10 Unusual Things to Do in Las Vegas: The Ultimate Non-Gambling Guide

Contrary to the evidence of many light-pocketed tourists leaving Sin City, a trip to extravagant, flamboyant, and downright infamous Las Vegas does not have to entail spending the weekend sitting at a blackjack table counting your losses. There are thousands of things to do in and around Vegas. The iconic Strip is truly just the beginning of an almost never-ending list of sights and sounds that will send you home with memories a casino never could. The absolute best thing you can do here is to hire a car. This gives you the all-American freedom to escape the chaos when you want to get away from the bright lights and big city.

Top Non-Gambling Las Vegas Experiences on the Strip

Gondolas waiting in The Venetian. Image credit: Unspalsh/Yi Liu

1. Ride a Gondola through The Venetian

Las Vegas’ architecture is next level, and nowhere is this truer than at The Venetian. Complete with a faux cloudy blue sky, twinkling canals, and Renaissance-style buildings, this unbelievable hotel offers actual gondola rides on its waterways. It is a slice of Italian charm right in the middle of Nevada.

People zip-lining over the famous Fremont Street, Las Vegas.

2. Ziplining Fremont Street on SlotZilla

To get your adrenaline pumping in a way roulette never could, head to Fremont Street. This is a marginally toned-down area of Old Vegas where you can tackle SlotZilla. This five-block-long zipline will eject you from a giant slot machine 11 stories above the street. Ziplining on Fremont Street is an essential high-speed thrill for any visitor.

3. Seek out Secret Bars in Las Vegas

If you want to escape the main casino floors, hunt down the best secret bars in Las Vegas. These hidden speakeasies offer a more intimate atmosphere.

The Laundry Room: An exclusive spot on Fremont Street that requires a text-in reservation.

Ghost Donkey: A mezcal and tequila bar hidden behind a green door at the Cosmopolitan.

The Underground: Located in the basement of the Mob Museum, this bar serves house-distilled moonshine in a genuine Prohibition era setting.

4. Visit the Mob Museum

If you are looking for a glimpse into the darker side of Sin City, look no further than the Mob Museum. Learn about the history of organised crime and the transformation of Las Vegas from a Wild West town to a global home of debauchery. It is one of the top weird Vegas attractions for those interested in American history.

5. Feast on a Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas

Voted the city’s best buffet, the spread at Wynn is truly out of this world. Settle down in the airy, marble-floored atrium and dive headfirst into unlimited snow crab legs, freshly carved prime rib, and gourmet cheeses. This is a must for anyone seeking out non-gambling Las Vegas activities.

Neon Boneyard. Image credit: claire jones

6. See the Signs at the Neon Boneyard

A retirement home for disused neon signs, the Neon Boneyard is a photographer’s dream. Some iconic pieces of Vegas history have come to rest here. These neon wonders have now started a new phase of their lives as a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Best Unusual Day Trips from Las Vegas

Seven Magic Mountains. Image credit: Natosha Benning

7. Seven Magic Mountains

Just 25 minutes from the Strip, a fascinating art installation awaits in desert surroundings. This is a little-known gem akin to Nevada’s very own Stonehenge. Neon-painted boulder totems tower into the sky and stand in stark contrast to the smooth blue desert skies. This is frequently awarded one of the best unusual day trips from Las Vegas.

8. Gaze at the Sloan Canyon Petroglyphs

Located in the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, these petroglyphs are for the historians among us. With dates estimated between 8000 BC and 1000 BC, the more than 300 art panels could be one of the oldest examples of Native American rock art in the United States.

Las Vegas’ mountain backdrop. Image credit: iStock/4kodiak

9. Go Skiing in Lee Canyon

When you feel like you are cooking in the Nevada heat, it is hard to imagine finding a snowy white piste. However, Lee Canyon is just an hour away from the scorching desert. It serves up a winter wonderland where skiing, snowshoeing, and sledging are all possible in the winter months.

Abandoned train carriage at Rhyolite Ghost Town. Image credit: claire jones

10. Time Travel at the Rhyolite Ghost Town

The Rhyolite Ghost Town was a product of the Gold Rush and was left to the elements only 18 years after it was founded. All this town now holds is the empty shells of a general store and a bank. It also features a collection of unique art, including towering ghost statues that are the only inhabitants of this lost town. It is one of the most unusual things to do in Las Vegas for those who enjoy eerie history.

Unlock Secret Escapes’ ultimate USA getaways

From the Big Apple to Niagara Falls, find Secret Escapes’ seriously supersized US adventures. Explore our USA hotels and US package holidays for the ultimate escape across 50 states.

For more travel advice and inspiration, deep dive further into the Escapist magazine, and for any assistance booking a holiday in America, get in touch with us.

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