Question
I'm planning on a 4-day trip to Vegas. What places should I visit?
Answer
If you want an unusual itinerary of "anything BUT the Strip" try this out. A look at a) the ongoing attempt at transforming Vegas into a cultural and tech hub b) history and c) random other stuff.
That said, if this is your first visit, the Strip is definitely where you want to spend at least a full afternoon+evening. But it can get old real fast, so this other stuff is kinda interesting.
Day 1
1. Head to the Fremont street area and hang out for a morning working at The Beat and sneak into the usr/lib coworking space upstairs, to check out the fledgling local startup-wannabe scene.
2. Make an appointment ahead of time pretending to be interested in renting, and head over next door and ask for a tour of the Ogden, the main high-rise where the downtown project action is centered. Get dinner at one of the Fremont street restaurants.
3. Hang out at the Beat until late, working. It's open till midnight. There may be an event going on.
Day 2
4. Book a tour at Zappo's and take it in the morning, after a breakfast burrito at Carlito's.
5. Read Matt O'Brien's book "Beneath the Neon" ahead of time and then explore one of the storm drains. There's one right across from the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign that you can follow for quite a distance.
6. In the evening head over to Lake Las Vegas, a Tuscan style artificial resort area that has just pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy and marvel at the sheer audacity of Vegas style experience engineering. LLV beats everything on the Strip and then some. They created a whole frikkin' Tuscan style lakeside mini-town. And oh, they created the lake itself.
Day 3
7. Drive up Mt. Charleston for brunch at one of the two casinos that are up there.
8. Spend afternoon at the Nuclear Testing Museum. Eat somewhere on Eastern Ave.
9. In the evening, go hang out at the Sambalatte cafe in the Summerlin suburb
Day 4
10. Drive out to Valley of Fire State Park (waaay better than either Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon as an off-strip essential). On the way back, swing by Nellis AFB and check out some of the exhibits (not sure if they're always open to the public though, I went on airshow day).
11. If possible, plan your trip for the first Friday of the month, and check out the First Friday event downtown.
That said, if this is your first visit, the Strip is definitely where you want to spend at least a full afternoon+evening. But it can get old real fast, so this other stuff is kinda interesting.
Day 1
1. Head to the Fremont street area and hang out for a morning working at The Beat and sneak into the usr/lib coworking space upstairs, to check out the fledgling local startup-wannabe scene.
2. Make an appointment ahead of time pretending to be interested in renting, and head over next door and ask for a tour of the Ogden, the main high-rise where the downtown project action is centered. Get dinner at one of the Fremont street restaurants.
3. Hang out at the Beat until late, working. It's open till midnight. There may be an event going on.
Day 2
4. Book a tour at Zappo's and take it in the morning, after a breakfast burrito at Carlito's.
5. Read Matt O'Brien's book "Beneath the Neon" ahead of time and then explore one of the storm drains. There's one right across from the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign that you can follow for quite a distance.
6. In the evening head over to Lake Las Vegas, a Tuscan style artificial resort area that has just pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy and marvel at the sheer audacity of Vegas style experience engineering. LLV beats everything on the Strip and then some. They created a whole frikkin' Tuscan style lakeside mini-town. And oh, they created the lake itself.
Day 3
7. Drive up Mt. Charleston for brunch at one of the two casinos that are up there.
8. Spend afternoon at the Nuclear Testing Museum. Eat somewhere on Eastern Ave.
9. In the evening, go hang out at the Sambalatte cafe in the Summerlin suburb
Day 4
10. Drive out to Valley of Fire State Park (waaay better than either Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon as an off-strip essential). On the way back, swing by Nellis AFB and check out some of the exhibits (not sure if they're always open to the public though, I went on airshow day).
11. If possible, plan your trip for the first Friday of the month, and check out the First Friday event downtown.