10 Non-Gambling Things To Do in Las Vegas
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A list for after you’ve given all your money to the slots.
Non-Gambling Things To Do in Las Vegas: (Jump To)
Visit the Eiffel Tower (Las Vegas)
If you squint your eyes inside the Paris Casino you may, for a brief second, if you have a very active imagination, feel like you are really in Paris. The interior decor of the casino pulls from the streets of Paris giving a nod to the French capital city. From the main casino floor, you can buy your ticket to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Sadly this tower is about half the height of the real one in Paris, but the view from the top directly down the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard is worth the cost of admission.
National Atomic Testing Museum
Part of the Smithsonian this museum is just 1.4 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The steep $24 admission price may scare off all but the most enthusiastic nuclear bomb lovers. Inside you’ll find exhibits about the testing and development of the Atom bomb, information about nuclear power and energy, and lots of 1950s-era nostalgia. Admission is free for NARM Members.
See Vegas Vic and Sassy Sally
Vegas Vic is a famous neon cowboy that started greeting visitors to Las Vegas in 1951. Over the years he has fallen into various states of disrepair. Currently located under the Fremont Street canopy Vic is looking good as new.
Sassy Sally is often confused with another neon vixen, Vegas Vicki. Vicki was installed outside a club across the street from Vic sometime in the 1980s. Her extended leg kicked toward Vic. I’m not sure what happened to Vicki, but a similar cowgirl neon, Sassy Sally is on display inside the new Circa Casino across the street from Vic.
Visit the Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is just 40 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. It’s one of the world’s architectural marvels. There are various affordable tours of the dam on their official website, but just standing on the massive slab of concrete is worth the drive.
I think the best view of the dam is from the nearby Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. There is a parking lot just before the bridge where you can leave your car as you take the half-mile hike across the bridge.
Visit Lion Habitat Ranch
Twenty minutes out of town is the Lion Habitat Ranch. The zoo and sanctuary for wild animals for sure has some Joe Exotic vibes, but they are working for a positive cause. There are numerous large cats including lions and tigers.
You can also meet Ozzy the painting Giraffe, who enjoys making paintings for his adoring fans.
Ethel M Chocolates Factory & Cactus Garden
A completely free activity in Las Vegas is a visit to the Ethel M Chocolates Factory & Cactus Garden. Inside the factory, you can take a self-guided tour of the chocolate-making process. They, of course, sell any number of delicious chocolate products inside the factory store.
Outside the factory is a small and beautiful cactus garden. The paved paths through the garden give you the chance to see many different unique cacti in a nicely landscaped garden. The garden is the perfect size for enjoying on a hot Las Vegas day.
Madame Tussauds
You can have a ton of cheesy fun at Madame Tussauds wax museum. Here you can get up close and personal with wax versions of your favorite celebrities, politicians, and Las Vegas legends.
If you’re here for the selfies and the Instagram shots, you will have a full cloud of photos when you leave the museum.
Ride the High Roller Ferris Wheel
This second-tallest Ferris wheel in the world was opened in 2014 to much fanfare. The observation well takes guests 550 feet into the air for a view of Las Vegas below. The best time to ride the High Roller is at night. For a really fun time, book yourself in one of the cars that has a full bar and bartender inside.
Enter the Pinball Hall of Fame
Located adjacent to the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign is the Pinball Hall of Fame. The non-profit organization is dedicated to restoring pinball machines, arcade games, and other similar machines.
It’s free to enter the hall filled with antique treasures from the past. Just walking up and down the aisles of machines is something magnificent. Bring your quarters, the majority of the machines are up and running and ready to help you fully immerse yourself in pinball nostalgia.
Visit the Golden Tiki
Inside a nondescript strip mall is a magical bar that is perfect for a couples night out. Once inside you’ll find a fully themed tiki bar. The small and intimate space is surrounded by fun and whimsical tiki-themed decor. The drinks are tropical and delicious and the happy hour food and drink menu is extremely affordable.
Grand Teton National Park is located just ten miles south of its famous sister, Yellowstone, making it an easy add-on to a trip to the nearby geothermal paradise.