Top 10 things to do in Las Vegas beyond the partying
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Interested in experiencing Las Vegas beyond the inside of a casino? Fear not; ’Sin City’ has something for everyone regardless of age, gender or interests. I’ve now visited three times and seen something different every time. Here are my suggestions for top 10 things to do in Las Vegas beyond the partying!
1. Visit the Grand Canyon
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Country
United States
It’s the number one nearby attraction and options to visit the Grand Canyon include coach trips to helicopter rides plus the optional Skywalk and Hoover Dam. A helicopter ride will be unforgettable, especially as lots of excursions land inside the canyon.
Total journey time is around 5 hours, but if you take the coach, you need to allow about 10 hours. Most trips visit the popular Skywalk, for which tickets are usually sold separately. We can book all trips for you and are sure to advise on which one will best suit your needs!
2. Artists in Residence
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After a short break, Britney Spears returned to her Planet Hollywood residency from August 2015. Celine Dion has a long-standing residency at Caesar's Palace, while Shania Twain and Elton John make annual appearances. Besides these artists, no trip to Vegas would be complete without seeing true Vegas stars Donny and Marie at the Flamingo Showroom!
3. Shows
Nearly every major hotel on the Strip offers a Cirque Du Soleil show. These include the water-based ‘O’ at the Bellagio, Seductive skills at ‘Zumanity’ at New York, New York and the classic Beatles ‘Love’ at the Mirage - you can buy bargain price tickets from outlets on the Strip.
More Broadway shows are making it to Vegas and tickets are reasonably priced. I saw ‘Jersey Boys’ at Paris, in October 2014 and tickets for the London show started at £25 for seats in the rafters, but in Vegas, we had tickets five rows from the front for $60 each (about £40). There are also numerous magic shows including David Copperfield and Penn & Teller
4. World Renowned Dining
I’m a bit of a foodie, so I always research food and quite often base my days around it! You could try the excellent buffets, or eat every bit of fast food under the sun but if you want to take advantage of a favourable GBP/USD exchange rate, Vegas offers better dining.
Steak is big here, and Vic and Anthony’s in Old Vegas is the place to head for. It ties in nicely with a visit to Fremont Street (old mob-run Vegas) plus the food and the décor are lovely. If fine dining takes your fancy, I recommend heading to Picasso at the Bellagio; £125 for a degustation meal with wine to match each course or a pre-theatre dinner is £50.
5. Gun Ranges
Admittedly not everyone’s idea of fun, but for those who want to shoot - Vegas offers some gun ranges. Please make sure you visit a reputable range, so your safety is the highest priority.
6. Helicopter Rides
If you can’t stretch to a helicopter ride over the canyon, opt for a helicopter ride over the strip, as I did. There will be a maximum of 6 people on board your guided tour. Two couples got engaged on our trip – although one on the ground as she was too scared to get in the helicopter!
If you want to include this trip, we can quickly build it into your stopover package - it works out about £80 per person.
7. The High Roller
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Vegas always has to go bigger and better, right? The High Roller is the world’s most giant Ferris wheel, and it makes the London Eye look like a speck. It’s taken its place as the latest fixture on the Strip.
8. Sky Diving
The desert around Vegas is magnificent, so where better to experience a sky-dive? There are plenty of different companies, and some offer views of the Hoover Dam while others offer views of Vegas hurtling towards you three miles up. That’s not the type of view Australia or New Zealand will provide!
9. Stratosphere Tower
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Adrenaline junkies should head straight for the Stratosphere Tower. The five thrill rides at the top of the tower (108 floors up) are not for those with a fear of heights. I didn't dare to go, but I hear that the views and rides are brilliant. The Sky jump lets you descend the full tower - bragging rights earned I think!
10. Fremont Street
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Fremont Street is in old Vegas, where the mob ruled and there remains a delicious sensation of tackiness and everything is cheap cheap cheap. It’s a bus ride anyway from the Strip but worth the journey if you’ll be in Vegas for a few days and want to see the ‘seedier’ side. The street itself is undercover, and there’s a show to see every half hour which is brilliant to see.
And... 11. Get married in Las Vegas
Las Vegas makes also a popular wedding destination for any budget and US hospitality means you’ll be looked after. Anything goes here, whether you want to be married by Elvis at the Little White Wedding Chapel or even get hitched flying over the Grand Canyon. Our weddings department can arrange every aspect of your Las Vegas wedding – check out some Las Vegas wedding ideas here.
Getting there and away
Las Vegas is an excellent stopover for many multi-stop flights or a standalone holiday destination. Here are some ideas for how to combine 'Sin City' on a wider itinerary:
- Our Las Vegas - San Francisco road trip which can be done in either direction
- This Yosemite & Napa Valley small group tour will take you from Las Vegas to San Francisco
- Sin Surf & Sierras - a small group tour that will take you to from Las Vegas to Los Angeles
- San Diego, Grand Canyon & Vegas – small group tour ending in Las Vegas in the Grand Canyon
- Western USA Family trip – ideal for families wanting to visit Las Vegas and beyond
Interested in visiting Las Vegas
If you’d like to book a trip to the USA or a stopover in Las Vegas, we plan all of the arrangements, including direct or multi-stop flights and accommodation and tours to suit your style and budget. To start planning your trip and for more advice, call us on 1273 320 580 or request a quote by email.
