Viva Las Vegas, that’s what they say. A place like no other, where you can bump shoulders with Elvis (or several of him!), lose all your money in a slot machine, do some serious partying or even get married. Las Vegas is one of the world’s most iconic destinations. We’ve all seen Doug and the gang run riot in The Hangover, witnessed Danny Ocean round up the boys for several heists in the Ocean’s franchise and tried to solve a grisly murder whilst watching CSI: Las Vegas. Of course, everyone goes to Vegas for the strip, but what exactly is there to see? Let’s find out.
Vegas Casinos
There are so many different casinos in Vegas. Practically every hotel on the strip has its own casino with different tables and a unique atmosphere. Some of the most popular casinos include:
- Bellagio- High end casino, where you may see celebrities trying their luck.
- MGM Grand- Enormous casino with lots of gaming options.
- Caesars Palace- The original casino, a must see.
If you’re playing at a casino, you will usually get free drinks- this is a ploy from the casino to try to get you to spend all your money, so drink aware!
Shows
Vegas is an amazing place to see a unique show. Cirque du Soleil have eight shows across different resorts. The most popular, O, takes place at the Bellagio. The stage consists mostly of water as over 70 acrobats perform. You should get in the mood to see this show by watching the Bellagio fountain show, which occurs every half an hour from 3pm, or every 15 minutes from 8pm. The Blue Man Group also has a regular show and lots of artists have residencies, with the most recent being Britney Spears and Celine Dion.
Places
This category is a little more broad. I’m going to count buildings, streets and day trips in this. Here are some must visit places in Vegas:
- Fremont Street- See Old Vegas, with plenty of cheap drinks, live shows and quirky characters.
- Eiffel Tower Experience- This replica of the Eiffel Tower has a restaurant and great views of the Bellagio fountains.
- Grand Canal Shoppes- A little taste of Venice in Vegas, but be warned the gondolas are quite expensive to hire.
- Red Rock Canyon- Half an hour away from The Strip, there are amazing hiking trails.
- Kiss Monster Mini Golf- Incredibly, this mini golf is Kiss themed. Yes, that’s Kiss the glam rock band. Only in Vegas.
- Hoover Dam Bypass- Hire a car and go to see this amazing sight.
- Shark Reef Aquarium- See over 100 different sharks here.
- Madame Tussauds- Have your photo taken with celebrities associated with Vegas…well, their wax models.
Rides
You may not think of Vegas as a place for rides, but there are a few opportunities for thrill seekers.
- High Roller- A sort of Vegas equivalent to the London Eye, this ferris wheel has incredible views, and you can even have a pod with a bar.
- Stratosphere Tower- There are several terrifying rides at the top of this tower. Not for the faint hearted.
- Big Apple Coaster- Starts in the New York New York hotel, but has great views of the Strip.
- Helicopter tours- Either over the Vegas Strip or the Grand Canyon.
Culture
Yes, Vegas can be cultural. It’s not all neon signs and gambling away all your money!
- Shelby American Inc- This museum is a must for car fans, plus it’s free.
- Bodies The Exhibition- When people donate their bodies to science, this is where they go. Fascinating.
- The Mob Museum- Learn about the history of organised crime in the USA.
- Titanic the Artifact Exhibition- Lots of artifacts recovered from the Titanic.
- The Neon Museum- See lots of neon signs (more interesting than it sounds!)
What do you think are the must sees when in Vegas?
@holiday_numbers Bodies exhibition!
— Amy Bull (@AmyDatify) February 22, 2016
