Things to do in Nevada
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Graceland Wedding Chapel
Offering the original Elvis impersonator wedding (from $199) for over 50 years. If it’s good enough for rock stars, then it’s probably good enough for you, too.
reviewed
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In-N-Out Burger
At California’s famous In-N-Out, where the beef patties are never frozen and the potatoes are hand-diced daily, there’s a secret menu. Ask for your burger ‘animal style’ (with mustard, an onion-grilled bun and extra-special sauce).
reviewed
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Excalibur
Arthurian legends notwithstanding, this medieval caricature, complete with crayon-colored towers and a faux drawbridge, epitomizes gaudy Vegas. Excalibur could have resembled an elegant English castle, but its designers decided to go the kitschy route instead, which is just fine with the cheapskate frat boys and families with rambunctious young kids who stay here.
reviewed
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Stratosphere Tower
The world’s highest thrill rides await, a whopping 110 stories above the Strip. Big Shot straps riders into completely exposed seats that zip up the tower’s pinnacle, while Insanity spins riders out over the tower’s edge. Views from xScream are good, but the ride itself is a dud. If you want an adrenaline rush, save your dough for the SkyJump instead.
reviewed
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Little Church of the West
Beginners’ wedding packages cost just $199 at this quiet, quaint little wooden chapel built in 1942, in the shadow of the South Strip, as seen in the classic Elvis movie Viva Las Vegas. Spanish- and French-speaking ministers are available (by reservation only).
reviewed
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Zumanity
Billed as ‘another side of Cirque du Soleil, ’ this human zoo amps up the energy, contorted acrobatics and flirtatious eroticism of the troupe’s other risk-taking Strip shows. It won’t take your breath away, though. So what’s the hook? Maybe it’s the curvilinear thrust stage, uninhibited costumes or the aphrodisiacal cocktail menu.
reviewed
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Mesa Grill
While the star New York chef doesn’t cook on the premises, his bold signature menu of Southwestern fusion fare lives up to the hype, whether it’s a sweet potato tamale with crushed pecan butter, blue-corn pancakes or spice-rubbed pork tenderloin.
reviewed
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Men of Sapphire
You can get one-on-one action with the Men of Sapphire, including Mr Nevada and other beefy men who strip and give lap dances upstairs at Sapphire.
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Manhattan Express Rollercoaster
A small taste of the New York of old, when your life would flash before your eyes on a regular basis, the Manhattan Express Rollercoaster is twisty fun.
reviewed
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Firefly
Firefly is always packed with a fashionable local crowd, not just for the singles’ scene on the late-night patio, but also for the food. Tapas-style dishes are often fusion-spiced, but still shake hands with Spanish tradition, from patatas bravas to chorizo clams and vegetarian delights. A backlit bar dispenses the house specialty sangria and infused mojitos. On some nights, hot Latin turntablists spin. Reservations strongly recommended.
reviewed
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Roxy’s Diner
Every place in Vegas has a gimmick. At this ’50s-style rock ‘n’ roll diner, servers drop everything to perform song-and-dance numbers straight out of Grease. It’s hilarious fun, but it sure does slow service down. Copious comfort food tastes just about right for the prices. Blue-plate specials won’t leave you hungry, and super-thick milkshakes come with silver sidecars, just like when you were a kid.
reviewed
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Contemporary Arts Collective
One of the most established art galleries at the Arts Factory is the nonprofit Contemporary Arts Collective, which boasts high-quality, engagingly curated exhibits of works by emerging city artists. Trifecta Gallery hosts a variety of national and international artists. S₂ Art Center & Atelier produces limited-edition, fine-art lithographs using antique presses.
reviewed
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Valley of Fire State Park
The Valley of Fire State Park; is a masterpiece of Southwest desert scenery with psychedelic sandstone carved by wind and water (Atlatl Rock has Native American petroglyphs, too). Detour to White Domes, passing Rainbow Vista and the side road to Fire Canyon and Silica Dome (where Star Trek’s Captain Kirk perished).
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MGM Grand Lion Habitat
Inside the casino, this glass-walled habitat showcases up to six magnificent felines daily, all descendants of the movie company’s original mascot. The big cats live on a ranch outside town, and only two are allowed in the enclosure simultaneously. Big cats often sprawl above onlookers’ heads inside the see-through walkway tunnel. The kid-friendly, tropical-themed Rainforest Café is nearby.
reviewed
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Forum Shops
Franklins fly out of Fendi bags faster here than in the high-roller casinos. Caesars’ fanciful homage to an ancient Roman marketplace houses 160 designer emporia, including one-name catwalk wonders such as Armani and Versace; specialty boutiques like fashionable Intermix and Agent Provocateur for lingerie; Kiehl’s old-world apothecary and modern MAC cosmetics; and Max Brenner’s haute designer chocolates.
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Las Vegas Wedding at the Graceland Wedding Chapel
2 hours (Departs Las Vegas, Nevada)
by Viator
Exchange marriage vows at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, the wedding capital of the world. Countless celebrity couples have walked down the aisle h…Not LP reviewed
from USD$107.49 -
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Blue Man Group
A bizarre trio of iconic blue-headed, non-speaking, comedic percussionists mix mind-bending audiovisual displays with extraordinarily juvenile behavior. Sit in the front rows to be the recipient of catapulted Jell-O tubs, hurled marshmallows or paint splattering off the tops of snare drums. The show may be a family crowd-pleaser, but the talent leaves a lot to be desired.
reviewed
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Miracle Mile Shops
Measuring an incredible 1.5 miles long, this sleekly redesigned mall harbors 170 retailers and 15 restaurants. The focus is contemporary chains, especially urban apparel. Stand-out shops include Bettie Page for mid-20th-century vintage and pin-up styles, imports H&M and Ben Sherman, the LA denim king True Religion, and Stash, Vegas’ own rock-star boutique.
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Aureole
Chef Charlie Palmer’s seasonally inspired tasting menus (from $95), which show off dishes like saffron seafood chowder and maple-nut baklava, are not always artfully executed. But it’s worth ordering wine just to watch catsuit-clad ‘wine angels’ ascend the four-story tower. Extensive wine list, upscale dress. Reservations essential.
reviewed
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Carrot Top
Even if his TV commercials annoyed you to death, this wild and curly orange-haired comedian’s shtick could leave your side split and your gut busted. The fast-paced show runs the audience ragged with physical props, some dark and twisted stand-up humor and merciless skewering of pop stars, Hollywood celebs and politicians.
reviewed
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Grand Canal Shoppes
Wandering minstrels, jugglers and laughable living statues perform at St Mark’s Sq inside this Italianate mall. Cobblestone walkways wind past bebe, Godiva, Kenneth Cole, Movado, Sephora and 80 other luxury shops. The doors are thrown open for early-bird window shopping at 7am. Don’t want to walk? Take a leisurely gondola ride.
reviewed
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Il Fornaio
Feast on wood-fired pizzas, salads and pastas, or make a meal of the antipasti platter with scallops wrapped in pancetta, baked eggplant, truffled cheeses and more. Delectable, fresh-baked breakfast goodies such as lemon-pecan scones are also available at ll Fornaio Paneterria, near the hotel lobby.
reviewed
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Clark County Museum
On the valley outskirts, this humble but jam-packed museum merits a stop en route to Hoover Dam. Inside you’ll find exhibits on the history of Las Vegas as an ancient sea, Native American camp and Western frontier town. Step outside the museum onto Heritage St and walk through beautifully restored historic houses.
reviewed
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Wynn Esplanade
Steve Wynn’s eponymous resort showcases 75,000 sq ft of consumer bliss, with top-of-the-line retailers such as Alexander McQueen, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik and Oscar de la Renta. After you hit the jackpot, take a test drive at the Penske Wynn Ferrari/Maserati dealership.
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Beauty Bar
Swill a cocktail, watch the weekly manicure demonstrations or just chill inside the salvaged innards of a 1950s New Jersey beauty salon. DJs and live bands rotate nightly here, spinning tiki lounge tones, ’80s garage rock, punk, funk and soul. Make sure you wear your coolest vintage threads.
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