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 offers 24 hours of nonstop excitement that will 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 outdoorsman. It’s got several different hiking trails you could follow depending on your skill level and interest, some great places to camp, surfaces 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.
(Image Credit: Moyan Brenn via Flickr Creative Commons)
3. Go for Thrilling Adventures at the Stratosphere
As soon as you enter Vegas, you’ll see 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 Stratosphere is still the tallest building west of the Mississippi. If climbing atop that tower 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 such as the SkyJump Las Vegas, a controlled descent that sends you off the 108th floor of the tower.
4. Head to the Chopper
If you’re a high roller and want to show everyone that you’re a high roller, but think that limousines are overwrought, you could fly in on a Maverick helicopter. The tour has the highest safety rating in all of Las Vegas, and you’ll be able to see and enjoy all the beauty the Strip has to offer from your seat up in the sky. You can book for 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 has no shortage of weird and quirky things turned into attractions, 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.”
