From Concerts to Casinos – the Real Vegas Uncovered
Las Vegas is one of those places where you can make plans for the evening and end up doing something completely different. Maybe you've booked tickets to a show, but there's a concert at a nearby venue that catches your eye. There's so much going on around the city that it's worth leaving a bit of room in your schedule. And with everything from huge stage productions to bars and desert scenery, there’s plenty of ways to fill it up.
Catch a Show While You're There
Picking a show in Las Vegas isn't always easy. There are so many of them, and they all do their own thing.
Cirque du Soleil has a number of shows. O at Bellagio features divers, synchronised swimmers and acrobats performing around a pool stage. It's a very different experience from KÀ at MGM Grand, where acrobatics, martial arts, puppets and pyrotechnics come together.
Then there's Blue Man Group at Luxor. Three blue performers use drums and audience interaction to create a show that you can’t really put in any category.
If you'd rather spend an evening listening to familiar disco songs, The Australian Bee Gees Show brings back the music of the Gibb brothers.
Vegas also hosts singers and comedians, with residencies taking place across the city. Have a look at these before you travel. You might find someone you really want to see.
Explore the Casinos and Everything Around Them
For many visitors, the casinos are part of the fun.
If you’re Downtown, The Golden Nugget is one of the area's best-known venues, with a shark tank pool and an underwater viewing tunnel at the Tank Bar. Binion's and Four Queens are also worth a visit if you're curious about the vintage casinos that helped shape Downtown.
Of course, searching for your favourite casino game is not the only thing to focus on here. Step outside the Bellagio and you'll find the famous fountains, where water dances to music. It's a completely different kind of entertainment, and you don't even need a ticket. The shows run throughout the day and evening, so it's easy to stop and watch while exploring the Strip.
Go for Some Dinner and Drinks
Food can easily become one of the highlights of a Vegas trip. There are plenty of high-end restaurants, but you don't have to book a big dinner every night.
Bazaar Meat by José Andrés at The Venetian Resort is worth considering if you're after something special. For dinner with a twist, THE PARTY at Superfrico combines a meal with live performances in a 50-seat setting.
Downtown is a good place to explore local beer, with several breweries around Brewery Row. And if your group can't agree on what to do next, Asylum Bar + Arcade might settle the argument. You can grab a drink while playing vintage arcade games.
Get Out and See More of Vegas
There's plenty to see around the city when you want a change of scenery.
Downtown's Fremont Street Experience is busy with free live music and street performers, and totally different from the experience of going through the bigger resorts on the Strip. And if you want to get a better view of the crowds, you can take a ride on SlotZilla above the street.
The Neon Museum is worth a visit if you're interested in the city's past. Its collection of vintage signs is a glimpse of old Las Vegas.
You probably won't manage everything in one trip, and that's fine. Go to a show, have dinner at a new place, spend an evening Downtown and leave room for whatever catches your attention along the way. Vegas has a way of keeping people busy.