Whatever your reason for visiting Las Vegas, you may find days where you don’t wish to partake in alcohol or gambling. For those times, check out this handy guide for all sorts of fun you can have, which doesn’t involve either.
Contrary to what you may have been told, there are countless fun things to do in Las Vegas that won’t leave you hungover or broke. This includes family fun in Las Vegas!
You’re sure to find something to entertain you, from sights to shows, coasters to parachutes. So, let’s dive right into the best things to do in Las Vegas, with no drinking or gambling required!
Feel the Need for Speed | Exotics Racing
Claiming the “best driving experience in America,” Exotics Racing allows you to feel what professional racecar drivers feel: speed. Sitting 15 minutes off the Las Vegas Strip, it’ll take longer to get there than it will to complete a lap.
Their 1.3-mile-long racetrack was specially designed to show off supercar performance. Planned by industry experts, the course was modeled after real-world racetracks. Features include a 2000-foot main straightway, eight total turns, and many other authentic racetrack characteristics.
And what will you be driving on this racetrack? Well, they don’t call them supercars for nothing. The toughest part may be selecting. You can choose Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Audis, Aston Martins, and many more. There are all types of packages and group discounts, so check out the website.
Have an Experience Like No Other | Fremont Street Experience Downtown Las Vegas
If the racetrack is too fast, visit a street that is a bit slower. The Fremont Street Experience (FSE) is officially a “pedestrian mall and attraction,” in downtown Las Vegas but describing it in only a few words would be a huge disservice.
For a quick history lesson, Fremont Street was the site of many Las Vegas firsts: the first hotel (Golden Gate in 1906), the first telephone (1907), the first paved street (1925), and even the first elevator (1932).
Needless to say, Fremont Street has been around for a while. The FSE takes up the five westernmost blocks of the street and provides opportunities for unique experiences. The only traffic you’ll face here is foot traffic. Colloquially known as “Glitter Gluch,” you can eat, shop, and experience Las Vegas like never before.
Check out Slotzilla, the 12-story zipline that soars above the FSE. Attend nightly concerts at the free Downtown Rocks series. Can’t make up your mind? Look up for inspiration to the Viva Vision light show, which starts each evening at 6 pm local time. If you stay at the Four Queens, you are right in the middle of the action!
No matter what you choose to do in Downtown Las Vegas, you made the right choice!
Chill Out on the Las Vegas Strip | Minus 5 Ice Experience
Is the Las Vegas heat getting you down? Then, visit the Minus 5 Ice Experience! With three locations in Las Vegas, there’s sure to be one close to your hotel. The main takeaway for Minus 5 is that everything is made of ice. The walls, the chairs, the bar, and even the cups are made of ice.
Full disclosure: there is a full-service bar on site, but everything is still family-friendly, with the addition of non-alcoholic drinks for adults and all flavors of slushies for the kids.
You can select from various packages, including hats, parkas, and other winter gear. It feels odd layering amid a desert, but trust me, you’ll appreciate all those layers once you head inside.
There’s also a sorbet-tasting station and multiple photo opportunities, so plan on chilling out for a while! With locations around the Vegas Strip, including the Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and the Linq Promenade, there is no reason to not stop by!
See Nature and History Converge | Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon
If you want to take a break from the glitter and buzz of Las Vegas, consider a day trip to Hoover Dam. While not part of Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is a short trek (30-45 minutes, depending on traffic) from America’s Playground. You can get a good deal on an express tour of the Hoover Dam which only takes half a day!
Once you arrive, there’s a lot to take in. For one, the mighty Colorado River, with waters streaming from the Rocky Mountains, passes through the Hoover Dam. The same river that helped sculpt the Grand Canyon is now fed through the hydroelectric powerplant located within the Hoover Dam to help generate electricity for all those slot machines, neon lights, and everything else in Las Vegas.
Second, the dam was an engineering marvel during its construction from 1931-1936. That may seem like ancient history to us, but once you see it with your own eyes, you’ll have a much greater appreciation for all phases of the project from conception to completion.
Lastly, there’s the surrounding beauty of Nevada and Arizona. The Colorado river runs between these two states, and there are plenty of photo opportunities before entering the facility. Tours of the U.S. National Historic Landmark can be had for the dam only, the powerplant, or a combination of both.
While both are guided, the powerplant takes around half an hour, while the dam will take a full hour. So pack a picnic and make a day of it.
If you wish to adventure further, take a trip to the Grand Canyon. It is a couple of hours from the Vegas Strip, but the Grand Canyon is something no one should miss! Many bus tours to the Grand Canyon make visiting without renting a car easy.
Red Rock Canyon is also an amazing sight!
Take to the Skies…Inside | Vegas Indoor Skydiving
Have you ever wanted to try skydiving but felt like it was a little too extreme? Well, in Las Vegas, you can go skydiving inside! Vegas Indoor Skydiving gives you the next best thing to skydiving with their indoor skydiving experience.
A mesh trampoline floor is situated atop a giant fan, surrounded by padded walls. After a quick briefing, you’ll suit up and head to the fan room. The powerful fan can push you up off the ground, simulating the real skydiving experience without needing an airplane or parachute (plus none of the added danger).
Guests of all ages are welcome, but there are strict weight limits, so keep that in mind before your book your dive. Allow about an hour for the entire process. Vegas Indoor Skydiving offers photographs for a fee, but guests are welcome to take pictures with their phones.
If you want to dive while looking at the Las Vegas Strip, Sky Jump Las Vegas at the Strat can accommodate you. This “controlled-freefall” starts on the 108th floor of The Strat and sends you down a zipline to a mat at the bottom.
Explore More Nature | Death Valley National Park
Circling back to nature, another can’t-miss natural experience is Death Valley. This one, like the Hoover Dam, will have you take a brief excursion outside Las Vegas (and Nevada, for that matter) around 130 miles to the West.
Typically a 2-hour drive (depending on traffic), this trip to the Mojave Desert in Eastern California will take you to one of the hottest locations on the planet. In fact, in July 1913, the record high temperature for Death Valley was recorded at 134 degrees F (56.7 degrees C), which, at the time of this writing, is still the record for “highest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on Earth’s surface.”
What can you do while you’re sweating? Plenty! Driving and hiking trails are available, as well as campsites and hotels. If you find yourself there after dark, prepare for some of the best stargazing you’ll ever experience.
Final Thoughts and Bonus Ideas
If you can’t decide which to do, try them all. There are many deals on Las Vegas hotels, shows, and attractions.
- Grab a deal on a room at The D. This will place you right in the middle of the Fremont Street Experience.
- Stay at the Mirage and take in a show. Shim Lin is AMAZING!!
- Take a Big Bus tour of Las Vegas and stop at the Las Vegas Sign to grab some cool pictures!
- Ride the High Roller Observation Wheel on the Linq Promenade!
- Visit Red Rock Canyon for some breathtaking views!
No matter what you choose to do in Las Vegas, you will surely have the time of your life.