A Trip to Las Vegas Attractions and its Surroundings

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

General

The following article deals with attractions in the city of Las Vegas outside of the hotels as well as travel destinations outside the city located within a driving distance of less than 3 hours from it.

For attractions inside the hotels in Las Vegas, read the article: Attractions in the "Strip" hotels of Las Vegas.

General details about Las Vegas are provided in the article: The traveler's guide to Las Vegas.

Additional article: Shows in Las Vegas

 

Guided Tours in Las Vegas

Food tour by Secret Food Tours

A highly recommended food tour (one of the best food tours I've experienced, and I am a serious foodie who integrates a food tour everywhere...) in Las Vegas by the company Secret Food Tours, which has food tours all over the world. This is a completely different tour from food tours in large city centers or neighborhoods. The tour is held in the large hotels on the Strip among restaurants belonging to celebrity chefs who participate in television programs such as Gordon Ramsay, Giada, and Buddy (each has a different and recommended cooking show) or to other famous people like Oprah Winfrey.

 

The guide Bobby was amazing and full of knowledge and told us fascinating stories about the hotels, the chefs, the food, and Las Vegas secrets.

 

The food - varied, large and tasty portions, and you even get alcoholic drinks in two places, sangria and a light sparkling wine (goes well with the chocolate tastings at the end). In short - three and a half hours of good food, entertainment, learning, and enjoyment.

♦ Las Vegas attractions - to order from Viator:

 

Las Vegas Hotels

The heart of the city is one wide and long street whose official name is Las Vegas Boulevard, but it is known by its nickname the "Strip" (STRIP) and in it are concentrated most of the large hotels and special attractions. Each hotel has a giant covered parking lot offered even to those who are not staying in the hotel (sometimes for a fee). The main entertainment is moving from one hotel to another, touring the hotel and using its entertainment facilities.

Main recommended hotels in Las Vegas:

5-star hotels

♦ Venetian Hotel - The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas

A 5-star hotel, among the largest in the world, with an amazing design inspired by Venice in a central location on the Strip. The hotel has spacious suites, over 40 types of restaurants! A shopping complex with over 150 boutique shops, 10 outdoor pools! A high-quality casino, free spa and gym, the hotel houses Madame Tussauds wax museum, free internet, and parking.

♦ Bellagio Hotel - Bellagio

A magnificent 5-star hotel with luxurious furniture in the rooms, magnificent fountain shows every night. Artistic design throughout the hotel. The hotel has 5 pools, a gym, a wide variety of restaurants. Parking and internet for a fee. Central location on the Strip.

♦Wynn Hotel - Wynn Las Vegas

A magnificent 5-star hotel, with a large casino, several pools, a luxury shopping complex, and special restaurants. Free parking, internet for a fee.

4-star hotels

♦New York New York Hotel: New York New York

A 4-star hotel built like New York skyscrapers with a large Statue of Liberty in its front and a roller coaster surrounding it. Spacious rooms, various restaurants, pool, parking and internet for a fee. Central location on the Strip.

♦Paris Hotel - Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

A 4-star hotel in a Parisian atmosphere with an Eiffel Tower, rooms in French design and more. Pool on the hotel roof, 11 restaurants, 5 bars and a large casino. Internet and parking for a fee. Central location on the Strip.

♦ Mandalay Bay Hotel, Mandalay Bay

A 4-star hotel with pools and a water park that includes a sandy beach. A variety of clubs, bars and a casino. The hotel has an aquarium with a variety of sharks and other animals. Internet and parking for a fee. Rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum view. Located in the southern part of the Strip.

3-star hotels

♦The Strat Hotel - The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Skypod

A 3-star hotel with a high observation tower that includes cool amusement rides for the brave at the top of the tower! At the top of the tower is also a rotating scenic restaurant. Located in the northern part on the Strip. Free internet and parking. 2 pools and a variety of restaurants. Music with a DJ every night, show hall. 

♦Excalibur Hotel - Excalibur

A 3-star hotel in the middle of the Strip, built as a castle, with 4 pools, 6 restaurants, gym, internet and parking for a fee. 

 Recommended suite hotels in a central location:

♦ Marriott's Grand Chateau -  Marriott's Grand Chateau

A 4-star hotel with rooms and family villas, near the Strip, outdoor pool, gym, free internet and parking. Non-gaming and non-smoking hotel. 

♦ Desert Rose Resort -  Desert Rose Resort

A 3-star resort with suites of one or two rooms plus a living room and equipped kitchen. Heated outdoor pool. Gym and jacuzzi. Free internet and parking. 

♦ Holiday Inn Club Vacations -  Holiday Inn Club Vacations: Las Vegas at Desert Club Resort

A 3-star suite and room hotel. In the suites there is an equipped kitchen. 5 heated pools, restaurant, 2 gyms, 5 jacuzzis, game room, mini golf. Free internet and parking.

 

Attractions in Las Vegas City

The Linq

Near The Linq hotel, a relatively small hotel, one of the oldest built in Las Vegas, which in the latest renovation the hotel was expanded and an impressive entertainment and shopping complex was also built. In the center of the complex there is a promenade with a Ferris wheel, many restaurants and the following attractions:

♦ The High Roller Ferris wheel, which is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world (even more than the famous "London Eye").

♦ Zipline over the entire complex there are several zipline cables that are operated together as shown in the following image:

 

 

♦ Virtual Reality, VR Adventures, where you will put on special glasses and choose your favorite "reality": would you like to walk on a beam between 20-story skyscrapers? Or maybe you've always dreamed of hovering like a superhero over the Las Vegas skies? Maybe a flight simulator will excite you? Or would you dare to enter the haunted horror house? In the virtual reality complex you can realize these thrilling fantasies. ♦ Ice Bar

 

 

♦ Free light show with music at night

 

♦ Large candy store I Love Sugar:

 

♦ A cool Selfie Museum.

 

♦ Shows in Las Vegas - book from Viator:

 

Fremont Street Experience

In the city center "Downtown" whose main street is "Fremont" street between the hotels a pedestrian mall was established whose ceiling is built as a giant screen consisting of 2.1 million lights and powerful speakers are connected to it. In this place, whose establishment cost 70 million dollars, a magnificent sound and light show called: Fremont Street Experience takes place every evening at nightfall every full hour, changing every hour. Viewing the show is free. It is recommended to arrive specifically to see this show. The street is located within a few minutes' drive from the northern end of the Strip.

 

SlotZilla Las Vegas Zip Line

Located on Fremont Street, the wait for the show in Fremont can be spent pleasantly among the souvenir shops located in the pedestrian mall and nearby action lovers will greatly enjoy gliding (for a fee of course) on ziplines from the heights of a giant slot machine 12 stories high SlotZilla Las Vegas Zip Line. The slide is under the illuminated dome of Fremont Street. There are two types of sliding: the regular zipline where you glide sitting and the "Superman" - "Zoomline" where you glide lying down. 

 

Area 15 complex

This is a new art and entertainment center in Las Vegas that centers within it a variety of attractions and shows as will be detailed later. The complex resembles a giant bunker in its external appearance. In the place there is also a unique restaurant, an ice cream parlor, a drinks bar and game halls. It is required to book tickets for the facilities and performances in advance on the website. The site is located at the northern end of the Strip west of the highway (I15). Address: 3215 S Rancho Dr #100, Las Vegas, NV 89102, United States.

 

♦   Meow Wolf - Omega Mart

This is a unique and interactive art and entertainment center providing a powerful multi-sensory experience including art displays, video and music production and virtual reality content. The center located in the complex called AREA 15 was established by an artist collective from Santa Fe. They opened the first permanent display in Santa Fe and in 2021 opened the aforementioned center in Las Vegas. Inside the complex guests discover a mystery house, secret passages, transparent and glowing slides between floors, portals to magical worlds with a combination of surrealistic, maximalist and hypnotic art exhibitions. Tickets must be booked in advance! 

A supermarket with special products:

 

Mirror room:

 

Glowing slides:

 

Short video on the visit to Meow Wolf - Omega Mart:

 

Additional attractions at AREA 15

There are additional new attractions active at the site and others still under construction.

Among the additional active attractions:

♦ Five Iron Golf - virtual golf course (includes a drinks bar):

 

♦ Birdly - flight simulator in virtual reality

Intended for a single person lying on a bird-like facility with virtual reality glasses on their head. The facility simulates flight over forests and over skyscrapers.

♦ OZ Experience - virtual reality experience

Intended for several participants simultaneously in virtual reality adventures.

♦ VIRTUALIS - group virtual reality games

Intended for 2 to 5 participants in an adventure mission with glasses and equipment for virtual reality effects. Several adventures can be chosen.

♦ HALEY’S COMET - zipline experience

Two zipline tracks on the roof of the large complex where you can compete with your partner in gliding speed.

♦  LOST SPIRITS DISTILLERY

A one-hour tour including spirit tastings at a distillery that resembles a surrealistic amusement park more.

♦  DUELING AXES - ax throwing

18 ax throwing tracks (yes, not bowling...) for up to 6 participants per track. There is also a drinks bar on site. You can also just sit and have a drink.

♦ EMPORIUM - game hall with a music bar and events

An entertainment site for classic and new Arcade games, snooker, wall paintings and special decor combined with music and drinks.

♦ Museum Fiasco

A combined sound and light show with a special display.

♦ Particle Quest - particle search with a special mask

♦ Wink World

A combined experience of lights, shapes and sounds.

 

♦ Shows:

Rated Red - unusual sexy show (for adults over 21)

Van Gogh - a show presenting Van Gogh's paintings with movement, lights and sound effects.

 

♦ Food and drink:

There is a special restaurant at the site (like everything in the complex...) called The Beast, an ice cream parlor called Emack & Bolio's, a candy store called: Rocket Fizz and a drinks bar called ODDWOOD with digital forest lighting.

 

Hover chamber - Skydiving

Anyone interested in hovering in the air like in a free fall can experience this in a special hover chamber where a fast vertical air current causes you to hover in the air. You are dressed in a special overall over your clothes and a guide assists you to hover.

Showcase

An attraction worth visiting is the Showcase adjacent to the MGM hotel and in it several attractions such as: M&M's World (the well-known chocolate products) this is a giant four-story store, containing all M&M products and many accompanying products in a colorful display that includes tastings. Admission is free. Open all days of the week, from 9:00 in the morning until midnight.

SPEEDVEGAS car racing center

Another attraction for car and racing enthusiasts is Las Vegas' modern car racing center, SPEEDVEGAS, where you can also drive Ferrari and Lamborghini. Address: 14200 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89054

"Neon Museum" Neon Museum

In Downtown is also located the Neon Museum which is actually a historical collection of neon signs taken from various hotels and motels in Las Vegas starting from the 30s and they tell the story of the "city of lights" and its development. This is actually an open-air museum, under the open sky, including over 150 exhibits that were donated or saved from destruction over the years. Admission is free 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A guided tour of the museum can be conducted for a fee. The tour will bring the silent signs to life and allow for a better understanding of the past of the special city. It is recommended to book places for the tour in advance. Address: 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101.

Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas water park

The park is located about 17 km from the Strip, a drive of about 20 minutes from the iconic hotels. In the park you will find 26 facilities for all ages including Canyon Cliffs 2 fast water slides where the glide reaches a speed of over 10 meters per second, Constrictor a water slide intended for a pair and in it turns and twists, Desert Racers a slide where you will compete against each other in gliding along 110 meters and more. Even the little ones in the group will find pleasant facilities here, such as water slides and magic fountains. In the park there are also several cafeterias and kiosks as well as lockers for rent to store equipment. Address: 7055 South fort apache road, las vegas, nv 89148

Family museums:

In addition to the many museums located within the hotels there are two recommended family museums in Las Vegas: ♦  Lied Discovery Children's Museum Promenade Place Las Vegas, NV 89106360 .

♦  Las Vegas Natural History Museum , Address: 900 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109.

 

There are also in Las Vegas plenty of mini golf courses, car racing tracks, a "ghost house" and more.

Tour between factories:

A pleasant experience, loved by children, is a visit to small factories where you can conduct free guided tours, see the production line, taste samples and of course buy the factory's produce in the factory store located at the end of the tour route. Within a driving distance of up to fifteen minutes from the Strip, you can visit two factories (in the past there were more factories, but a large part of them moved to other destinations in the US).

Visit to a chocolate factory - Ethel M Chocolate Factory

A chocolate production factory, among the best in the US (but with all due respect there is no comparison to the excellent European and Israeli chocolate). Adjacent to the factory is a nice cactus garden. Located at 2 Cactus Garden Dr., in the town of Henderson. You can visit the place daily between the hours 8:30-18:00 but watching chocolate production is only Monday through Friday until 16:30. The tour on site is independent (no guidance).

Shelby American

Free self-guided tour (no guidance) at a racing car factory. There is also a visitor center and shop on site: The Shelby Heritage Center and Carroll Shelby's Store.

Address:  6405 Ensworth St, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States

Racing cars of older models are found on site:  Cobra, Shelby Mustang, Ford GT 40.

 A guided tour for a fee can also be done on site which includes a visit behind the scenes with explanations and information on the various racing vehicles.

Shows in Las Vegas

In the hotels in the city there are performance halls with thousands of seats and many of them stage expensive and glittering productions of a variety of shows suitable for audiences of all types including for families. There are also halls outside the hotels, for example the Disney on Ice show Disney on Ice is presented in Las Vegas at Thomas & Mack Center.

In the article: Shows in Las Vegas description of the various shows that are available, in which places they perform and where tickets can be ordered.

Order here from the TicketNetwork website tickets for the most requested shows in Las Vegas:

 

Trips in the environment outside Las Vegas city

After a few days in Las Vegas, where everything is artificial, it is recommended to vary and wash the eyes with natural sights. Las Vegas is an excellent starting point for excursions of a few hours and up to over a day to some of the wonderful nature creations (in some of which man influenced their design).

Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

Hoover Dam is considered one of the engineering wonders. It was built in the years 1931-1935 (its construction ended two years before the planned time!) on the Colorado River (at the Nevada - Arizona border) at a distance of 53 km from Las Vegas. Besides its control over the water flow in this river, it provides the electricity consumption of Las Vegas and Southern California. Its construction created Lake Mead, which is the largest artificial water reservoir in the US: with a length of 639 km and a depth of 150 meters. One side of the dam is in the state of Arizona and its other side is in Nevada. The dam height is 221 meters and its length is 739 meters. There is a visitor center and a 5-story parking structure on site. The center includes displays, a theater hall and observation decks. Two fast elevators lower the visitors to a depth of 160 meters for a 35-minute tour in the power station. The view revealed from the bottom of the dam is amazing. You reach the dam via Road 93. Driving time from Las Vegas is about 45 minutes (55 km).

 

 

At Lake Mead there is a visitor center and six main sites of recreation and activity. Water sports and fishing are very developed in it and it is a popular sports and recreation site all year round. For more details, one can check at the visitor center. 

 

Red Rock Canyon

A beautiful desert area located about 30 km west of Las Vegas on Road SR159. Driving time from Las Vegas is about 40 minutes. There is convenient and easy access to ancient landscapes in colors of red and white via a 21 km circular road, passing by particularly interesting views.

From almost every stopping point, a short hiking trail departs. Because the area is higher than Las Vegas, the amount of rain in it is double, and there is plenty of vegetation on site. In the place there are lookout points with a panoramic view, Indian paintings on the rocks, places for a picnic and of course a visitor center.

 

 

A few kilometers west is located "Spring Mountain" state park where several famous historical farms that can be toured are found. 

Death Valley

The valley is located at a distance of about two and a quarter hours drive northwest to Las Vegas (140 km to the park entrance). This is a national park whose length is about 100 km and width is about 40 km. In the valley a wonderful combination of arid desert landscape in different colors surrounded by snowy mountains.

Details on it in the article: Trip to Death Valley

 

 

Helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon:

 

The Grand Canyon is located about 6-7 hours drive from Las Vegas and it is highly recommended to visit it in a rented car in a trip with lodging. Details on the park in the article: Trip to the Grand Canyon For those whose time is short and/or their budget is not tight there is a much more convenient and fast way to view it: it is located at a distance of an hour's flight in a light plane from the city. There are several tour companies organizing flights in planes and in helicopters over the Grand Canyon which take off from Las Vegas. Some of the trips also include a lunch with Indians, horseback riding and a motorized tour within the park. The price range is quite wide depending on the type of aircraft, duration and quality of the trip. The prices of the cheapest tours (including flight) start at 150 dollars per person for the shortest tours of about an hour and a half.

 

Trip to Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion from Las Vegas

To these parks I recommend heading out in a rented car for a trip of several days. Details on such a trip in the article: Round-trip travel route from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion parks There are daily organized tours to the Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion National Parks departing from Las Vegas. I do not recommend participating in them because they involve an exhausting drive of many hours each way: about 5 hours in buses and also include additional time for pickup and return from several hotels. Most of the tours take about 12 hours and more.

Trip to the Skywalk observation deck in the Western Grand Canyon

The site called "Grand Canyon West" does not belong to the American National Parks but was established in the territory of the Hualapai Indian reservation where they established a tourist site in the area whose most famous attraction is the Skywalk, a transparent arch-shaped deck built over another area in the giant canyon. The driving time to the site from Las Vegas is about two and a half hours (about 200 km) in the southwest direction.

 

 

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