Ahh, Las Vegas. The Sin City. “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” You know all the catch phrases, and they can be as true as you want them to be. It’s definitely a city where you can go and let your wild side out, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t also the opportunity for just some good, clean fun.
Whatever your personality or lifestyle is, there is plenty to do in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am a frequent visitor there every year. It’s one of my favorite places in the US. My friends and I go on trips together semi-annually and those outings are something I always look forward to. In addition, with all the convention space out there, there are a lot of work opportunities that bring me there every year for networking and professional education.
As such, I consider myself a seasoned veteran on things to do in Las Vegas and bring you the following article with things to do while you’re there. I hope to include something for everyone, young and old, reserved and rambunctious. With that said, I hope you enjoy this list.
What to Do in Las Vegas
Gambling
Of course, the first thing on my list is gambling. It’s practically synonymous with the city. Whether you are a high roller or just want to play penny or nickel slots all day for the free drinks, there is plenty of gambling to do in this town. I spend most of my time playing blackjack and at every casino you’ll find tons of tables to play across all spending limits.
If blackjack isn’t your game, there is always roulette (pictured above) where you can just place a bet on black or red, odd or even number, and let the wheel decide your fate. Put some money down on your lucky number and you can win 36 times your bet! Roulette is a favorite of many rookie casino betters because the rules are very easy to follow.
When you walk into any casino the first thing you’ll hear is that familiar ringing sound of the slot machines. There are slot machines as far as the eye can see and you can find them at all stakes levels. When I was young and poor on my first visit to Vegas, in our naivete we just wanted to take advantage of the free drinks that casinos offer, so we sat ourselves down at some nickel slots and made a few dollars last a long time while we continued to pour back beers. It’s never a bad option if that’s your thing.
On top of the table games and slot machines, there’s always the sportsbooks. No matter what the sport, you’ll find some action on it at the Vegas sportsbooks. Las Vegas is particularly popular during weekends like the opening rounds of March Madness, where there are a ton of basketball games to bet on. Another high time is around Cinco de Mayo, a trip I’ve taken many times over the years. It always seems to coincide with the Kentucky Derby, plus there are the NBA and NHL playoffs in full swing, and in years past there was always a Mayweather boxing match.
See the World
Yeah, this one sounds a little weird – how can you see the world in Las Vegas? Well, there are a lot of attractions there that pay homage to famous locales from elsewhere in the world.
For example, do you want to see Paris and the Eiffel Tower? Then you can visit Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino.
Want to see Venice, but can’t make a trip across the pond? That’s fine, you can just go to the Venetian where there are gondola rides through a vast indoor area through replicas of Saint Mark’s Square. You can get a feel for Lake Como (also Italy) by going to the Bellagio.
Want some domestic locales? There’s the New York-New York Casino complete with a replica of the Statue of Liberty that is so authentic you could be convinced it was the real thing.
There are a ton of novelty attractions and themed hotels such as this up and down the strip, as well as off the strip that will make you feel like you’ve visited an entirely different place than Nevada.
Dining
There is no shortage of options for great food in Las Vegas, no matter what your taste preferences are. For me, I always go there for a great steak at any of the awesome steakhouses that litter the city. A personal favorite is at SLS where you can get a Japanese Kobe beef that will absolutely melt in your mouth.
My group of friends and I also like to have one big splurge dinner when we’re out there, where we go all out and order everything that interests us. The usual spot for us is Mastro’s Ocean Club. It usually starts with some steaks, a lot of bottles of wine, and it ends with an enormous seafood tower for all of us to share. I always walk out of there like I had the best meal of my life. Another favorite of ours is Pho Kim Long Las Vegas.
In addition to the great dinners you can find all around the city, there are a lot of great breakfast and brunch places. Lots of breakfast buffets full of everything you could want to stuff your face with, especially after a long night of gambling and partying. There’s no better cure for a hangover than a big, greasy meal and washing it down with some bloody mary’s to get the day started again.
Visit the Strip
The most iconic image of Sin City is the Las Vegas Strip. No matter how many times you’ve been there, there is just a magical feeling of walking the Strip and seeing all the lights. It’s absolutely breathtaking, mesmerizing, almost magical.
The Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard about four miles long, all lit up with casinos, hotels, and attractions on both sides. Many of the largest hotels in the city are located on here. In fact, 14 of the world’s top 25 largest hotels are located on just this one stretch of road.
With all the lights, hotels and casinos lining it, it’s definitely one of the most popular destinations for tourists when visiting Las Vegas. You can’t help but feel like you’re anywhere but Sin City, there is literally nothing like it anywhere else.
Go See a Show
In Las Vegas you can get entertainment like you won’t see anywhere else. There are a ton of different shows to see, no matter what your interests are.
If you’re looking for belly-aching laughs, there are always big comedians headlining all the venues. And I don’t mean Carrot Top, who seems to have permanent residency there and always doing shows, but the bigger names that will actually interest you and are worth the price of admission.
Of course, there is always a Cirque du Soleil going on. My favorite of theirs that I have seen in Las Vegas is called Love, which is set to the music of The Beatles. Being a huge fan of The Beatles music, and always amazed by the theatrics, acrobatics and production of any Cirque show, it is a can’t-miss show if you ask me. Currently they are also running a show called Michael Jackson One, which you can guess what the musical backdrop for that one is. They always have a handful of different shows — currently there is O, Ka, Mystere, and Zumanity to name a few — and you know you’re getting a great show no matter which one you see.
There’s also always a big musician taking up residency in Vegas. Britney Spears is the latest to do this kind of performing. The artists kind of rotate in and out depending on their contracts, but you’ll find artists like Celine Dion, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Santana off and on out there. Plus, for the older souls, there’s always acts like Barry Manilow and Wayne Newton (not my cup of tea, but they’re legends in their own right).
Enjoy Yourself at the Pool
I don’t have to tell you how hot it can get in Vegas, for obvious reasons – it’s a desert climate. No matter what time of year you visit, the sun will be shining and beating down on you. In the summertime, it can get downright nasty hot out there.
What better way to refresh yourself than by enjoying some time around any of the absolutely amazing pools featured at the Las Vegas resorts? The city is known to have some of the most popular pool scenes you’ll find anywhere.
There’s something for everyone. If you are just looking to lounge around, soak up some rays, and casually sip on a drink, there are some laid back and quieter venues where you can do just that.
But when you think of the pool scene in Sin City, you’re probably conjuring up thoughts of an absolutely crazy party. You can find plenty of that there. Pools packed with people, everyone enjoying themselves in and out of the pool, world-renowned DJ’s spinning music for everyone. It’s a crazy scene and a lot of fun.
Go to the Spa
Everyone enjoys relaxing, especially after a long day at the casino or a lot of walking on the Strip, or perhaps after a late night partying at one of Las Vegas’ biggest clubs. What better way to ease the tension in your muscles than treating yourself to a visit to the spa?
There is no shortage of world class spas littering all around Las Vegas. The hotel you’re staying at probably has one in-house, and if not there will be one just a short walk away.
Whether you’re looking for a massage, a mud bath, a facial or anything else to help you relax and recharge your batteries, there are a number of places you can go and they aren’t hard to find. Ask the concierge at your hotel for their recommendation and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Nightlife
Last, but not least, there’s the nightlife in Las Vegas. Some of the world’s best clubs can be found here and they’ll have world-renowned DJ’s spinning the best music all night. You’ll probably be rubbing elbows with celebrities, and who knows who might be hosting the party that night or who you’ll see getting bottle service in the VIP.
The nightclubs in Vegas are like nothing else you’ll see back home, no matter where you’re from, and are the perfect environment to let loose, live it up, and have the time of your life dancing the night away. Sin City’s nightclubs are of legendary status, there’s truly nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
Of course, if you’re more low-key, there are a lot of non-nightclub options to grab a drink as well. One thing that Vegas is not short on is drinks, food, and entertainment and there is something for everybody’s tastes and styles.
In Conclusion
Regardless if you like to gamble or not, are a big partier or enjoy a more casual night, like the indoors or outdoors, true-blue American or more worldly cultured, there is truly something for everybody in Las Vegas. It certainly has the reputation of a place where you let loose and party to your heart’s desire, which is why it is one of the biggest destinations for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t go out there and have more low-key fun as well.
Sin City has something to offer for everybody, coupled or single, kids or no kids, and is one of my favorite places in the world to visit. It’s why I’m there a few times every year and don’t see that stopping anytime soon – Vegas certainly isn’t changing anytime soon.
Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas on what to plan for the next time you make your way out to Las Vegas. Perhaps much of it was known to you already, and maybe you learned a few things along the way. As always, as a regular in Vegas, I’m here to answer any questions to help you make your stay even better!
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum.
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