The Hidden Gems of Vegas

Any Vegas locals out there know of any hidden gems that are generally not know to tourists?

I will be returning to Vegas in June and I am looking for things to do that dont involve the normal tourist repertoire.

Any suggestions?

Maybe you can get a little more specific. Are you looking for local hangouts, bars, places to eat, attractions, entertainment, best strip clubs?

Anything and everything you just mentioned. I will be there for 2 weeks so am looking for things to do to fill the time.

It could be anything from your favourite restaurant to your favourite cocktail waitress outfits at a local casino. Just anythin that might be worth a visit while I am there.

The Pinball Museum: they have a ton of old pinball machines that you can play for a quarter or whatever. It used to be on Tropicana east of the strip but I heard they were moving so not sure where they are now.
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Springs Preserve is pretty nice, as is Red Rock Canyon/Valley of Fire if you don't mind driving a ways.
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For restaurants I like to try the Asian places on Spring Mountain west of the strip. The Whale Island (Korean) is very good, as is Tofu Hut.
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I also like to visit a new casino each time I go to LV, not really for the gambling but just because I like going to casinos. Last time I visited the Klondike Sunset which is really interesting if you want to see a true low-roller's joint. The Rampart in Summerlin is also quite nice as is Red Rock Resort. The Skyline on Boulder Hwy. is an all coin-dropper joint which makes it kind of a museum in itself!
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The Rio would have to have my favorite cocktail waitress outfits. Nothing I've seen really comes close. My friend's and mine's jaws literally hit the floor when we first saw them.

If you haven't tried it before take a shot at ethiopian cuisine . The community is getting bigger in Las Vegas. You eat with your hands with a very unusual bread called injera that is quite different from any kind of arabic or European bread.

Kitfo is a raw meat dish which is wonderful. It the idea of raw meat scares you then try tibs. Also consider a coffee ceremony . Just remember to eat with only your right hand. It is extremely offensive to eat with both hands, it is a behavior that they share that with arab culture.

The Neon Museum

Very cool stuff.

It's actually a junkyard, filled with retired casino signs.

They conduct small tours a couple times a week, relatively cheap. Reservations required.

i'm not a local, but my vote for cocktail servers and their outfits has got to be at the south point. pleasure pit at planet hollywood is nice too. and some of the dealertainers at imperial palace are fun.

i also try to visit at least one new casino and eating place every visit. i usually find something exceptionally good or unique at different buffets, but thats a personal thing. i like the beef ribs at the orleans buffet, and the cheese cake and fried garlic at the silverton buffet for example. lotus of siam is very good it you like thai food. going to try ellis island next trip. the list goes on.

Ill will be making my way around most of the casinos in Vegas while I'm there, thanks to having invested in the 2010 American Casino Guide and its glorious coupons.

We probably wont be renting a car as I dont drive and I dont think my wife would be comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road :P.

Most places we visit will have to be within reasonable taxi ride distance for us to visit.

THanks for all your suggestions so far, keep them coming.

Quote: Croupier

Ill will be making my way around most of the casinos in Vegas while I'm there, thanks to having invested in the 2010 American Casino Guide and its glorious coupons.

We probably wont be renting a car as I dont drive and I dont think my wife would be comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road :P.

Most places we visit will have to be within reasonable taxi ride distance for us to visit.

THanks for all your suggestions so far, keep them coming.

Love the Ahi Tuna Pizza from the M Casino (At the south end of Las Vegas Blvd) in their Veloce restaurant.

i always rent a car which makes it easier to get around, but depending on where your staying there are shuttles to many places. i would rent a car for one of the two weeks, (weekly rates are way cheaper than daily rates, i got one week and a day for less than four days rent for example), then visit off the strip for a week. you don't want to be driving around the strip anyway. then stay around the strip and walk or use shuttles for the other week. planning is very important to not waste any valuable vacation time. vegas has so much to see and do, we never get to do everything we hope to do no matter how much we plan our trip.

Quote: Croupier

Any Vegas locals out there know of any hidden gems that are generally not know to tourists?

I will be returning to Vegas in June and I am looking for things to do that dont involve the normal tourist repertoire.

Any suggestions?

Hoover Dam is part of the tourist repertoire, but still worth doing. Avoid weekends, due to bad traffic. It will be a lot easier getting there once the bridge is completed. If you have about 8 hours, I highly recommend doing a kayak trip of Black Canyon, like the one in Lisa's review.

If you have a few days, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Zion are all wonderful excursions. If you go to the Grand Canyon, do it right, and go to the south rim. It is worth the extra distance.

Closer to the city, Red Red Scenic Area is highly recommended. You might consider adding on Bonnie Springs if you have the time. In the city there isn't much to see away from the casinos. It is kind of sad for a city of some 1.3 million people. The Liberace Museum is not bad. I should get out more to see what else there is do here.

Quote: Croupier

Any Vegas locals out there know of any hidden gems that are generally not know to tourists?

I will be returning to Vegas in June and I am looking for things to do that dont involve the normal tourist repertoire.

Any suggestions?

If you like plant tours, there is a vitamin company that gives them. Check out "Watch it Made in the USA" for details. My copy is in storage or I'd just look it up for you.

Not a local, but one time we drove out to Lake Mead and rented wave runners... that was fun!

The Springs Preserve is pretty cool, especially if you are into environmental issues or have an interest in the history of Vegas. http://www.springspreserve.org/

A really cool looking thing I've wanted to do is the Bootleg Canyon Zip Line in Boulder City. One of these days I'll get out there. http://www.bcflightlines.com/

I agree with the Wizard that Death Valley, Zion and the Grand Canyon are totally worth it. DV and Zion are just 2-2.5 hours away. GC South Rim is 5 hours away. Mt. Charleston is fabulous, too. Alpine-like environment just 45 minutes from the strip. Feels like you're a world away. The Resort at Mt. Charleston has a nice restaurant with a fair view. The Lodge at Mt. Charleston has average food with a great view.

If you golf, the course on the Paiute reservation is awesome. True desert course -- no houses or buildings in sight. Just golf, desert and mountains. http://www.lvpaiutegolf.com/

At the LV Speedway, there's a Richard Petty Driving Experience thing. Haven't done it, but it sounds pretty cool. http://www.1800bepetty.com/home.aspx

Quote: kristim55

The Springs Preserve is pretty cool, especially if you are into environmental issues or have an interest in the history of Vegas. http://www.springspreserve.org/

A really cool looking thing I've wanted to do is the Bootleg Canyon Zip Line in Boulder City. One of these days I'll get out there. http://www.bcflightlines.com/

I agree with the Wizard that Death Valley, Zion and the Grand Canyon are totally worth it. DV and Zion are just 2-2.5 hours away. GC South Rim is 5 hours away. Mt. Charleston is fabulous, too. Alpine-like environment just 45 minutes from the strip. Feels like you're a world away. The Resort at Mt. Charleston has a nice restaurant with a fair view. The Lodge at Mt. Charleston has average food with a great view.

If you golf, the course on the Paiute reservation is awesome. True desert course -- no houses or buildings in sight. Just golf, desert and mountains. http://www.lvpaiutegolf.com/

At the LV Speedway, there's a Richard Petty Driving Experience thing. Haven't done it, but it sounds pretty cool. http://www.1800bepetty.com/home.aspx

Out of curiosity, what is "worth it" in Death Valley. I've never been there and thought it was just empty desert.

Quote: AZDuffman

Out of curiosity, what is "worth it" in Death Valley. I've never been there and thought it was just empty desert.

For one thing, you can visit the lowest point in the United States. I believe that in the summer Death Valley is on average the hottest place in the US. Personally I think the salt flats, I think known as the "Devil's Golf Course" is unique. There are huge areas of sand dunes, the "painted desert," Scotty's Castle. At Furnace Creek there is a natural source of water supplying the hotel pools that is just perfect in temperature, a golf course, and good restaurants. Regardless of what your stamina is, there are plenty of hiking opportunities. I wouldn't compare Death Valley to the Grand Canyon or Yosemite, but it is worth the excursion from Vegas if you have a day or two.

Yesterday the family and I went to the Atomic Testing Museum and the Pinball' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.pinballmuseum.org/]Pinball Hall of Fame.

The Atomic Testing Museum is right next to (or on) the UNLV Campus, on east Flamingo. The portion of the building devoted to the museum is rather small. My favorite part was the movie. It starts out with a countdown from 10 for an atomic bomb test, as if you were on a bench as an observer. First there is a huge flash of light. Then is fades a bit and you can see the mushroom cloud forming. Then about five second later there is a loud explosion sound and air is blown on the audience. The rest of the museum has a timeline of events, and the end tells what they are doing with the test site since the testing ban treaty. There is little emphasis paid to the Manhattan Project. Despite the name, most of the emphasis on the Nevada test site. Counting the movie, it takes only about 20 minutes to get through the whole thing. My opinion is that it is worth a visit if you have a particular interest in the subject, or passing by, but I wouldn't make it a high priority for the average person.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is in a non-descript building on east Tropicana. There is no entrance fee, or even a donation solicited. It is just a room with about 200 pinball machines and about 20 older video games. Most of the machines may actually be played for 25 cents or 50 cents. It was a fun trip down memory lane. It is also within easy walking distance of the Liberace Museum, which I have seen before. The two combined would make for a good excursion of the casinos. If you have time, the Atomic Testing Museum is also in that general vicinity.

For about $100, you can really blow off some steam at The Gun Store on E. Tropicana.

For that money, you get to shoot a Thompson SMG w/50 Rds, an MP40 SMG w/25 Rds, and a 1911 Pistol .45 w/20 Rds.

Not too shabby.

Yeah, I had heard about the Gun Store deals and they sounded quite good, but I have heard some bad reviews of the staff attitude towards customers, especially as they seem to rush you to get off your rounds quick and get out.

I can't comment on the Gun Store, but can on Front' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.frontsight.com/index.asp]Front Sight. It is a firearm training facility outside Pahrump, about 90 miles from Vegas. I did a two-day handgun course there. The training is outstanding. I would be happy to go back for other courses, but just don't have the time. Passes for Front Sight can be bought at reasonable prices on eBay.

Quote: Wizard

My opinion is that it is worth a visit if you have a particular interest in the subject, or passing by, but I wouldn't make it a high priority for the average person.

Well, if you think about it you can see an atomic bomb go off and live to tell about it, so it's a rather unique experience :) I really ahve to get there next trip.

Ditto the pinball Hall of Fame. I love pinball, but finding machines to play is getting more and more difficult.

As to Death Valley, I've heard a lot of interesting stuff about it, but also that it's best to go in winter when it isn't too hot. BTW I've been to the lowest point on Earth: the Dead Sea. It's also the safest place to swim, provided you don't let any water inside your eyes.

Quote: Wizard

Hoover Dam is part of the tourist repertoire, but still worth doing. Avoid weekends, due to bad traffic. It will be a lot easier getting there once the bridge is completed.

Hmmm...

I've always avioded the dam because my Vegas trips have always been mid-week, and I assumed that the traffic would be lighter on weekends. I guess that's my congested New Jersey thinking for ya.

I'm coming to Vegas again this September. Word is the bridge will be opening in Fall 2010. With my luck, the day after I head home, but I seem to recall seeing November mentioned.

FYI: The bridge construction official website: http://www.HooverDamBypass.org/


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Someone mentioned the pinball museum, so I had to check out the website. 'Museum' isn't the right word. Although they have hundreds of vintage machines, they are all playable. Check it out: http://www.PinballMuseum.org/

Here's an except:

Quote:

Las Vegas is known for the unusual and offbeat. Places like the Liberace Museum, the Neon Museum, the Clown Factory, The Elvis Museum, the Barry Manilow Store, the Pinball Hall of Fame... Wait a second. The Pinball Hall of Fame? What exactly is that? Or more importantly, why is there a Pinball Hall of Fame?

Hmmm... I've already been to, and recommend, the Neon Museum.

I have heard for years, but have no desire to go to the Liberace Museum, although I may go, since it's across the street from the Pinball Museum.

I've heard about the Elvis Museum. Pass. Ditto for the Barry Manilow Store.

But a Clown Factory? I just HAD to google that! Unfortunately, it looks like they don't have a website. The best hit I got was this one: http://www.jeffreysward.com/tributes/ronlee.htm Further investigation gave me an address and phone number: Ron Lee's World of Clowns Inc., 330 Carousel Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89014. 702-434-1700.

I don't know if it was mentioned yet, but the Ethel M Chocolate factory is also on my list. http://www.EthelsChocolate.com/

They're both off strip in Henderson, so it requires a car. But they are only 3 miles apart. If I get a car on my next visit, I'll go to both.

Hoover Dam is amazing and well worth seeing. FWIW I went in may of 08 on a Wednesday and the traffic was quite tolerable.

I took a tour with Showtime,BTW. The particular guide we got had something to say of everything along the way, from the Vegas outlet malls to the desert vegetation along the way. The tour included a stop at Ethel M's and lunch at Sam's Town. Alas the factory floor was closed for repairs, but the store had those tasty chocolates for sale.

I would also recommend an excursion to the Pinball Hall of Fame and the nearby Liberace Museum. Both places are tacky-yet-cool in a very Vegas way. The distance of the two attractions from the Strip would mean a pretty reasonable cab fare. If you go, be sure to have a drink at the "piano bar" next door to the museum -- it's made to look like a giant, garish piano.

Two must-see casinos not near the Strip are M Resort and Red Rock Resort. Those are the latest and greatest in terms of decor and design, and there you'll find better bargains in terms of food and gambling than on the Strip. I don't know how you'd get to either though, as they are generally out of cab range.

I would not bother making a special trip to the M or Red Rock. However, both would make good choices to stay at, if you don't mind the location out in the suburbs. Of the two, I would pick the M. About equal in quality, but cheaper, and better game rules.