Best Things to do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas isn’t just a destination for parties, shows and gambling. There are some amazing museums, experiences, shops and attractions that make it a destination for the whole family. Earlier this year, my wife and I made a long weekend escape to Las Vegas and were able to explore parts of Vegas I didn’t even know existed. It’s a treasure trove of activities – you just have to know where to look.

Here are more than 25 different things you can do in Las Vegas. From this list, you can find what activities work for a family vacation, a couple’s retreat or a quick stop on your way through town.

I’ve done my best to organize them into three main sections: Museums, Stores/Shopping, and Attractions. While there could be some overlap between those categories, it gives you a starting point of ways to enjoy Las Vegas. The descriptions provide an idea of what each activity has to offer – and the links will take you to more information to help you plan your visit.

The list doesn’t include information on any of the shows in Las Vegas. It’s more focused on museums, sites and attractions in the city. But there are some pretty amazing shows to fit just about anyone’s interests.

Outside of Las Vegas, there are also many tours and day trip options. For example, many people will venture out to Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park, Zion National Park in southern Utah or the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Mob Museum

The Mob Museum is one of the more popular attractions in Las Vegas. It’s an opportunity to learn about the history of Las Vegas as seen through the eyes of mobsters and crime bosses. The museum also provides a national perspective on the mob, from its origins to high-profile crimes and the changing face of the mob through the years. The museum is located on the north end of the city and takes about 1-2 hours to explore all four floors of artifacts, history and exhibits.

Although prohibition is mentioned on the third floor of the museum, the basement helps bring more of it to life. A genuine speakeasy is located in the basement, reminiscent of the underground locations that served the prohibited spirits to people for a price.

Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is one of my favorite stops in Las Vegas. The guided tour provides an overview of the signs and the stories they tell about the city’s history. You may recognize signs from a famous casino or hotel along the tour. we checked it out at dusk and it made for the perfect experience.

But don’t stop at the guided tours. Get combo tickets so you can see the show Brilliant! It’s a show with music and animated projections and signs that will have you dancing.

Pinball Hall of Fame

Remember the hey day of pinball machines? Then you’ll want to check out the Pinball Hall of Fame. It’s a collection of machines from the 1950s-1990s. The Hall of Fame recently moved to a new building, offering more room for them to display the collection. But the museum isn’t just to display machines. Each one is a working machine you can play. The older machines are $0.25 per play, while the newer ones are $0.50. The Pinball Hall of Fame is definitely worth checking out while exploring Las Vegas.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit

The unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the frigid ocean waters in April 1912. As the ship sank, so did countless items from the prestigious ship. However, thousands of items have been recovered from the bottom of the ocean floor. Each item brings with it some story about the passengers and crew of the ship. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit shows you those artifacts and share stories about the people who were on the ship. Some lived, but many died.

After visiting Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, my wife and I ended up watching the 1998 film, Titanic, and it was uncanny to see the details that went into that movie, based on the artifacts we saw in the exhibit.

Shark Reef Aquarium

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a quick stop for families visiting Las Vegas. There are more than 2,000 animals swimming through its tanks – sharks, giant rays, sea turtles and more. One of the most popular spots in the aquarium is the glass tunnel where you are surrounded by aquatic life all around you.

The aquarium has various added experiences for guests that are worth checking out. Help feed the sharks or sea turtles. Dive with sharks. Check out their virtual theater experience to explore underwater without getting wet.

Hollywood Cars Museum

There are weird cars, classic cars, famous cars and decked out cars on display at the Hollywood Cars Museum in Las Vegas. It’s a real treat to wander through the garage and step back in time to the cars that made up some of the TV shows and movies I watched growing up. You may even recognize the Batmobile from the TV series in the photo above. The museum isn’t limited to just cars. There’s the A-Team van, a submarine vehicle from a James Bond film, and a pink, stretched limo with a hot tub in the back.

Bodies: The Exhibition

The human body is a fascinating machine. Bodies: The Exhibition is at the Luxor in Las Vegas, directly adjacent to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit. The exhibit offers unique looks at the human body. You can see muscles, organs and all the insides of the human body, expertly preserved. Think college anatomy lab. The exhibit also highlights the damage that can occur to organs from unhealthy habits like over-eating. It’s fascinating, and it’s up to you to know ahead of time if you can stomach it. Not that it’s gross. It’s just… different. Don’t be confused when you see Real Bodies (housed at Bally’s) advertised in Las Vegas as well – they are two different exhibits.

National Atomic Testing Museum

Knowledge is power. The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas has a wealth of information and resources on the Manhattan Project and the atomic testing that took place in America. It’s one of those underrated museums that travelers – families, couples or individuals – shouldn’t pass by if they are exploring Las Vegas. After visiting this museum, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the power of atomic energy, and with it… a greater respect for the power. This museum isn’t along The Strip. It’s a short drive or walk east of the Bellagio along Flamingo Road.

Meow Wolf – Omega Mart

You’ve likely wandered through your run-of-the-mill grocery store to buy bread, milk or even eggs. But have you ever picked up a can of dehydrated water, or seen a can of peanuts touted as nut-free? Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Las Vegas will leave you wondering why more grocery stores don’t have the creative juices flowing like they do. If you want a truly unique grocery shopping experience, plan to visit Omega Mart at Area 15 in Las Vegas.

Marvel’s Avenger Station

Regardless of the level of love you have for Marvel’s super heroes, AVENGER S.T.A.T.I.O.N. in Las Vegas let’s you dive into the world of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and Hulk. Located just north of Treasure Island, the adventure’s not just a museum where you get to look at exhibits. During your visit, you assemble a case file on each of the superheroes to prove your qualifications to become a member of the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network). Experience Bruce Banner’s Lab or an Iron Man simulator. If you think you are worthy, you can also try to lift Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir. But first, you have to be able to pronounce it correctly. 😉

Madame Tussauds

Everyone loves a good selfie. Especially if you can snag one with Vin Diesel, Katy Perry, Babe Ruth, Lady Gaga, Bette Midler or Captain America. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas gives you that chance to have some fun with your besties as you party with actors, celebrities, and sports heroes. The celebrity scene is worth spending an hour or two. Be sure your camera phone is full-charged and you’ve got plenty of room for the hundreds of selfies and photos you are sure to capture.

Natural History Museum

Take your family back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Explore the rocks that make up our world – including the ones that glow under the right lighting. And if you’re interested in marine life or wildlife, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum is a venue you’ll want to explore. There are also special exhibits that come through the museum, so just because you’ve been there once, doesn’t mean you can’ go back another time.

M&M World

You’ve seen the commercials. You’ve probably even enjoyed your share of the candies that melt in your mouth, not in your hand. But this popular stop on The Strip is four floors of M&M branded merchandise – playing cards, boxers, t-shirts, candy dispensers and more. The second floor features the largest chocolate wall in Las Vegas, with 125 tubes filled with just about every make, model and color of M&Ms. M&M World in Las Vegas even features a 4-D theater on the third floor so you can experience some fun with the iconic candy characters. You can spend 10 minutes or even an hour exploring the merchandise and grabbing some selfies with the characters in the store.

Coca-Cola Store

Next door to M&M World is the Coca-Cola Store. There’s lots of merchandise, like lip gloss, volleyballs, shirts, mugs and more. You can even grab a photo with the Polar Bear at their photo station near the exit of the store. There’s no charge for a selfie, but you can purchase the photos with fun backgrounds from the stand on the second floor. In my opinion, the second floor is the best stop for a drink along The Strip. You can try a Float Tray, which includes eight different ice cream soda floats. Rootbeer, Fanta, Coca-Cola and more. If you want to venture around the world, try their Taste of the World tray, featuring 16 soda flavors from around the world. We didn’t try that one, but we enjoyed watching the many faces of people who were trying them.

Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

Las Vegas has several stops for shopping. But The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is like a mall in the middle of Italy. Beyond the rows of shops that look like an Italian village, you’ll find statues and fountains with horses, Gods and Goddesses, fish and more. We saw several people grabbing a selfie in front of the various fountains. Even better… the ceiling is painted to look like the sky, so you feel like you’re really walking the streets of Italy. The stores are more focused around luxury shopping, so it was a little out of our price range. But it’s fun to do some window shopping.

Bellagio Glass Ceiling, Chocolate Fountain and Shops

The Bellagio is an extravagant hotel right on the Las Vegas Strip. But beyond the hotel rooms and casino, there are some fun activities anyone can explore while in Vegas. Enter through the main doors and look up. You’ll see the colorful glass flower ceiling. It’s hard to miss, and it’s quite the site (as seen from the photo above). Wander the halls of the Bellagio and you’ll come across numerous shops. One of which has an amazingly large chocolate fountain. From floor to ceiling, melted chocolate cascades its way down various outcroppings. Think of the chocolate river from the film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but in a think, flowing series of waterfalls.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Kisses. Peanut butter cups. Kit Kats. Twizzlers. All of those candies are amazingly delicious. You can step inside of Hershey’s Chocolate World in Las Vegas to see not only a collection of treats, but also a Statue of Liberty made out of chocolate. They’d better keep the air conditioner running, because it would probably melt in the summer heat. But the store is more than just candy bars and chocolate. Grab some branded merchandise or pick up a fresh, sweet treat from the bake shoppe. If you’re looking for your share of kisses in Vegas, visit the Hershey’s Kisses wall and check out the variety of flavors. Do you have a favorite?

Shopping & Dining at Paris Las Vegas

Regardless of whether you’re staying at the Paris Las Vegas hotel, you can still grab a delicious French treat in the little shops on the ground level. Every day, we grabbed a crepe from the creperie – they had dessert and dinner crepe options. There’s a pizza place, patisserie, piano bar and several other great spots. Near the northwest entrance of the hotel, plan for a romantic dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. We dined outdoors and had a great view of the Bellagio and the fountain show just across the street. There are some great restaurants at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

Outside of the amazing food spots, you’ll find clothing and souvenir shops, too. A walk down the hall makes you feel like you’re walking through the streets of France. 😉

Big Apple Roller Coaster at New York, New York

The Las Vegas skyline would be missing something if it weren’t for the New York, New York hotel. Just in front of the hotel’s towers is a roller coaster. The Big Apple Roller Coaster travels 67mph on a 180-degree “heartline” twist and dive maneuver and 203ft drop. On weekends, the ride is open till midnight, so you can enjoy a late-night ride before calling it quits for the day. Riders must be 54″ tall to take a ride.

High Roller Ferris Wheel at LINQ

Looking for a great view of Las Vegas and the Strip? Take a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ. It’s the world’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet. Each pod has windows that allow you to look in every direction. The wheel moves slowly, so plan on a 30-minute experience once you enter your designated pod.

Bellagio Fountains

The Bellagio Fountains are a must-see during a trip to Las Vegas. The large lake directly in front of the Bellagio Hotel and right off of The Strip lights up and dances every 30 minutes from about 3-8 p.m. (noon to 8 p.m. on busier days) and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Each show is a little different – different music and dancing patterns of the fountains. Some people grab a front row spot just as one show ends so they’ll be there for the next one. You can view the dancing waters from multiple locations, but the best is probably smack dab in front of the Bellagio.

Freemont Street

Freemont Street is what used to be downtown Las Vegas. Many of the signs at the Neon Museum came from old casinos and hotels on or near Fremont Street. Beyond the lights on the casinos and buildings along the street, a large screen of sorts provides cover year-round from the sky above. But it’s not just to keep people dry… it’s used as a screen for nightly Viva Vision Light Shows that are free for everyone to watch from the street below. You can also try zip-lining above the street with SlotZilla Ziplines. It’s definitely worth venturing off The Strip to catch the lights and shows on Freemont Street.

Eiffel Tower Observation Deck

Another way of capturing great aerial views of The Strip is to ascend to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower. Located at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, you can grab your ticket in the lobby and follow the guides up to the observation deck – towering 46 stories up. This Eiffel Tower is half the size of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but just as iconic to the city’s skyline as the one in France. A light show brings wonder to the skyline on the top and bottom of every hour, from sunset to midnight. Regardless of whether you ascend up to the observation deck or not, you should at least enjoy a view of the iconic tower and dream about the day when you can see the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Stratosphere (a.k.a. The Strat)

If you aren’t afraid of heights, and you’re looking for death-defying thrills, head to The Strat. The observation deck offers views of Las Vegas from 108 floors up. But that’s just the beginning of your experience. SkyJump allows you to strap in and safely jump off the side of the building. Um… no thanks. 🙂 Three thrill rides have you swinging or dangling over the edge of the Strat: Big Shot, Insanity and X-Scream. Visit their website to check out the attractions, hours of operation and costs to determine if your heart can handle that much thrill in a single building.

Gondola Ride at the Venetian

Nothing can be more romantic than riding a Gondola through the canals of Venice without even leaving the United States. Grab your partner or take the whole family on the relaxing ride under the arched bridges and into the Venetian Hotel shopping area. At the end of the canal, we observed a violinist providing romantic music to help continue the ambiance of being in Italy. The woman in the boat we were observing was filming the whole thing. I wonder: Would I be filming and photographing every moment of it, or trying to leave technology out of it and enjoy/savor the moment with my wife. It’s your call.

Fly LINQ Zipline

While Freemont Street has a zipline, so does the LINQ Hotel. Fly LINQ is the only zipline on the Strip (because Freemont Street isn’t considered The Strip). The ride begins atop a 12-story tower and travels more than 1,000 feet traveling at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They do have height and weight requirements/restrictions, so be sure and check those out before you purchase your tickets. If you’re in Vegas with friends, you can all plan to ride together, as Fly LINQ can have up to 10 riders flying side-by-side on separate lines. Who’ll go the fastest?

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden

My wife tipped me off to this great treasure of botanical beauty. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden is switched out quarterly to reflect different themes. The 14,000 square-foot area is full of colors and fragrances. Because it’s switched out regularly, and it’s free to visit, you can return to explore the garden every time you visit Las Vegas.

Summary

Las Vegas has just about any activity you’re looking for. If you’re wanting to party with your college friends, take a girls/guys trip to the city, catch a show, or escape with the kiddos for a weekend, you’ll find something to enjoy in the city. I was always hesitant to take my kids here because of the reputation the city has for gambling, strippers and bachelor/bachelorette parties. But after exploring the activities listed above, I think my kids would enjoy a getaway to check out the lights, museums, shows and foods of Las Vegas.

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