Last Updated: 12/27/19 | December 27th, 2019
A lot of people tell me how they never want to set food in Las Vegas. It is their idea of travel hell.
“I don’t really gamble.”
“I don’t want to just drink all day.”
“It’s overpriced.”
“It’s just drunken tourists.”
Las Vegas is always portrayed through the glitz and glamour of the Strip. And if your only image of the city is that then I understand why you would never want to go. The Vegas Strip is overpriced, full of drinkers, expensive meals and hotel rooms, and flashy lights. It’s a scene.
But there’s so much more to Las Vegas than just casinos, partying, and overpriced hotels.
Admittedly, most of the time I go to Vegas, I get sucked into life on the Strip. I hardly ever leave, spending my days at the pool and my nights at the poker table. Before I know it, it’s time to go home and all I’ve seen is the Strip.
Anyone who has been to Vegas knows it’s easy to lose track of time here (which is exactly what the casinos want!). To be honest, I often don’t mind. I enjoy the restaurants, shows, bars, and people-watching you can do on the Strip.
However, over the years, I’ve been able to break away from the Strip here and there to explore the rest of the city and the amazing sights that can be found in it. When you leave the Strip – and your image of Vegas behind, you see a place that has a lot to offer for those who aren’t interested in partying or late nights at the casino.
Here’s a list of things to do that proves there’s far more to it than just buffets, free drinks, and blackjack:
1.Visit the Grand Canyon
Located just under 5 hours from the city by car, a visit to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim is a must. While there are buses you can take to get there (which cost around $75 USD), the best way to access the canyon is by car. Rentals will cost half the price of a bus and will be much more comfortable too. You’ll have the flexibility to stop along the way as well.
Consider sharing the ride with other travelers from your hostel or from an app like Couchsurfing (that’s what my Community Manager did). That will help you save money and split the driving. If you really want to splash out, take a helicopter tour. These usually cost between $300-400 USD and include a brief stop on the canyon floor.
2. Hike Red Rock
Red Rock Canyon offers plenty of hiking and biking trails for anyone looking to get out of the city and into nature. It’s just 30 minutes west of the city, making it an easy escape for a quick hike or a full day of adventure. The canyon is ringed by a road and each trailhead has a parking lot where you can leave your car to go hike before driving to the next trailhead.
There are both easy and challenging trails to choose from, making this a great way to work off all of those buffets. Just make sure to arrive early in the morning before it gets too hot. Bring sunscreen and a lot of water too. Admission is $15 USD per car or $5 USD per cyclist/pedestrian.
3. Go to the Hoover Dam
The world-famous Hoover Dam is an hour from Las Vegas. Standing 726 feet high and stretching 1,244 feet wide, this is one of the most impressive feats of human engineering. It took 5 years to complete and over 100 people died during its construction.
You can take a guided tour of the dam, visit the museum, and walk across the dam to take in the incredible view. As a history buff, I loved the tour and learning about the mechanics behind constructing the dam. And as someone scared of heights, I enjoyed the scenery far back from the overlook’s edge!
4. Have Fun at Lake Mead
This man-made lake is a byproduct of the Hoover Dam and makes for a fun getaway to cool off and swim, kayak, fish, and even scuba dive! The lake spans over 1.5 million acres and was the country’s first national recreational area. You can reach the lake in just 30 minutes from the city and either book your activities in advance (your hotel can help with that) or book on arrival. Admission is $25 USD per vehicle or $15 per pedestrian/cyclist.
5. Hang Out in Boulder City
Located on the way to the Hoover Dam, this small town offers a taste of life in Nevada without the gambling — it’s one of only two cities in the state that prohibits it! The town is home to just 15,000 people making it a quiet escape from the bustling lights and noise of the Strip. The town was originally built to house the Hoover Dam workers, eventually outlasting the project and expanding itself into a proper town. Despite the lack of “things to do,” strolling around this quiet little community is a nice contrast to the crowds of Las Vegas.
6. Visit the Mob Museum
The Mob Museum, officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is (quite fittingly) located in downtown Vegas. It showcases both sides of the notorious battle between organized crime and law enforcement.
Opened in 2012, it has four floors of interactive and insightful exhibits that shed light on America’s seedy past. You can learn about the famous gangsters, how crime labs work, and even test your skills in a firearm training simulator. The museum does a great job at illuminating the Las Vegas so immortalized in movies like Casino. Admission is $26.95.
7. Eat with the Locals
The Strip has some of the best food in the world, and with the amount of money flowing through that street, it’s easy to see why. I’ve had some world-class meals here, but if you want to get a taste of local Vegas food, be sure to wander off the beaten path and try some of these places:
8. Head to Fremont Street
The glitz, the lights, and the high prices of the Strip are all a far-off land compared to downtown Las Vegas. Here you’ll find sketchy bars, sad casinos, cheap drinks, and more of a New Orleans Bourbon Street vibe. This is the heart of old Vegas and makes for an interesting contrast compared to the sleek and polished Strip.
It’s a great area for tacky entertainment (there are lots of cover bands, buskers, and celeb look-alikes pandering for paid photos), people-watching, cheap slots, cheaper drinks, and a more laid-back atmosphere. There is even a massive zip line you can ride above the entire street.
9. Go Golfing
There are dozens of golf courses in and around Vegas so make sure you spend some time on the links if you’re a golfer. If you can, try to get in a round at the sought-after Shadow Creek, one of the best courses in the world.
Other noteworthy courses are Cascata, Wynn Las Vegas, and Coyote Springs (designed by Jack Nicklaus). Most of the casinos can help you arrange a day pass. Expect to pay anywhere from $100-500 for 18 holes. Just book an early tee tie to avoid the worst of the heat.
10. Visit the Neon Museum
This outdoor lot is essentially a graveyard for the huge lights and signs that once beckoned tourists into casinos like the Silver Slipper, Stardust, and El Cortez. Spanning almost 3 acres, this eclectic casino graveyard lets you explore the city’s shining and sinful past.
In addition to the neon signs, the museum also hosts temporary exhibits (it recently had one by Tim Burton). It’s pretty cool wandering through these old signs, learning the history of the city as you go, and getting a different perspective on Las Vegas. Admission is $30 USD.
11. Get Artistic at First Friday
On the first Friday of every month, the downtown area fills up with exhibits and displays from local artists during First Friday. It’s essentially a free monthly festival and a great way to get a sense of the local art scene. It’s a huge event with art, music, food, and other items for sale. Be sure to also spend some time checking out Arts District 18b, the arts center of Las Vegas, which is home to cool bars, shops, and galleries.
12. See a Show
While the shows in Vegas used to be more of an afterthought, today they are one of the city’s biggest draws. Music, magic, dancing — you can find some of the world’s best performers here putting on incredible, world-class shows (and usually for an affordable price too). Some of the best shows to check out during your visit are:
There are always new shows arriving, as well as lots of touring bands visiting as well. Ask your hotel for a list of what’s playing during your visit.
It’s easy to focus on Las Vegas as the bright and glitzy casinos and resorts that line and surround the main boulevard. After all, that’s what most people see in the ads; everything else is simply an afterthought.
But I always find that there’s far more to Vegas than the casinos of the Strip — there’s food, great entertainment, and plenty of outdoor activities. It’s not all shots machines and slot machines. If you let that image stop you, you’ll miss out on a dynamic and ever-changing city surrounded by a beautiful desert landscape.
Book Your Trip to Las Vegas: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Looking for more information on visiting the USA?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to the USA for even more planning tips!
Photo credits: 6 – Jeremy Thompson
Michelle
Great list! Lake Mead looks beautiful!
Kerry
I adore Vegas, although not so much the strip.
My total favorite vegas thing is the Pinball Hall of Fame. http://pinballhall.org/. I’m kind of obsessed with it.
Brian
Great list. We’d also point out that you don’t need to gamble or go to shows or even drink to have a great time on the strip. Travelers, in particular, should appreciate all the faux cities they’ve built. We liked bopping around “Paris”, or “New York”, or wherever just to see how much they got right, or wrong.
Sharon
This is a great post! I’ve been to Las Vegas a few times, but my husband has never. Neither of us is very into gambling, so if we plan a trip, I’d love to have more options available… Even though we might just end up sitting by the pool with drinks!
estherjulee
i definitely say the same thing too! i always tell myself i am going to go hiking when i visit vegas, but i usually always end up spending most my time on the strip. luckily, we’ve made some friends who live off strip that we’ve been able to explore some more food options. sushi mon is pretty good for being so cheap. 🙂
Tracey
I love Fremont Street. It’s my favourite part of Vegas. Cheaper than the strip, seedy casinos with some personality and that great roof screen with booming music! Love it all! Next time we go we are trying the zip lining that they have there now.
Marie
This is great! I’ve been telling people for YEARS that they should do other things than gambling when in Vegas but they don’t seem to get it. I’ll be sending them this article every time they mention their trip!
Edward
I’m a Vegas junkie too. Anytime I get a chance to go, I’m there. I hit the poker tables hard, and I have to admit I never really get much more done while I’m in Vegas except gambling, but I always have a great time. This is a great list of things to get out and do if the tables aren’t your thing though! Thanks for putting this together.
Kristin
Now, this is a Vegas I could do. I’ve never been a fan of the bright lights and loud streets and smoky casinos but I do LOVE the outdoors.
Jeff
I see many of my favorite places on here. I visited the Neon Museum this year and really liked it. You show a picture of the Peppermill but do not have a link. I always make sure to eat there when I am in Vegas.
Ray
I’ve done a few of those “Off the Beaten” path suggestions myself, and couldn’t agree with you more, Matt! I have been to Vegas 4 times myself within the past six years. After my last trip (July 2012), the city seems to have grown on me as a perfectly balanced vacation between fun, food, scenery and a bit of culture.
A few more suggestions I would add to that list include:
(1.) Visit Death Valley (located midway between Vegas and LA – 2 hours Northwest). Perfect place for photography and geology buffs! Not to mention that Death Valley has both the lowest point in all of North America – Badwater Basin – and highest point of the contiguous United States – Mt. Whitney McKinley – located within this unique and fascinating National Park!
(2.) See a Vegas show (I saw “Phantom of the Opera” with my Girlfriend. I am not usually that big into theater production, but this version at the Venetian totally blew my mind away. It ended its run in September 2012, however, so I would suggest asking your Concierge for suggestions).
(3.) Go to any Gun Range!
(4.) Watch the Bellagio Fountains Show, but do it at the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris-Paris Casino & Resort. Gives you a 360 degree view of the Strip, and an eye opening experience of how high those water fountain are blasted during the show!
Thanks for the tips! Brings back fond memories! 😀
Lise Griffiths
Excellent – a side to Vegas and the surrounding area that definitely appeals more to me than casinos and pools. The grand canyon is fantastic, I have been and would really recommend a helicopter ride over it – the best views EVER!
Lake Mead looks beautiful and so does that golf course, even though I don’t play golf! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shaun
The Grand Canyon is really worth while, and you can take multi-day camping trips through the various trails there.
Lake mead would be fun to as I imagine they have a bunch of watersports you could do.
Frank
Hi Matt,
Great post – I’ve been wanting to go to Las Vegas precisely to see the attractions in the surrounding area. Grand Canyon at the top of my list, but I was also wondering about Zion National Park and Glen Canyon. Did you exclude them because they’re a little further away? Never heard of Red Rock Canyon, thanks for the tip!
Frank (bbqboy)
JoAnna
Hey Frank ~ Zion National Park and Bryce National Park are actually both closer to Las Vegas than Grand Canyon. Joshua Tree National Park is also closer than Grand Canyon. Matt is right in that it is a long drive to get to Grand Canyon, so I actually often recommend that people hit up one of the other closer national parks when they visit. Red Rock is fab, but if you like outdoorsy stuff, I also recommend Vally of Fire, which is just north of the city.
Frank
Thanks Joanne, much appreciate! Yes, I thought it was closer. I’ve noted Valley of Fire, thanks!
Frank
John Unger
I was definitely one of those people that said they had no interest in ever seeing Vegas, until some family members moved to Boulder City and I finally spent some time there. There’s actually a great entrepreneurial culture in the city, with co-works and cheap offices. And if you want to go out for a drink and just get lost in a mob of people at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday, it can’t be beat.
Lunaguava
We were recently in Vegas and did a night out in the Grand Canyon North Rim (less crowded than South and West, still mesmerizing). It’s less than a 5 hour drive, through mostly magnificent scenery. If willing to spend a night away from the blackjack tables, it’s a brilliant option and highly recommended. If too short on time but loose on the dollars, there’s always the helicopter… Still on a road trip frame of mind, on the opposite side lies Death Valley – less than 3 hours away, also stunning and a thrilling drive.
Michael
There are some major renovations going on in downtown Las Vegas to make the place the next Silicon Valley. I’m going back to LV soon so I’ll find out if it’s worth a second visit.
Michael
Great list! I have been to Vegas a few times in my life, but never realized that there is so much to do outside of the strip. I need to plan another trip there soon and check these places out!
Thanks for sharing Matt!
Michael
Barbara
I’m with you, we love to visit Las Vegas…for a short time then it’s off to enjoy all the other wonderful things in the area so worth seeing. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon are all great choices and ones so worth the time if you’re into outdoor activities. This is a very informative list for those looking for interesting things to do other than the strip.
Billy
My wife and I will be spending our 20th anniversary in vegas this October, and we have a full schedule of events to keep us busy. Two concerts, three shows, three tours, a weekend of NHRA races, and three great dinners already planned. Not sure if we are going to have any money left to eat or gamble, but we should have a great time! It’s been 32 years since I’ve been to vegas, and my wife has never been. I’m sure it’s changed a little.
Don Lewis
Great info! I especially enjoy playing golf in Las Vegas, there’s such a huge variety of courses there. Golf definitely relaxes me and takes away the everyday stresses of life (work, family, among other things). My favorite places to golf in Las Vegas are the Eagle Crest and Aliante. They are very affordable without sacrificing quality.
Kristen Bor
Great article Matt! I am moving to Vegas next week from the East Coast, and I couldn’t be more excited to explore everything off the strip. Red Rocks, Grand Canyon, and all of Southern Utah (Zion and Bryce) which one of the previous commenters suggested, are high on my list. Also Havasu Falls is about 4 hours from Vegas. A challenging hike, but one of the most iconic waterfalls in the world. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures. We are headed to Havasu Falls in early April and can’t wait!
Artie J
Hi Kristen,
Congrats on the move. I’m jealous!
I go to Vegas twice a year and I always make it a point to get in my rental car and drive somewhere I’ve never been before. Last year I drove to Zion National Park…it was absolutely awesome! Going to try and make it to Bryce on my next trip in October.
Not familiar with Havasu Falls, so I Googled it. Looks beautiful…it’s going on my list!
Good luck with your move.
Artie J
Great article. I’ve been going to Vegas twice a year for about 20 years now and with each passing year I spend less and less time on the Strip.
The Grand Canyon is great, and so is Red Rock. I can also second the author’s recommendation for Lotus of Siam…one of the best Thai restaurants around. I recommend you call ahead for a reservation, as the place is usually packed, especially on weekends.
Becca Duban
I am going to Vegas this weekend and I can’t wait! I went there last spring, which was a nice get away, but the people I went with were pretty boring… This time I am going with family and friends! The grand canyon is so pretty! I love the atmosphere, even though I am not a big gambler. There is so much left that I need to do in Vegas, I don’t know if I will ever see or do all of it. Thanks for the post! It was very helpful!
Jason Kim
Las Vegas Rockcrawlers does jeep offroading tours through the red rock canyon, its expensive but you get to drive your own jeep wrangler through pretty fun but not too difficult trails. Hiking the red rocks is something you should do with your wife or GF, its very secluded and the sights are amazing.
kathy H
One of the very best attractions off strip was the Liberace Museum, we visited it about 5 years ago, I believe it closed the following year due to sketchy management practices by their board of directors. It was a fabulous exhibit with a car collection, antique pianos, his extensive costume collection and a cabaret which featured entertainment on the weekends at a bargain price feature entertainers from a the big shows on their ‘dark ‘ night. It is so sad that it no longer exists.
Johnny
Being a Las Vegas local for over 10 years, I definitely don’t gamble and have experienced most of the nightlife on the strip and downtown so If I were going to add one more thing to that list it would be ballroom and Latin dancing. To me it;s a lot better than losing your money in a casino and way easier to meet fun locals without getting packed like sardines in a high profile nightclub like XS, Hakkasan or Marquee even though I enjoy those places.
Amanda
Where do you go bathroom/Latin dancing?
Kim ferguson
Steve we just went to the Mob Museum it is awsome 3 floors to go takes about 3 hrs lots of History and videos we’ll worth the money it’s like 41.00 per person but if you are a resident like me it was like 27 for me and my husband and after your done you can check out there gift shop
Susan
We go to Vegas about twice a year as we live in LA. Always love discovering new things to do off the Strip. On our last trip we discovered a show called Alibi Las Vegas – even though its on the Strip, its not really like anything else that is there and we really loved it, and have been telling all of our friends about it. Off the Strip we just love visiting Red Rock.
Jade Brunet
We are looking to take a trip to Las Vegas but want it to be a meaningful experience for the kids as well. Thank you for this list of things to do in the area. The Mob Museum sounds interesting for my husband. I think it is a good idea to get the adventure planned before it begins.
Jerry
It is refreshing to come across an article about Las Vegas attractions that does not list the best buffets, the best casinos, anything on the strip. Based on the content of most articles you would think that Las Vegas consists of only the hotels and casinos on the strip. When in fact, Las Vegas has top rated attractions that are not on the famed strip.
We live by the Red Rock Mountains. The Red Rock area is largely an undiscoved area for most tourists. Most traffic, visitors tend to be local or in-state visitors. Even when you go to a search engine and query Las Vegas attrations the first several pages are dominated by the casinos as they dominate internet marketing. I am hopeful that this article will motivate those who read it to venture outside of the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Cristhian
Local here. I would also recommend Mount Charleston. It’s about an hour North of Vegas and it’s basically an oasis in the desert. A beautiful forest of pine trees, always about 20-30 degrees cooler than town so it’s perfect for escaping the heat in the summer and in the winter it snows!