As I gear up for another funtastic weekend in Las Vegas, this time to see Celine Dion in concert at the spectacular Caesars Palace, I decided to compile a list of cool, Las Vegas-y attractions and happenings. Once I completed and fact-checked the information, I decided this might just be too good NOT to share. I did not include restaurants, entertainment shows or clubs, as I feel that they should have their own list(s). These are just fun, mostly budget-friendly activities that everyone should try at least once while visiting Sin City. Please note that the information below could change at any time, so please contact them directly to confirm details.
NOW, without any further ado… (in no particular order)
Pinball Hall of Fame: This “living” museum is packed with a crazy cool collection of vintage pinball and video games that are only $.25 each to play with all proceeds going to local charities! Open 11am to 11pm daily.
Circus Circus Hotel Circus: Be amazed by a wild assortment of world-class circus acts inside the casino throughout the day. 11am until midnight daily. Free!
High Roller (Ferris wheel): Bird’s eye view of the Strip and surrounding area from observation pods 550 feet up in the air. 30 minutes to complete a full rotation. Adult beverages are sold and allowed on the ride. Free under 12 years old. $26.95 per adult during the day and $36.95 per adult at night. Open until 2am.
Hershey’s Chocolate World: Free tours, samples to taste and fun activities for kids! Be sure to check out the 800 lb milk chocolate sculpture of the Statue of Liberty as well as customizing your own chocolate bars! Open 9am daily to 11pm/midnight on weekends.
Downtown Container Park: Funky, cool and environmentally friendly open-air shopping mall. Boutiques, dining, playground and live entertainment stage all made out of repurposed shipping containers and locally manufactured Xtreme Cubes! DO NOT MISS THE 50 FOOT TALL, FIRE SHOOTING PRAYING MANTIS OUT FRONT. Open 11am daily to 11pm/1am on weekends.
Viva Vision Light Show: Free nightly light shows on the hour starting at dark. Experience the intensity of the 550,000-watt, concert-quality sound system and the 1500′ x 90′ Viva Vision canopy screen that’s made up of 12.5 million energy-efficient LED lamps. Triptacular! For the adventurous crowd, set yourself up with a Slotzilla zipline ride high above the Fremont Street crowd.
Fremont Street: Be sure to spend some time downtown and take in the energy that is Fremont Street. Live music, street performers and dance bands that perform nightly, not to mention eating, drinking and gambling in the city’s fabulously old school casinos that line the street. Neon alert! Get your cameras ready!
Bellagio Fountains: Treat yourself to the breathtaking choreography of the dancing waters and light show at the Bellagio Lake. Free shows Monday through Friday every ½ hour 3pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 8pm.
Bellagio Botanic Garden: Walk inside this magnificent casino and feast your eyes on the Chihuly created glass flower ceiling as well as the whimsical, seasonally themed fresh flower botanic garden just past the lobby. Sensational! Grab a tasty coffee drink and pastry at Jean Philippe Chocolates and Pastries while you’re at it. Lobby open 24 hours.
Neon Boneyard: Retrolicious collection of Las Vegas’ finest neon signs from glory days past, dating back to the 1930s.Tours only. Visitor center with a gift shop and interactive learning center is neatly housed inside of the old La Concha Hotel lobby building. Too cool! $18 per tour or $30 Mob Museum combo tickets also sold.
Shark Tank Tours at Golden Nugget: Take an educational tour of this spectacular 200,000 gallon shark tank ($30, Wednesdays only) or take a swim in the pool next to the shark tank for $25 or even just take a free walk by after 8pm daily.
Mirage Volcano: Catch the new and improved Mirage iconic volcano explosions set to the music of The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain. Sunday through Thursday 8 and 9pm. Friday and Saturday 8,9 and 10pm.
Mandalay Bay: Shark Reef – A mind blowing 1.3 million gallon (main) tank in this ginormous aquarium. Complete with sharks and a shark tunnel, rays, countless fish, and many other marine life as well. Be sure to say hello to all the other creatures featured here such as snakes, dragons and crocodiles. You can even pay to dive WITH the sharks. $20. Open daily 9:30am to 7 pm/9pm on weekends.
Luxor: Ongoing educational exhibits the Titanic Artifacts and Bodies both $32. Opens at 10am daily with last entrance at 9pm.
Mob Museum: Aka National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. This incredibly well thought-out and interactive museum dedicatd to the history of organized crime in the US, famous gangsters & Las Vegas-specific history. Housed in the former Las Vegas Courthouse and Post Office. NOT TO BE MISSED. Allow at least 2-4 hours. Day passes are good for same day re-entry. Snacks and drinks are sold on site. Fantastic gift shop. Due to mature/violent content, please leave children under 12 at home. Open 10am to 7pm. $19.95.
Caesars Palace: Fall of Atlantis – Before dropping from shopping, take a much needed break while at the Forum Shops and watch this mesmerizing spectacle of fire, water and 9 foot animatronic statues who recount the myth of Atlantis. Free shows daily 11am to 11pm, on the hour every hour.
Grand Canal Shoppes Venetian: Experience Streetmosphere! Among the hustle and bustle of the shoppes you will watch street entertainers, Italian folk musicians, jugglers on stilts, livings statues and live opera – all free performances in St. Mark’s Square 10am to 10pm daily. Be sure to visit the magnificent Palazzo Waterfall Atrium and Gardens while you’re there as well. Open 24 hours.
Bally’s: Swarovski Starburst – Every night is New Year’s Eve at Bally’s! Nightly at 9pm and midnight this sparkling crystal-bedazzled starburst drops 55 feet from above the Grand Bazaar Shops in a magical light display. Just like a fairytale.
Flamingo: Wildlife Habitat – Displayed on 15 acres of lush gardens and waterfalls, the delicate Chilean flamingos, parrots, ducks, swans turtles, koi and two rescued brown pelicans are cared for lovingly and here for your viewing pleasure. Two live feedings every day. Free and open daily 8am to 8pm.
Mirage: The world famous Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Weekdays 11am to 5pm and weekends 10am to 5pm. Come face-to-face with some of nature’s most exotic and majestic creatures. You can paint or practice yoga with the bottlenose dolphins, be a trainer for a day, or just visit and admire the white tigers, white lions and leopards in a lush and serene environment. Be sure to see the two new babies! $22 for adults.
Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah: See how the other 1% live in this hidden world of opulence that is Wayne Newton’s home. You never know when he might pop out and say HI! Just recently opened to the public in September 2015. Gold ($35), Platinum ($49) and Diamond ($95) tours ranging from 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours in length. Located 4 miles off the Strip.
Westgate: Graceland Presents Elvis! – Elvis never really did leave the building apparently. This exhibit is housed in the Westgate, formerly known as the International, where Elvis had his long standing residency. The man, the legend, the King. The first, permanent Elvis exhibition featuring hundreds of artifacts from life in Tupelo to Hollywood to Las Vegas, that have never before been displayed outside of Graceland. Daily 10am to 9pm. Located in the Northtower and tickets are $26.
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign: Who wouldn’t want to have their photo taken next to this iconic 1959 neon sign? Just south of Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip and a 12-car parking lot for your ease and convenience.
Well boys and girls, cats and kittens, there you have it. Las Vegas. One of the most exciting cities in the world. Always buzzing, evolving, expanding, creating and certainly never dull. Something for everyone. I hope this list sheds a little light on all the wonders and fun to be had in Sin City.
Now get out and enjoy yourselves!
Finding Sally 