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100 Things to Do in Las Vegas
The Strip is only a fraction of this city. Here are 100 real things to see, ride, eat, and book, picked and written by someone who has lived here since she was five.
See Bookable Experiences ↓I’ve watched this city change my whole life, and the honest truth is that Las Vegas stopped being just a gambling town a long time ago. Below are 100 real things to do, organized by category so you can jump to whatever fits your trip. Some are free, some need tickets, and a few I’ve linked straight to booking. Every single one links to a full write-up with the details you actually need.
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Free Icons of the Strip
A free water-and-music show over an eight-acre lake, running every half hour after dark.
A covered pedestrian mall downtown with a light-and-music canopy overhead, free to walk.
The giant LED globe near the Strip. You don’t need a ticket to watch the nightly Exosphere light show.
A free nightly puppetry and light show staged on a lagoon at Wynn.
A 550-foot observation wheel at The LINQ, with an open-bar cabin option.
Open-air shops and dining behind a fire-breathing praying mantis sculpture.
Galleries, cocktail bars, and the monthly First Friday street festival just south of downtown.
My locals-only route through Fremont Street, the Mob and Neon Museums, and the Arts District.
The elevated train connecting Strip resorts. It’s useful transportation and a quick ride in itself.
Museums & Curiosities
Organized-crime history inside a real 1933 federal courthouse, downtown.
Retired casino signs rescued and displayed outdoors, including the old Hacienda Horse and Rider.
Dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and a working paleontology lab, minutes from the Strip.
Hands-on exhibits and a 70-foot climbing tower at Symphony Park downtown.
A nonprofit packed with one of the largest playable pinball collections anywhere.
Celebrity wax figures and interactive photo ops at The Venetian.
A human-anatomy exhibition at Horseshoe (formerly Bally’s) that blends science, art, and history.
A guided walk through a downtown mansion full of allegedly cursed objects.
Where to see interactive optical-illusion art now that HeadzUp has closed.
Thrills & Big Views
A 203-foot, 67-mph coaster that loops right over the Strip at New York-New York.
Vegas’ only indoor amusement park, tucked inside Circus Circus.
SlotZilla over Fremont Street and Fly LINQ over the Strip.
The free-fall rush of a real skydive without leaving the ground.
Indoor electric go-kart racing on two courses just off the Strip.
Guided off-road rides through the red rock of the Valley of Fire.
A shooting range one block off the Strip with 1,000+ weapons, including the M-134 Mini-Gun.
Three local spots to bury a hatchet, literally.
Thrill rides on top of the tallest observation tower in the country.
Outdoors & Day Trips
Trails from easy family loops to strenuous summits, 20 minutes from the Strip.
Tour the engineering marvel on the Colorado River, less than an hour out.
Red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs about an hour away.
Boating, kayaking, and the Historic Railroad Trail on the water right outside town.
A full day trip to the West or South Rim, no rental car required.
The wider list, from Zion to quirky Route 66 towns.
Guided Red Rock trail rides and sunset dinner rides near the valley.
Guided kayak tours through Black Canyon to the base of Hoover Dam.
180 acres of desert trails, gardens, and museums just west of downtown.
A Jack Nicklaus Signature desert course about an hour north.
Family & Kids
The family start-here guide, shows to water parks to free fun.
From roller coasters to the Sphere, picked for the teenage crowd.
Nevada’s only AZA-accredited aquarium, right at Mandalay Bay.
Four free floors of candy and merch right next to MGM Grand.
Jumping, dodgeball, and ninja courses around the valley.
The arenas that are actually open right now.
Go-karts, kiddie rides, and an arcade on Rainbow Blvd.
Story rooms and the SAW horror experience, with the best picks around town.
Where to cool off across the valley when the heat hits.
Henderson’s big summer water park, slides and lazy river included.
Food & Sweet Spots
Smoking goblet drinks and the King Kong Sundae, right on the Strip.
French dining partway up the tower, facing the Bellagio fountains.
Patio tables over Wynn’s Lake of Dreams show.
A downtown time-capsule dinner where every lady gets a rose and the salad is made tableside.
Closing August 23, 2026. Here’s what to book at Bellagio instead.
The famous Bellagio dining room has closed. Here’s where to go instead.
Guided tastings that hit multiple restaurants in one outing.
A beloved local chain with a huge wine, beer, and spirits selection.
Nightlife & Bars
Robot bartenders mixing your cocktails, right on the Strip.
A speakeasy behind a bookcase at Mandalay Place, with live burlesque.
A reggae cocktail lounge with fire-lit patios in the Arts District.
Strip piano bars to Chinatown private rooms.
Where drag brunch lives on now that Señor Frog’s has closed.
Nightclubs, pool parties, and your first legal bet, mapped out.
Where the energy of Señor Frog’s lives on around the Strip.
Shows & Entertainment
All five current shows on the Strip and which one fits your trip.
From Absinthe to the top magic and comedy on the Strip right now.
A medieval jousting dinner show at Excalibur, eaten by hand.
A family-friendly comedy and magic favorite, now at Excalibur.
Downtown’s home for Broadway, the Philharmonic, and jazz at Myron’s.
The Strip’s most haunted hotels, and how to hunt ghosts on purpose.
Arcades, Games & AREA15
The immersive playground just off the Strip, home to Omega Mart and more.
The grown-up barcade on AREA15’s second level, arcade cabinets plus a full bar.
Where to game now that GameWorks at Town Square has closed.
The family arcade and midway inside Excalibur.
A spellbinding immersive room, great for birthdays and date nights.
NASCAR weekends, drag racing, and driving experiences northeast of the Strip.
Free, Budget & Local Life
From the fountains to Seven Magic Mountains, no casino budget required.
Comps, weekday deals, and real money-saving tips.
Resident savings on shows, attractions, dining, and staycations.
What to avoid so your trip actually goes smoothly.
Heated, non-heated, and free outdoor classes across the valley.
Where to play across the city, with reservation tips.
Grass and sand courts, plus local leagues and meetups.
Farmers markets, festivals, and green space in the northwest valley.
The verified open spots now that the Mirage’s habitat has closed.
Seasonal & Special Occasions
Cooler hikes, gold aspens on Mount Charleston, and F1 race week.
Annual hunts and spring events across the valley.
13 places around town to get the holiday photo.
Brunches, spa days, and desert day trips for spoiling Mom.
Dinners with a view, gondola rides, and red-rock sunsets.
For anniversaries, honeymoons, or just a great night out.
$1 to $3 tickets for kids all summer long.
Real registered options for keeping the kids busy all summer.
More to Explore
The downtown pool with a shark tank at its center.
The valley’s longest-running roots reggae festival, each spring.
True IMAX, luxury recliners, and the West Wind drive-in.
Real spring outings now that the old Strawberry Festival is gone.
A floating inflatable obstacle course, plus kayaks and paddleboards.
6 steps if a Vegas wedding is part of the trip.
10 places to catch the desert sky change color.
The dedicated summer-with-kids version of this list.
The exhaustive version of this list, for the truly curious.
Book These While You’re Here
Four of the most-booked experiences from this list, ready to reserve.
Tournament of Kings at Excalibur
Jousting, feasting, and cheering for your king, all in one night.
Haunted Vegas Tour and Ghost Hunt
A guided walk through the city’s most haunted spots with real history mixed in.
Mob Museum Admission
Guaranteed entry into the real gangster history housed downtown.
Off-Road UTV Adrenaline Experience
A guided desert UTV ride for anyone who wants the ATV thrill above.
Tour links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Lori Ballen
REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas, leading The Ballen Group. A lifelong Las Vegan sharing the best of the valley.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site are affiliate links. Portions of this content are generated by AI.
