Las Vegas is a city known for embracing the high and low. You can just as easily land in a $5,000 per night penthouse suite and munch on $2 hot dogs while tossing quarters in one of the city’s last remaining coin-operated casinos. Indulgence truly takes many forms in Sin City.
So when it comes to keeping visitors dazzled and delighted, Vegas pulls out every trick in the book—and a few outside the book, too. Wandering around the Strip, with its flashing marquee lights and sky-high fountain jets, it’s hard not to slip into a YOLO mindset. After all, there’s a reason Las Vegas is often called the “heart of American escapism.”
Here are some of the wackiest and most unmissable experiences that you can only find in Las Vegas. As they say, what happens here only happens here.
Snap a photo with the Dancing Woman.
Looking for a snazzy photo to share on Instagram? Head right to the Park, which is an outdoor area between the New York-New York and Park MGM hotels, to check out Bliss Dance, a 40-foot-tall sculpture of a dancing woman, which MGM explained is “celebrating the strength of a woman who is both safe and present.”
Go singing in the rain…in a mall.
Vegas has a thing for ceilings painted like the sky. You can find one at the Paris Las Vegas. Miracle Mile Shops, however, takes the illusion one step further. At the mall’s free Rain Show feature, water literally pours out of the ceiling as dramatic thunder rumbles. There’s lightning and a footbridge that you can cross to get rained on. Not a bad way to cool off on those 110-degree days.
Feel your stomach drop on a coaster.
If you’re planning to ride the Big Apple Coaster—New York-New York’s outdoor roller coaster—then definitely go at night. The line might be a little longer, but the views will be entirely worth it. As the ride drops 76 feet, and then another 144 feet for the second drop (not to mention two loop-de-loops), you’ll watch the lit-up Vegas skyline do somersaults around you. The ride isn’t free ($25 per person), but don’t worry, you can probably make it all back in the casino afterwards.
Play a few old-school games at the Pinball Museum.
Love an afternoon spent in an arcade? Then you’ll for sure fall hard for the Pinball Museum located at 4925 Las Vegas Blvd South. The 25,000-square-foot museum includes games you can actually play for as little as 25 cents a pop. And you can even walk through the Pinball Hall of Fame to pay tribute to the greats.
Find history in an unlikely place.
No one knows exactly why a chunk of the Berlin Wall is displayed inside a men’s restroom at Main Street Station. The historic casino, located across from Fremont Street Experience, is full of miscellaneous treasures and antiques, including a chandelier from Figaro Opera House in Paris, a giant brass boar from Nice, and a 1927 Pullman train car. Female-identifying guests can ask for a peek, too; just find a security guard to escort you in.
Be enchanted by a mermaid.
Already checked the Fountains of Bellagio off your list? Then it’s time for a different kind of water show. At Silverton Casino, you can see a live mermaid swim, twirl, and blow heart-shaped bubbles in a 117,000-gallon aquarium with hundreds of tropical fish, stingrays, and sharks. The free show happens every half hour from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (on Sunday, the show is 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) with a short afternoon break. If you feel like trying on the tail yourself, consider enrolling in mermaid school.
Tie the knot with Elvis.
There are dozens of wedding chapels scattered around Las Vegas, but few are as delightfully retro and photogenic as Sure Thing. The all-pink, by-appointment-only chapel is decked out with velvet drapes, a vintage photo booth, and an electric organ. Pay extra, and you can be married by a female Elvis impersonator or enjoy a burlesque performance after your ceremony. Just remember to tip your dancer.
Take a spin at 1,100 feet.
If you’re looking for a luxe night out, you could do worse than Top of the World. The upscale menu features Wagyu New York strip steak and specialty cocktails, but the real highlight is the view: the revolving restaurant sits on the 106th floor of Vegas’ highest freestanding structure, and if you time it right, you’ll be able to catch stunning views of the sun setting behind the mountains.
Find your favorite star.
Hollywood isn’t the only place with a Walk of Fame. Travelers can visit the Walk of Stars, which specifically honors those who “helped make Las Vegas famous.” That includes greats like Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Donny and Marie, and many more. Take a stroll and find your favorite, then give them a little thank-you.
Get a breath of fresh air at Valley of Fire State Park.
If you need a break from all the flashing lights, one of the most breathtaking state parks in the nation is an easy day trip from Vegas. Less than an hour’s drive from the Strip, Valley of Fire State Park spans 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstone and gray limestone, creating a truly otherworldly landscape. It’s also home to petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years, giving visitors a glimpse of what this part of Nevada looked like long before the first gamblers arrived.
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