Non-gambling side of Las Vegas – On the Strip

Sin City, where people go to throw away money they don’t have. But there is more under those bright lights than just penny slots and poker tables. I have been to Las Vegas around 8-9 times and the number will not stop there. It has become an almost annual mother/daughter bonding trip, but we do not spend the entire time gambling. Actually, in a 4 day trip, I probably only spend about 5 hours of it making bets. We have found some great things to do on the Strip in Las Vegas that doesn’t involve gambling.

As I was writing this I realized this was going to turn into a super long post. So I have broken it into two: On Strip and Off Strip. Anything on the strip can be done without a car or taxi, while off you will need some sort of transportation.

Below is my list for On the Strip. Click here to see what I recommend Off Strip.

Circus Circus

Honestly, don’t bother. I’m just listing it because there are some rides you can do, but the hotel is getting so outdated and run down my advice is to avoid it. We walked in, took a look around and then walked out.

Madame Tussauds 

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This is one of my favorite places to visit. It is a wax museum of famous people throughout history, and they are very life like. On one visit I stood and waited for someone to take a picture of one of the figures, only to realize after a minute or two that this person was wax figure too! She has other museums (one is New York City and London that I can remember), and on occasion they swap out figures so people can see different ones. Click here for current pricing.

Mirage Volcano

This goes off nightly at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. It’s only about 10 minutes long. It can get crowded, but you don’t need to hold a spot for an hour just to see. It’s a nice free show to stop and watch while walking in the cool air.

Mirage Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat

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The Mirage is home to some of Siegfried & Roy’s animals from when they used to perform there. Back behind the hotel past the pool you will find the Secret Garden. There is a fee, check here for current pricing. Here you will see dolphins and big cats. To be honest, I haven’t watched the dolphin show yet. Either my timing has been off or the seats have been in full sun. I really like to pop in every couple of years and take a look at the cats. Tigers are one of my favorite animals, so I love just watching them watch me.

High Roller Sky Wheel

Fun fact: I am scared of heights, but I am terrified of Ferris wheels. I will avoid them at fairs and if I get stuck being the one to bring my little cousin on, I sit there petrified the entire time not moving a muscle (true story). However, I did not experience this terror with the Sky Wheel. It is stable and completely enclosed, so I never got the feeling that I was going to fall out. If it swung, I did not feel it. Tickets are assigned by time slots and I recommend getting one after dark. Seeing the city lit up at night is amazing.

Bellagio Fountains

Another great free show to see. This one runs every half hour between 3-8pm, and then every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight. Again, there will be crowds, but just catch it in the evening after one showing and grab your spot for the next showing. Another option would be to go across the street and go up the Eiffel Tower. You won’t be able to really hear the music from there, but it’s still an amazing show to catch from above.

Eiffel Tower

This one does cost some money. You can either do just the observation deck or have a meal here. We opted out of the food (we actually don’t go to Vegas to eat, sorry), and did just the deck to watch the fountains. You can also get some great views, but the better views are at the wheel. Pricing does vary, so please check out their website for the most up to date cost.

Bellagio Lobby and Gardens

Oh, the Bellagio, how I wish I could afford to stay there for just one night. I blame Ocean’s 11 for this desire. But the lobby and the gardens are a must see. The lobby ceiling is covered in Chihuly glass; his glass art sculptures are just amazing. They also have an indoor garden that they redesign every season. So if you want to get out of the heat, this is the place to go spend some time.

M&M World and Coca Cola

As we continue to make our way down the Strip (yes, I did this on purpose), next stop will be the M&M and Coca Cola stores. It’s fun to do a quick pop in to see the merchandise and some memory invoking items. Plus, there’s a/c to help cool off.

Titanic Exhibit at Luxor

My memory on this one is a little shady, but I do remember it. In the beginning they give you a piece of paper that contains a name of someone who sailed on the Titanic. As you walk through, you can see artifacts that have been recovered and stories behind some of them. At one point there is even a small replica of being on the deck of the ship. I remember sitting on the bench here with a terrible headache. At the end of the exhibit is a wall of everyone who sailed noting who was able to survive and who unfortunately did not. Check to see if your person lived (mine was not one of the lucky ones).

Mandalay Bay Aquarium

This is a hidden gem. I don’t even remember how we discovered this one. But we were in awe of the aquatic life that they have and how much bigger than we thought it was going to be. All of it is inside, so more a/c. Though some areas do have humidity to match the climate needed to keep the animal comfortable. Please check their website for current prices.