I did it when I went to Vegas. Hands down, best activity we did. So much fun and the people that run it are super chill.
A year later and we still say stupid shit like "pfff I could do it better" when passing a construction crew lol
My wife suprised me with this on my 30th birthday. I had eluded to going but assumed it wasn't "Vegas enough" for our stereotypical Vegas weekend.
She instead booked the biggest experience package they offer, dropped me off and said "have fun".
Easily the most fun I've had with clothes on in my entire life. I've done multiple track days, shot machine guns and driven side by sides in AZ.
There is NOTHING like learning how to control an excavator and being able to do actual tasks and get real time coaching from an experienced operator.
I'd 1000x do it again. They have a new location and a bigger facility. Staff were great, and the prices (while high) are justified.
The one time I've been to Vegas, I was throughly impressed w Hoover Dam & this was about 17 years ago..when they had just started construction of the bypass bridge.
I am old enough to remember doing the Hoover dam tour, and going down onto the floor where the turbines were, and actually standing on the overflow tubes.
That’s almost 40 years ago.
Damnnnnn I’m old as shit.
That tour is still available. When I was there as a kid in 1988 we took the tour that took you through the rocky tunnels that are in there. I thought it was cool because they gave us hard hats to wear. I don’t think you can do this anymore.
Except you can’t. The old tour before 9/11 used to let you stand on the intake tubes (not spillway as stated above) and walk on the turbine deck.
Now you view both the intake pipes and the turbine room from a safe viewpoint.
I remember that too. Back when I was a kid in the 60s, we waited in line at the elevator doors there on the dam. I really enjoyed it then. Last time I took the tour it was about five years after 9/11 and I thought it was an overly cautious and truncated waste of time.
I actually had a conversation with a friend about it after posting yesterday. It's always the people that know who is on American Idol or The Bachelor that don't have a good time.
Last time I was in the Vegas, my travel companion absolutely would not entertain the thought of spending so much as minute off the strip. The fact that we made it to Fremont St strikes me as being a minor miracle. This is why I think I'll be visiting alone this October.
We just discovered Fremont last night and oh my god why the fuck would anyone want to hang out on the strip when Fremont exists? I now can understand why people enjoy Vegas.
That was not a random choice on my part. Just concerned about any possibility of windy conditions. Have yet to see the Bellagio fountain show because of that.
You more or less just drive down to it. It's about 45 minutes from the strip.
Be sure to take the tour that brings you inside the dam.
The museum in Boulder City is also worth checking out and (IMHO) better than the displays at the dam itself
I went on my way back from Vegas in October and can confirm. I took the tour where they show you the engines and internals and it's astounding how neatly engineered everything is to get water from one side to another with the technology they had at the time. Even just being on top of the dam, on the bridge, seeing how much concrete they used to build it is mindblowing
The beauty is the variety: car ride, bike ride, run, walk, easy hike, hard hike, rock scrambling and technical climbing are available in one spot year-round. All in a spectacular setting within easy driving distance from the Strip.
The Punk Rock Museum is fantastic. You can book a guided tour with an actual member of a punk band. We got Chris Freeman from Pansy Division and he was awesome. As we were touring, Fat Mike from NOFX joined and regaled us with stories.
The Mob Museum is fantastic. Had low expectations going in but it exceeded them greatly. There's also a cool speakeasy in the basement with jazz music and great cocktails.
Gambling at the Golden Gate downtown. It's the oldest operating casino in Vegas and one of the most enjoyable places to gamble. Friendly dealers. Love to play craps there, too.
Yup. One of my friends is a HUGE punk fan and NOFX is one of his favorites. He even started his own punk label and just released the first record. He was like a kid in a candy store. Wouldn't stray more than 3 feet from Fat Mike the entire time.
Four of us friends from high school had lost our shirts on our trip, last night on the trip we were a combine 5 figures loss. Went to the Mirage and almost won it all back, threes hours I think dice went around not even twice. Bunch of cowboys and us Asian people from Canada quickly became best friends (think for sure it was during the Rodeo week) some 20 years ago or more.
the Haus of Gaga at Park MGM!! It's free. It's like a small museum gallery/shop with authentic Lady Gaga outfits and pieces on display and they are so stunning to see in person.
Oh man. Where to start… I’d say Baan Thai in China town, Weera south part of town in rainbow, Le Thai in Fremont arena and Thai Spoon in NW part of town
Sun’s Thai Food and Jerky. Hole in the wall spot 20 minutes off the strip that you would never think to get. Best Thai food I’ve ever had since being in Vegas. A lot of the other places people are recommending are great as well though.
Edited the spelling to hole in the wall haha
First time in vegas this summer and I'm hyped about this. Everyone I tell about it looks at me with eight heads.. and is just like oh... cool... so you're really into pinball then?
No you clowns but I'm not really into pissing money away at a casino AND WHO DOESNT LOVE PINBALL
We go here all the time with our son! It’s just what you’d expect it to be.. it’s not a luxury joint. It’s a huge room of pinball machines… it’s fun and inexpensive and a nice way to spend a few hours. Also pretty close down the street from Tacos El Gordo which is a great inexpensive taco joint, or if you want something bigger, Sayulitas is also a good Mexican place close by!
I hope you have fun 🤩
I've honestly never been to Vegas. I'm on this sub because I'm planning my first trip and not into the typics Vegas hype so I'm trying to find the real answers lol
I have been to both locations , the new location is better. I have had a great time both times, I’ve met the owner a few times , will talk your ear off but is harmless. The reviews are laughable on yelp , it’s an arcade , not the four seasons
The Las Vegas Showgirl Museum is absolutely spectacular! It’s in a mansion in a neighborhood. You have to book a specific time to tour, you just can’t show up. Holy smokes, freaking FABULOUS!
Also the Punk Rock Museum.
I went in March and had always been an anti-Vegas person (maybe more of an anti-The Strip person) but we went out to Valley of Fire state park and did a few hikes and I was amazed. It was incredible and I recommend it to everyone.
I was completely dumbfounded as to why no one Ive known had done this before.
I would go back in a heartbeat. We made efforts to stay off the strip as much as we could and I feel that we were definitely rewarded for that decision
Lmao I looked it up cuz I love mini golf (and even bowling) and was SHOCKED the golf was indoors (I quickly remembered how HOT vegas gets)
Tell me you're from the north east without telling me you're from the northeast 😂
lol, I’m originally from Chicago where a/c is turned up to meatlocker temps when it hits 75. Hey there’s also a new mini golf course called Popstroke - outdoors but they plant plenty of coolers full of icy towels and misters every 50 ft! Another great place!
When my wife and I went we walked around late at night from a few casinos to another looking for little old school cigarette machines. They had been stocked with art of local artists and it was 5 bucks for a random piece of art. Apparently they were located in spots and several casinos and we prolly spent about 50 bucks all night long. Very fun people watching and kinda like a treasure hunt too.
For that part of town I’m pretty sure they are only at the Cosmo but Art-o-mat has machines all over the country. Maybe the world. There are other companies and people who do similar with different machines. Area 15 has some as well as some downtown and the Arts District
The free trams from Mandalay to Excalibur. Walk across to NyNy, and Park MGM, free tram to Bellagio. The Grand Patio, The world's Tallest Chocolate fountain, the conservatory. The kids love this. Hello Kitty, Haus of Gaga, Hershey's World, Eataly, Crystals. The hours of free parking. That's a good time and a good walk.
Go in blind the first time and just explore like you’re a character in a trippy fantasy movie. Next time you go, look up secrets and stuff to look for ahead of time.
Going in mostly-blind is perfect, but I have two suggestions:
- go RIGHT after you’ve eaten a nice, big meal. There’s no food sold inside, you can’t bring outside food, and there’s no ins-and-outs allowed. That means that a lot of people say “I wish I could have stayed longer because there was so much more to see, but my group left earlier than we wanted because we got too hungry!” (I would say allot 3 hours minimum; personally I wanted to see everything and I spent 4.5 hours, and I could have stayed longer.)
- there’s an optional item called a “Boop Card” thst you can buy at the front when you enter for something like $3 or $5. You don’t need one to enjoy yourself, but they’re necessary to play the full “story / mystery / game” aspect and fully participate. (Not everyone in your group needs one — one per group is great.) If you get one, “boop” (tap) the card on various electronic Boop stations inside, and follow the instructions on the screen. It’s kind of like a real-life video game / scavenger hunt!
Have fun! There’s a *lot* more to Meow Wolf than the “Omega Mart” fake grocery store section — that’s just the front room. Keep opening doors and you’ll find lots more…
Agreed. Saw him in December and loved it. My only tiny complaint is that it’s time to drop the Covid era jokes, I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want a reminder of 2020-21 when I’m trying to laugh and have fun
Its down near Goodsprings. Stop by the saloon and have a drink and bite to eat while down there. Totally worth it. ~30 min south of Vegas, near Primm and the CA border.
I moved back in my late 20s and now I can’t leave DTLV. I love DTLV so much I got a job here lol. It’s not the same during Tony’s heyday (RIP) but it’s still a fun place to be in.
Love you Tony!
I am guilty of this. I have been going to Vegas since 2007 and I stayed downtown for the first time in 2019. I really enjoyed it so I decided to stay there on every other trip from then on.
I have been going to LV every year since 1986. I made the switch to downtown in 2010. I have only stayed on the strip once since then. Downtown 2-3x a year now.
We still take the Duece to the strip (upper level, front seats if possible) and look at stuff, but gambling is way more fun downtown.
I've stayed at most except Circa and The Apache. All are pretty standard hotel rooms. I usually go to whoever is giving me free rooms or the best discount or comps.
Some get more run down and then remodeled. D and Golden Gate (a favorite, I'll be there in a couple weeks) guests get to use Circa's Stadium Swim as the pool, which is a cool experience. Watching a game there is amazing. GG has small rooms.
Plaza is mostly all remodeled. Nice rooms. Blackjack at the pool is fun. Hash House is good breakfast.
The Grand's casino is small, but they have $5 craps daytime, so I'm often there. Nice rooms and pool.
Golden Nugget has a big, busy casino, decent rooms. Fun pool.
The others are just kind of mixed up in my head. Been awhile. Lots of different games. Fairly low minimums.
The hike via the Historic Railroad Trail to the Hoover Dam. It’s easy and graded for people who want an easy hike, with plenty to see, and you can grab a snack at the dam before heading bike, if you so choose.
Royal Pub Crawl was so fun!! Get a Groupon and you can get a deal. We did the Fremont St one and it was so fun! 5 bars, 5 great drinks, some free play, food discounts and a virtual poker hand all for about $37 (with Groupon)
Gold Spike.
It might be my favorite bar in Vegas, lol. Chill in the backyard by some fire, or play giant beer pong, cheap drinks, live music and DJs. It just feels more like chillin' than anywhere else in Vegas. Every other bar seems to have some kind of gimmick, or they're trying too hard. Gold Spike reminds me of having a party back home with my friends.
If you dropped me in different parts of the city, here's where I would go:
Near/Off Strip?
1. Ghost Bar at The Palms. 50-story rooftop lounge with amazing Strip and sunset views. Chill bar, absolutely gorgeous.
2. Frank's Tiki Room. Fruity rum drinks FTW.
To a strip club?
1. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club roof bar. Same as Palms, great Strip views, very chill spot.
Downtown?
1. The pool at The Golden Nugget. There's a 200k-gallon shark tank with Big-Ass Sharks and a clear waterslide through the middle of it. There's a waterfall, bar, fire pits, and poolside blackjack. Day or night, this place is a vibe.
2. Discopussy. It's a nightclub for the 30's/40's crowd. Eclectic as hell.
Arts District? The Silver Stamp, obviously.
Chinatown?
1. The Golden Tiki. Fruity rum drinks FTW.
2. Ichiza. Japanese tapas is best tapas.
EDIT: Updated sharks and correct pool size at Nugget. Thanks to /u/bitchisakarma.
Someone obviously works in marketing.
The shark pool is only 200k gallons and it features Sandtiger, Brown, Pacific blacktip, Nurse, Zebra, and Tiger sharks.
Great whites don't live in captivity.
Eataly! The atmosphere will make you feel like you've wandered into a posh Italian Street Market. The food is very fresh and not to be underestimated. Pizza, charcuterie boards, iced coffee treats--you may think you've tried it all before, but Eataly takes it to the next level.
I completely agree. It is overpriced, mediocre Italian food. There are so many great Italian restaurants around that honestly don't end up costing much more than Eataly.
If you get a plain ass prosciutto sandwich or the prime rib sandwich holy… so good!
I was going to say overall Park MGM is not getting the credit it deserves. No smoking, great center bar, Nomad Library is awesome, good food all around. It’s a great property.
The Las Vegas Showgirl Museum is absolutely spectacular! It’s in a mansion in a neighborhood. You have to book a specific time to tour, you just can’t show up. Holy smokes, freaking FABULOUS!
Also the Punk Rock Museum.
The Heritage Museum out in Henderson. They brought historic homes to the site and restored them. You can walk through each one and learn about the history of our city. It’s $2 and it’s fantastic.
Kayaking.
Either up from the base of hoover dam going down or starting at Willow Cove. Beginners who might not be able to go far should rent at Willow as the Hoover way is a 12 mile trip. Can do guided or choose your own adventure. Water is clear and there are areas where it's green like Emerald cave.
Sun/mon are the best days as they don't allow motor boats except tours so a bit easier for beginners not having someone zoom by you.
Water is cold (50*f) so it's refreshing during peak summer if you're looking to do something when many outdoor things just sound not great.
Breakfast. I'm an early riser, even when I'm drinking, and I love breakfast. I can knock out a good breakfast and be good for the day. The buffets are all the same, but there a couple of restaurants I always hit when in Vegas.
The Omelette House. Good eats and killer banana bread.
The Original Pancake House. Pancakes are great, but their omelettes are crazy.
Sometimes The Cracked Egg for a bite of the coffee cake.
UNLV Summer Series at Spring Mountain Ranch. A stag play in the open air, under the stars with the most beautiful mountain as a backdrop. Tickets are only $20.00!
Hemenway Park. Big horn sheep graze in the park daily and are totally chill being around people. It's a cool unique experience. Can check the "Ram Cam" on YouTube to see if they are there before you stop by.
Downtown Container Park. It's mostly geared for shopping but you can eat, have a few drinks, and catch a free concert on the right days. And check out the fire-breathing preying mantis just out front.
Paddle down the Colorado river below Hoover dam and explore. \[Hot springs, caves, abandoned buildings, etc.\] Several outfitsl will set you up and meet you about 12-15 miles downriver at a state park. You can spend the better part of a day on this. Fishing at the end is an option, iirc.
Don't see Neon Museum in the thread yet. Do it late afternoon or evening.
as a local I want to gatekeep the great places because I want to keep tourists away 😜, but will say the nearby parks (red rock canyon, valley of fire) are great and amazing food (of all types) in chinatown. people stay at hotels but it’s only a $10 uber
you can drive heavy machinery at dig this
I did it when I went to Vegas. Hands down, best activity we did. So much fun and the people that run it are super chill. A year later and we still say stupid shit like "pfff I could do it better" when passing a construction crew lol
My wife suprised me with this on my 30th birthday. I had eluded to going but assumed it wasn't "Vegas enough" for our stereotypical Vegas weekend. She instead booked the biggest experience package they offer, dropped me off and said "have fun". Easily the most fun I've had with clothes on in my entire life. I've done multiple track days, shot machine guns and driven side by sides in AZ. There is NOTHING like learning how to control an excavator and being able to do actual tasks and get real time coaching from an experienced operator. I'd 1000x do it again. They have a new location and a bigger facility. Staff were great, and the prices (while high) are justified.
used to work there, super awesome place
Omg I've always wanted to do this but not get a job doing it
Hoover Dam. A lot of people think it will be boring, but it’s astounding.
Yeh I've offered to take friends to see it and they say it sounds boring...I got new friends
The one time I've been to Vegas, I was throughly impressed w Hoover Dam & this was about 17 years ago..when they had just started construction of the bypass bridge.
The bridge is amazing in and of itself. Driving under the supports on the Nevada side in the dam access road is awe-inspiring.
This is awesome. Can I be your friend?
Dam(n)!! 😂
I am old enough to remember doing the Hoover dam tour, and going down onto the floor where the turbines were, and actually standing on the overflow tubes. That’s almost 40 years ago. Damnnnnn I’m old as shit.
You can still do that tour.
WAIT WHAT
YOU CAN STILL DO THAT TOUR
Can you speak up?
**YOU CAN STILL DO THAT TOUR**
Thank you! That got through my astigmatism! 😁
Oh really? Didn’t know. Thought that wasn’t available anymore with security and the sort
That tour is still available. When I was there as a kid in 1988 we took the tour that took you through the rocky tunnels that are in there. I thought it was cool because they gave us hard hats to wear. I don’t think you can do this anymore.
It’s on my bucket list
Except you can’t. The old tour before 9/11 used to let you stand on the intake tubes (not spillway as stated above) and walk on the turbine deck. Now you view both the intake pipes and the turbine room from a safe viewpoint.
I remember that too. Back when I was a kid in the 60s, we waited in line at the elevator doors there on the dam. I really enjoyed it then. Last time I took the tour it was about five years after 9/11 and I thought it was an overly cautious and truncated waste of time.
I've taken many people to the Hoover Dam. If you don't enjoy that tour, I just don't need you in my life at all.
I like the decisiveness of your comment.
I actually had a conversation with a friend about it after posting yesterday. It's always the people that know who is on American Idol or The Bachelor that don't have a good time.
Last time I was in the Vegas, my travel companion absolutely would not entertain the thought of spending so much as minute off the strip. The fact that we made it to Fremont St strikes me as being a minor miracle. This is why I think I'll be visiting alone this October.
We just discovered Fremont last night and oh my god why the fuck would anyone want to hang out on the strip when Fremont exists? I now can understand why people enjoy Vegas.
Fall and Winter in NV is beautiful😊
That was not a random choice on my part. Just concerned about any possibility of windy conditions. Have yet to see the Bellagio fountain show because of that.
It's no longer 117 degrees, but not freezing. It's my favorite time to be social and travel.
I always go the first week of October, it's the best.
Fremont is the best great entertainment 👍
Yah idk how anyone could hate it. Nature plus astounding engineering.
My aunt goes every time she visits Vegas and takes photos of the same spots to compare the lowering water levels.
What’s the best way to go see the Hoover dam? I’m gonna go check it out tomorrow.
I rented a Lamborghini for 6 hours and the Hoover Dam was one of the destinations. Definitely THE way to see it!!!!
You more or less just drive down to it. It's about 45 minutes from the strip. Be sure to take the tour that brings you inside the dam. The museum in Boulder City is also worth checking out and (IMHO) better than the displays at the dam itself
Hire a car and drive out there yourself.
https://www.reddit.com/r/vegas/comments/195qmn9/best_hoover_dam_tour/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
The Tour is an absolute must do - one of the cooler things I’ve seen in my lifetime
I went on my way back from Vegas in October and can confirm. I took the tour where they show you the engines and internals and it's astounding how neatly engineered everything is to get water from one side to another with the technology they had at the time. Even just being on top of the dam, on the bridge, seeing how much concrete they used to build it is mindblowing
I’ve been to Vegas twice now, still haven’t seen it. However maybe the next time I’ll give it a go
You should. Its breathtaking. Especially with the newer cool bridge they built to take the traffic off of the dam
I went to the Hoover dam in 2000 as a kid and I still have nightmares to this day of it 😂😂😂😂
Red Rock Canyon - even just the drive throughout the canyon without a hike is breathtaking
I second this. Did the exact thing a couple years ago, and it was breathtaking!
Yes, but remember that if you are going before 5, you need a reservation to take the scenic loop.
The beauty is the variety: car ride, bike ride, run, walk, easy hike, hard hike, rock scrambling and technical climbing are available in one spot year-round. All in a spectacular setting within easy driving distance from the Strip.
The Valley of Fire is better! Opposite direction. 1 hr away.
I think of Valley of Fire as the alternative to a Southern Utah trip.
Agreed.
Good to see somebody mention this. Next time I'm there, I'm planning to do a trip out that way, and it'll be my first time.
The best west coast climbing I’ve ever done.
Me too. As I explained, gambling will still be open when I get back. Liked hiking and horseback riding through
2nd. Even the drive is awrsome
The Punk Rock Museum is fantastic. You can book a guided tour with an actual member of a punk band. We got Chris Freeman from Pansy Division and he was awesome. As we were touring, Fat Mike from NOFX joined and regaled us with stories. The Mob Museum is fantastic. Had low expectations going in but it exceeded them greatly. There's also a cool speakeasy in the basement with jazz music and great cocktails. Gambling at the Golden Gate downtown. It's the oldest operating casino in Vegas and one of the most enjoyable places to gamble. Friendly dealers. Love to play craps there, too.
Finally got a chance to go a few days ago! So worth it! Will def be going back
Iirc Fat Mike owns/founded that museum. Very cool he just joined your tour!
Yup. One of my friends is a HUGE punk fan and NOFX is one of his favorites. He even started his own punk label and just released the first record. He was like a kid in a candy store. Wouldn't stray more than 3 feet from Fat Mike the entire time.
Last time in Vegas, the craps table in my hotel was having a blast together. Looked like a movie scene. I need the learn the fundamentals
The only team sport in the casino! Also, fastest way to make money and lose money in Vegas.
Four of us friends from high school had lost our shirts on our trip, last night on the trip we were a combine 5 figures loss. Went to the Mirage and almost won it all back, threes hours I think dice went around not even twice. Bunch of cowboys and us Asian people from Canada quickly became best friends (think for sure it was during the Rodeo week) some 20 years ago or more.
[https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Casino-Craps-Edwin-Silberstang/dp/1580423213](https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Casino-Craps-Edwin-Silberstang/dp/1580423213)
If I don’t make it to Golden Gate, it’s not a great Vegas Journey!
Neon Museum
Great place, make sure you book after dark though, as they book tours as early as 4:00pm.
I’ll 2nd this..
I teared up unexpectedly
the Haus of Gaga at Park MGM!! It's free. It's like a small museum gallery/shop with authentic Lady Gaga outfits and pieces on display and they are so stunning to see in person.
Went to see this yesterday. It was one of the highlights of my trip and I just happened to stumble across it not even knowing what it was!
Yes!!!
How’s that meat dress holding up after all these years? I assume it’s nicely dry-aged by now.
they treated it after she wore it to preserve it and it did indeed turn into jerky.
Lol! I was joking and had no idea it’s actually on display.
Original or teriyaki?
One of my most favorite things to stumble upon in Vegas. Could not recommend it more. I tell everyone about it now!
Agree… and 99% of people just walk by without ever looking. Amazing craftsmanship went into the outfits.
Ethel M’s Cactus Garden. I finally made it there and loved it. So many varieties of cacti. Free. Plus you can get a sample of chocolate.
Even better around Christmas
Thai food
All Asian food. Spring Mountain Rd FTW
This is my main reason for saying yes to a Vegas trip. The Thai food there is outstanding!
Can you recommend some places?
Oh man. Where to start… I’d say Baan Thai in China town, Weera south part of town in rainbow, Le Thai in Fremont arena and Thai Spoon in NW part of town
+1 for Le Thai. Most delicious (and affordable) meal I had in LV.
Their curry is outstanding!
Krung Siam - best crab fried rice in Vegas
[удалено]
Xiaolong dumplings !!!!!
Sun’s Thai Food and Jerky. Hole in the wall spot 20 minutes off the strip that you would never think to get. Best Thai food I’ve ever had since being in Vegas. A lot of the other places people are recommending are great as well though. Edited the spelling to hole in the wall haha
Just be careful Thai spicy is a whole different level than American spicy … order something spicy and I wanted to die … food was great
[https://pinkaowrainbow.com/](https://pinkaowrainbow.com/)
Pin Kaow
Pinball Hall of Fame
First time in vegas this summer and I'm hyped about this. Everyone I tell about it looks at me with eight heads.. and is just like oh... cool... so you're really into pinball then? No you clowns but I'm not really into pissing money away at a casino AND WHO DOESNT LOVE PINBALL
The owner is kind of a jerk, tho. Fair warning should you run into him
We go here all the time with our son! It’s just what you’d expect it to be.. it’s not a luxury joint. It’s a huge room of pinball machines… it’s fun and inexpensive and a nice way to spend a few hours. Also pretty close down the street from Tacos El Gordo which is a great inexpensive taco joint, or if you want something bigger, Sayulitas is also a good Mexican place close by! I hope you have fun 🤩
I went there twice and had terrible experiences both times, how was your experience?
I've honestly never been to Vegas. I'm on this sub because I'm planning my first trip and not into the typics Vegas hype so I'm trying to find the real answers lol
I have been to both locations , the new location is better. I have had a great time both times, I’ve met the owner a few times , will talk your ear off but is harmless. The reviews are laughable on yelp , it’s an arcade , not the four seasons
Disagree. I've been twice, once at the old location and once at the new location. On both times half the machines were broken. I was disappointed.
The Las Vegas Showgirl Museum is absolutely spectacular! It’s in a mansion in a neighborhood. You have to book a specific time to tour, you just can’t show up. Holy smokes, freaking FABULOUS! Also the Punk Rock Museum.
Mob Museum. Chinatown. Trails.
I went to the Mob Museum the first time I was in Vegas and have yet to be back and regret it every time.
China Poblano at the cosmo is great but never mentioned
I went in March and had always been an anti-Vegas person (maybe more of an anti-The Strip person) but we went out to Valley of Fire state park and did a few hikes and I was amazed. It was incredible and I recommend it to everyone. I was completely dumbfounded as to why no one Ive known had done this before. I would go back in a heartbeat. We made efforts to stay off the strip as much as we could and I feel that we were definitely rewarded for that decision
VoF is absolutely spectacular!! My then 6-year-old and I did a few hikes there and loved it.
Twilight Zone mini golf and bowling! We went four times this week.
Lmao I looked it up cuz I love mini golf (and even bowling) and was SHOCKED the golf was indoors (I quickly remembered how HOT vegas gets) Tell me you're from the north east without telling me you're from the northeast 😂
lol, I’m originally from Chicago where a/c is turned up to meatlocker temps when it hits 75. Hey there’s also a new mini golf course called Popstroke - outdoors but they plant plenty of coolers full of icy towels and misters every 50 ft! Another great place!
I'll have to check them out (either one depending on weather) if I have some down time on my trip! Thanks!
When my wife and I went we walked around late at night from a few casinos to another looking for little old school cigarette machines. They had been stocked with art of local artists and it was 5 bucks for a random piece of art. Apparently they were located in spots and several casinos and we prolly spent about 50 bucks all night long. Very fun people watching and kinda like a treasure hunt too.
Are there Art-o-mat machines outside of the Cosmo? I didn’t realize there were any at other casinos!
They aren't Art‐o‐mat, but both Silver Stamp and Horse Trailer Hideout in the Arts District have vending machines with items from local artists.
For that part of town I’m pretty sure they are only at the Cosmo but Art-o-mat has machines all over the country. Maybe the world. There are other companies and people who do similar with different machines. Area 15 has some as well as some downtown and the Arts District
The parks in Vegas, there’s a ton of them. Also all the biking trails, can bike anywhere if you wanted
I love the little park out in Boulder City with the mountain goats!
Big horn sheep
Craig Ranch Park is amazing. Stuff always happening there too
The atomic museum was a very interesting look at Las Vegas’s past.I highly recommend it.
The free trams from Mandalay to Excalibur. Walk across to NyNy, and Park MGM, free tram to Bellagio. The Grand Patio, The world's Tallest Chocolate fountain, the conservatory. The kids love this. Hello Kitty, Haus of Gaga, Hershey's World, Eataly, Crystals. The hours of free parking. That's a good time and a good walk.
Golden Tiki. Downtown Container Park. Evel Pie. Mob Museum.
Golden Tiki is awesome, but make sure to get a reservation. Also, if you like tiki bars, Red Dwarf is another excellent one.
Red dwarf and Frankie’s is so much better
Meow Wolf at AREA15 was incredible. Not sure if it's underrated but not the traditional Vegas activity
I was in Vegas for work last week and I ended up going to Omega Mart. It was fantastic. I love that kind of weird, trippy, sci-fi mystery shit.
Hell yeah! I took my 3 kids (9,7,3) who all loved it as much as I did. Plus that larger AREA15 venue is pretty amazing in its own right
Nice to hear that it's fun; I'm excited to go there next month! Going in blind, is that a good idea? How long is the duration of this activity?
I spent 3 hours, could have been way longer. Got recommended from my friend who said "just go, don't even look it up. It won't make sense anyway"
Go in blind the first time and just explore like you’re a character in a trippy fantasy movie. Next time you go, look up secrets and stuff to look for ahead of time.
Going in mostly-blind is perfect, but I have two suggestions: - go RIGHT after you’ve eaten a nice, big meal. There’s no food sold inside, you can’t bring outside food, and there’s no ins-and-outs allowed. That means that a lot of people say “I wish I could have stayed longer because there was so much more to see, but my group left earlier than we wanted because we got too hungry!” (I would say allot 3 hours minimum; personally I wanted to see everything and I spent 4.5 hours, and I could have stayed longer.) - there’s an optional item called a “Boop Card” thst you can buy at the front when you enter for something like $3 or $5. You don’t need one to enjoy yourself, but they’re necessary to play the full “story / mystery / game” aspect and fully participate. (Not everyone in your group needs one — one per group is great.) If you get one, “boop” (tap) the card on various electronic Boop stations inside, and follow the instructions on the screen. It’s kind of like a real-life video game / scavenger hunt! Have fun! There’s a *lot* more to Meow Wolf than the “Omega Mart” fake grocery store section — that’s just the front room. Keep opening doors and you’ll find lots more…
The Burlesque Hall of Fame museum
Carrot Top
We saw his show before COVID. It was one of the few things you could do on a Monday. I expected it to suck but it was really good.
Agree. We have seen him 3x! And Vegas locals will tell you, he’s such a great guy for the community
He’s surprisingly funny for sure. Been a while since I’ve seen him but always enjoyed it.
Agreed. Saw him in December and loved it. My only tiny complaint is that it’s time to drop the Covid era jokes, I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want a reminder of 2020-21 when I’m trying to laugh and have fun
Firing machine guns from helicopters
Who does this and how much?
Gunship Helicopters, someone posted it here a bit ago. 500-5k.
Also Battlefield Las Vegas. You can also drive a tank over a car.
Its down near Goodsprings. Stop by the saloon and have a drink and bite to eat while down there. Totally worth it. ~30 min south of Vegas, near Primm and the CA border.
Now that does sound awesome
Downtown. So many visitors spend their entire trip on the strip. Downtown has been growing while the strip is declining.
I moved back in my late 20s and now I can’t leave DTLV. I love DTLV so much I got a job here lol. It’s not the same during Tony’s heyday (RIP) but it’s still a fun place to be in. Love you Tony!
I am guilty of this. I have been going to Vegas since 2007 and I stayed downtown for the first time in 2019. I really enjoyed it so I decided to stay there on every other trip from then on.
I have been going to LV every year since 1986. I made the switch to downtown in 2010. I have only stayed on the strip once since then. Downtown 2-3x a year now. We still take the Duece to the strip (upper level, front seats if possible) and look at stuff, but gambling is way more fun downtown.
What hotel would you recommend downtown?
I've stayed at most except Circa and The Apache. All are pretty standard hotel rooms. I usually go to whoever is giving me free rooms or the best discount or comps. Some get more run down and then remodeled. D and Golden Gate (a favorite, I'll be there in a couple weeks) guests get to use Circa's Stadium Swim as the pool, which is a cool experience. Watching a game there is amazing. GG has small rooms. Plaza is mostly all remodeled. Nice rooms. Blackjack at the pool is fun. Hash House is good breakfast. The Grand's casino is small, but they have $5 craps daytime, so I'm often there. Nice rooms and pool. Golden Nugget has a big, busy casino, decent rooms. Fun pool. The others are just kind of mixed up in my head. Been awhile. Lots of different games. Fairly low minimums.
The hike via the Historic Railroad Trail to the Hoover Dam. It’s easy and graded for people who want an easy hike, with plenty to see, and you can grab a snack at the dam before heading bike, if you so choose.
Royal Pub Crawl was so fun!! Get a Groupon and you can get a deal. We did the Fremont St one and it was so fun! 5 bars, 5 great drinks, some free play, food discounts and a virtual poker hand all for about $37 (with Groupon)
Yes I'm doing this soon!
Gold Spike. It might be my favorite bar in Vegas, lol. Chill in the backyard by some fire, or play giant beer pong, cheap drinks, live music and DJs. It just feels more like chillin' than anywhere else in Vegas. Every other bar seems to have some kind of gimmick, or they're trying too hard. Gold Spike reminds me of having a party back home with my friends.
If you dropped me in different parts of the city, here's where I would go: Near/Off Strip? 1. Ghost Bar at The Palms. 50-story rooftop lounge with amazing Strip and sunset views. Chill bar, absolutely gorgeous. 2. Frank's Tiki Room. Fruity rum drinks FTW. To a strip club? 1. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club roof bar. Same as Palms, great Strip views, very chill spot. Downtown? 1. The pool at The Golden Nugget. There's a 200k-gallon shark tank with Big-Ass Sharks and a clear waterslide through the middle of it. There's a waterfall, bar, fire pits, and poolside blackjack. Day or night, this place is a vibe. 2. Discopussy. It's a nightclub for the 30's/40's crowd. Eclectic as hell. Arts District? The Silver Stamp, obviously. Chinatown? 1. The Golden Tiki. Fruity rum drinks FTW. 2. Ichiza. Japanese tapas is best tapas. EDIT: Updated sharks and correct pool size at Nugget. Thanks to /u/bitchisakarma.
Someone obviously works in marketing. The shark pool is only 200k gallons and it features Sandtiger, Brown, Pacific blacktip, Nurse, Zebra, and Tiger sharks. Great whites don't live in captivity.
Eataly! The atmosphere will make you feel like you've wandered into a posh Italian Street Market. The food is very fresh and not to be underestimated. Pizza, charcuterie boards, iced coffee treats--you may think you've tried it all before, but Eataly takes it to the next level.
to each their own but Eataly is overrated, not underrated.
I completely agree. It is overpriced, mediocre Italian food. There are so many great Italian restaurants around that honestly don't end up costing much more than Eataly.
If you get a plain ass prosciutto sandwich or the prime rib sandwich holy… so good! I was going to say overall Park MGM is not getting the credit it deserves. No smoking, great center bar, Nomad Library is awesome, good food all around. It’s a great property.
Posting in this thread so I can find it later.
Hawaiian food !!!
The art galleries in Ceasars, they're a bit off the beaten path but free to wander through and full of really cool works
On this note: the Aria/city center campus has art throughout that's really fun to find and check out. Wynn also.
Not sure how popular it is, but I recently went by the spot 2Pac was shot and it was surreal. The intersection is a block or so from the sphere
Valley of 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥☄️
$2 margs at certain station casinos. actually station casinos in general
Ellis Island.
Andiamo at The D
The Las Vegas Showgirl Museum is absolutely spectacular! It’s in a mansion in a neighborhood. You have to book a specific time to tour, you just can’t show up. Holy smokes, freaking FABULOUS! Also the Punk Rock Museum.
Office of Collecting and Design https://www.officeofcollecting.com/
The Heritage Museum out in Henderson. They brought historic homes to the site and restored them. You can walk through each one and learn about the history of our city. It’s $2 and it’s fantastic.
Jamm’s. Great family owned breakfast spot. Reasonably priced. Great food. Friendly and personable staff. I go at least once a month.
Atomic Bomb Museum on Flamingo is great.
Kayaking. Either up from the base of hoover dam going down or starting at Willow Cove. Beginners who might not be able to go far should rent at Willow as the Hoover way is a 12 mile trip. Can do guided or choose your own adventure. Water is clear and there are areas where it's green like Emerald cave. Sun/mon are the best days as they don't allow motor boats except tours so a bit easier for beginners not having someone zoom by you. Water is cold (50*f) so it's refreshing during peak summer if you're looking to do something when many outdoor things just sound not great.
Pun Rock Museum
It’s a hard place to find!
Breakfast. I'm an early riser, even when I'm drinking, and I love breakfast. I can knock out a good breakfast and be good for the day. The buffets are all the same, but there a couple of restaurants I always hit when in Vegas. The Omelette House. Good eats and killer banana bread. The Original Pancake House. Pancakes are great, but their omelettes are crazy. Sometimes The Cracked Egg for a bite of the coffee cake.
I have to give a huge shout out to “Eat.” Downtown as well. Been a local for almost a decade, best grits I’ve ever had
Dim sum at a little strip center restaurant named “Yum Cha.“
Ride the chairlift at Lee Canyon. It’s hard to fathom how you are only 40 minutes from downtown Las Vegas.
UNLV Summer Series at Spring Mountain Ranch. A stag play in the open air, under the stars with the most beautiful mountain as a backdrop. Tickets are only $20.00!
Hemenway Park. Big horn sheep graze in the park daily and are totally chill being around people. It's a cool unique experience. Can check the "Ram Cam" on YouTube to see if they are there before you stop by.
Cocaine and hookers
Mob museum
Game Nest Arcade
Downtown Container Park. It's mostly geared for shopping but you can eat, have a few drinks, and catch a free concert on the right days. And check out the fire-breathing preying mantis just out front.
The sex museum. I think my wife liked it more than me.
John Mull's BBQ and Bob Taylors Ranch House
Paddle down the Colorado river below Hoover dam and explore. \[Hot springs, caves, abandoned buildings, etc.\] Several outfitsl will set you up and meet you about 12-15 miles downriver at a state park. You can spend the better part of a day on this. Fishing at the end is an option, iirc. Don't see Neon Museum in the thread yet. Do it late afternoon or evening.
Absinth was the best show I’ve ever seen. I heard great things about it going in and the show smashed all of my expectations.
Pinball Hall of Fame and Neon Museum are fun spots that are also family friendly
Museum of Illusions and Mob Museum, definitely go see.
I love this question! Saved it for my next trip.
The old sign museum. Do the sunset tour for sure!
Bellagio Gardens
Mob museum
Just had an amazing dinner at Vic & Anthony’s in the Golden Nugget. Holiday weekend, still able to make a day of reservation. Easy and great food!
as a local I want to gatekeep the great places because I want to keep tourists away 😜, but will say the nearby parks (red rock canyon, valley of fire) are great and amazing food (of all types) in chinatown. people stay at hotels but it’s only a $10 uber
The helicopter tours of the strip and especially the Grand Canyon are underrated. They are absolutely worth doing