If you’ve been to Las Vegas before, it’s a pretty safe bet you visited a casino while you were there. Vegas is one of the premier gambling destination in the world, and with good reason.
Once you’ve got Vegas gambling under your belt, though, it’s time to check out other things that Vegas has to offer. Here are some fun things to do in Las Vegas besides gamble.
Hit the Golf Course
Despite the desert climate, Vegas is home to numerous quality golf courses, including the famous Shadow Creek Golf Course, popular among the rich and elite. If you want to golf at Shadow Creek, you’ll need to stay at the MGM Grand and hand over a $500 green fee. That’s actually a good deal, considering that tee times there were invite-only when it opened. Meanwhile, a tee time at the Las Vegas Golf Club can be as low as $15 at times.
Other golf options include Chimera, the Las Vegas Country Club, the RIo Secco Golf Club and Southern Highlands.
Drive a Race Car
At the Richard Petty Driving Experience, visitors get to drive a NASCAR race car on a real track (or ride shotgun, if you prefer). It’s as exciting as driving can get, and is a must for all race fans.
If you’re into fast cars, also consider paying to take a super-expensive luxury sports car for a few laps. Options include an Aston Martin, McLaren, Lamborghini and the other usual suspects.
Visit the Mob Museum
Housed in an enormous and ornate former post office, this museum — officially known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement — chronicles the rise of figures such as Al Capone and Eliot Ness. While national in scope, the museum makes sure to delve into the mob’s deep history in Las Vegas, where mobsters quite literally ran casinos in the city’s early days.
On the law enforcement side of things, visitors can listen to actual wiretaps and explore figures such as notorious one-time FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. (On the law enforcement note, consider also checking out CSI: The Experience, a forensic-themed interactive exhibit modeled after the TV show.)
Go For a Hike at Red Rock Canyon
The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a beautiful desert landscape 17 miles west of the Strip. Here, you’ll find scenic hikes ranging from under a mile in length to more than 10 miles for experienced hikers. If hiking is too strenuous — after all, you are on vacation — you can just follow the 13-mile-long scenic drive that runs through the canyon.
One word of caution: It can get very, very hot at Red Rock any time of year, so be sure you’ve packed a lot of water if you’re going for a hike.
Get a Bird’s-Eye View From a Hot Air Balloon
Take sightseeing in Vegas to new heights by watching the sun rise over the desert horizon from a hot air balloon. Vegas Balloon Rides offers rides taking off as early as 5 a.m., and they guarantee the lowest price in town. The flights go for about an hour and can reach as high as 2,500 feet.
Did you know the Vegas Strip isn’t even actually in the city limits of Las Vegas? There’s so much to do in Sin City than gamble. Try to get outdoors during your visit. We don’t think you’ll regret it.
PC Housing offers short- and long-term housing in furnished homes for travelers. Don’t feel like a tourist in a hotel — live in a home during your stay. We have locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Get in touch with us to learn more.