Things to Do & Must-See Attractions in Nevada

Downtown Las Vegas thrived as the city’s gambling district until the 1980s when new resorts and casinos pulled the crowds away from the area toward the Strip, the city’s main thoroughfare today. After a period of neglect, Downtown has seen revitalization over the past few years, transforming it into a Las Vegas cultural and entertainment hub in its own right.

It’s hard to believe that Sin City is only a few hours away from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, with dramatic and often surreal scenery of sharp craggy mountains, deep canyons, and desert basins. Coboldmprising the areas around Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, this recreation area attracts water sports enthusiasts, boaters, and nonboaters alike.

The 195,819-acre (79,245-hectare) Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada comprises a network of narrow canyons, seasonal waterfalls, rock art sites, and surreal rock formations with ample opportunity for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and desert wildlife watching, all a short drive from Las Vegas.

The Colorado River is a spectacular sight to see, meandering for 1,447 miles (2,330 kilometers) with red rocks and canyons framing it on both sides, leading up to the Hoover Dam. The Colorado River is one of the major water sources for California and Nevada, and, not surprisingly, it's a major recreational destination—activities on the river include hiking, biking, rafting, and boating.

Bryce Canyon National Park showcases the red rock canyons and rugged horizon-stretching vistas that make Utah famous. With a variety of otherworldly geological formations, Bryce Canyon is an active traveler's playground, crammed full of pinnacles, steeples, spires, and hoodoos, which are thin eroded rock formations that reveal sedimentary layers of red, orange, and white.

The driest desert in North America, the Mojave is home to Death Valley National Park, which is best known for its Badwater Basin, the lowest point on the continent at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. The Mojave’s 25,000 square miles (65,000 square kilometers) also encompass Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Mojave National Preserve, and more.

For many travelers, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas offers the best of several worlds. Its mid-Strip location makes it an ideal hub for those who want to explore a little bit of everything on Las Vegas Boulevard, and the vibe of the mid-range hotel and casino—which celebrates the glitz of Hollywood—attracts a high-energy crowd without offending multigenerational families looking for a less-raucous stay.

The 550-foot rotating observation tower at the heart of LINQ in Las Vegas is far from your normal carnival Ferris wheel. Climb aboard the glass-enclosed pods—home to music and video displays, as well as thousands of LED lights—and admire the view from one of the world’s largest observation wheels as it completes a full 30-minute rotation.

The Las Vegas location of the popular Madame Tussauds franchise is more than just a museum, it’s an attraction that allows you to interact with its wax figures in different settings, as well as take part in a 4D theater experience with Marvel super heroes. There’s also a bar inspired by the movieThe Hangover where you can grab a drink.

The largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1993, the MGM Grand is a Las Vegas mainstay known for its green façade and original “old Hollywood” theme. It’s one of the busiest hotels on the Strip with thousands of rooms and dozens of restaurants, bars, and live entertainment venues.

Though once outfitted with a tropical theme, Mandalay Bay is currently undergoing a makeover that will include an update to shows, dining options and nightlife opportunities. There have also been room renovations and a rebranding of the property’s boutique hotel, soon to be Delano Las Vegas.

Mandalay Bay’s casino, which has 135,000 square feet of gaming space, will be getting new carpet, chairs and music, but the gaming opportunities will remain similar to what has been offered in the past. The property has more than 1,700 slot machines ranging from 1¢ to $100 per play. Table game favorites such as baccarat, blackjack, craps and roulette can be found throughout the casino. A variety of poker games are available as well, and free lessons are available for beginners Monday through Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

Mandalay Bay’s race and sports book is a popular place to catch all major sports and horse racing events including boxing, football, auto racing, UFC, hockey, basketball and baseball. It has 17 large-screen televisions and several race seats with individual monitors. An enclosed VIP luxury box is available for groups up to eight people.

The resort’s Lotus Room combines Western gaming with Eastern table-side dining and hospitality. A handful of table games are available in the Lotus Room.

The Venetian® Resort boasts a bustling nightlife and entertainment scene, along with grand architecture and romantic gondola rides. The hotel will transport you to the streets of Venice with its hand-painted frescoes, nods to the Italian city, and Grand Canal Shoppes, an area filled with luxury boutiques, cafés, and restaurants.

A collection of boutique shops and eateries created from shipping containers, Downtown Container Park has become a favorite Las Vegas attraction since it opened in 2013. The open-air shopping center surrounds a courtyard with a play zone for kids and a stage that hosts live music and events.

Lined with cobblestone walkways and wrought iron street lamps, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino offers a taste of the French capital on the Las Vegas Strip. Enjoy Parisian-style shopping and cafés, a Montgolfier-style hot-air balloon, a mini version of the Arc de Triomphe—and of course, a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower.