Las Vegas – Off Strip things to do

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 in and around Las Vegas Off Strip that doesn’t involve gambling.

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

Below is what we recommend Off Strip that we have done so far. This list will grow as we visit more. Please click here to see what to do On the Strip.

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Las Vegas Sign

While this one is technically On Strip, it’s not really (safe) walking distance. It’s best to get a ride there. There is now finally parking, and when I went, there was a town volunteer to take your picture and help with some awesome poses. And of course, give some history if you ask for it.

Fremont Street

The original Las Vegas founded in 1905. Here you will find some of the first casinos. I can hear you now “But you said this is about non-gambling things to do!” Yes, yes, it is. Even without dropping a penny, I think this is still worth coming down to see. They have some great canopy lights that they do a light show with in the evenings and a lot of vintage restored neon signs (See below) are being placed along here. You’ve also got the zip line! Which bring me to the next stop…

Slotzilla

This is a zip line that runs a good length of Fremont Street. Due to weather and poor timing on our part, we have not been able to do it yet, but it’s on our list for next time. You can zip down in two styles, Superman pose (on your stomach face first) or, what I call, bucket seating. Basically, you are sitting up. Please check here for current times and pricing.

Mob Museum

(300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101)

Located at the old court house, this museum shows the history of the mob not only in Las Vegas but in the USA. It is three levels, and I suggest dedicated at least 1 hour per level. It starts on the 3^rd floor with the earliest history and ends on the bottom floor with the modern mob (think Whitey Buldger). We probably spent a good 3-4 hours here and didn’t even get to the first floor (places to be, a show to go see). It’s by far our favorite Off Strip place and is on our list to see when we go back. Check here for current ticket prices. 

Neon Museum

(770 Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101)

We had read about this place in Vicki Pettersson’s Sign of the Zodiac series, but we didn’t think it was real. Oh, it is real and a must see! These lovely people are restoring the old neon signs that used to light up the Las Vegas sky. Restored ones can be seen on Fremont Street and other locations. But the ones that still need be restored and being held here. It is an outdoor guided tour, and I highly recommend doing it in the morning. It gets hot among all that metal. Check here for current ticket prices.

Red Rock Canyon

You may be in the desert, but you aren’t stuck with flat nothing while in Las Vegas. We got a great dose of nature visiting here. You can either drive the 13 mile loops (which is what we did in our crappy Hamster car) or you can hike some of the trails. My degree is in Geology so I was in heaven seeing the landscape. But even without the degree, it’s just a great place to see Mother Nature’s work. Check out their website for driving directions, hours, and entrance fees. 

Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon

First time out we did just the Hoover Dam. This is about a half day trip. We drove out, spent a couple hours at the dam/museum and drove back, stopping in Henderson for food and a little shopping to kill some time. If you decided to do both in one day, plan for a full day – starting early in the morning and getting back after dark. I would recommend renting a car if you want the freedom to spend as much time at either place. Otherwise, I think a guided tour is the way to go since you don’t need to worry about driving when tired, because you will be. There are several companies that do these, so pick which one you think fits best for you.

Outlet Malls

There are two outlet malls, North and South. Both are very similar, so it’s just a matter of taking a look to see if one has a store that you want to visit that the other doesn’t. Fair warning, since it is an outlet mall, walking around is all done outside and it can get very hot. If you bounce in and out of all the stores, this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re like me and only have a handful of stores you want to see and they are on the complete opposite ends, well, be prepared to walk in the sun.