Time to let loose and party in fabulous Las Vegas?

Whether you’ve got temporary housing, a vacation rental, or a high-rise hotel, get your bags and get ready to explore Sin City. Besides the usual hot spots, there is a variety of other activities and places to see in this desert town, making this versatile city a place just about anyone will enjoy.

So, if you’re considering a trip to Vegas with your significant other, children or grandchildren, here are some ideas that aren’t too much of a gamble. Here are the best Vegas hot spots that are suitable for anyone:

Las Vegas

More Than Casinos

Of course, many of the casinos offer fun things – at a price.  The arcades are usually a mob scene offering very little for a large cost. However, there are some alternatives that you and yours might enjoy just as much as the chaos.

The “Tournament of Kings” at Excalibur (the castle on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard, The Strip and Tropicana Avenue) features knights and ladies, jousting and a dinner eaten with your fingers. Visit excalibur.com  (Cost varies).

Over the pedestrian bridge is New York, New York, with its cool roller coaster ($14) – if you dare.  Watching is almost as much fun as taking a ride. The arcade is also enjoyable, but be prepared to pay for the games.

Shop Till You Drop

For no cost, (unless you shop that is), you can walk through the many indoor malls and get your fill of all things shopping-related.

  • The Forum Shops at Caesars offer talking statues, an exotic fish aquarium and unforgettable people watching.
  • The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes boast an ongoing  series of entertainment from living statues to music ranging from Opera to Show tunes, plus a waterfall and gardens.
  • The Bellagio has lovely floral displays that change with the seasons, and a nice way to relax and unwind.

Away From the Madness

Off The Strip, but interesting for a change of pace, is the Silverton Casino where an 117,000-gallon saltwater mermaid aquarium with frequent shows enchants.  The adjacent Bass Pro Shop Flagship store features wildlife tableaus, a rock climbing wall and frequent child-oriented workshops.

A drive through beautiful Red Rock Canyon is a wonderful escape from the neon and glitter, and an opportunity to remember that Las Vegas is a desert, full of desert wildlife and unique vistas. Visit their website to sign up ($7 per car).

Also off The Strip, and a world far away from it is Lake Mead, with its bridge over to Arizona and power plant tours. Entrance is $10 per car. Make it a day trip through Valley of Fire to see the rock carvings (ancient graffiti) and back to Vegas via Boulder City and Henderson. Stop at the Lost City Museum of Archeology in Overton to see artifacts excavated from the Anasazi Pueblo Grande de Nevada. This is an active museum with places for children to run and play. ($5 per adult, children free).

Museums Aplenty

Extra Fun Spots

Besides Wayne Newton and Caesars Palace, the “Pawn Stars” are perhaps the best known thing to happen to Las Vegas in quite some time. The Pawn Stars are: “Old Man,”  “Hog,”  “Rick Harrison” and “Chumlee” – all part of the fun that is the realty TV show called “Pawn Stars” that airs on the History Channel.

The shop is officially called Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (713 S. Las Vegas Blvd.), and continues to be a draw for tourists and even locals who have become part of the “Pawn Stars” cult. The show centers on a wide variety of people who walk into the pawn shop and try to make a deal with any of the four for whatever “great find” they are hocking. Items have ranged from jewelry to a Jimi Hendrix poster and old cars that blow your mind from other decades.

The Freemont Experience is indeed an experience and is one such place to visit be it a weekday or a weekend. Sure, there will be crowds, but there is a lot to see and do and here. Freemont is located downtown and is an open-air mall consisting of about seven renovated blocks offering performing stages, live entertainment and a light show. It is here in this experience that you can take a break from spinning the roulette or feeding the slot machines. Grab a Coney Island hot dog (Detroit style) at the American Coney Island or have a deep-fried Oreo or Twinkie at the Mermaid Casino. There are all kinds of cafes, bistros and eateries to choose from offering any kind of fare you crave.

As you can see there is much to see and do in Las Vegas to keep you busy from morning until night. Once you visit all of the places on your list, you can then head back to where you’re staying and flop until the next morning … then do it all over again!

Image: Pixabay