Las Vegas: 4 Places to Visit that Aren't a Bar
1. Red Rocks Canyon
Located 13 miles west of the Strip, You can escape the craziness of Las Vegas and experience something different. With 26 different trails and an area for camp sites, it offers the outdoorsy vacationers, a little taste of something different in Las Vegas. It encompasses more than 195,000 acres of land in the Mojave desert.
We Went to the visitors center first, to get an idea of what the park had to offer. There is a fee per vehicle to enter the park.
We then opted to do the 13 mile Drive through the park and stop off at any trails that looked intriguing.
The park is filled with canyons, peaks, and ledges. And because we went around sunset, some beautiful views and photo opportunities.
Red Rock Canyon is definitely a great way to explore and sweat out your indulgences the night before. In fall and Spring it is perfect weather to be out and about. If you go during the summer, make sure to bring plenty of water because the heat could kill ya!
2. Neon Boneyard/Museum
This one has been on my list for a while, and I'm glad I finally got to experience it. And it was well worth it! (And not just for the photos/instagram posts).
Since 1996, this non-profit museum has been collecting, preserving and studying some of the old Neon lights that used to light up Las Vegas. They do not allow you to wander the outdoor boneyard. In order to visit the Boneyard, you must book a 1 hour guided tour. I highly recommend it either way! You learn so much about Las Vegas and the people who helped make it what it is today.
A lot of the signs that have been collected represent are national treasures of Las Vegas that hold historical value and artistic value. Each sign has a unique story about the creator, what the inspiration was, when it was made, how it was made, and how it impacted the development of Las Vegas.
Above is the "MOT" sign, the "E" and the "L" are missing. What is unique about this sign is that all those spokes along the outline of the letters were actually the previous "ladders" they used to stand on in order to change the light bulbs!
*Can you imagine standing and hanging on for dear life with one hand while the other one is trying to change the light bulb? And having to do each bulb, one by one? YIKES!*
There are tours offered throughout the day. I decided to tour during the day. From some reviews and suggestions, I had heard that, even though night time is spectacular to see the neon signs lit up, not all of them are functional. So most of the tour, you are in the dark. Either way, I'm sure I'll be back to experience the night time viewing as well. It's a fun place to visit near downtown LV.
3. Mob Museum
AKA, the national Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. I have personally never been to this place, but I've heard amazing things, and if you decide you'd like to see the Neon Boneyard as well, They offer a joint ticket for both the museums!
(This photo is taken from their Website.)
It has an interactive journey from the birth of the Mob to the what's happening in today's headlines. Whether you like it or not, it's a part of our American History. It goes in depth through true stories to account and show how organized crime has impacted the world.
It sounds SO interesting and intriguing! I'm definitely going to be heading here the next time I'm in Las Vegas!
This road side spectacle is a sight to see. Yeah, it's just a bunch of brightly painted stones in the middle of the desert. But if you stop to walk through the area, and snap some selfies, you'll realize that the artist, meant so much more with its purpose.
Ugo Rondinone. a Swiss artist, wanted his art to be a creative critique of the Las Vegas City. To him, Las Vegas represented a blend between the natural and the artificial. The Natural being the desert and mountain ranges that surround the city. The artificial was the highway that was created to connect Los Angeles and San Diego to Las Vegas, separating the natural aspect of the city, and shuttling in a constant flow in and out of Las Vegas, and the desert.
There are seven, 30-foot high totems made of local boulders that were painted. This large installation is on tour until May 2018. There is a guided audio tour you can listen to on your phone by dialing (702)381-5182.
When was the last time you've been to Las Vegas? Are there other great things to explore during the day that you've found? Share below!