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Those who love hi-tech art served with a Burning Man or Electric Daisy Carnival vibe—and with the addition of air-conditioning—will gravitate to this indoor amusement park inside a giant warehouse next to Interstate 15 (the name is a play on both the highway and the mysterious Area 51). The very fluorescent interior (the black-light averse may feel like they are trapped in a giant Spencer Gifts) even features two big Burning Man art installations: a giant skull covered in video graphics and the fantasy hot rod known as Flux Capacitor.
While admission to the facility is free—though advance reservations get you in faster—most of the attractions require you to pay a separate admission: Omega Mart is an otherworldly convenience store, which leads into a walk-through funhouse full of immersive art from the Santa Fe–based arts collective Meow Wolf; Wink World is full of art and tech surprises courtesy of Chris Wink, a co-founder and original member of the Blue Man Group; Museum Fiasco is an immersive, disorienting clublike bombardment of light and sound. Peripheral attractions include axe-throwing and rides on ski-lift chairs suspended from a ceiling track.
The Lost Spirits Distillery is an immersive tasting room with theme-park and show elements. Or, simply chill out with a cocktail under a canopy in The Sanctuary lounge or beneath a luminescent tree in the Oddwood Bar in the center of it all. Maximize this new era of carnival midway with a Korean Corn Dog from the Todd English restaurant The Beast.
There's also the indoor climes of The Portal, a 7,000-square-foot indoor venue where projection mapping augments everything from a Van Gogh exhibit to name deejays. The instant popularity of AREA15 meant the quick addition of an adjacent building housing The Illuminarium, with immersive simulations of outer space and Africa. An announced 20-acre expansion on the north end includes plans for a Universal Studios haunted house attraction featuring its famous movie monsters. Admission is free, but online reservations let you skip lines out front and may be required on busy nights.
3215 S. Rancho Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Entry free; Omega Mart $45, Wink World $15, Museum Fiasco $17; other experiences from $13.50. Experience passes that include multiple admissions run $49–$139
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The flowers, trees, and other plants in Bellagio's soaring atrium are fresh and alive, many of them grown in a 5-acre greenhouse. The artistic floral arrangements and ornamental landscaping here is breathtaking and in some cases monumental in scale. Displays change each season, and the holiday displays in December (for Christmas) and January (for Chinese New Year) are particularly dramatic.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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This gallery—one of the last of its kind inside Strip hotels—was originally curated from Bellagio founder Steve Wynn's private collection. Today, with Wynn long gone, the gallery operates independently, bringing in an average of two traveling exhibits each year from some of the most famous art museums in the world. Shows have featured works by Picasso, Fabergé, and Warhol. The adjacent Perrotin Store offers prints, publications, and artist-designed objects.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $20, No one younger than 17 admitted without an adult.
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Sightseers come to Bellagio for three main reasons: the fountains out front, the Dale Chihuly installation of glass flowers in the lobby, and the conservatory gardens. Any one of these attractions is worth the trip. All three make the casino resort a must-see. The fountains are a spectacle in and of themselves: 1,200 jets in all, streaming and bursting in a choreographed water ballet across the man-made Bellagio lake. The conservatory gardens are particularly stunning during Christmas and Chinese New Year. The glass flowers are pretty amazing as well: the sculpture is named Fiori di Como, and it continues to inspire more than two decades after it was created. But there are other reasons to spend some time at Las Vegas's first real destination resort. For starters, with restaurants from Michael Mina, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Julian Serrano, Bellagio still has one of the best restaurant rosters in town. Then, of course, there's the patisserie's chocolate fountain. This is one of the largest of its kind in the world and there's almost always a line to watch how it works. To cap it off, the Bellagio contains numerous luxe boutiques like Chanel, Dior, and Gucci.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
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There are two reasons to ride the Coney Island–style New York–New York roller-coaster (aka the Big Apple Coaster): first, with a 144-foot dive and a 360-degree somersault, it's a real scream; and second, it whisks you around the amazing replica of the New York City skyline, giving you fabulous views of the Statue of Liberty and Chrysler Building—you climb to peak heights around 200 feet above the Strip. Get ready to go 67 mph over a dizzying succession of high-banked turns and camelback hills, twirl through a "heartline twist" (like a jet doing a barrel roll), and finally rocket along a 540-degree spiral before pulling back into the station.
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $19
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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The opulent entrance, fountains, Roman statuary, bas-reliefs, and roaming centurions all add up to the iconic, over-the-top Las Vegas hotel. Here you can get your picture taken with Caesar, Cleopatra, and the centurion guard; find the full-size reproduction of Michelangelo's David; or amble along Roman streetscapes in The Forum Shops to see replicas of famous fountains in Italy. Vegas history is alive and well here, too, with the prominent main porte cochere and the old-school casino with crystal chandeliers. Several renovations and the addition of Nobu Hotel have ensured the resort remains current. Shopping here at The Forum Shops is among the best in the city. The hotel's pool complex, dubbed Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, is arguably the nicest set-up on the Strip.
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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The best way to explore the mountains of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is by horseback, and Cowboy Trail Rides has it covered. The outfitter runs one-hour as well as half- and full-day trips from a location just east of the Red Rock Visitor Center. Some of the trips include lunch or dinner. Scenic packages include the Sunset BBQ Ride (1 hour 45 minutes) and the Canyon Rim Ride (2 hours). Beautiful views of the Strip give way to desert wilderness. Keep your eyes peeled for jackrabbits, Joshua trees, and other notable desert life. The view of the Strip isn't too shabby either.
4053 Fossil Ridge Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89161, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $79
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This attraction is perfect for individuals and groups of adults who like to play in a life-size sandbox—and use big toys to do it. In this case, the toys are heavy construction machinery: bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, mini-excavators, and skid-steer track loaders. Guests don hard hats and spend about 90 minutes driving the equipment on a big dirt lot, moving around giant tires, digging holes, and more. You can even crush a car, in an Aggression Session. There are 15-minute experiences for kids as well.
800 W. Roban Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $175 for adults, $25 for kids
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Though smaller than its neighbor Wynn Las Vegas, Encore pulls together some of the best touches from the sister properties. For that we owe thanks to designer Roger Thomas, who invested in antiques from all over the world to decorate the resort. The other notable design element: sunlight, which streams in through window-lined corridors (a relative rarity in Vegas). Most people come to Encore for the partying, specifically at Encore Beach Club, Encore Beach Club at Night, and XS. The new high-tech Awakening show blends myth and magic with deft choreography, and a modest but beautiful shopping strip, the Encore Esplanade, features Christian Louboutin, Bruno Cucinelli, and Rene Caovilla.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
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At least once during your visit you should stop in front of Bellagio to view its spectacular water ballet from start to finish. The dazzling fountains stream from more than 1,000 nozzles, accompanied by 4,500 lights, in 27 million gallons of water. Fountain jets shoot up to 460 feet in the air, tracing undulations you wouldn't have thought possible, in near-perfect time with music ranging from Bocelli and the Beatles to "Billie Jean" and tunes from Tiësto. Some of the best views are from the Eiffel Tower's observation deck, directly across the street (unless you've got a north-facing balcony room at The Cosmopolitan). Paris and Planet Hollywood have restaurants with patios on the Strip that also offer good views.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
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Summerlin South
Red sandstone cliffs and dramatic desert landscapes await day-trippers and outdoors enthusiasts at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Operated by the BLM, the 195,819-acre national conservation area features narrow canyons, fantastic rock formations, seasonal waterfalls, desert wildlife, and rock-art sites. The elevated Red Rock Overlook provides a fabulous view of the cream-and-red sandstone cliffs. For a closer look at the stunning scenery, take the 13-mile, one-way scenic drive through the canyon, open from dawn to dusk. Other activities include hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering, picnicking, and wildlife-watching. A developed campground, 2 miles from the visitor center, has 66 campsites (including RV and group sites), pit toilets, and drinking water for visitors wanting to extend their stay. A modest visitor center, operated by the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association and open on weekdays, contains an informative history of the region, as well as a number of exhibits on local flora and fauna.
1000 Scenic Loop Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89161, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20 per car, $10 per motorcycle, $8 per individual on bicycle or $5 on foot
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When it opened in June 2021, the first new casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in more than a decade came at a time when the city needed something to cheer about. The 3,500-room property was developed by the Genting Group, a gaming company based in Singapore, and it features two hotel towers with rooms and suites representing three Hilton brands: Hilton, Conrad, and Crockfords. The resort has more than 50 food outlets, including Famous Foods, a tech-friendly food hall representing cuisines from all over the world, with an emphasis on Asia. Hotel guests can get room service from any restaurant on-site. The 5.5-acre pool complex (the largest in all of Vegas) includes seven pools and trees from the Stardust, which sat on the site many years ago. Headliners such as Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan will pack theaters for years to come.
3000 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89019, USA
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The "mountains" of Seven Magic Mountains aren't actually mountains at all; instead they're towers of multicolor stacked boulders standing more than 30 feet high. The art installation from renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone is a commentary about human presence in the desert, and it stands tall about 10 miles south of town near Jean Dry Lake. Visitors to the site can walk right up and pose with the towers. As such, the spot has become a popular place for selfies. The exhibit opened in 2016 and was only scheduled to run until 2018, but due to public demand, it's been extended. Watch for signs on I-15 directing you to the parking area.
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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Your journey through Mandalay Bay's long-running Shark Reef Aquarium begins in the mysterious realm of deep water at the ruins of an old Aztec temple. It's tropical and humid for us bipeds but quite comfy for the golden crocodiles, endangered green sea turtles, water monitors, and other 2,000 creatures in residence. Descend through two glass tunnels, which lead you deeper and deeper under the sea (or about 1.6 million gallons of water), where exotic tropical fish and other sea creatures swim all around you. The tour saves the best for last—from the recesses of a sunken galleon, sharks swim below, above, and around the skeleton ship. The Undersea Explorer VR Theater lets you swim with whales or dive with sharks. Elsewhere you'll find a petting zoo for marine life, a Komodo dragon exhibit, and a special jellyfish habitat. Animal-feeding add-ons are available.
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Timed tickets from $29, anytime tickets from $36
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An intriguing concentration of antiques shops and galleries is found on East Charleston Boulevard and Casino Center Drive, anchored by The Arts Factory. This former warehouse with a colorful mural on the front houses studios and galleries for art of all types, including painting, photography, and sculpture. There's also a bistro on-site and a drop-in yoga studio. The Arts Factory comes alive on First Friday every month with gallery openings, exhibits, receptions, and special events. Preview Thursday, the day before First Friday, offers the same artwork with fewer crowds. Guided tours are available on request (and with a reservation).
107 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89104, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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It's fitting that the $42-million Mob Museum sits in the circa-1933 former federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office Downtown where the Kefauver Committee held one of its historic hearings on organized crime in 1950. Today the museum pays homage to Las Vegas's criminal underbelly, explaining to visitors (sometimes with way too much exhibit text) how the Mafia worked, who was involved, how the law brought down local mobsters, and what happened to gangsters once they were caught and incarcerated. Museum highlights include bricks from the wall of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 and a mock-up of the electric chair that killed a number of mobsters (as well as spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg). In 2018 the museum converted its basement into The Underground, which comprises a working distillery and an open-to-the-public "speakeasy" that has become a separate draw for locals in its own right.
300 Stewart Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: $30
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Consider this Downtown museum the afterlife for old neon signs. The facility, which displays more than 150 signs that date back to the 1930s, opened to the public in 2012. The old La Concha motel's historic lobby was renovated and now serves as the museum's entry point. The sign collection includes the original signs from the Stardust, Horseshoe, and other properties. To get up close, visitors must take an educational and informative one-hour guided tour. Daytime tours, especially in summer, can be scorching. For an alternative, try one of the nighttime tours, where you can see four of the signs illuminated the way they were intended to be. In 2018 the museum added Brilliant!, a separate experience in the North Gallery where a laser-light show set to music appears to reanimate some of the signs. The result is, well, illuminating.
770 Las Vegas Blvd. N, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $20, Reservations essential
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For years after the razing of The Boardwalk casino in the early 2000s, the space between New York–New York and the Monte Carlo (now Park MGM) sat vacant, a veritable eyesore on the south end of the Strip. Finally, in 2015, landowner MGM Resorts decided to do something about it. The result, inventively dubbed The Park, is a small public park that runs from the Strip itself back west to T-Mobile Arena, home to the city's first professional sports franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. Along the way, The Park offers natural touches such as desert vegetation and rock from local quarries. It also has features such as a water wall, shade structures made to look like trees, and a 60-foot-tall statue of a dancing naked woman named "Bliss Dance." Restaurants on the New York–New York side offer outdoor seating and games for patrons to play while they relax. On the Park MGM side, Dolby Live indoor amphitheater is a spacious venue for musical concerts.
3784 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89019, USA
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This attraction, just north of Encore Las Vegas, provides the thrill of skydiving without a plane. After 20 minutes of training you enter a vertical wind tunnel that produces a powerful stream of air. You'll float, hover, and fly, simulating up to five minutes of free fall, with more time for large parties. Airspeeds reach 120 mph. Plan to reserve at least two hours in advance, making payment in full. The place closes for private parties from time to time, so it's wise to call ahead.
200 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $85
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In a city that keeps raising the bar for sheer luxury, Wynn Las Vegas—monolithic in both name and appearance—offers a discreet turn for the tasteful. The resort is a best-of-everything experience—a playground for jet-setters, high rollers, or anyone who wants to feel like one. This excellence starts with the gardens near the front entrance; though smaller than Bellagio's, they are just as exquisite. It continues with the waterfall that pours from (man-made) rocks into a interior lake, both visible from the new Overlook Lounge. Instead of booking another Cirque du Soleil show, Wynn created Awakening, in a 360-degree theater designed for the show. On-site restaurants are just as appealing, with Wing Lei holding firm as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire city. High-end shopping options at The Shops at Wynn include Alexander McQueen, Bulgari, and Chanel, and the Wynn Plaza includes Breitling, Kenzo, and Cipriani restaurant, whose forerunner in Venice was the birthplace of the Bellini.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
