Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Las Vegas tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
If money, money, money, must be funny in a rich man’s world, they would find Las Vegas hilarious!
Over the course of a century, this piece of sandy desert in the US state of Nevada has been transformed into a high-rise, high-rolling hive of gambling activity, surrounded by themed resorts, lush green golf courses, sprawling pools, and dancing fountains. Here, money circulates 24 hours a day — and if you don’t have any, at least try and look like you do!
On the face of it, Vegas suggests nothing but glitz, glamour, and good times. However, as gambling revenues plateau there’s a beating heart beneath the surface searching for new blood. The city sees its future as both a tourist mecca and business hub — and while one’s in the bag, it’s working hard to achieve the other.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Las Vegas on a first visit.
BROWSE LAS VEGAS TOURS AND EXPERIENCES
1. Explore ‘old’ Vegas
Las Vegas was established with the coming of the railroad to the wild west. From humble beginnings on Fremont Street under the patronage of gangsters keen to clean their cash, the city we know today gradually emerged. Downtown Las Vegas (DTLV) — home to the Golden Nugget casino and other iconic landmarks of the 1940s and 50s — now hosts the sensory-assaulting Fremont Street Experience. Get an adrenaline fix as the Slot Zilla Zip Line flies you at over 60 kilometres per hour beneath the world’s largest LED screen.
2. Visit The Mob Museum
Tap into another intriguing aspect of the city’s past at The Mob Museum in Downtown. It will guide you through Vegas’ bad old days — when the Mafia ran riot, but also built much of what you see around you. Learn about infamous mobsters such as Al Capone, George ‘Bugs’ Moran, and Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano, and those who worked hard to bring them to justice. It’s an engrossing experience.
3. Walk the Strip
The Strip — a section of Las Vegas Boulevard just south of Downtown — houses many of the world’s largest hotels — all competing to fill their share of 60,000+ rooms. From the opulence of the Bellagio and the cool of The Cosmopolitan, to the epic proportions of Caesars Palace and MGM Grand, and the spectacle of Egyptian-themed Luxor, New York New York (which recreates the NYC skyline), and Paris (with its replica Eiffel Tower), there’s an option to appeal to everyone.
With so many hotels vying for attention, huge money has been invested into creating ‘wow’ factor within their grounds. Simply wander from one to the next and enjoy the spectacle. From a recreated Grand Canal (complete with crooning gondoliers) at The Venetian, to a roller coaster that flies around the rooftop of New York New York, there’s plenty to keep you well and truly entertained.
4. Light up your life
The lighting along the Strip is truly mind-blowing and you can take a fascinating step back in time at The Neon Museum — a boneyard for retired signs. Entry is by appointment only and spots fill quickly. The ultra famous ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada’ sign lives on and is located on the southern approach to the Strip. It was erected in 1959.
5. See a show
The array of entertainment options on offer in Las Vegas is truly staggering. Everyone who is anyone in showbiz has performed here. Some pop in for ‘one night only’, while others take up semi-permanent residence. Britney Spears, Elton John, and Donny and Marie have all called the city a temporary home. Check LasVegas.com for a complete rundown of who’s performing where during your stay.
6. Admire amazing art
For a holiday hit of high culture, swing by the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. It partners with prestigious museums and galleries from around the world to host touring exhibitions, and is, as they say, ‘where great art goes on vacation’. You may also want to check out Park West Gallery at Caesars Palace. It has a similar motto (‘Where the world comes to collect’) and displays art worth a few hundred to a few million dollars. You may get to see original works by master artists of yesteryear such as Salvador Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pablo Picasso.
7. Have brunch
Rising early for breakfast may not be on the to-do list for many visitors to Las Vegas, but brunch is another thing entirely! The Cosmopolitan Hotel’s Wicked Spoon serves one of the best on the strip, complete with free flowing Bloody Marys and champagne to kick-start the day.
8. Shop up a storm
If you’re lucky enough to win big in Vegas, you’ll need something to spend it on. Luxury reigns supreme at The Shops at Crystals in the heart of the Strip. Louis Vuitton and Gucci set the standard for stunning showrooms, and braving brooding doormen is the norm. At the northern end of the Strip, the Fashion Show Mall has broader appeal and over 250 stores (including a Saks and Macy’s).
Those with champagne tastes on a beer budget should head for the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets west of Downtown. Note: The food hall is average, so just shop and leave.
9. Do a day trip to the Grand Canyon
It’s a long haul from Oz to Vegas, so make the most of your time here by ticking off two more of the Southwest’s most iconic sights: the epic Grand Canyon and towering Hoover Dam. Book an all-inclusive day tour and leave the logistics to an expert on the ground. You’ll have the opportunity to take a stroll high about the Colorado River on the Grand Canyon Skywalk and traverse the top of the mighty shell-shaped dam. It was constructed during the Great Depression and is a whopping 200 metres thick at its base.
10. Go clubbing
The club scene in Vegas is huge — huge spaces, huge crowds, and huge prices. The party generally gets started around midnight and continues into the early hours. If you plan to join in the revelry, Hakkasan and Omnia are the places to be seen.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitlasvegas.com.
Browse our range of Las Vegas tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Las Vegas on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
As a travel blogger and photographer, Neil Brook travels the world looking to meet interesting people, taste great food, and find different angles from which to write about his adventures. He is privileged to have lived in Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. More a traveller than a tourist, Neil prefers to mix with the locals, learn their history and culture, and walk the backstreets to uncover hidden gems worthy of praise in words or quiet moments of private reflection.
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