There's far more to Las Vegas than its numerous poker rooms. When you've had enough bad beats for one day, it's time to step outside the card room and indulge in some of the other exciting activities Sin City has to offer.
Las Vegas is truly one of the most thrilling places to visit for adults. We could compile a list of 500 cool attractions in Southern Nevada, and that's no hyperbole. But we've narrowed it down to just 10 of our absolute favorites. If you partake in just half of these suggestions, you'll have a memorable vacation in the greatest tourist destination in the world.
You know what they say — breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day off right with a huge plate of southern fried steak and eggs or some mammoth buttermilk pancakes at the Peppermill on the north side of the Las Vegas Strip. While the prices might seem high for a breakfast meal, the portions are big enough to share. The food, while not exactly the healthiest (but who really cares? You're on vacation!), is downright delicious, and the atmosphere is always lively even at 9 in the morning.
Las Vegas can get a little wild at times, especially if you're big into the party and gambling scene. So, why not take a step away from the craziness of the Strip for a bit and drive out to the beautiful Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area for a relaxing and scenic hike? Nothing beats a peaceful hike through gorgeous scenery after a rough day at the poker table. You'll forget all about that drunken tourist who hit a two-outer on the river for your entire stack.
8. Video poker at Bugsy's Bar
Most poker players enjoy video poker, beer, and loud crowds. You get all that at Flamingo's famous Bugsy's Bar, a lively video poker bar in the center of the casino. The bartenders are always friendly, fun, and never let patrons sit there with an empty drink glass. And even better, drinks are free while you're playing (please make sure you tip, and tip generously)!
7. Catch a Golden Knights game
Who knew Las Vegas loved hockey so much a few years ago? Prior to the 2017 NHL season, when the Golden Knights came to town as an expansion team, hockey was an afterthought in Sin City. These days, however, everyone around these parts seems to be all-in on the local hockey team. Golden Knights games are electric and a blast even if you aren't hockey fan, but tickets aren't cheap or easy to snag. You'll pay a pretty penny for admission, but it's worth it.
6. Bet on sports
Before heading to the Golden Knights game, throw down a bet at the nearby Aria sportsbook, or any sportsbook for that matter. Sports betting is available on just about every block in town, so pick your lucky spot. Our favorite places to bet on games are Aria, Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn, and Westgate on the Strip. If you'd like to venture away from the Strip, get some action at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson.
5. Party the night away on Fremont Street
Fremont Street in the downtown area is an iconic part of Las Vegas. The district is popping nearly every night, especially during the summer. While the casinos aren't as fancy as they are on the Strip, the beer and food are much cheaper. It's virtually impossible not to have a blast on Fremont Street, not with all the free live music, gambling, clubs, bars, and delicious eateries within blocks of each other.
4. Catch a Show
You can't make a trip to Las Vegas without seeing one of the city's most entertaining shows. From stand-up comedy to major concerts, Las Vegas has a plethora of exciting shows to choose from every single day of the week (except during COVID-19). Carrot Top at Luxor, Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Blue Man Group at Luxor, and any of the Cirque du Soleil shows are all must-see attractions for adults of all ages.
3. Dinner and drinks at Hofbrauhaus
Sure, you can have a delicious steak at about 20 different places in town, and that would be quite satisfying. But you'll have a real brewhaha at Hofbrauhaus, one mile east of the Strip, one of the most entertaining German bars you'll ever encounter. Live bands perform nightly inside this always packed restaurant and bar. The beer is cold, the German cuisine is bomb (try the potato pancakes and anything that ends in "schnitzel," just trust us here), but what truly makes Hofbrauhaus a memorable experience is the waitresses who become the life of the party.
2. Soak up some sun poolside
It's always sunny in Las Vegas. Pool season typically runs from Spring Break until the end of October. Your days in Las Vegas should be spent sipping strawberry lemon mojitos in a comfy lounge chair poolside at the Encore Beach Club or doing cannon balls at Golden Nugget's resort pool. Just don't wear yourself out early in the day before the party starts at night.
1. Gambling
You're in Las Vegas. You didn't come here to sit in your hotel room watching Fox News while playing Words With Friends on your iPhone. You came here to gamble. And that doesn't change when the poker game dries up. There are more than 200,000 slot machines in town, and over 100 casinos to play blackjack, bet on sports, and shoot some dice, and there's a reason for that — gambling is still the top activity for Las Vegas tourists, and this city is the greatest place in the world to gamble, and the contest between the two options is not even close.
Featured image source: Poker.org
