Top 5 Things To Do In Las Vegas
73Las Vegas, Nevada can be overwhelming for first time visitors. There are many more attractions and sights than most people can fit into a short visit. Fortunately, many of the most popular attractions in the entertainment capital of the world are conveniently located right on the strip, officially called the Boulevard, so you can see and do a lot in a short period of time.
Once called "Sin City", because its main attraction was 24 hour gambling, Vegas now has plenty of family attractions, and has actually become one of the top destinations in the world for family vacations. If you're wondering what to do on your first trip to Vegas, be sure to check out these top 5 Vegas attractions!
Walk The Strip
Nearly everything you'll want to see in Vegas is located along the strip. You can enjoy the lights and see all of the famous landmarks that you've only seen in the movies or on television. Walking the entire strip takes about 3 hours, and is a handy way to plan the route you'll take to see all the sights.
Stratosphere Tower
If you want to take in everything at once, the Stratosphere Tower is where you want to be. At nearly 1200 feet high, it's the tallest free standing observation tower in America. Inside the tower, you'll find shops, restaurants, and incredible views of the city lights, the Las Vegas Valley, and points beyond. At the top of the Stratosphere tower you can get a shot of adrenaline from the world famous thrill rides.
If you're feeling a little crazy, you can try Insanity The Ride. It's a giant mechanical arm that extends more than 60 feet over the edge of the tower, at a height of more than 900 feet! You'll pull up to 3 G's as the ride spins in the rarefied air.
If pulling 3 g's doesn't get your heart pumping (or stop it completely), take a ride on the Big Shot. This ride begins at over 900 feet in the air and catapults you up the mast of the Tower to over 1080 feet, then drops you back to the starting point. Just when you think it's over, it does it again, pulling 4 G's on the second shot! Big Shot is definitely not for the feint of heart.
Real thrill seekers can put on a custom jump suit and take the plunge with SkyJump Las Vegas, the highest controlled free-fall in the world! Before the jump, you'll get a safety lesson and an elevator ride to the top of the tower. Then it's just a matter of working up the nerve to make the 866 foot leap.
SkyJump Las Vegas!
Bellagio Fountains
The fountains at the Bellagio hotel are one of the most popular sights in Vegas. If you're going, be sure to see them at Night. They're lit up in beautiful colors and put on a spectacular show as they dance to all different types of music.
Las Vegas MGM Lion Habitat
The lions of the MGM hotel and casino live their lives on an 8.5 acre ranch, about 12 miles from the hotel, but from 8 am until 7 pm, you can visit them at the MGM lion Habitat. The habitat is 3 levels high, and enclosed in 1.5 inch thick glass, so you can watch as they eat, sleep and play. Feeding times are 11:15 and 4:30, and admission is free!
The Venice Canals In Vegas
When you're ready to get away from the lights and noise of the city, head over to the Venetian hotel. You can take a romantic ride in an old fashioned gondola in the Venetian's Grand Canal. The canal is a beautiful replica of the real thing, and the half mile ride takes you past old world looking store fronts and under some of Venice's famous bridges.
If you're feeling particularly romantic, lovers can take a ride in the Wedding Gondola. It's adorned in beautiful white and gold, and serves as a floating wedding chapel for dozens of couples every year.
Of course, every gondola is piloted by an authentically dressed, singing gondolier! Total cost for the ride is $16 USD per person at the time of publishing.
More Things To Do In Vegas
Las Vegas is always open, so you're never lacking for things to do. If you've seen all of the sights and still have some time to burn, you can take in a show, enjoy one of the amazing buffets, or try your luck at the tables or slot machines.
If you're looking for a great deal, Las Vegas hotel rates are at their lowest during July and August, and January and February. These months are considered the "Off-season." The city is almost always bustling, but stifling summer temperatures, and the holiday season often help keep crowds to a minimum.
If you're hungry for more information on Las Vegas, Nevada, check out the official Las Vegas Tourism website. Here you'll find all of the info you'll ever need to plan and book the family vacation of a lifetime!
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Excellent hub. I find it very interesting and thank you for sharing. Thought I don't have that enough budget to go now, certainly will try go to the next time around.
The gondola ride looks like my kind of excitement. Vegas is definitely back on my bucket list. I must say that sky jump video was amazing - drop-of-death - and people actually STEPPED off the platform - nobody pushed them!!!! Amazing!
Thanks for the comments! I'm with you, RedElf. No way I'm going to jump off of a perfectly good building. I think the gondola ride is about all the excitement I can handle these days. I'm such rebel!
Great hub! I love the Bellagio fountains, both in the morning and at night.
Hi Everyone, I stayed in Caesar's Palace in 2005 and I loved it. I took a lady that lived there years ago and said she would show me around, She must have meant the bathroom..HA!HA! I wanted to rent a car and go to the Red Rock Canyon, The Hoover Dam, see the Grand Canyon, gamble alittle, Pool, Hot Tub & have fun. Now, I did get great pictures of the Dam out of the window of the plane, but that was not what I had in mind! My "Friend" said The plane made her sick, there was a shooting in the boarding terminal and it was an hour before shuttles could come in until all was cleared. She stayed outside until I got our luggage. She spotted a limo at $85 for about 3 miles, I could have walked there, if not for the bags. Once we arrived, her behind was glued to the slot stools and was there until over $6,000 was gone in 3 days. That sickness was gone as soon as the limo stopped at the door of Ceasar's Palace. I flew 3 thousand miles and everywhere I went I was alone, Well..except to Eat. I played the slots for awhile, and done very good on black jack. I thought we would go the next day and see the sights..wrong! For my next trip, I want someone that loves to travel. I want to dig at the Royal Peacock Mine for the Black fire opal. They are closed for the winter, but they have a place for campers, fish and so on. If could fine someone that wanted to do the things I do, I will drive, I had my truck drivers license, I Retired as a Rural Mail Carrier. I can cook Southern Cooking, I just want to go and have fun and maybe fine some gems, I love to make Jewelry and sell at the campgrounds to help pay the way. Tell jokes,I would love to go down the Colorado River on a raft, and hear Carole King sing "Morning Sun", like was played at the end of the movie with Brook Shields when she was real young, about 14 and Peter Fonda along with his father Henry Fonda. Great movie, and great sights of the Grand Canyon. This was funny and it was about finding Gold in the Grand Canyon on donkeys. I would love to go back sometime in the spring and go to Denio Nevada, nrar the Orgeon line where the Royal Peacok Mine is. You can go on the map and see it. My husband was a truck driver for over 20 years and a musican on weekends and open for Tammy Wynnete and Mel Stree, Great singers. My husband is 3/4 Cherokee Indian and we live at the beach and he loves to fish in the surf. He is getting over Colon Cancer by the grace of God. We plan on traveling later when he gets his strength up, but told me to go ahead if I could fine someone that wanted to do the same and had great trust. The Bellagio Fountains beside Ceasar's Palace, It was beautiful and so was most of what I Was able to see the last day we were there. I Got my movie camera and I walked over 3 miles by myself. I picked up some gifts, and the last place I stopped was good ole Mcdonalds and that was our last meal in Las Vegas. I can't wait to go back and have a ball, find gems and make money. Looking forward to going in a nice Motor home, or Camper having a great time. We sold our Camper and built beach houses, and that is where we live. I hurt my back years ago, but I don't sit, I'm not lazy, I push myself, but I don't forget it either. Yes, I do talk, and a very good person with a Big Heart. Have a great Thanksgiving, and God Bless, Sharon
celebritie Level 2 Commenter 6 months ago
Las Vegas can be fun even for those of us who do not gamble it can be a wonderful town of entertainment, My favorite where the acrobat shows at circus circus.