Las Vegas is such an incredible City to visit, but it is actually quite overwhelming. There is so much to do and see in Vegas it is hard to figure what to do. I went to Vegas for the first time in August 2018 for one of my best friend’s wedding. August is exceptionally hot so if you are not a fan of 40-degree (Celsius) weather then I suggest going at a different time of the year. I actually love the heat so this was the perfect time for me to go. We were in Vegas for 5 days, two of which were devoted solely to the wedding. We had decided to go down a couple days early ahead of everyone else so that we could get to see some of Vegas before all the wedding chaos ensued. This was my very first time going to Vegas and I really had no idea what I should do or even where to start planning.
Ahead of leaving for Vegas I scoured several different blogs to try and figure out what in Vegas was ‘un-missable’. I’ve put together a list of the best things to do for anyone going to Vegas for their first time.
Walk the Strip
You’re probably going to spend most of your time walking the strip while you’re in Vegas since there is so much to do and see! Make sure you check out all the hotels along the strip because each hotel has several different things to offer. Depending on how long your stay is in Vegas you may not even be able to see all the different things the strip has to offer.
Walking the strip was probably my favourite thing to do as there was always something to see and I absolutely love people watching and there is not shortage of that here!
Las Vegas Sign
This is probably the most iconic thing to see in Vegas. Just keep walking down the strip and you’re bound to stumble into the Las Vegas sign. Snap a couple pictures and continue on your adventure down the strip.
Fremont Street
Fremont Street is easily one of the most well known streets in Las Vegas and is home to some of the most iconic Las Vegas hotels like the Golden Nugget and Fremont Hotel and Casino. Fremont Street made history being the first paved street in Vegas in 1925, getting the first traffic light in 1931 and that same year was home to one of the first of six gambling licenses in Vegas! With so much history on one street you definitely want to make sure you spend some time there.
One of the coolest ways to see Fremont Street is by zip line. Fremont Street is home to a zip line that runs up to 5 blocks long and 11 blocks high. This is definitely one of the unique ways to see Fremont Street and is perfect for any thrill seekers. Prices of tickets vary so I recommend checking out their website https://vegasexperience.com/calendar/ .
Fremont Street also hosts quite a few free concerts during the summer months so make sure to check out if there is any good shows playing while you’re in Vegas!
If you do have time to check out Fremont Street during your stay in Vegas make sure you go in the evening so you can catch the spectacular Viva Vision Light Show. The Viva Vision Light Show plays on a screen suspended 90 feet above the pedestrian walkway and is approximately 1500 feet long and 90 feet wide. The light show usually happens every hour between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.
Fremont Street sees approximately 22 million visitors every year so make sure to make some time when you are in Vegas. You can actually check out what events are happening on Fremont Street while you are in Vegas by going to https://vegasexperience.com/calendar/ .
See a Show
There are so many incredible shows to see in Vegas. I was really hoping to see Jennifer Lopez’s show while we were there but unfortunately the only day her show was on while we were there was the night of my friends wedding so we weren’t able to make it.
I’ve heard a lot of great reviews from people I know about ‘Absinthe’, which is currently playing at Caesar’s Palace. This was actually second on my list of shows I wanted to see in Vegas but we just couldn’t find the time to go with all of the wedding commitments.
Funnily enough, I ran into some family while I was in Vegas that I only get to see about once a decade! They were actually in Vegas for a wedding as well and had attended the ‘Thunder from Down Under’ show at Excalibur Hotel & Casino and had nothing but good things to say about it! I would certainly consider checking it out if I’m ever back in Vegas for a bachelorette or a girl trip!
The High Roller
Las Vegas is home to the world’s largest observation wheel standing at 550ft. If heights are not your thing I’d definitely skip this attraction as the entire ride takes about 30 minutes. I don’t mind heights but I definitely don’t have an urge to be stuck 550ft (at times) in the air for 30 minutes.
The High Roller Observation wheel is definitely the best way to get a view of Las Vegas short of taking a helicopter ride.
Costs for the observation wheel differ between day and night and your age. Usually you can get tickets online for $22 during the day and $32 at night. You can upgrade your ticket to an open bar cabin which is a bit more expensive coming in at $35 during the day and $47 at night.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam was built between 1931 – 1936 for flood control, water storage, power and regulation. Originally named the Boulder Dam, it was built on the boarder of Nevada and Arizona. If you have the time, I recommend checking it out. It was actually pretty interesting learning about how the dam was built and the history of the dam.
Your hotel should be able to book a tour for you but if not I recommend checking out the tours listed on Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor is usually my go-to when researching hotels and tours and I haven’t been disappointed yet.
See the Fountains at the Bellagio
I think just about every movie filmed in Vegas has at least one picture with the fountains at the Bellagio hotel. The fountain show runs everyday of the week starting in the afternoon until midnight. There is usually 15 – 30 minutes between each show depending on the time of day you go. For a more complete schedule go to https://bellagio.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/fountains-of-bellagio.html to double check times.
I recommend checking out the fountains show at night as you will have a more enjoyable experience and be able to see the lights as well. Make sure to show up a bit early to get a good spot for the show. If standing shoulder to shoulder in a crowd full of people you don’t know isn’t your thing then I suggest making a dinner reservation at one of the many restaurants located in the Bellagio as many of the restaurants have a view of the fountain.
Gondola Ride at the Venetian
The Venetian Hotel was actually one of my favourite hotels to explore. The Venetian brings a little taste of Italy to Vegas. This hotel offers an authentic gondola ride through a canal that runs outside and inside the hotel. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as you float down the canal with your gondolier singing as you pass under bridges, beside cafes and under balconies.
Prices and times vary depending on the day of the week, inside or outside and how many people going on the gondola ride. I suggest checking out their website (https://www.venetian.com/resort/attractions/gondola-rides.html ) to confirm details.
Stratosphere
If you are a thrill seeker then the Stratosphere must be on the top of your Las Vegas bucket list!
The Stratosphere is home to the SkyJump, which is an open-air jump from 829 feet above the Las Vegas Strip. Unfortunately, I’m not a big enough thrill seeker to want to jump 829 feet towards pavement so I chose to admire the Stratosphere from afar. If you do choose to do the SkyJump you can go at just about anytime of the day. The Skyjump is usually open from about 10 a.m. till about 1 or 2 a.m. so you can jump at just about anytime of the day.
For those of you not looking to leap towards the pavement but still would love an incredible view of Las Vegas, I suggest the observation tower. The observation deck in the Stratosphere has one of the best views in Las Vegas standing approximately 1,149 feet tall.
The Stratosphere also has 3 different thrill seeking rides including the Big Shot!, Insanity and X-Scream. I’m personally not a big fan of scary rides so I steered clear of these rides and have no desire to ever test them out.
Prices vary so make sure to check out the website for more information on pricing and hours of operation (https://www.stratospherehotel.com/Attractions ).
Mob Museum
The Mob Museum opened up in February 2012 and has been a pretty popular attraction in Vegas ever since. The Mob Museum is home to some pretty incredible exhibits that provide insight into some of the biggest names in history such as, Al Capone, Dion O’Bannion, Sam Giancana and Virgina Hill. The Mob Museum was actually funded by the City of Las Vegas and cost roughly $42 million dollars to build.
If you do decide to visit the Mob Museum I would plan to be here for at least a couple of hours as the museum is fairly large with 4 floors of exhibitions totaling almost 20,000 square feet of exhibitions. Before the building was sold it used to be home to the Post Office and Federal Courthouse. The federal government sold the building to the City for $1 with the stipulation that it must be restored to its original look and used for cultural purposes.
One of the main exhibitions in the museum is found on the second floor and is a courtroom that was used as a location for one of the fourteen national Kefauver Committee hearings to exposes organized crime in 1950 and 1951.
General admission to the Mob Museum is $26.95 (for non-residents). There are packages you can buy that offer more then the general admissions tickets such as, access to the Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator or Distillery Tour and Tasting. These packages are $38.95 and $44.95 depending on whether you want access to everything or not. I recommend checking out the website for your tickets and to have a look at whether you want general admission tickets or a package.
