Most visitors to Las Vegas make a beeline to the casino floor for high-stakes gaming, chirpy slot machines and velvet-rope nightclubs. Throw in designer boutiques, restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs and swanky hotel suites, and visitors seeking glam and glitz have everything they need for their vacation. But while the City of Sin has capitalized on offering sweet vices, it also offers myriad activities that are impressive and fun — without the guilt. From canyon ziplining to flying a fighter plane, we rounded up our favorite activities and adventures where visitors can still utter the famous words: “Only in Las Vegas.”
Dig a Really Big Hole with Dig This
Your clients can live vicariously through the life of a local construction worker by donning a hardhat and excavating some really big holes. Dig This just outside the strip is a playground for those who like to ride big toys. Bulldozers and excavators with monster blades take to the grounds, and visitors can choose to dig gigantic trenches, stack 2,000-pound tires or build huge mounds. Dig This is a terrific activity for the entire family — you must pass a Breathalyzer test before maneuvering machinery.
www.digthisvegas.com
Discover Ancient Artifacts at Valley of Fire
Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, Valley of Fire is more than sprawling hot sand and a mirage (if you’re lucky). The park is home to ancient, 3,000-year old Native American petroglyphs within millions-year-old rock formations. History and nature buffs alike can expect gorgeous landscape with limestone rocks and red sandstone formations. Even “Star Trek” lovers will get a thrill as this is the filming location for the memorable episode where Captain Kirk fell to his death.
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park
Drive Fast and Furious at Dream Racing
If your clients have a need for speed, book them a thrilling ride at Dream Racing. At the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (home to top events like the NASCAR Spring Cup Series), Dream Racing puts sports car enthusiasts behind the wheels of uber-expensive race cars and supers cars, such as the Ferrari F430 GT race car.
www.dreamracing.com
Explore Mob History at the Mob Museum
Say hello to my little friend… the Mob Museum! Opened last year in downtown Las Vegas and housed in one of Vegas’ few historic buildings, the Mob Museum is an exciting way to not only learn the history of mob culture but to have a solid reason to visit the burgeoning Fremont area. Your clients can expect cool exhibits and memorabilia with interactive features. They can also book the restored federal courthouse for events.
www.themobmuseum.org
Fly a Jet at Sky Combat Ace
Don’t have a license to fly a plane? No problem! Out in Henderson (about a 20-minute drive), Sky Combat Ace gives visitors the opportunity to fly a fighter plane. There is no other place in the world where guests can get in the cockpit (with an experienced, licensed pilot, of course) and soar through the skies at speeds reaching up to 250 miles per hour.
www.skycombatace.com
Soar Through the Nevada Canyons
Thirty minutes from the strip near the Hoover Dam, Flightlinez (which once operated the ziplining at Fremont Street) takes outdoor enthusiasts to great heights — literally. In the Bootleg Canyon (which comprises sprawling desert views, even with the strip in the distance), Flightlinez takes participants through several courses, some up to 1,100 feet high. Best of all? Groups of eight or more can book any time of the day or night — a great idea for a unique Las Vegas after party.
www.flightlinezbootleg.com
Vintage Signs at Neon Museum
If your clients like things bright and big that don’t come with a hefty price tag, send them to the Neon Museum. The dedicated, two-acre outdoor museum space exhibits vintage neon Vegas signs dating back to the 1930s. In fact, there are more than 150 signs that take visitors on a Vegas time warp, many from old-school motels to high-profile casino resorts. The museum is open every day for hour-long guided tours, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
www.neonmuseum.org
