What Happens In Vegas...
- Jona Kay
- Apr 19, 2024
- 6 min read
Sin City had been on my bucket list for years, and I finally got to visit in the winter of 2022. With so many things to do on the strip and off, let's go through a jam-packed schedule for a weekend of organized chaos and good tips to help you plan your trip to LV! This one is LOADED.
First and foremost, from the second you get off of the airplane inside of Harry Reid International Airport, you'll be plagued with casinos everywhere you look. They're inside of the airport. If you're coming to gamble, you won't have to look very hard.
The resorts are a massive pull. MGM, Paris, the Venetian, etc., all offer rooms right in the midst of the party which can be convenient when you want to have a good time in the resort and then go straight to your room. No DD necessary. Some resorts, including the MGM and Caesars Palace, have nightclubs inside. With those strip resort reservations, comes extra resort fees by day. To avoid them, you'll want to stay off the strip. We chose a Holiday Inn next door to MGM. It was still right in the action, but didn't have the added fees making it more affordable. Fremont Street also offers hotel rooms without resort fees.
A fun fact: the MGM Grand is green to mimic the emerald city in Wizard of Oz
Seeing the resorts is a major part of exploring the main strip. Different ones have different attractions. Mandalay Bay has an aquarium, the Luxor has been host to America's Got Talent shows, the Venetian has gondola rides, etc. Our goal was to be inside nearly all of them at one point. Let's take a look at the progress:
New York, New York Hotel & Casino was a hit because of the outdoor roller coaster that surrounds the building, along with a massive arcade and New York style pizza & treats.
Paris, featuring Jimi's boyfriend & massive cocktails that we found on the street. On a normal day, you can go up in the Eiffel Tower replica. We were there before operating hours. I've always read that Paris is one of the best and most affordable stays on the strip, and we almost chose it. Mon Ami Gabi is reputably one of the top brunches in Vegas, and it's located right inside of the resort.
The Venetian had a plethora of luxurious shops and dining, along with traditional gondola rides. It was controversially (my opinion) the prettiest of the resorts that we saw. One of their newer attractions is Voltaire, with performances from famous artists like Christina Aguilera. I haven't seen Voltaire tickets advertised on major sites so it's more of a lowkey and intimate musical experience.
The Bellagio has the famous Bellagio Water Show that takes place multiple times throughout the day, as well as Spago by Wolfgang Puck.
If you dare, take an elevator to the top of The Strat for panoramic views of the LV Strip, along with dining and thrill rides. The rides were one floor up from this image. You can be suspended or jump off the side of the Seattle Space Needle look-alike if you feel like cheating death. The elevator itself is terrifying, don't say I didn't warn you.
Resorts not fully explored: Mandalay Bay, Cosmopolitan, and Caesars Palace.
Side Note: Do not think that you can walk the strip, you cannot. It's entirely too large. Mandalay Bay to The Strat is approximately five miles. Not many tourists know that Vegas has a monorail to help you got from point A to point B. Make your life easier, check it out!
Let's dive into some food. From research, buffets are the reputable dining experience in Sin City. We tried the recommended Eataly, an Italian kitchen inside of Park MGM... not be confused with the other greener MGM. This one is next to New York, New York. Their homemade pizza is fantastic and every single thing is in Italian.
Another place that is constantly increasing in popularity is the aesthetically-pleasing Café Lola, which is the sister-business of Saint Honoré Doughnuts and Beignets, Pizza Anonymous, 3 Little Chicks and LolaXO. When we went, this was a tiny single café that's now also inside of Allegiant Stadium and Caesars Palace, among other locations. The crème brule coffee featured above has 24kt gold flakes.
We can't forget the attractions. Off the strip also has so much to offer. Above is Meow Wolf inside of Area 15, an immersive events and entertainment hub. Our main objective inside was the Omega Mart that I found on TikTok. When you walk in, it looks like a grocery store from another world with parody produce that you can actually buy and take home. Step into the freezer to move into a psychedelic experience. Your can roam and explore, or solve the mystery associated with the glitch in the system. Slate a couple hours for this one. It's a must-see!
The Hunger Games exhibition is now sadly closed, however, it's one example of all of the fun things revolving on the strip. We found this one inside of a resort and went through a simulation of HG district tribute training in The Capitol.
GET MARRIED! Or don't, it's up to you. If you regret your decision, quick annulments are about $500 (or so I've read). There's a few wedding spots around the area. Take a lot at this one. It's close to the Strat. Britney Spears got married there, as well as Mickey Rooney and Sinead O' Connor.
A Hop-On-Hop-Off bus is always an amazing solution when you're in a city that has a lot of sights to see. Besides being able to get off and back on wherever you want, the tour guide has facts that you probably wouldn't get otherwise. For example, our guide showed us the intersection where Tupac was shot, pointed out the hotel room that Elvis stayed in; where the curtains haven't been closed since he left, and this convenient store pictured above where the mob used to run their operation. It purposely has no windows so that the feds wouldn't be able to look in, with tunnels ran underneath.
One of the places that the bus showed us is the popular Koolsville tattoo shop featuring $10 tattoos. We stopped, and tipped 100%. The shop does limit you to a specific sheet of options and typically has a long line; but it does go quick. It's even close to the Strat on the strip.
If you're going to walk the strip, do NOT interact with anybody in a costume. They will demand you pay them a minimum of $40 each just for taking up their time, and they will be the one to approach you and try to swindle you into paying. Don't make eye contact, even if they talk to you, just keep on walking. It's truly not worth it.
These picture fiends aren't just on the strip. They can also be found on Fremont Street; and if you're going to Vegas, you need to see Fremont Street. This is the 100% party zone in Old Downtown Las Vegas. Fremont is the OG of the LV scene, and we all know the original is typically better than the remake. From time to time, big celebrities will have pop-up performances on the main stage.
The infamous LV Sign has to be on your bucket list. It's on Las Vegas Blvd and it's FREE. "Photographers" will be swarming to ask to take your picture in front of it with QR codes to pay them. They will also pose you in flattering ways, so it's not terrible, but also not necessary. The best way to get a picture without a massive line is to hit it early in the morning before everything else opens.
Rent the car. Just do it. Get the convertible, it's basically the same price anyway and Ubers in LV are expensively inflated. There are a lot of natural landmarks around Nevada-area, since you're in the desert: Zion National Park, The Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, etc. Many of them can be turned into a day trip.
We took a ride to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's a little over a two-hour drive and sits into the Hualapai Native American reservation, which is fully controlled and operated by the tribe. The drive is SCENIC and full of great southwest views of cacti and cows free-range all around.
Going to the Canyon from this entrance will require a shuttle and four hour minimum commitment, so plan accordingly for an entire day if you choose this option. With that, there's dining, rafting, and so much more; it's all linked above.
In conclusion, our first Vegas trip was BUSY. We covered all of this ground in about 48-72 hours and then caught a red eye back home. LV was impossible to be a one-and-done destination because there's too much to do and see. To get it all in, you have to either stay longer or go two or three times. Some things I wanted to see but didn't have time to were more national parks, nightclubs (OMNIA, specifically), and pool parties. The outdoor pools weren't open yet while we were there because it was early February.
Part Two of Las Vegas will be coming after my next (and probably final) trip in June. Stay Tuned!
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