10 Best Things to do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, one of the most popular gambling destinations and party cities in the United States, was a big surprise for me! While I knew people went there to gamble and party, little did I know there is so much more to this glamorous glitzy city. A destination famous for bachelor/bachelorette parties, Las Vegas is also home to beautiful themed resorts, impressive architecture, a ton of entertainment and dining options, super fun activities, breathtaking day trips, and so much more! My first visit to Las Vegas was with my friends and unfortunately due to a canceled flight, we lost a day. Next time however I had a chance to get back there with my Mom and sister, and the trip was equally if not more fun exploring with my family! First things first, you should consider staying at the neon-soaked Las Vegas Strip which is a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard and is home to the best resort hotels and casinos. At the very first glance, the bright lights, the luxury resorts and the remarkable architecture (at the Strip) took my breath away. We also had an opportunity to take a day trip to Grand Canyon the second time around. Without further ado, here are the 10 best things to do in Las Vegas!

Stroll Through the Themed Hotels

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If you arrive in the evening and get checked in like we did, you will want to rest and call it an early night to begin exploring the city next morning. The good news is that there is so much to do and see during the day. We started with a hearty breakfast and left our resort to check out the themed hotels on the Strip.

This self guided walking tour has been specified in the order we come across different hotels on our walking route, so try and follow the same to save some time.

We begin our self guided tour at the Venetian Resort, the theme for which is Renaissance Italy! Italy has always been one of my dream destinations and we were mesmerized from the get go. They have recreated the St. Mark’s square (Piazza San Marco) from Venice with the gorgeous Italian architecture, gondola rides, hand-painted frescos, grand sculptures and the street lights. It is a sight to behold. The hotel is beautiful inside out and should definitely be on your list when visiting the city.

The next one we visit is the Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. As the name suggests, the theme of the hotel is the Roman Empire and it’s Caesars. Home to beautiful sculptures and painted ceilings, Caesars Palace features 7 different pool experiences. Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis is one of the most beautiful swimming pools I have ever seen, and if that wasn’t enough, you can actually wager at the game of 21 while sitting partially submerged in a pool thanks to the  swim-up blackjack table available for your pleasure! The Forum shops are home to 150+ specialty stores restaurants and attractions, taking luxury shopping to a next level.

Next up is the 14,000-square-foot Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden at the Bellagio Las Vegas Hotel. The displays are changed every season by the Horticulture and Engineering teams celebrating nature and environment in all it’s glory.

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Next we head to the resort we stayed in, Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino located at the center of the strip. With a 15-acre Caribbean-style pool, it is known for the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. The 15-acre gardens are home to exotic birds (including Flamingos), aquatic animals, streams and waterfalls. It was the very first time I saw the Flamingos in person and they were so adorable and beautiful.

Thereon out, it’s time to get a glimpse of Paris! Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino takes the idea of a theme hotel to a whole new level by actually letting you experience their replica of the Eiffel Tower. You can visit the deck to enjoy the high rise views or simply adore the glimmering tower at night. The interiors have been decorated to resemble and give you a taste of the most romantic city in the world.

Finally we head to New York New York Hotel and Casino to enjoy the best of the Big Apple and get lost in the streets of New York City as if we were on a movie set. Ride the Big Apple Roller Coaster, hang back for a show or wager at one of the cheapest black jack tables we could find in the city!

Catch a Show

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Watching a show in Las Vegas was the highlight of our trip. I had been to a Broadway show in New York City but watching ‘Le Reve’ (French for ‘The Dream’) in an aquatic theater at Wynn Las Vegas Casino and Resort took the experience to another level. Dancing, acrobatics, synchronized swimming, diving and so much more! I have never watched such skilled performers (all of them scuba certified) live on stage. There is a storyline of heartbreak and passion behind the show. This was the best show running back when we visited. However you can also go for O by Cirque du Soleil for a similar experience. There are other options such as magic shows, musical concerts, plays and comedy shows amongst others which should be considered.

Walk around the City at Night

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Walking the Strip at night was my second favorite thing to do in Vegas. The entire city kind of glows up! Stroll the strip and make time to watch the mesmerizing ‘Fountains of Bellagio’ water show (at Bellagio Hotel & Casino) which happens daily every 30 minutes from 3 PM to 8 PM free of cost. Watch the Eiffel Tower (at Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino) light up and take the sky just as it does in the City of Love. Next we head to ‘Excalibur Hotel and Casino’ which looks like a castle from medieval times. Head to the pedestrian overwalk connecting the other side of the road to get a beautiful view of the castle reflected in it’s pool waters. Another beautiful experience is to watch the Luxor Sky Beam reach for the sky. The beam located at the top of the pyramid is so powerful (generates 40 billion candlepower) that it can be seen from hundreds of miles away. Finally it’s time to see a volcano erupt (yes you heard that right) at ‘The Mirage’ hotel with all the explosions, fireballs and music! It erupts daily from 8PM to 11 PM at every hour. While you stroll the street, you will come across a lot more I promise..

Ride the LINQ High Roller

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It’s time to ride the world’s tallest observation wheel adorned with 1500 LED lights and located above the center of the Las Vegas Strip, known as the LINQ High Roller. The wheel takes it’s sweet time (30 mins) for each round and offers 360-degree views of the city. Plus if you would like to enhance your experience, you can book a cabin with an open bar and a bartender available for the entire duration of the ride. We loved the views soaring high at 550 feet with a cocktail to kickstart our night. The High Roller is located at the LINQ Promenade which is an open-air dining, retail and entertainment district with over 35 shops and restaurants. The street is very lively with ice cream, cookie & chocolate shops, bars, a bowling alley and a lot of people in general around the street!

Party All Night

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Las Vegas being the ultimate party city has numerous bars and nightclubs. Every hotel and casino itself has countless lounges and restaurants. My favorite bar was The Chandelier which has been constructed to look like a dazzling delicate chandelier. This multi-story bar with 3 levels has an interesting cocktail menu and a very sophisticated vibe. The best nightclubs include Omnia at Caesars Palace and Hakkasan at MGM Grand. Home to some of the world’s biggest DJs and the coolest ambiance, these nightclubs will blow your mind away. Here are some links to unique bars and best nightclubs in the city!

https://www.vegas.com/traveltips/top-10-las-vegas-bars/

https://www.vegas.com/traveltips/top-10-las-vegas-clubs/

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-bars-in-las-vegas

Gamble the Night Away

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Alright now, a visit to Las Vegas will be incomplete without gambling at some of the best casinos in the country. No matter what your budget or experience, do set a small budget aside to spend a few hours at the casino. While there is no dearth of high stake tables, you can search for hotels with cheap blackjack, roulette and craps tables online to get the latest info. We played $5 blackjack at New York New York, and knew that Excalibur also had them. If you are not able to find a seat, fret not as you can always play a digital game or try something new. Who knows, what the night holds for you!

Explore Old Las Vegas

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An interesting opportunity to explore another side of Vegas would be to get out of the Strip and head to Old Las Vegas also known as Downtown Las Vegas. DTLV is the historic center of the city and was home to the casinos back when the Strip wasn’t developed. Located in the center of the Las Vegas valley, Old Vegas vibe is as vintage as it gets. Everything is centered around Fremont Street which has it’s own official entrance with a sign that says Fremont Street Experience. First stop should be the oldest casino in Las Vegas known as Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.

Time to have some fun and go ziplining above the Fremont street (offered by SlotZilla Zipline). You can cover as many as 5 city blocks spanning a length of 1700 feet in just one minute. What’s more? Watch the Viva Vision Light show on the largest screen in the world and visit the Neon Museum to checkout their collection of Las Vegas signs from as far back as 1930s. The casinos will take you back in time, giving you feeler of old times.

Enjoy the Famous Buffet

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Las Vegas has a multitude of excellent dining options serving different cuisines and culinary delights. There are restaurants by celebrated chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Guy Fieri, José Andrés, Wolfgang Puck, and many others. Las Vegas is also home to 13 Michelin star restaurants as of 2021. Another popular concept is that of fancy buffets which we were lucky to try. We chose the largest buffet in Las Vegas, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace and loved every bit of it. They offer dozens of cuisines and hundreds of offerings from specialty chefs. The place is huge with the food being prepared in open kitchens right in front of you. It was definitely an experience worth paying for, and the food was at par with our expectations!

Link to the list of Best Buffets in Las Vegas: https://www.timeout.com/las-vegas/restaurants/best-buffets-in-las-vegas

Head to the Aquarium

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I can imagine that an Aquarium doesn’t come to mind when you think about Las Vegas. You may have probably visited a lot of aquariums in different cities as well. However, after all the hustle-bustle, the lights, the casinos and the parties, you would need some quiet time and wish to do something different. If you are an aquarium enthusiast or travelling with kids, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a clear winner. You get to see more than 2,000 animals, including sharks, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha and a Komodo dragon. Plus, the most unique aspect of this aquarium is the Buddha statues placed outside as well as inside the aquarium tanks. They are absolutely gorgeous and definitely made this aquarium visit a memorable one!

Day Trip to Grand Canyon

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When I planned my trip to Las Vegas, I set aside a day to visit the Grand Canyon! While I would have loved to spend more time exploring the Grand Canyon National Park, I couldn’t miss it even if it meant only getting a few hours. Grand Canyon in Arizona needs no introduction. 6000 feet deep and 277 miles long, it is one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. The park which is also a world heritage site is home to five life zones (a region characterized by specific plants and animals), three desert types and several ecosystems. Grand Canyon is also one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world.

It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. There are three different rims one can visit – North, South & West. The South Rim is chosen most frequently by first time visitors (including us) as it offers the most dramatic canyon views and is located in the heart of the national park. The West Rim is known for it’s 4000 feet high U-shaped glass walkway known as the Skywalk. The North Rim is located at a higher elevation than the other two and is mostly accessible by car. The day trip to South Rim was booked with a tour company. The bus ride was pleasant and showed us two movies – One about the history of Las Vegas City and the other about the history of the Grand Canyon. Both of the movies were interesting and we also made stops for meals.

Link to the Bus Tour: https://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/

Las Vegas is one of those cities I would love to visit time and again. It has so much to offer for people of all age groups. It can easily get very expensive or overwhelming if you don’t plan well. I would recommend spending at least one leisurely day at your hotel, relaxing and taking a break. Rest assured, you are bound to have an amazing vacation in this lovely city for sure!