There are so many great attractions to try in Las Vegas. Nobody I know has tried them all… so here’s a reminder / guide to just some of the many crazy and fun things you can do in the desert oasis of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Gondolas at the Venetian Hotel and Casino

Typical off peak line times can be 20-25 minutes, but peak times will take longer. Tickets cost $34 pp, but you can choose to get your own gondola if preferred (but for $100 or more). You must wear a seat belt in the gondolas. Typical ride time is 10 minutes for the indoor canals or 13 minutes outside.

The gondolas operate during the day and at night, and the experiences can be different for both. Likewise there are 2 separate circuits – indoors or outdoors. The indoor one is longer and it’s pretty cool. Venice gondoliers don’t always sing, but here at the Venetian you can reliably expect to be serenaded. There is a restaurant which overlooks the canals, which could be good place to dine, with all of the gondolas passing by.

Planet Hollywood

It’s not featured as much as it used to be in Las Vegas magazines or blogs, but Planet Hollywood is still worthy of a visit. There’s plenty of movie memorabilia throughout the property, and the food and drinks are great too. Some of the cocktails come in big servings too. If you order Scorpion Shots you’re expected to eat the scorpions – typically they’re crunchy and taste like tequila – but keep your water handy to wash your palate.

The nachos here are really good, with ground beef, cheddar and jack cheese, yellow queso, refried beans, pico de gallo, fried jalapenos, lettuce, avocado, lime, sour cream, and guacamole.

The High Roller – Happy Hour Package

Getting tickets for the happy hour circuit on The High Roller is a great idea if you like to drink. The whole ride only takes half an hour so to get your full money’s worth you’ll need to drink around 6 drinks – or one every 5 minutes. That’s easier said than done – especially at the higher capsule altitudes. The bartenders are great and are fast – which is an important skill here. Most people I know can down about 3 or 4 drinks in the time. If you’re able to drink that quantity you’ll probably feel you’ve got good value for money.

Area 15 Has Something for Everyone

Area 15 is fairly new to the Las Vegas wider area, and has a mega mart. The mega mart is a kind of combined grocery store and general goods store, with a few fun things to look at as you go around. With lights and sounds going off all over the place you might feel you’re in a different world with an alien vibe. There’s plenty of good spots for making Instagram reels too, and there’s generally a mix of age groups here at any time. Fancy a workout? Look out for a room known locally as “the cave” – there’s a few steps around that you’ll need to navigate, which will burn some calories!

There’s all sorts of neat stuff and surprises here, and you should expect to comfortably spend 2 to 4 hours inside. If you haven’t been already, make the effort and see all of the cool stuff in this newer Las Vegas attraction!

The Strat Rides (at the top of the world)

There are a number of rides at the top of the Strat tower – hundreds of metres up in the sky – for you to enjoy. These are probably not good choices if you don’t have a head for heights.

The Skypod is a viewing area 850 feet up into the sky that allows you to get a 360 degree view of the whole Las Vegas area – out into the desert, out to the suburban areas where houses exist, and beyond. The Las Vegas valley is huge! The Skypod has indoor and outdoor observation areas so it doesn’t matter if it’s a burning hot summer day, or a cool winter evening. The view is good regardless of weather conditions, and is pretty awe-inspiring.

There’s a bar available at the Skypod (with happy hour from 5-7pm each day on off-peak days), and there’s also a good variety of food on offer.

If you’re wanting rides, then The Big Shot right up the top the offer pushes you up even further into the air in a shot motion, which can be a real adrenaline rush. There’s a sky jump where you can jump from the tower down into a landing zone (on a kind of zip line / bungy thing – so it’s very safe) which can give you the experience of “flying”. And there’s the claw that hangs OVER the side of the Strat tower and spins you around. Just air above and beneath you – and not for the scared of heights! If these rides sound scary, it’s probably because they are – but they’re a great way to conquer your fears. Do them in your own time, but make sure that you do experience them. Ticket prices change often but should be available for you to research at the Strat website when you’re ready to try out the rides.

Have a great trip when you next visit Las Vegas. There is always something to do in this amazing desert oasis!