Things To Do in Las Vegas Off the Strip – Away from the Neon Lights

By Matt Lashley

From the author:

This is a follow up to my book, Free Things to Do on the Strip: a self-guided tour. The following are things to do that are off the Strip, away from the neon lights – well, at least most of it. Some of these things are free, and I have grouped them in the first section. Everything else will cost you money. However, I have only included those things to do off of the Strip that are reasonable in price. Most of these places are not too far from the Strip and can be easily reached by car. I have also tried to list prices and hours of these places, but you should always check the websites or call for current information.

I have also included things for kids to do in Las Vegas. Kids can get bored quickly, and this city was not designed for them. There are a few arcades in some hotels, and there are pools for swimming when the weather is warm, but parents can run out of ideas to provide entertainment for their children quickly. Many of these destinations are suitable for families

This book is illustrated with photos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teela Books
• Release date: Apr 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386561118

Book preview

Disclaimer

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Copyright © Matthew Lashley and Teela Books 2017

All photos courtesy of Rachel Osterman

All rights reserved

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I would like to give special thanks to my photographer Rachel Osterman for the images that accompany my text.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Free things to do off the Strip

Wetlands

Ethel M. Chocolate & Cactus Garden

The Sunset Stampede Laser Light Show at Sam's Town

The aquarium at the Silverton hotel

The Airport Museum

Miscellaneous things to do off the Strip

KISS Golf

The Magical Forest

The Pinball Hall of Fame

3D Miniature Golf at the All Family Fun Center

The Aviators

Mini-Grand Prix

Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas

Cowabunga Bay

Monorail

Museums

The Natural History Museum

The Mormon Fort

Clark County Museum

The National Atomic Testing Museum

Nevada State Museum/Springs Preserve

Mob Museum

Discovery Children's Museum

Final Thoughts

Introduction

This is a follow up to my book, Free Things to Do on the Strip: a self-guided tour. The following are things to do that are off the Strip, away from the neon lights – well, at least most of it. Some of these things are free, and I have grouped them in the first section. Everything else will cost you money. However, I have only included those things to do off of the Strip that are reasonable in price. There are many fantastic things to do here in the valley, but they can be very expensive. I think I will cover that in a future book. Most of these places are not too far from the Strip and can be easily reached by car. In fact,  you can also get to most of these destinations by bus. I have also tried to list prices and hours of these places, but you should always check the websites or call for current information.

There aren't many things for kids to do in Las Vegas. There was a time when this city went through a period where they tried to make the city family friendly, but it didn't go over too well. The bottom line is that children can get bored quickly, so if you bring children with you, there will always be a problem with what to do with them. In the summer time, there is the pool, and of course, Circus Circus is still around after 48 years, The Excalibur has a nice arcade for children. But if you leave the Strip, there are many things to do with kids. I have included a few of these places in this book.

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Free things to do off the Strip

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Wetlands Park

I had lived here in Las Vegas for several years before I knew this place existed. And the first time I visited the Wetlands Park, it blew my mind. I had become accustomed to living in a desert, and to see all of this water was astonishing. The wetlands area is partly due to the Las Vegas Wash. This is a series of water channels that all lead to this area of the valley and then on to Lake Mead.

This park is huge; it sits on approximately 210 acres, and within the park are several ponds and vegetation that is common to a wetland ecosystem. There are also plenty of animals such as turtles and ducks.

The first thing you want to see while you are here is the Nature Center. This is an interactive learning facility that children will love. Adults find it interesting too. It is indoors and air conditioned. Most importantly, you can pick up a map here, and plan your walk inside the Nature Preserve. If it is hot outside, try to avoid traveling too far, but if you do, take a rest break, and like any other place in Las Vegas, make sure you have water, especially in the summer.

My favorite walking trip is along the eastern portion of the preserve and heading toward the Weir Bridge. Also called the Big Bridge, this passes over the main channel of water that moves through the wetlands. By desert standards, this is a full blown river. The first time I visited the wetlands, I could hear the roar of the water,