Las Vegas Guide: A Non-Gambler's Guide to Iconic Sights, Shows, and Local Delights! (2023)
How to get around the Las Vegas Strip:
Walking: The Las Vegas Strip is a pedestrian-friendly area, making walking an excellent option to explore the attractions, hotels, and casinos along the Strip. Put on comfortable shoes and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere as you stroll from one destination to another.
Monorail: The Las Vegas Monorail is a quick and efficient mode of transportation that runs along the east side of the Strip. It operates from early morning until late at night and stops at several major hotels and attractions. Consider purchasing a multi-day pass if you plan to use the monorail frequently during your stay.
Ride-Sharing Services: Services like Uber and Lyft are widely available in Las Vegas. Using a ride-sharing app allows you to easily request a car and travel to your desired destinations at your convenience. This option is particularly useful if you're venturing off the Strip or exploring areas outside the main tourist areas.
What to Pack:
Besides great walking shoes, you'll never know when you'll need a swim suit. Also, make sure to pack reusable water bottles, external phone chargers, sunscreen. You'll also want to pack some attire for dinner if you planning to do some fancy dinners but for the most part, you can dress very casually in Las Vegas.
Also, I would bring at least $100 in cash. Bartenders, small vendors and street performers work on cash/tips, personally, I wouldn't carry more than $200 at time for safety. There are atms all over the place. It's advisable to exercise caution when carrying large sums of cash. In the fall/winter, you'll need a jacket! I've been twice when it's cold, the wind gets crazy.
Day 1: Walking Tour Through the Casinos
- Check into your hotel and get ready for a day of walking. Dress comfortably, and don't forget to wear sunscreen.
MORNING
Breakfast - Eggslut, Cosmopolitan Hotel - located on Level 2, Boulevard Tower
Walk the Strip - For your first time in Las Vegas Strip, put your walking shoes on and enjoy walking through each the hotels to check out their theming and to get in and out of the sun. It's like an Adult Disney World when it comes to walking and entertainment. Here are the hotels I think are worth stopping in because of the unique theming:
- Visit the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which features stunning seasonal displays.
From the Bellagio, I would take the crosswalk. Once you've cross the street, I would turn left going towards The Linq Promenade.
The High Roller - For sunset, plan to take the High Roller ferris wheel for a gorgeous view of the sun setting behind the mountains and watch the strip light up the night. Daytime Price: Adult $23.50 Nighttime Price: Adult $34.75
The Gondola Ride at The Venetian is a popular attraction and a must for first timers. The price is $39.00 per person where you'll float beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies down the Grand Canal.
AFTERNOON
Lunch - Tacos El Gordo, 3041 Las Vegas Blvd. S
EVENING
Dinner - Hell's Kitchen, outside of Caesar’s Palace - Call the Cesar's Palace to make a reservation through the phone. You'll receive a confirmation text message.
Day 2: Grand Canyon & Hoover Dam Tour
MORNING/AFTERNOON
Las Vegas: Grand Canyon West & Hoover Dam Tour with Meals with Comedy on Deck - This is likely to sell out so book right away with this top-rated tour bus group ⏰ Starting time is at 6:30 AM and will be about 10 hours long. (I believe it ends around 4PM)
Here is what is included:
- Grand Canyon West entry ticket
- Hoover Dam photo stop
- Skywalk entry ticket (if option selected)
- Pickup and drop-off at selected hotels
- Transportation in a luxury bus with air-conditioning and a bathroom onboard
- Professional guide
- Restaurant breakfast
- BBQ lunch (vegetarian and chicken options available)
- Bottles of ice-cold water
- VIP bus access to the canyon
- Direct access to the canyon viewpoints on the same bus as hotel pickup
EVENING:
For dinner, I would recommend checking out Delilah at the Wynn Las Vegas. This restaurant books up quick, so I would make reservations right away. Another great option is Bazaar Meat by José Andrés! Both of these options are $$$$.
Day 3 Option 1: Buffets + Fremont Street
MORNING: You simply cannot come to Las Vegas without checking out the buffets! Eating at a buffet might not be an option for you back home, but Vegas does it so extraordinary that it's so worth checking out!
Tip: I would go bright and early, the lines for the buffets will make you feel like you're back at Disney World - there are options to get into the shorter line if you want to pay for the VIP line or have credit card perks.
Here are the Top Buffets in Las Vegas:
AFTERNOON:
If you're ready to check out the other side of Las Vegas, I would hop into an Uber and head to Fremont Street Experience. Fremont Street is very touristy, but if it's your first time, I don't think you should miss it! There are street performers, the famous Vegas Vic (Neon Cowboy sign) for a photo-op and plenty of affordable cheap eats! Cheat Eats include:- Lanai Express- Pop up Pizza- Dirt Dog- Fresh Mexican GrillRestaurants to check out include:
- Tony Roma's- Siegel's 1941
- Carson Kitchen- Vic & Anthony's- Andiamo Itaalian Steakhouse
Attractions: SlotZilla Zipline. It's super fun to Zipline across the street above the crowd. I've done this twice, and it's so fun everytime!
Other Attractions to check out along the street would be going inside of the Golden Nugget to check out the Shark Tank.
Fremont Streets gets pretty lit on the weekends with live music, you could spend all day here if you wanted!
Before leaving the area, I would take the opportunity to rent a car from the Golden Nugget at Budget Car Rental to start preparing for your adventure the next couple of days - to visit Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park.
Once you have a rental, I would drive over to check out The Neon Museum Las Vegas, which is down the street.It's better during Golden Hour, but if you can't hang out at Fremont Street until then, going during the day is popular too!
If you're ready for something more daring, I would check out The STRAT for their world famous thrill rides. If you have a rental, you can park at the Strat - price for parking will range from $15-20 depending on the time of year/day. The attractions here are:- X-Scream - where you teeter totters you over the edge of the Tower from 866 feet high.
- Sky Jump - which holds the Guinness World Record for highest commercial decelerator descent - Big Shoot - Where you'll shoot straight up 160 feet. It use to be the World's highestest attraction!! If none of that sounds like your cup of tea, I would go for the Observation Deck for the best view of the Las Vegas Strip Skyline.
EVENING: For dinner, you should check out Mon Ami Gabi $$$, located at Paris Las Vegas.
If french food isn't your jam, check out Dave's Hot Chicken for a faster option!
After dinner, I would head back to your hotel early, so you can rest up for your day trip!
Day 3 Option 2: Las Vegas Shows
If you decide that you don't want to plan a road trip for this trip to Las Vegas, I would book some shows to end your last day on a high note!A lot of these shows will sell out so I would purchase the tickets online before your trip to Las Vegas.
The Vegas shows to check out:
- O by Cirque du Soleil - starting at $175 at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM
- Criss Angel Mind Freak - starting at $85 at 7:00 PM
- Absinthe - starting at $135 at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM
- David Copperfield - starting at $85 at 7:00 and 9:30 PM
Day 4 Option 1: Spend time in the Desert
Sunrise in the summer is at 5:30 AM so I would set alarms at 4:30-5:00 AM. Super early but it's super worth it! From here if you are leaving Vegas in the evening, I would check out of your hotel. It may be too ambitious to do both state parks at the same time, so I would just choose one.
Option 1: Valley of Fire
Personally, if I had to pick between the two, I would choose Valley of Fire which is about an hour away.
Once you get there, you can do the loop, which is probably take about 3 to 4 hours.
Option 2: Red Rock Canyons
This drive from the Las Vegas strip is about 30-40 minutes.
- Make sure to do a coffee/breakfast/convenient store run for waters, snacks before you get out of the city. - If you don't have one, I would buy a phone charger at a store on your way that is compatible with the car, you don't want to lose battery out during your drive. - Lastly, I recommend downloading Google Maps and downloading an offline map of the area in case you lose signal out at the Desert.
One your way back to the strip, make a stop at Seven Magic Mountain for a fun photo with a colorful art installation in the middle of the desert. (this will add about 20 minutes to your trip back to the Las Vegas Strip, this is free and fairly easy to get in and out if it's not too busy. You'll spend 30 to 40 minutes tops) Disclaimer: there's not much to do outside of what you see on everyone's instagram post. So if photography isn't important to you, you can absolutely skip this!
Head Home: Once you return your car, you can Uber to the airport from the Golden Nugget.
Once you're ready to get something to eat, I would stop somewhere off the strip before heading back to the Golden Nugget to return your car since you'll have your suitcases with you. A fun area to check out is the Downtown Container Park, which you can find food and drinks!
Day 4 Option 2: Last Day in Vegas
- Check out of your hotel and store your luggage if needed.
- Visit the Mob Museum to learn about the fascinating history of organized crime in Las Vegas and its connection to the city's development.
- Explore the Shops at Crystals, a luxury shopping destination featuring high-end brands and unique boutiques.
- Visit the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas for panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Make your way to the airport for your late night departure.
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