, this isn’t the ideal vacation. If you’re someone who feels overwhelmed by the crowds, flashing lights, and gambling-centric atmosphere, you might think Vegas isn’t for you. But scratch beneath the surface, and you’ll discover a different side of Las Vegas, one brimming with natural beauty, quirky art, dazzling performances (that don’t require a wager), and a surprisingly diverse food scene. This guide is for you, the Vegas visitor who’s looking for incredible experiences beyond the blackjack tables.
We, like many, initially came to Las Vegas for a specific event, the 311 Day concert. However, over subsequent visits, we decided to venture beyond the concert venue and explore what else this desert city had to offer. What we found surprised us. Las Vegas is a city of hidden gems and unexpected adventures, far beyond the stereotypical “Sin City” experience. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather a curated selection of enjoyable things to do in Las Vegas when you’re looking for an alternative vacation.
Explore the Stunning Desert Landscapes Around Las Vegas
Las Vegas’s glittering facade is set against the backdrop of the Mojave Desert, a landscape of stark beauty and dramatic terrain. Just a short drive from the Strip, you can immerse yourself in breathtaking National and State Parks, and marvel at human engineering feats that blend into this arid environment. While reaching these destinations requires a rental car or a guided tour, the reward is escaping the city bustle and discovering the otherworldly landscapes that surround Vegas. On each trip, we made it a point to explore a new outdoor destination, and these are some of our favorites, along with places still on our list.
Grand Canyon National Park
How Far From Las Vegas?: Approximately a 4-hour drive
How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: Allocate at least a full day, considering the 4-hour drive. An overnight stay is highly recommended to witness a sunrise or sunset over the canyon.
Why Visit This Park?: While the Grand Canyon West Rim is closer to Las Vegas (about 2 hours) and features the Skywalk, for the truly awe-inspiring Grand Canyon experience, head to the South Rim within Grand Canyon National Park. The South Rim boasts a significantly greater depth (7000 feet vs. 4000 feet at the West Rim) and offers the iconic, panoramic views you expect from this natural wonder. The West Rim is part of the Hualapai Reservation and not technically within the National Park boundaries.
What Should You Do Here?: Maximize your visit by staying overnight to experience the canyon at sunrise or sunset. Make the drive part of the adventure by incorporating stops along historic Route 66.
Website: Grand Canyon National Park
Explore more photos and details from our Grand Canyon South Rim trip here.
Valley of Fire State Park
How Far From Las Vegas?: Approximately a 1-hour drive
How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: Valley of Fire State Park closes at sunset, so plan your visit accordingly. We managed a 2.5-hour visit after arriving in Vegas, which was enough to see key highlights, but more time is recommended for hiking and deeper exploration.
See more incredible views in our post on Valley Of Fire State Park When You Only Have Half A Day.
Why Visit This Park?: For breathtaking views with minimal effort, Valley of Fire is unmatched. While hiking trails are available, many of the park’s most stunning vistas are easily accessible from parking areas or along scenic drives. This makes it ideal for short visits, allowing you to experience a lot in a limited time. However, dedicating more time allows for a more immersive experience.
What Should You Do Here?: Drive Mouse’s Tank Road for incredibly colorful and dramatic views.
Website: Valley of Fire State Park
Death Valley National Park
How Far From Las Vegas?: Approximately a 2-hour drive
How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: Plan for at least a full day to explore Death Valley National Park at a relaxed pace. Key highlights can be seen in half a day if time is limited.
Why Visit This Park?: Death Valley offers unique, desolate desert landscapes with vibrant colors and rich history. As the hottest, driest, and lowest National Park, with parts nearly 300 feet below sea level, it feels like another planet. Its otherworldly terrain famously served as filming locations for the original Star Wars movies.
What Should You Do Here?: Must-see spots include Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point, each offering distinct and dramatic landscapes.
Website: Death Valley National Park
Hoover Dam
How Far From Las Vegas?: Approximately a 40-45 minute drive.
How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: A 1-2 hour visit is sufficient to take in the views and experience the dam.
Why Visit This Park?: While technically not a park, Hoover Dam is an incredible feat of engineering and a historic landmark. Its scale and the surrounding views are truly impressive.
What Should You Do Here?: “…take all the dam pictures you want,” as famously quoted from Vegas Vacation. Walk across the dam from Nevada to Arizona for panoramic views. Tours are available, but simply walking around offers a great experience.
Website: Hoover Dam Bureau of Reclamation
Outdoor destinations on our to-do list: Lake Mead, Page Arizona, Grand Canyon West, Red Rock Canyon, El Dorado Canyon.
Discover the Weird and Wonderful Side of Vegas
Escape the Strip’s predictable entertainment and delve into Las Vegas’s quirky and unconventional attractions. While crowds are still part of the Vegas experience, these destinations offer something different, a welcome departure from the casinos and bright lights.
Seven Magic Mountains
Launched in 2016 as a temporary exhibit, Ugo Rondinone’s large-scale public art installation, Seven Magic Mountains, remains a captivating sight. Located about 10 miles south of Las Vegas, these towering, brightly colored stacked boulders create a striking contrast against the desert landscape. It’s a fantastic photo opportunity, accessible only by car as public transportation doesn’t reach the site.
Visit the Seven Magic Mountain’s website for more information.
Area 15/ Meow Wolf
For a truly bizarre and immersive experience, Area 15 and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart are must-visits. Area 15 is an entertainment complex filled with interactive art installations, games, and unique attractions. Omega Mart, housed within Area 15, is a mind-bending interactive art exhibit disguised as a grocery store. Your ticket grants you entry into this surreal supermarket where hidden doorways and secret passages lead to bizarre and captivating worlds. Beyond Omega Mart, Area 15 offers bars and other entertainment (additional costs apply).
Visit the Meow Wolf website for more information.
The Neon Museum
Also known as the Neon Boneyard, The Neon Museum is on our Vegas to-do list, and images of this vintage Vegas sign graveyard are incredibly enticing. This unique museum preserves and displays iconic neon signs from Las Vegas’s past. Nighttime viewings are guided tours, while daytime visits allow self-guided exploration.
Visit The Neon Museum website for more information.
Fremont Street Experience
Downtown Las Vegas, home to the Fremont Street Experience, offers a sensory overload reminiscent of famous party streets like Bourbon Street, Sunset Strip, and Venice Beach, infused with vintage Vegas charm. While sharing the Strip’s bright lights and crowds, Fremont Street has a more laid-back and approachable vibe. The pedestrian mall is covered by a massive video screen canopy, providing nightly light shows and live entertainment.
Visit the Fremont Street Experience website for more information.
Other unique places on our list to check out: DTLV Arts District, Ethel M. Chocolates & Cactus Garden.
Enjoy the Vegas Strip Beyond the Casinos
Even if gambling, big shows, and high-end shopping aren’t your thing, the Las Vegas Strip still offers plenty of entertainment. If you find yourself on the Strip, here are some enjoyable and interesting activities that go beyond the typical casino experience.
Watch The Bellagio Fountains
The Bellagio Fountains are a classic Vegas attraction, and for good reason. Despite the inevitable crowds, the water show is captivating. Set to music and lights, the fountains perform regularly, every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the time and day.
Be sure to check out their website for the most up-to-date show schedules.
View The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden
Adjacent to the Bellagio fountains, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden offers a tranquil escape. This 14,000-square-foot garden transforms seasonally, showcasing stunning floral displays themed to each of the four seasons. It’s a beautiful and free sensory experience within the bustling casino resort.
Check out their site for more details on current displays.
Go On A Gondola Ride Through The Venetian Canals
The Venetian Resort itself is an attraction, meticulously recreating the canals of Venice, Italy, both indoors and outdoors. Enjoy a gondola ride, serenaded by a gondolier, for a unique and romantic Vegas experience. Choose between indoor or outdoor rides; we opted for the indoor canals to escape the desert heat. Rides last 11-13 minutes and include Venetian facts and songs. Private rides are available for a premium, otherwise, you’ll share a gondola. Don’t miss the Gondolier March, a twice-daily tradition at 9:45 am and 4:30 pm, where gondoliers sing in unison as they march along the indoor canal.
Check out their site for more details and ticket information.
See The World
The Las Vegas Strip is a 4.2-mile stretch of themed resorts, each representing different corners of the globe. From the Egyptian pyramid at the Luxor to the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, the Venetian canals, and the New York City skyline at New York-New York, the Strip is a whirlwind tour of global landmarks. Make it a fun game to spot and photograph all the worldly destinations during your visit.
Strip attractions on our to-do list: High Roller Observation Wheel, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, and the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Hotel.
Indulge in Vegas’ Diverse Food Scene
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Las Vegas boasts a surprisingly diverse and exciting food scene. From celebrity chef restaurants and Michelin-starred dining to hidden gems and casual eateries, Vegas caters to every palate and budget. To help navigate the culinary landscape, here are some of our favorite restaurants and places we’re eager to try. Many are conveniently located around The Cosmopolitan and Park MGM, our preferred hotels due to their modern ambiance and excellent dining options.
Secret Pizza
Tucked away on the 3rd floor of The Cosmopolitan, Secret Pizza lives up to its name. This unmarked pizzeria, hidden down a hallway adorned with vintage record covers, serves up delicious New York-style pizza. Despite the lack of signage and potential late-night lines, the pizza is worth the wait. It’s a no-frills spot focused on quality and flavor.
Beauty & Essex
Beauty & Essex offers a unique and glamorous dining experience hidden behind a faux pawn shop entrance, reminiscent of a speakeasy. The dimly lit, stylish interior sets the stage for a menu of shareable, flavorful dishes. Highlights include Mexican Street Corn Ravioli, ‘Chicken’ Arepas, and House Made Deep Dish Focaccia Bites. The standout dish, and a personal travel meal highlight, is the Grilled Cheese, Smoked Bacon & Tomato Soup Dumplings – an incredibly delicious and unforgettable combination. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for prime dining times.
Momofuku Milk Bar
Momofuku Milk Bar, from renowned chef Christina Tosi, is a must-visit for dessert lovers. Known for innovative and playful treats, Milk Bar’s Birthday Cake and Cereal Milk Ice Cream are iconic. The Birthday Cake is moist and flavorful, and the Cereal Milk Ice Cream uniquely captures the taste of milk leftover from a bowl of cereal. It’s become a staple for us whenever we’re in Vegas or other cities with a Milk Bar location.
Dirt Dog
Located in downtown Las Vegas, Dirt Dog offers gourmet hot dogs with creative and flavorful toppings. While we only tried the Elote Fries, they were outstanding, seasoned perfectly and incredibly addictive. The hot dogs themselves look equally impressive and are definitely worth trying.
Black Tap
Black Tap is famous for its over-the-top, Instagram-worthy milkshakes. These “CrazyShakes” are towering creations loaded with candy, cookies, and various toppings. While we were too full to try a milkshake after our meal, the dedicated milkshake-making station in the restaurant highlights their commitment to these decadent treats.
Hello Kitty Cafe
For Hello Kitty fans, the Hello Kitty Cafe is a delightful stop for adorable treats and drinks. The Strawberry Lemonade is particularly refreshing, and the cafe offers a range of cute pastries and snacks perfect for a sweet treat or late-night snacking.
Eataly
Eataly, an Italian marketplace and food hall, offers a vibrant and immersive culinary experience. While not unique to Vegas, the Eataly location on the Strip is a great place to explore various Italian food stations, sample different dishes, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Reservations are recommended for larger groups to ensure seating together.
Eggslut
Eggslut is the perfect spot for gourmet egg sandwiches. As their name suggests, they believe eggs elevate any dish. With several locations, Eggslut is a reliable choice for a delicious and satisfying breakfast or brunch in Vegas.
In-N-Out Burger
For those from outside the West Coast, In-N-Out Burger is a must-try. This iconic fast-food chain is a regional favorite, known for its fresh, made-to-order burgers and “secret menu” options. For East Coasters and Midwesterners, In-N-Out is an obligatory first meal upon arrival in Vegas.
Restaurants & bars on our to-try list: Best Friend, La La Noodle, Superfrico, Ghost Donkey, The Laundry Room, Nomad Library, Mama Rabbit, Lucky Day, The Henry, Black Out Dining in the Dark, Bouchon, Hash House A Go Go.
So, there you have it – a curated list of things to do in Las Vegas for those who think they don’t like Vegas. After our recent explorations, we’ve definitely warmed up to Las Vegas and are eager to continue checking off destinations from our growing to-do list on future visits. We hope this list inspires you to discover a different side of Las Vegas and enjoy your visit, even if gambling isn’t on your agenda.
Did we miss any must-see destinations or unique attractions that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments!
