Las Vegas is synonymous with grand casino hotels and extravagant shows.
Vegas hotels and resorts especially in the famed ‘Las Vegas Strip’ continually reinvent themselves and push the boundaries in terms of the entertainment they offer to their patrons.
Understandably, this makes most tourists confine themselves to hotel activities that are often simply spending your time gambling or scrambling for tickets to any of the popular shows in town.
However, sin city is so much more than simply gambling or watching shows.
It does not matter if you are a thrill seeker or nature lover, Las Vegas will surprise you in more ways than one. As a tourist, you can experience incredible terrains, landscapes, monuments, adventure sports and various other forms of entertainment.
I feel all visitors to Las Vegas must take some time out to experience the real Vegas besides the usual casinos and shows.
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Our Top 8 Pick of Exciting Things to do in Las Vegas Besides Gambling and Shows
1) Las Vegas by helicopter at night
This is definitely one of my recommended things to do in Las Vegas.
Imagine flying over the main hotspots of Las Vegas when lit up in all of their glory.
Helicopter night rides are a popular way to see not just the main attractions of the Las Vegas Strip but also its surrounding areas.
Several miles in the air, this is a unique perspective of Vegas that you must experience. All the grand casino hotels and resorts look wonderful from high above.
Helicopter rides are usually of about 10 minutes and most operators give you optional hotel pickup and drop facilities as well as a choice to include a special dinner before your trip.
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2) Hoover Dam Tour
Often referred to as an engineering marvel, Hoover Dam is less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas.
An iconic location, you cannot visit Las Vegas without taking a trip to Hoover Dam and its nearby attractions. You can choose to spend a full day sightseeing or do a quick half day tour to spend your evening back in the heart of Vegas.
Hoover Dam can be enjoyed by the entire family and there are a number of picnic spots nearby as well.
The entire drive along with the Hoover Dam setting is quite scenic. The actual structure of the dam will leave you awestruck with its splendor as well as what it means for the local economy.
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3) Las Vegas Dunes on ATV
There are superb sand dunes all around Las Vegas that are a hotspot for adventure seekers.
These dunes are magnificent and there is no better way to explore them all than on an All-Terrain Vehicle. Regardless of your prior experience, there are professional guided tours that show you around while you ride on ATVs.
The ATVs are easy to operate and provide the simplest way to go through the sand dunes around Vegas. You can go at your own speed while your guide explains the history of Las Vegas and points you towards the best of what the dunes have to offer.
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4) Cave Kayaking
One of my favorite activities in Las Vegas and fun for the entire family too.
You just have to go Kayaking in the crystal clear waters of Colorado River, through the Black Canyon to the Emerald Caves.
The river water is gentle enough for beginners and kids as well. I highly recommend cave kayaking in Las Vegas as its one of those rare activities that is relaxing and thrilling at the same time.
Kayaking in Colorado River with Emerald Cave is a half day activity and service providers do include refreshments and water in the package.
Cave Kayaking is definitely amongst the family-friendly things to do in Las Vegas.
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5) Haunted Las Vegas Tour
If you are a fan of the supernatural, lover of mysteries or simply want to unearth the ghosts of your favorite celebrities, haunted tours in Las Vegas are for you.
You can’t become a legendary city like Las Vegas without an interesting history. With history, comes spooky tales of unexplained phenomenon.
You can go on a thrilling tour that takes you through some of Vegas’s most haunted spots, check out the hangouts of deceased celebrities and get an idea of the city’s fascinating past.
Some haunted Las Vegas tours even provide equipment for the professional ghost-hunter in you. This is definitely a fun tour and if nothing else, you will get to know a lot about the history of Vegas that most tourists simply ignore.
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6) Las Vegas Horseback Riding Trails
The Las Vegas Strip maybe glitzy and innovative, but the city itself is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes.
The best example of his is the Mojave dessert which is quite breath-taking. Thanks to the desserts and sandy terrain, there are a number of trails where tourists can indulge in horseback riding.
These trails can be accessed any time of the day and you can spend as much or as less time you want.
Horseback riding trails in Las Vegas are a fun way to experience the wild west and what it might have been like in the old days of the state.
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7) Grand Canyon Tour via Bus or Helicopter
One of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is only a little over 4 hours away by road.
If you are in Vegas and have the time, please do not miss out on this natural wonder.
You can take a full day tour to the Grand Canyon South Rim that goes through the scenic Route 66 with lots of places to stopover. You not only get to learn more about Las Vegas, you experience the best of Arizona as well in this tour.
You can even indulge in a Grand Canyon tour by Helicopter. Needless to say the views from high above are simply mesmerizing and is one of the ideal ways to see the Grand Canyon.
Depending upon the time at hand and your budget, you can opt for either a bus tour or a helicopter tour as per your convenience.
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8) Mojave Desert Tour
The Mojave Desert in the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains is the main natural attraction of Las Vegas.
You can do a quick tour of the desert and its main highlights or choose to spend half a day exploring the sandy terrain.
Most tours take place via ATVs and are both informative as well as adventurous.
With its rich history, the Mojave Desert is a must see when traveling to Las Vegas.
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Final thoughts
Las Vegas may be famous for its casinos and shows, the reality is that the city has way more to explore for holidaymakers.
There are too many exciting things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling and shows.
I strongly recommend going out and discovering what the city and its surroundings is all about. It is only then that you will appreciate the true spirit of Las Vegas.
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