Las Vegas is a truly unique city. While you have all the glitz and glamor of the resorts, casinos, headliner shows, and world-class restaurants, there are also amazing things to do near Las Vegas for lovers of the outdoors! If you’re considering Las Vegas for your next getaway, here are the top 15 Las Vegas vacation ideas and why you need to visit Sin City.
Check out our Grand Canyon bus tour and other tours from Las Vegas with Gray Line
1. Experience the Las Vegas casinos
Las Vegas is packed with some of the best casinos in the world. Whether you like to gamble or not, these casinos are full of excitement, stunning designs, jaw-dropping attractions, award-winning restaurants, and massive resort pools that are sure to deliver the wow factor. Also, the more vintage casinos in the downtown area offer a historical glimpse into the early days of Las Vegas and its most iconic eras.
2. Soak in the Las Vegas Strip
When you see pictures of Las Vegas, they usually feature the famous Las Vegas Strip. That’s because the vibrant Vegas Strip offers an experience like no other! If you want all the fun and excitement of Sin City at your fingertips, the place to be is the Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard. The top things to do on the Strip include:
- Gaming at the casinos
- Shopping
- Dining and drinking
- Visiting free Las Vegas attractions
- Concerts and shows
- Nightclubs and other nightlife options
3. Explore Red Rock Canyon
Looking for fun day trips from Las Vegas? The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is the ideal place to explore, see the beauty of the Las Vegas desert, and get away from the city for a little while. Only about a 30-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon features a 13-mile scenic drive with the best views of the mountain, hiking trails, horseback riding, lookout points, picnic areas, and a visitors’ center with exhibits.
Don’t have a car or are short on time? Check out Red Rock tours near Las Vegas, which offers transportation and a planned itinerary to make the most of your visit.
4. Visit unique Las Vegas museums
The unique atmosphere found only in Las Vegas is matched by several notable museums specializing in a grand display of the area’s past. Popular Las Vegas museums include:
- The Mob Museum: Dive into the city’s historic connection to organized crime
- The Neon Museum: Explore the neon boneyard, where iconic neon signs have been restored and are on display
- The National Atomic Testing Museum: As a Smithsonian Institute affiliate, this museum showcases unique documents and artifacts from the nuclear testing site
- Discovery Children’s Museum: Your kids will love the interactive displays and attractions while learning
- The Nevada State Museum: Located at the Springs Preserve, learn the history of the area and how it was before it became Sin City
5. Take a trip to Hoover Dam
Just 30 miles outside of Las Vegas lies the impressive Hoover Dam. Built to control the flow of the Colorado River and power up the nearby cities, the Hoover Dam remains one of the most impressive man-made landmarks in North America.
The best part about this destination is that you don’t have to plan a whole day’s event. An early morning or late afternoon trip gives you enough time to explore the dam and its attractions. If you book a Grand Canyon tour, the Hoover Dam is often a stop on the itinerary, which is perfect if you want to see as much as you can during your trip.
Book a guided tour of Hoover Dam with Gray Line today
6. Enjoy a Las Vegas show
Las Vegas shows have built an undeniable reputation as the best entertainment in the world. That’s because Las Vegas concerts and residency shows go all out in true Sin City fashion. While there is a steady rotation of artists, comedians, and other entertainers throughout the years, some of the hottest upcoming shows include:
- Cirque du Soleil shows
- Luke Bryan: Vegas
- Chemistry… An Intimate Night With Kelly Clarkson
- Christina Aguilera
- Carrie Underwood: Reflection
- David Blaine: Impossible
- Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal
- Maroon 5: M5LV The Residency
7. Take an iconic Las Vegas ride
Some of the most famous attractions in Las Vegas offer an experience you won’t get anywhere else. Take in the sights and enjoy time with your group with these Las Vegas rides:
- A gondola ride at The Venetian
- Ride the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ
- Ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck
- Thrill rides at The STRAT
- Amusement rides at The Adventuredome
- Ride the SlotZilla zipline at Fremont Street Experience
- Ride Fly LINQ zipline at the LINQ Las Vegas
8. Snag a classic photo
If you don’t have photographic evidence in today’s world, then it didn’t happen. Be sure to snag a classic image with you and your travel group posing by the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Be forewarned, online images might not show it, but the line will be pretty long. It’s best to arrive earlier or later in the day to snap a great photo.
9. Book a Grand Canyon tour
With the Grand Canyon so close to Las Vegas, it’s the perfect day trip idea for anyone who wants to experience the true beauty of the southwest. Considered one of the wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon boasts the most amazing views, natural scenery, wildlife, and adventures for the whole family.
Gray Line’s Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas will pick you up and drop you off right at your hotel. You can also book an exciting or romantic Grand Canyon helicopter tour for an unforgettable date night, anniversary, birthday, or as a unique way to propose! Gray Line offers a champagne toast during your helicopter tour to make your experience even more special.
Book your Grand Canyon helicopter tour with Gray Line today
10. Cool off at Lake Mead
Spend a day relaxing out on Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The lake is just under an hour from Las Vegas, and there are several docks you can choose from if you want to rent a pontoon or boat for the day. You can also enjoy other activities like:
- Swimming
- Jet skiing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnics
11. Take a bus tour of Las Vegas
Want to take it easy on your feet but see all the amazing sights Vegas has to offer? Book a bus tour to explore the Strip, downtown, and other areas of Las Vegas. Many hop-on and hop-off bus tours will take you through popular landmarks throughout the city. Make sure to book Gray Line’s double-decker day tour of Las Vegas for the best views, entertainment, shopping, and dining with a professional live tour guide!
12. Book a walking food tour
There are so many flavors that await you in Las Vegas. The Strip is home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world. If you’re looking for a more intimate and local food experience, booking a foodie tour is one of the best ways to do this. You can find a number of different tours to suit your taste buds.
13. Visit Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas
Fremont Street in downtown is where Las Vegas all started. This area is where you’ll find vintage Vegas casinos, restaurants, and experiences that are part of the city’s exciting history. While there, you can enjoy free concerts, the Viva Vision screen, people-watching, ziplining, gaming, nightlife, and more.
You’ll also see where many Las Vegas locals choose to hang out near Fremont Street, including Downtown Container Park and the Fremont East Entertainment District. Don’t forget to check out epic street art, the Arts District, Symphony Park, and the Mob Museum while in downtown Las Vegas!
14. Experience a Las Vegas pool party
It’s no secret that the summers in Las Vegas can be sweltering. However, the hotter weather also marks the start of the famous Las Vegas pool season. Many of the resorts on the Strip host parties at their massive pools where you can cool off, have a drink, enjoy live music, and immerse yourself in one of the best guilty pleasures in Las Vegas.
15. Go shopping in Las Vegas
If you love shopping, you probably already know that Las Vegas is a shopper’s paradise. On top of the elegant boutiques and high-end shopping options you find on the Strip, you also have the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and Las Vegas South Premium Outlets. These outlet malls are where you can find the best deals on designer brands and the latest fashions. Just keep in mind that the outlets can get very busy during the holidays or seasonal sales.
Grand Canyon tours with Gray Line Las Vegas
Along with all the fun things to do in Las Vegas, visiting the Grand Canyon makes for an epic vacation. The Grand Canyon is a great place to visit any time of the year and adds a unique element to your Las Vegas trip. If you’re ready for an adventure while in Las Vegas, check out our Grand Canyon bus tours, helicopter tours, and other tours of the Grand Canyon, and book your seat today!