What should I do in Vegas?

Drez

My company is sending me to Vegas for a work conference for a few days. I've never been to Vegas before.

I will have a little time to myself here and there. I don't drink and as an avatar of moral perfection, I have few vices. I wouldn't mind doing a little gamboling, unless running and jumping in a happy or lively way is illegal in Vegas.

I might fight Cazadors in the desert. Are plasma rifles common out there?

Any advice beyond that?

Bursar

Plasma rifles, no, but you can rent assault rifles for some action on the target range if that's your thing.

If you don't care for the casinos, the hotels are still kind of fun just to see. Many of them have family-friendly stuff to do (I'm thinking the Luxor and Caesar's mostly from memory, though that often translates into "large indoor shopping mall."). Walking around can be surprisingly taxing because the Strip is longer than you'd think. Depending on where you're staying, you can do a little walking tour.

There are shows and other experiences to see if you plan ahead, but day-of tickets can be gotten cheap; the Penn & Teller show is good if they're still at it. Ask your hotel concierge if they have a line on ticket deals. Stay out of Circus Circus and Excalibur because those are awful places.

If you're a foodie, save up your per diem and try out a buffet or a steakhouse. Yes, they'll have swanky celebrity names and prices to match, but the quality is often high as well. I can recommend the Rio and Mandalay Bay, and honestly South Point isn't bad at all. And practically every place will have a 24-hour diner tucked away somewhere with late-night deals if you're just craving a burger or pancakes.

Outside the blackjack-and-hookers areas, Vegas is a pretty big city so you'll find movie theaters, restaurants, and other stuff like in any metropolitan area. It's not far from natural areas like Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, or Lake Mead for hiking if you have enough time to go out there and back.

For killing time otherwise, I like Meepleville for its board game library, but if you're on your own it might be hard to do anything there.

MegaMan001

Take a long look at the Omega Mart, I had a ton of fun spending an afternoon there.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is also great.

Check out the Las Vegas com website for tickets to shows, in particular on the day of. They are crazy cheap. Penn and Teller was a lot of fun.

spool32

Go see the sphere!!
Head over to the Cosmopolitan and try momofuku
Watch a lively craps game, they're incomprehensible and fun
Go to the Venetian just to experience the unsettling feeling of being outside while also definitely being inside
See if you can get a table at Nobu (lol lmao but also if it can possibly happen then do it)
Drop into Best Friend, it's awesome and not shockingly expensive plus Roy Choy is a real one
Check out Penn & Teller if you can, their show is fantastic. Cirque as well, basically any one you can get into will be cool af.


edit: wait you're a videogame nerd, here you go https://hyperxarenalasvegas.com/ esports in an insane fake pyramid that also seems to have some tardis-like technology that makes it far larger inside than out

BahamutZERO

it's not a big attraction or anything but if you want some really good ramen, there's a great ramen shop a little ways off the strip
https://www.ramensoralasvegas.com/
I was super unimpressed with the hotel food in both price and quality when I visited, so finding a local hole in the wall place with really good food stuck in my memory

and the hotel food was SO bad
upscale restaurant prices and portions for what was basically cafeteria hot tray food

Madican

Some of the more niche theme buffets if your wallet and health will allow it.

Drez

I’m staying at the Venetian

BahamutZERO

I stayed at the Sahara, so might just be there that had shit food but who knows

Chiselphane

2nd vote for Omega Mart. Incredible, one of the best things I've ever done and it makes me want to visit their other installations as they're all different. Eat before you go though, there's a fun bar but no food service, we only left when we did cause we were hungry, after being there for hours. Try not to read up on it too much ahead of time if you do go.

Lindsay Lohan

I third Omega Mart - it was really great.

Go to the Bellagio fountains and garden - especially the garden, it's amazing.

Fremont St is really fun at night - it's sort of annoying with folks trying to get your money to take pictures with them, but the lights are really spectacular. We grabbed pizza at a place near that called Pizza Rock that was also very good.

You can see the flamingo habitat at the Flamingo (appropriately).

Caesar's shopping has some outdated animatronics that are a sight - plus a decent giant aquarium tank.

SLyM

Things you should do in vegas: drink lots of water, wear sunscreen

Drez

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I’m in Vegas, touching down shortly. I will incorporate some of the ideas ye hath presented.

Chiselphane

What did you end up doing?

Smrtnik

I went some 15ish years ago, best part was Grand Canyon

Drez

So the conference was actually more packed than I had thought and my boss and I were being wined and dines by various corporate partners and I don't drink anymore so basically lots of good food and a small amount of gambling. I walked a ways on the strip. A few coworkers went to The Sphere which I passed on but everything was cool. I did engage in a lot of "stripper/prostitute dodging" lol.