Most people go to Sin City for the casinos, the party atmosphere, and the potential for lots of debauchery. But Las Vegas doesn’t have to be all about shotgun weddings and pool parties if you don’t want it to be. It can actually be a really fun (and really affordable!) destination for people of all ages.
For the ones under 21, here’s how to have fun.
Enjoy The Strip at Night
Seeing the Las Vegas Strip at night was on my bucket list. It’s one thing I feel like a lot of people want to see before they die. And for good reason — it’s loud, bright, and neverboring. It IS long, though, so bring your walking shoes. And also don’t forget your sense of humor. The Strip is not for the faint-hearted, as it’s usually filled with a mixture of drunken revelers (most likely with open bottles, which are legal here), street performers, and men passing out trading cards with half-naked women on them. But instead of being overwhelmed or getting offended by it all, just enjoy the absurdity.
Even if you’re not staying at a hotel in the thick of things, you can hop on a bus that does a giant loop up and down The Strip. You can get a 24-hour bus pass for less than $10, though it should be noted that it takes forever to get through Vegas traffic.
Visit Hotel-Casinos During the Day
While the bright lights are dimmed when the sun comes up, there’s still plenty to do and see on The Strip during daylight hours. I recommend just taking in the sights at night, and saving exploration of the hotel-casinos for the daytime. Even if you’re not 21, you can still go into most of the hotel-casinos, as long as you don’t loiter around the gambling areas.
Here are some of the coolest things the Strip hotels have on offer:
Ride the roller coaster at New York, New York ($14)
Go behind the scenes of CSI at the MGM Grand ($31.50)
Check out the amazing Chihuly glass ceiling at the Bellagio (FREE)
Roam through the Bellagio conservatory, which is usually decked out according to a specific theme (FREE)
Watch the Bellagio fountains put on a show (FREE; frequently throughout the day and night)
Ride in a gondola at the Venetian ($29 per person, or $116 for a private 2-person ride)
Visit the shark reef at Mandalay Bay ($20)
Get your adrenaline pumping at the top of the Stratosphere, where thrill rides abound (or you could just take in the awesome view from nearly 1,000 feet up) ($20 for observation deck admission; rides extra)
Watch the volcano erupt at Mirage (FREE; every hour from dusk to 11 p.m.)
Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris (starting at $14.25 during the day)
Eat at a buffet (there are tons of delicious ones!)
Thrill rides atop the Stratosphere
And you can save on many of these attractions (plus much more, like Madame Tussaud’s or the Mob Museum) with a Las Vegas GoCard.
(*NOTE: All prices current as of March 2017.*)
Go Shopping
There’s plenty to do along The Strip outside of the hotels, too. Go shopping at one of the many stores that line the road, or check out some of the themed shopping areas, such as the ones at Luxor and the Venetian. Stop in to MnM’s World for some sweet souvenirs, or maybe even splurge to drive your “dream car” for the afternoon.
See a Show
Along with gambling, Las Vegas is also known for its over-the-top entertainment. Here you can find everything from Cirque du Solei performances to the Blue Man Group to sexy burlesque shows to intense magic shows to comedy/improv to concerts by some big-name stars. Sometimes you can get a good deal on shows through your hotel, but, if not, check out the half-price Tix4Tonight ticket stands around town. Similar to how you can buy cheap Broadway tickets at TKTS in New York City, unsold tickets for that night’s Vegas shows can be purchased here for up to 50% off.
Check Out a Museum
Museums probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when the average person thinks about Las Vegas. But there actually are some cool ones here! The most popular is definitely Madame Tussauds wax museum, located in the Venetian ($23.96 if you book online ahead of time). Here you can spend hours posing with lifelike wax models of all your favorite celebrities. There’s also a Pinball Hall of Fame (10 minutes southeast of The Strip) and the Neon Museum ($18), the place where many of Vegas’ neon signs have gone to die.
Cihuly ceiling at the Bellagio
Take “The” Vegas Photo
No, I’m not talking about a photo with a showgirl or half-naked Chippendale dancer. I’m talking about the photo in front of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The sign is located just south of Mandalay Bay on The Strip, and actually has a whole parking lot dedicated to it so you can stop on your way in or out of the city.
Take a Day Trip
Vegas is situated in the southernmost part of Nevada, making it close to a lot of nearby attractions that make great day trips. Such places include:
The Grand Canyon (especially the new Skywalk at the West Rim)
Red Rock Canyon
And here are some great tours to take you to these spots from Las Vegas:
Helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon
Combo tour (Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam)
The view from the Hoover Dam
This, of course, is not an exhaustive list. There’s so much more to do in Las Vegas than listed here. You could easily spend a week in Vegas and never once pull the arm of a slot machine.
Source: www.dangerous-business.com
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