Take an exotic car ride.
Although personally not my thing, it is an amazing experience for all car enthusiasts. SpeedVegas gives you the opportunity to rent exotic cars (like a Ferrari or a Lamborgini) and drive them on a racetrack. If you’re like most people and won’t own one of these cars in your lifetime, this is a great way to get behind the wheel.
Get the best views of the track from a helicopter.
No matter how high the bar is in a casino, nothing beats a view of the Strip from a helicopter. If you have the money this is an awesome way to see the city. If you don’t have the cash, here is a list of the best rooftop bars in Las Vegas.
Go see a show.
I won’t tell you which show – there are just too many in Las Vegas. Cirque de Soleil shows are breathtaking, but they are expensive. Musicians such as Billy Idol, Britney Spears and Cher are in residence in Las Vegas and perform unimaginable shows using state-of-the-art technology. There are also a lot of comedians in the small clubs. Personally, I love the uniqueness of Vegas and decided to attend my first burlesque show. The city of sin lives up to its name! I really enjoyed the positivity of the people in the show, the different styles and body types, and the talent of the performers.
There’s so much to do and see in Las Vegas it’s overwhelming. You can look at a single photo of the Strip and not know where to start. There are so many flashing lights, casinos, food and drink it’s almost obnoxious. There’s a lot to see in Vegas that isn’t gambling related at all, I know, it’s shocking. Here are my top 9 things to do in Las Vegas unrelated to gambling and one thing not worth doing.
Take an oversized drink
For readers over 21, you can make this an adult drink.
There’s something to be said for strolling the streets of sins city with a 64oz Margarita in a plastic Margaritaville blender, which simply screams “Las Vegas.” There’s such a variety of oversized drinks that it’s just plain fun. I advise you to share your drink with at least one person, if not more, in order to drink responsibly. You are allowed to walk on sidewalks with an open container as long as it is not in a glass container. You are not allowed to have these containers while driving or taking public transport.
Ride the NY NY roller coaster
A Las Vegas strip classic and unique experience. How many roller coasters are in and around a hotel? It’s not a long ride, which means the queues are short and you can get in and out fairly quickly. Get your blood pumping with the most photographed thing to do in Las Vegas without gambling!
Take advantage of the free shows on the Strip
There are a few free public shows on the Strip that you should enjoy at least once. The Mirage Volcano usually kicks off at 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. This is one of the most impressive free shows, with fire and fake lava!
Then there are the Bellagio fountains. Channel your inner Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and gaze wistfully at one of the best water/light/music demonstrations in the world. The fountains go off throughout the day and night, so check the timings and give yourself plenty of time to find a good location. It’s easy to get hypnotized by water and completely lose track of time.
The neon museum
Even though I didn’t know much about the history of Las Vegas, it’s quite impressive to walk through a “bunker” of old signs that were once the glitz and glamor of the city. I recommend taking this tour at night, as some signs are still lit. In the day it just looked like a bunch of old rusty lights. Many signs are incomplete – they only have an iconic letter or star – and you may not recognize them. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the signs and the city, which helps give the museum more context.
The top of the Stratosphere
Vegas is all about getting the blood pumping with delicious food and gambling wins – so why not get your adrenaline fix! The Stratosphere is one of best places to achieve this and is home to some of the best non-gambling activities in Las Vegas. There are three rides at the top of the casino tower: The Big Shot, Insanity, and XScream. The Big Shot lifts you up then quickly drops you, pushing your stomach into your throat. Insanity mixes heights and rotations, so you don’t know where to turn. XScream is the ultimate confidence drop – where you sit in this ball, which flips you backwards, then drops you forward so it looks like you’re about to tumble to your death on the Vegas Strip. You can purchase a variety of packages that include your admission to SkyPod (the highest bar in Vegas) and your choice of 1, 2, or all 3 rides
Or if you want something few people want to do, you can jump off the Stratosphere! This was easily my favorite Vegas thrill ride! For $130 you can do the SkyJump, which is a vertical zipline from the Stratosphere. That’s probably what I liked, (despite the screams you hear in the video) I never felt like I was in freefall. It was an awesome experience that I recommend to anyone visiting Vegas! You can do it during the day, but loved seeing the strip lights at night!
Fremont Street
My FAVORITE place in Vegas – who doesn’t love gambling and cheap food, friendly people and a laid back party atmosphere? Add to that a zip line above everyone else and I’m sold. Fremont Street is the place to go if you’re tired of paying $12 for a drink and want $5 tables. While you can find cheap gambling there, there is also plenty to do without gambling. There must be some kind of requirement to be friendly on Fremont Street, because everyone I met was very friendly. One of the best non-gambling activities to do in Las Vegas is the Fremont Street zipline. While ziplining on SlotZilla, I made friends with the three other people who were ziplining with me (we were all, ironically, a little scared of what we were about to do. We ended up having a drink together afterwards, looking forward to flying over the thousands of people walking down the street that night.
Fremont is a must see at night – the illuminated ceiling is not to be missed. (Yes, if you’re lucky you can zipline while the lights are happening, but that’s not a guarantee).
