Going to Vegas but not sure what to do other than gamble and walk the strip? Here are some of my fave things to do and see in Las Vegas from my March trip with Expedia Canada as part of the #BigWorldExplorer program.
1. Get Down at the Backstreet Boys Concert
Let me get to the chase…if you were relatively young (or perhaps young at heart) back in the 90’s, then you MUST GO TO THE BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT IN LAS VEGAS while you still can…or be forever incomplete. Sorry (not sorry) for yelling, but as someone who was obsessed with this iconic boyband back in the day, I have to say that this concert will be in the highlight reel of the best days of my life…and probably more than that.
My equally BSB-obsessed friend Karen and I were super lucky to score front spots in the GA pit (thanks to the Amex pre-sale Platinum “Beat the Line” tickets!) at their concert in March, and it was LARGER THAN LIFE. They sang (really well), they danced (dad moves aplenty), they wore silver boots and sparkly jackets, they brought Lance Bass up on stage to serenade him…and they gave it their all (they had to give). Kevin sang to me for a full minute, making me super uncomfortable (yet excited at the same time)…I got to touch Brian’s hand twice and AJ’s once…and it will all be forever seared into my brain (and the shape of my heart?). Yes, I am a thirty-something who lined up for a few hours to ensure that I had a front and centre spot, squealed like a teenager when the “boys” were near our side of the pit, and sang every lyric to every song (except for one) at the top of my lungs…and I just want you to know that I regret NOTHING. Forget about other Vegas performances and go see BSB at Planet Hollywood…your inner 90’s teen wants it that way.
2. Visit The Neon Museum
I’ve been to Vegas a couple of times before, but for whatever reason I haven’t visited The Neon Museum until this year…and I highly recommend you make the trek. Full of cool signs and marquees, and with a knowledgeable guide at our side, this tour was fun, educational, and perfect for Instagram. Buy your tickets online (spots tend to sell out quickly), wear sunscreen and a hat as you’ll be in full sun for most of the tour, and pay a few extra bucks to visit the Neon Boneyard North Gallery at your own pace and see even more rescued signs.
3. Drive Out to Seven Magic Mountains
Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains has become one of Vegas’ most-instagrammed locations, and with good reason – seven towers of (highly-photogenic) colourful boulders in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountains, and open to the public free of charge – I ended up going twice! The installation is located 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas and will be on view until 2018, so if you’d like to visit Nevada’s own Stonehenge, then you have a year to do so. Word of advice – if you don’t want a bunch of strangers in the background of every photo you take, then going at the crack of dawn Mon-Thurs is your best bet. Any other time, expect crowds.
More after the jump!
4. Eat Delicious Food
Las Vegas is truly a foodie’s paradise, you’ve got world-renowned chefs at your fingertips, any type of cuisine you may desire, all at a variety of price points. On this trip, we “slummed it” at Shake Shack and Sonic, stuffing our faces with delicious cheese-stuffed fried mushroom topped burgers and chili cheese coneys the size of my arm. We dined at Mr Chow, enjoying such delectable fare as Lobster Shumai, Vermicelli with Lobster (my personal fave), Fiery Beef, Drunken Fish, and Gamblers Duck. We also saved some room for The Buffet at Wynn (another fave), where we brunched on dim sum, made-to-order pancakes and omelettes, never-ending desserts and so much more. Oh, and there was also the delicious Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan (half the fun is finding this hidden away pizza joint) and gooey breakfast sandwiches from Eggslut.
5. Relax by the Pool
Finally, to make your Vegas experience complete, I highly recommend booking a hotel with a nice pool (or two), so you can relax after a long day of sightseeing. I loved the pool at SLS Las Vegas – with its lovely striped cabanas, plenty of loungers and lots of shade (if you want it). And the best part is that I saved over $300 on my reservation by booking it with Expedia. I know, I know, sounds like a plug, but I price-shopped for weeks, and Expedia had the best prices – hands down…plus I earned Expedia+ points for my reservation, letting me save more money on my future bookings.
And there you have it, my top 5 things to do in Las Vegas. What are yours? Share in the comments!
