Experience The Vegas Thrill: Beyond the Shows and Casinos

Once you've experienced the free entertainment and major shows Las Vegas has to offer, there are still plenty of incredible and unique attractions to explore around the city.

Options for adventure range from indoor skydiving (or even actual skydiving) to operating heavy machinery, city tours, and excursions to marvels like the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon.

For families, consider visiting an engaging museum or exploring fascinating exhibits, such as Titanic artifacts.

Dig This

Initially skeptical about returning to "childhood play," I was persuaded by a friend to visit Dig This. It turned out to be a fantastic decision, providing great fun while learning to safely operate a large excavator and digging a significant hole. This unique, heavy-equipment playground lets you live out your construction fantasies. Read the full article here.

Useful Traveler Tip: Dig This offers a separate "Kids Digs" experience where children as young as two can operate a real 1-ton mini excavator. Children under 48" require a parent or guardian to assist with the controls at no additional cost.

Go-Karts and Racing (Update)

For those seeking an adrenaline rush on four wheels, Las Vegas offers several Go-Kart and racing venues. The city's racing scene includes both indoor and outdoor tracks with karts capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour. (Note: Pole Position Raceway, previously mentioned here, is permanently closed.) 

Great alternatives are Speed Vegas and Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix.

Area 15

Just a mile west of the iconic Las Vegas Strip lies a world of immersive experiences and artistic wonders: Area 15. This experiential retail and entertainment complex showcases the evolution of entertainment in the heart of Sin City. It is a joint venture between Fisher Brothers and Beneville Studios.

The central hall, dubbed "The Spine," is a neon-lit spectacle housing various tenants. Among them is the highly praised Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, a primary draw for many visitors. According to the promoters, Area 15 does not exist, so enter at your own risk!

Beyond Omega Mart, Area 15 boasts a range of attractions. Guests can enjoy arcade games, zipline over The Spine, explore museums, play virtual golf, try their hand at axe throwing, or experience the thrill of a Grand Prix Simulator. For those looking for an extraterrestrial experience, LiftOff outside the building offers drinks and a UFO-themed ride.

User Comment (Source: Reddit): "It's pretty cool and has lots of fun little things to do including Omega Mart. Definitely worth checking out. I thought it was a great one-time thing to experience in Vegas, but everything costs extra. The place is cool, but also a massive money grab."

Read about Area 15 here.

Battlefield Las Vegas

Having never handled a real firearm before, I was eager to try them out at Battlefield Vegas, a unique shooting experience within easy reach of the Las Vegas Strip.

Battlefield Vegas caught my attention as it offers a chance to safely handle real guns without the commitment of ownership. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for a novice like me to try a range of weaponry in a controlled, military-themed environment. Read more here.

Interesting Fact: Battlefield Vegas boasts the largest collection of US and foreign weapons available for public use in the country, including the distinction of having the only M-134 "Mini-Gun" available to the public in Las Vegas. They also offer unique experiences like crushing a car with an Abrams Main Battle Tank.

Museums and Exhibits

While museums might not be every traveler's first choice, Las Vegas has several fascinating and unique exhibits that are likely to entertain the entire family, often focusing on the city's unique history and culture.

Marvel Avengers Station

My daughter and I are enthusiastic fans of all things Marvel. Having grown up with the comics and watched every Marvel film, we were excited to visit the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island in Las Vegas.

The exhibit was promoted as an interactive experience, and we had high expectations. While it was intriguing to explore the various rooms, view the artifacts, enjoy the movie clips, and engage with some interactive features, the overall interactivity was quite limited. Read about it here.

The Atomic Testing Museum:

Given its history as a nuclear testing site, the Nevada desert is a fitting location for this museum, a Smithsonian affiliate. It features interactive exhibits and comprehensive details about the timeline of nuclear research and testing in the U.S. Don't miss the robust Ground Zero Theater simulation. It is conveniently located near the convention center on Flamingo Road.

Useful Traveler Tip: The Atomic Testing Museum is an excellent Smithsonian affiliate, but the walk from the Strip is long. Visitors recommend taking an Uber or Lyft to save time and energy. Plan for 2-3 hours to fully absorb the information.

Book your Las Vegas Adventure here.

Bodies...The Exhibition:

This exhibit at the Luxor showcases 13 whole bodies and over 260 preserved organs, all real and maintained through a process called polymer preservation. It provides an in-depth, educational look at human anatomy. It's intriguing for teens and adults but might be slightly unsettling for younger visitors.

Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition:

Also housed in the Luxor, this emotionally moving exhibition features approximately 300 authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck site, as well as several detailed replicas, including the famous Grand Staircase. Fans of the 1997 film and history enthusiasts will particularly enjoy this museum.

User Comment (Source: Vegas.com): "This exhibit was amazing! Seeing actual pieces from the ship while reading quotes of passengers was unexpectedly moving. The recreation of the staircase was amazing and intricate in detail. The most powerful moment was checking the Memorial Wall to find out my assigned passenger's fate."

Springs Preserve:

Located a few miles from the bustling downtown and the Strip, the Springs Preserve covers 180 acres around Las Vegas's original water source. This area, an oasis in the desert, has supported local Native American tribes and early settlers for over 10,000 years, offering a fascinating natural and cultural history experience. Read more here.

Interesting Fact: The Springs Preserve site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, is often referred to as the "birthplace of Las Vegas" because it served as the original source of water for the area for thousands of years.

Mob Museum:

This downtown museum offers a fascinating, in-depth look at the history of organized crime in Las Vegas and beyond. It features stories of famous gangsters and the law enforcement officers who pursued them, including interactive exhibits and artifacts like the bullet-riddled wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Museum:

Located in the Venetian Hotel, this museum allows visitors to get up close and personal with incredibly realistic wax figures of celebrities, movie icons, and historical figures, offering unique photo opportunities and themed rooms.

Guided Tours and Sightseeing

Las Vegas and its surrounding areas offer exciting places to explore through various guided tours. Whether you're interested in a quick plane trip to the Grand Canyon or a comprehensive day-long adventure, there's something for everyone.

Explore the Grand Canyon with twin-engine plane tours or opt for a helicopter ride to the canyon's base, followed by a boat ride on the Colorado River. For thrill-seekers, consider a whitewater rafting trip along the Colorado River, and always check water conditions beforehand. A relaxing cruise on Lake Mead is also a great option, with coach buses often available for convenient hotel pickups.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving (Permanently Closed)

Vegas Indoor Skydiving is permanently closed as of January 25, 2025.

Before its closure, the attraction offered a thrilling skydiving experience within a sealed chamber. Participants would face downward into a vertical wind tunnel, where a strong upward wind kept them aloft, simulating free-fall conditions. Visitors received detailed instructions and practiced with the necessary equipment before their session. Read the full article here.

Interesting Fact: Vegas Indoor Skydiving was the first commercial indoor wind tunnel built in the United States when it opened in 1982. It was powered by a 1,000-horsepower electric motor attached to the propeller of a DC-3 aircraft, which generated winds up to 120 mph.

Book your Las Vegas Adventure here.