Things to Do in Las Vegas – Besides Gamble

You might think that Vegas is all about gambling, but there is other stuff to do. If the casinos have taken their share, check out some of these other activities. I have tried, when ever possible to list things that are not on The Strip, and when possible, unique to Las Vegas. I know that the Bellagio is on The Strip, but it truly is an amazing gallery. No other art gallery in the state has access to the kind of artwork you will find there.
I am also working on a list of the best off-strip restaurants, which also happen to be unique to Las Vegas, which I will be posting soon.

Outdoor

• Springs Preserve – The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate Las Vegas’ dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future.

Known as the birthplace of Las Vegas, the site of the Preserve was once home to bubbling springs that were a source of water for Native Americans living here thousands of years ago. It also sustained travelers of the Old Spanish Trail and Mormons who came to settle the West.

• Hoover Dam
• Red Rock Canyon
• The Atomic Testing Museum
• Bonnie Springs Old Nevada
• The Liberace Museum
• Valley of Fire
• Lake Mead
• Clark County Museum
• Outdoor Recreation

Golf

Las Vegas Golf

My Favorite Golf Courses

• Revere at Anthem
• The Legacy
• Rhodes Ranch

Arts

• Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
• The Clark County Exhibition Program
• Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
• Community College of Southern Nevada – Community College displays student and guest works.
• Donna Beam Gallery
• Marjorie Barrick Museum -  Located at UNLV
• Henderson Art Association – Non-profit organization to promote visual arts in Henderson.

Unique Fun Activities

• Ethel M Chocolate Factory
• Fast Lap - Indoor Go Carts
• Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
• SkyMania Trampolines and Dodge-ball…
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway – From NASCAR events to race driving school. Events are held throughout the year.

Restaurants – Not on the Strip

Las Vegas has lots of restaurants in the mega-resorts. While these are some of the finest culinary experiences in the world, Vegas has many off-strip originals.

• Rosemary’s Restaurant – My favorite, anywhere…
• Todd’s Unique Dining – Excellent Food.  Casual yet upscale dining.
• Metro Pizza – Vegas’s best pizza – 3 locations
• Panevino – Italian, great views of the strip without the hassle of the strip. Fantastic.

Hotel Deals RSS Feed

Due to the downturn in the economy Las Vegas is full of great deals right now
4-star hotels at 2 star prices! Get up to 60% off retail rates . This is the coolest thing around.
If you have never been to Vegas or are looking to visit here for the first time, now is the time.

Free Stuff to do on the Strip

If your staying down on the strip and are interested in some free activities try these

• The Volcano at the Mirage – Revamped and reopened in 2009.  The new volcano features more fire and original music by Micky Hart from the Grateful Dead. Even if you have seen it before, it’s worth seeing again.
• The Fountains of Bellagio – Absolutely amazing.  The fountains are great from the street, but I like to get a table on the terrace at the Fontana Bar.  You can enjoy a cocktail and watch the fountain shows with a front row seat.
• The Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio – The gardens are changed several time through out the year, so there’s always something new to see.
• Caesars Palace Fall of Atlantis Show – Located in the Forums Shops at Caesars Palace.  If you hapen to get there around fish feeding time, its neat to see the divers in the huge fish tank on the back of the attraction.
• Freemont Street Experience – Technically not on the strip.  It’s quite a walk, so you might want to take a cab.  Amazing light show and free street concerts almost every night on several stages.
• The Sirens of TI – at Treasure Island.  I think the show was better before the revamp, but it’s still a great setting and cool to see the ship sink.  Stick around following the show to see the ship un-sink.
• The Lion Habait at the MGM Grand – a one-of-a-kind Lion Habitat as a showcase for public education and appreciation for this majestic creature of nature.
• The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign – Located south of Mandalay Bay in the middle of Las Vegas Boulavard. The sign used to be surrounded by dirt, but the area has recently been improved to include a parking lot and landscaping, making it an attractive and popular place for a photo opportunity.

Some of these activities cost money, but if your looking for free activities, Vegas is loaded with them. Most of the mega-casinos have a “Front Feature” which is designed to generate traffic.

These links are sort of a stream of consciousness list. I figure I might as well make them available to everyone.