Las Vegas is filled with so many fun and interesting things to do with all of the casinos, gambling, great shows, amazing food, and unbelievable shopping. Unfortunately, most people never explore anything beyond the casinos on the strip when on holidays to Las Vegas. While the strip, all the casinos, and even downtown offer visitors loads of fun, there are many other great things to do near Las Vegas that do not involve gambling, drinking, and eating. Here are four fun things to do next time you are in Las Vegas. These fun ideas are family friendly, and will be easier on your pocket than an hour at the blackjack table. Before you enjoy the following activities, make sure to sort out an ESTA visa if you need one to enter the states.
1. ATVing in the desert – One of the best things to do near Las Vegas is to go ATVing in the desert. There are many companies that offer guided all-terrain-vehicle outings in the desert surrounding Las Vegas. These tour guides will give you a crash course on driving an ATV, and will show you the amazing environment and animals that exist in the Las Vegas desert. Nothing beats climbing sand-dunes and rocks on an ATV in the desert under the Vegas sun. If Driving an ATV is not your thing, for your comfort and safety, many of these companies offer the same tours as a passenger in a Jeep.
2. Lake Mead – While Las Vegas is located in the middle of the desert, it is very close to Lake Mead, and all the fun that comes with a large fresh water lake. Zooming across the cool water of Lake Mead on a rented jet ski is one of the best things to do near Las Vegas. A visit to Lake Mead also offers you the opportunity to rent boats, go swimming, or go fishing.
3. The Hoover Dam – Lake Mead is a manmade lake created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. While in Las Vegas, visitors would be remiss to not see the engineering wonder that is the Hoover Dam. A Works Progress Administration project that was built during the height of the depression, the Hoover dam is one of the largest dams in the world. A visit to the Hoover Dam is filled with history and engineering marvel, and should be on everyone’s must see list when visiting Las Vegas.
4. Helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon – Another great thing to do near Las Vegas is a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. A wonder of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is a short helicopter flight from Las Vegas. There are several companies that will fly you from the strip to the Grand Canyon. Some of these flights will just give you amazing views of the canyon; others will even set you down for an afternoon of sightseeing around the canyon before your flight back to the Vegas strip.
If you are looking for some fun things to do near Las Vegas beyond the usual gambling and shows, consider exploring the desert on a guided ATV tour; discover all the wonders that Lake Mead has to offer, including boating, swimming, and fishing; explore the engineering wonder that is the Hoover Dam, or take a helicopter flight to explore the Grand Canyon. All these great things to do when you are in Las Vegas will cost you less than the price of a show ticket or a few hours of gambling. These adventures are family friendly, and will create memories that will last a lifetime.
