Updated: Nov 15, 2019
There is so much more to Vegas than gambling. Here is our favorite things to do in Vegas that do NOT include gambling.
Airport
Las Vegas, Nevada- LAS
Transportation
We prefer to take a Taxi to the hotel, because it’s the quickest form of transportation. After a long flight, we just want to get to the hotel and we are not in the mood to wait on an Uber. While in Vegas our main source of transportation is always walking. Bring that Fitbit to track your steps so you feel less guilty about eating the yummy food in Vegas. On occasion we hail a taxi, which is easy, because all the casinos have a cab pickup location with cabs ready to go.
Hotels
New Vegas Vs Old Vegas
When selecting a hotel.
A)
Do you want to be on the “fancy side”, with Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and the mall? When you think of Vegas, do you think of limos and sexy people walking around? Do you like the movie “The Hang Over”? Are you posh?
B)
Do you want to be on the side where you will see an old lady naked or an old man’s butt? Do you want to see people running around doing crazy stuff? Do you love the old timey Elvis movies? Do you want a wild and crazy night that includes seeing things you never want to see again? Do you just want to have fun?
A)
New Vegas- This is my favorite side
B)
Old Vegas- This is my husband’s favorite side
opposites attract in our case. Hehe!
The hotel prices on both sides are the same, therefore make your selection based on the best location for you. My family stayed at the Golden Nugget on the “Old Vegas” side. We stayed at Caesar’s Palace on the “New Vegas” side, because I’m the one who booked the hotel. Hehe!
Here was our view from Caesar’s Palace.
New Vegas
I love to spend at least one day walking around the “New Vegas” side. I enjoy going into each hotel to view it’s unique beauty. This is where you will find all the hidden gems of Vegas. I’m only going to point out a few in this blog and you can discover the rest on your next trip. The Bellagio Hotel has a Conservatory and Botanical Gardens inside the hotel. It’s absolutely breathtaking with over 14,000 square feet of floral gardens and it’s free to walk though.
Once outside you will find the famous Bellagio Water Fountains. Sit back, relax, and watch a free show featuring music, lights, and water.
Cesar’s Palace has a pool area that was built for the gods. The Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis is a sight worth seeing, with its iconic Roman statues and columns. Make sure you go check it out.
The New York New York Hotel has a thrilling roller coaster that is designed to look like the New York City taxi cabs. On this roller coaster you will see some amazing views of Vegas. If you haven’t seen the Statue of Liberty in New York then here is your chance to see a smaller version.
The Sirens of Treasure Island was an exciting daily pirate musical that ended in fireworks, and it was FREE. Sadly, I said “was” because the shows last performance was a few years ago. You can still view the massive pirate ship outside the hotel.
Also, they have really nice mall on the New Vegas strip. We saw Tom Green outside promoting his comedy show.
Old Vegas
We usually spend the evening on the “Old Vegas” side at Fremont Street. This is where you can zip line over Fremont Street. Also, this is where it gets Crazy at night. Be prepared to see naked people. Honestly, who knows what you may see.
Drinking and walking around is considered normal.
This is the side of Vegas where your family can be a herd of cows and no one cares. For the record, we had just attended a Halloween wedding on Fremont Street. Also, this is where it gets Crazy at night with three stages, live bands, plus lots of drinking. Here was our herd. Hehe
Water Vaping
You will find this located all over “Old Vegas” to help with those hang overs. We are always looking for new holistic finds, so we were interested to try water vaping.
Heart Attack Grill
While you are in the “Old Vegas” side stop by their local doctors office at Heart Attack Grill. This place serves exactly what you would expect to increase your chances of a heart attack, such as greasy hamburgers and hotdogs. There was even a film crew filming a guy next to us. Like most people, I played it cool while secretly googling the actor.
You can even take a shot. Hehe.
(You can see the camera behind me to my left)
Pawn Stars- Travel Channel
713 Las Vegas Blvd. So. Las Vegas, NV 89101
If you love the show then you have to go. It’s a short taxi ride, plus it’s free to enter and free to park. It’s open everyday from 9am-9pm, except certain holidays. Rick, Chumlee and Corey will go out on the shop floor from time to time to meet their fans, sign autographs and take pictures.
Per their website. “Rick and Chumlee can be seen most weeks right next door to the shop at Pawn Plaza (facebook.com/pawnplaza). Friday and Saturday nights you can meet Rick when he is bartending at his bar, Rick’s Rollin Smoke BBQ and Tavern; follow them here for the latest appearance schedules (https://www.facebook.com/RicksRsbbq). Chumlee can be found most days Weds – Sunday from 12-4pm at his candy shop in Pawn Plaza starting at noon (https://www.facebook.com/ChumsCandy).”
If you want the VIP Meet and Greet click my picture below which will direct you to their website for tickets.
No, we did not see the Stars of the show. We wanted VIP tickets, but they fill up fast and lost out on the opportunity. However, you can pretend to be the star of the show.
Toy Shack- Travel Channel
450 Fremont St Ste 117, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Mon – Thu: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
It’s within walking distance from the strip. Located at Neopolis at Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd, next to Heart Attack Grill.
If you love Pawn Stars then you know who this guy is…….Johnny Jiminez.
Zak Bagan’s The Haunted Adventures Museum- Ghost Adventures Travel Channel
600 E Charleston Blvd
Mon. & Wed.-Sat.: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Only a few blocks from the Pawn Stars is Zak Bagan’s Museum from Ghost Adventures. I love this show and I wanted to go to the museum. However, when we got there the line was long and it was on the pricy side of $44 a person so we left. Now after watching this video I realize it was HUGE mistake. See for yourself.
(copy and paste to your browser) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ryH7XGFzQ&pbjreload=10
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is located in Black Canyon, just 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas.
Mon-Sun: 9am-5pm
Rent a car from the hotel for about $100. You will not regret it. Hoover Dam is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere, standing at more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. Hoover Dam has been in several movies such as Transformers (2007), Superman (1978), Vegas Vacation (1997) with Clark Griswold, Viva Las Vegas (1964) , and San Andreas (2015)
You can go underground for a small fee. I get claustrophobic underground, so I elected to stay above ground (free of charge) with my parents, while my husband went on a tour underground.
Cost- Per Website
“Dam Tour fee: $30 per person. Dam Tour tickets must be purchased in person and are on a first-come first-served basis. Restrictions: No children under the age of 8 and the tour is not accessible to those in wheelchairs or on crutches. Power Plant Tour fee: $11 for adults ages 17-61; $9 for adults 62 and older and active U.S. military personnel (and one adult dependent); $9 for children ages 4-16; children 3 and younger are free. There are no age, height or weight restrictions on the Power Plant Tour. Parking is $7 at the garage across from the visitors center. Visitors Center admission (without access to the tours of the dam or powerplant) is $8.”
0- All I hear is Elvis singing “Viva Las Vegas”
Attend a Las Vegas wedding. What’s cooler than a Las Vegas wedding? A Halloween themed Las Vegas Wedding. The fog machine starts and the GrimvReaper comes out then marries the couple. How cool is that?
We even got to wear costumes to the wedding. #fun
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