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Confession time: I’m useless when it comes to most casino games. Sure, I can insert coins into a slot machine, but when it comes down to sitting at a table and using cards or dice to play a game, I’m completely lost. When I find myself in Las Vegas, I aim to spend as little time as possible in the casino, instead, filling my time with these activities:
Eat, eat, and eat some more
The Bacchanal Buffet, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas // Photo: Patrick Shyu
Las Vegas is all about going big, and it’s no exception when you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet at one of the city’s hotels. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, you can take on the Buffets of Buffets – a 24-hour pass to seven of the biggest buffets in Vegas.
If buffets aren’t your style, there are plenty of fabulous restaurants in the city. Enjoy a meal at a celebrity chef’s restaurant like Wolfgang Puck’s Spago or Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro. For those with a more modest budget, Las Vegas is full of great food like the Earl of Sandwich and Lotus of Siam.
Wander the Strip
There is so much to see in all of the hotels along the strip. You could spend days wandering from hotel to hotel doing some window shopping and checking out their various attractions. A number of hotels also offer free entertainment elements. Watch the fountains at the Bellagio dance to music every day from 3pm to midnight, or check out the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo.
Explore the Old Town
Photo: Thomas Hawk
Experience Las Vegas before the glitz and glamor of the Strip by visiting the old town. Wander through the Fremont Street Experience, which provides pedestrian access to some of the city’s most iconic and historic casinos. Be sure to stop for the nightly Viva Vision light show on the overhead canopy.
Take in a Show
Get your entertainment in the form of a show. Whether you’re after magicians, singers, or circus acts, there are lots of choose from. I saw Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio, which is performed in, on, and above water. It was mesmerizing watching the various acrobats and swimmers perform their craft, and I highly recommend it.
Unique Museums
Las Vegas is home to a number of offbeat museums. See a different side of the city and learn the history of the city at the Neon Museum, which takes you through a graveyard of former hotel signs. Visit the Mob Museum where you’ll learn the story of organized crime vs. law enforcement and see how it has changed Las Vegas.
Get Outdoors
Valley of Fire // Photo: James Marvin Phelps
Pull yourself away from the city for a day and head to Grand Canyon National Park. To maximize time, consider staying a night and be sure to stop at the Hoover Dam along the way. Not wanting to drive all the way to the Grand Canyon? A great alternative is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area; it’s only 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip. For something a little different, the Valley of Fire will stun you with its fiery red sandstone formations.
For a city that prides itself on entertainment, Las Vegas does itself proud. There is plenty to keep you entertained even if you don’t like to gamble.
This post was written as a part of the #HipmunkCityLove project.
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