This diverse list of Las Vegas activities is perfect for those seeking thrills and an active getaway in the desert
Fire dancers, fine dining and free art shows, all in one place? You’d be forgiven for thinking that Las Vegas has nothing more than gambling and casinos, but over the years, the city’s offerings have evolved to become the embodiment of diverse. From the casino floors to shows and outdoor fun, Las Vegas activities are available around the clock, so you can make every minute of your vacation memorable.
1. Enjoy the Views of Red Rock Canyon
For outdoorsy types, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is perfect. Designated as Nevada’s first National Conservation Area, Red Rock Canyon has been developed to accommodate to every kind of outdoorsperson. It’s got several different hiking trails you could follow depending on your skill level and interest, some great places to camp, crags for rock climbers and some bike trails. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, there are even some electric bike tours.
2. Try Indoor Skydiving
If you’ve ever wanted to go skydiving but have always been afraid to try, indoor skydiving in Vegas could be the place to start. The service uses a vertical wind tunnel that was built in 1982, and it has a mesh trampoline floor and foam padded walls, so if you’ve ever been afraid of free falling from a plane and using a parachute, it’s certainly an easy way to get over the fear. The tunnel is 12 feet wide and 22 feet tall, and the machine is powered by a 1,000-horsepower electric motor attached to the propeller from a DC-3 airplane. Who knows, after some rounds in the indoor skydiving wind tunnel, you may feel confident enough to try the real thing.
3. Go for Thrilling Adventures at the STRAT
As soon as you enter the city, you’ll see the STRAT (formerly known as the Stratosphere Tower), an imposing sight that looms above all of Vegas. Mayfair Casinos explains that the building was originally planned to be taller than Toronto’s CN Tower and despite Las Vegas air traffic preventing this goal from being accomplished, the STRAT is still one of the tallest buildings west of the Mississippi. The elevator ride to the observation deck takes 35 seconds and visitors will be whisked away at speeds of 1,800 feet per minute. If that already seems like an adventure, you might want to relax and enjoy the lights show at the Bellagio instead because atop the tower are some extremely thrilling rides. One such ride is X-Scream, a roller coaster that teeter totters over the edge of the STRAT from 866 feet high, propelling riders head first 27 feet over the valley below for a few moments of weightlessness before being pulled back and propelled again.
4. Head to the Chopper
If you’re a high roller and want to show everyone that you’re a high roller, you could fly in on a Maverick helicopter. This tour has one of the highest safety ratings in all of Las Vegas, and you’ll be able to see and enjoy all the beauty the Las Vegas Strip has to offer from your seat up in the sky. You can book tours that last over six hours, and even set up a sunset flight. There’s nothing more romantic than soaring through the air at sunset on a chopper flown by an experienced pilot.
5. Dig Around
Las Vegas activities don’t skimp out when it comes to the weird and quirky, and Dig This is a clear example. It’s hard to think that a lot of people would want to operate heavy machinery for fun, but Dig This’s status as a top attraction in Vegas is proof. Through the service, customers are able to learn how to operate bulldozers and excavators, and they say that “Whether you’re 14 or 114 years, you can drive REAL earth moving machines at Dig This.”
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