• Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • View The Blog
  • Work With Me
  • About
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Social

    Search

Local Love & Wanderlust | Cleveland-Based Travel & Lifestyle Blog

Local Love & Wanderlust | Cleveland-Based Travel & Lifestyle Blog

All Things Cleveland Ohio & Travel

  • US Travel
    • Arizona
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • New York
    • Louisiana
    • Nevada
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Washington
  • Guides
    • Travel Guides
    • Cleveland Ohio Guides
    • Hotel Guides
    • Itineraries
  • Ohio Travel
    • Cleveland Neighborhood Guides
    • Where To Get The Best Ice Cream In Cleveland, Ohio
    • Must-Visit Cleveland Destinations: 15 Iconic Places Everyone Should See
    • Visiting Toledo’s Metroparks – A Cleveland Day Trip
    • 5 Amazing Cleveland Metroparks You Need To Visit (Plus, What To Do & See At Each)
    • The Most Amazing Ohio Hike At Nelson Ledges: Photos + Tips
    • All Ohio Blog Posts
  • Shop
    • Shop My Faves
    • Shop Photo Prints

Don’t Like Las Vegas? Do These Surprisingly Awesome Things

Destinations, Guides

Las Vegas is not the destination I think of when I want to go on a vacation. In fact, I tell everyone I don’t like Las Vegas. I don’t like to gamble, I don’t care about flashy shows, and I don’t have the budget to splurge on all the high-end shopping. It’s expensive, crowded, overwhelming, and exhausting. Does that sound like how you feel about Sin City? Then this blog post is for you.

We’ve only ever been to Las Vegas to see our favorite band 311 play their bi-annual self-named celebration, 311 Day. A huge, multi-day concert where people fly in from all over to see them play. While I prefer the original location of New Orleans, we make the trek to see our friends and the show. This means we didn’t spend a lot of time exploring and spent a lot of time in a central location. In the last couple of trips, we decided we were going to experience what Las Vegas has to offer.

The city is pretty big and dense with things to do and this is in no way an extensive list. It’s a curated collection of enjoyable things to do in Las Vegas when you don’t like Las Vegas.

Enjoy Otherworldly Desert Landscapes

Las Vegas was built in a basin within the Mojave Desert and is surrounded by some incredible desert landscapes and mountainous terrain. From unforgettable National and State parks to incredible feats of human engineering, there’s an outdoor destination for everyone.

Ranging from 1 to 4 hours of driving time from Las Vegas, these all require a rental car or to participate in a paid tour service to get to, but I promise they are all worth it. Since we began to make an effort to see something new each trip, we’ve been able to check out several great outdoor destinations. Here are our favorites, plus our to-do list for future trips.

Grand Canyon National Park

Maricopa Point at Grand Canyon South Rim

How Far From Las Vegas?: Roughly a 4-hour drive

How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: I would recommend at least one full day, especially with the 4-hour drive time. Staying overnight allows you to catch a sunset or sunrise (or both!)

Desert Point at Grand Canyon South Rim
Mather Point at Grand Canyon South Rim

Why Visit This Park?: While you can technically see the Grand Canyon West, a part of the canyon that’s only about 2 hours’ drive from Las Vegas and famous for its clear skywalk, you won’t be seeing the canyon at its grandest (no pun). The West rim is part of the Hualapai Reservation and not actually part of the National Park with an elevation of roughly 4000 feet above sea level. If you invest the extra 2-hour drive to the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, you will be gifted with some of the most surreal views of the canyon at its deepest depth of 7000 feet above sea level.

What Should You Do Here?: Definitely try to stay the night so you can catch a sunrise or sunset. Make the 4-hour drive fun by hitting up spots along Route 66!

Website: Grand Canyon National Park

See more photos from our trip and learn all about the Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim here.

Valley of Fire State Park

How Far From Las Vegas?: Roughly a 1-hour drive

How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: This park closes literally at sunset so plan accordingly. We drove out after our morning flight into Vegas which gave us only 2.5 hours. This was enough time to see a lot of the park, but we didn’t have time to truly hike and see many of the stops on my list.

Check out my post on Valley Of Fire State Park When You Only Have Half A Day to see more incredible views.

Why Visit This Park?: If you are looking for some of the most insanely beautiful views with minimal effort, this is your place. While it’s always great to get out there and hike the trails, what we liked a lot about Valley of Fire State Park is that a lot of the incredible views were extremely accessible-either through driving or viewpoints being close to parking lots. This makes it easy to pack in a lot when you only have a couple of hours as we did. I do recommend giving yourself a lot more time to truly take it all in, but if you only have a few hours to spare, you can pack in so much.

What Should You Do Here?: Mouse’s Tank Drive for some of the most colorful and incredible views.

Website: Valley of Fire State Park

Death Valley National Park

Zabriskie Point

How Far From Las Vegas?: Roughly a 2-hour drive

How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: I would plan on at least a full day in the park so you don’t have to rush, but you could probably see a few highlights in half a day.

Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes
Badwater Basin

Why Visit This Park?: If you’re into unique, desolate desert landscapes with layers of color and history, this is your park. It’s the hottest, driest, and lowest of all the National Parks with parts of the park at almost 300 feet below sea level. The sand-covered, rocky terrain of Death Valley National Park feels like you’re on another planet, which doesn’t surprise me that they filmed many scenes from the original Star Wars movies here.

What Should You Do Here?: Definitely make sure to check out the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point for a full range of landscapes.

Website: Death Valley National Park

Hoover Dam

How Far From Las Vegas?: Roughly a 40-45 minute drive.

How Much Time Do I Need To Visit?: You can take in the views within a 1-2 hour visit.

Why Visit This Park?: I guess this one is technically not a park, but it’s an incredible sight to see that it’s worth the stop for the historic views.

What Should You Do Here?: “…take all the dam pictures you want.” (I love quoting the movie Vegas Vacation). We didn’t take a tour, but you can walk from Nevada to Arizona and see incredible views.

Website: Hoover Dam Bureau of Reclamation

On our outdoors to-do list: Lake Mead, Page Arizona, Grand Canyon West, Red Rock Canyon, El Dorado Canyon

Get Weird In Las Vegas

Let’s take the party off the Strip and check out these unusual, unique, and fun destinations. While you’re still going to find crowds, it’s something different to do when you need to get away from the flashing lights and chaos of Las Vegas.

Seven Magic Mountains

Launched in 2016 and initially intended for a limited-time viewing, this unique, large-scale desert public art exhibit by Ugo Rondinone is still available to see and is a fun photo op just about 10 miles outside of Las Vegas. You’re going to need to drive here as no public transportation is available at the installation site.

Visit the Seven Magic Mountain’s website for more information.

Area 15/ Meow Wolf

If you’re looking for something really weird to do, check out Area 15/ Meow Wolf. This huge art installation/entertainment complex is one of the oddest things you can do in town. Your tickets gain you entry to Mega Mart, a very unusual, interactive story that starts within a grocery store and gets weird once you find some secret paths and entryways. (I mean, look at the picture of meat below, it gets odd before you find the entryways). There are bars and other entertainment activities that are additional costs spread throughout the building.

Visit the Meow Wolf website for more information.

The Neon Museum
Photo © Jared Gruttadauria

Also known as the Neon Boneyard, this destination is still on our to-do list, but a look at this fun, lit-up vintage Vegas sign depot shows this will be a fun museum to explore. Nighttime viewings are guided tours, however, you can stroll around on your time if you choose a daytime viewing.

Visit The Neon Museum website for more information.

Fremont Street Experience

Downtown Las Vegas, otherwise known as Fremont Street Experience feels like a combination of every major party street you can think of. Bourbon Street, Sunset Strip, Venice Beach, and vintage Vegas. While it shares packed crowds, bright lights, and loudness with the Vegas Strip, it has a much more down-to-earth feeling to it.

Visit the Fremont Street Experience website for more information.

Other places on our list to check out: DTLV Arts District, Ethel M. Chocolates & Cactus Garden

Have Fun On The Strip

Not into gambling, big shows, or spending big bucks on high-end shopping? Me neither. If you’re having to spend time on the strip and want to find something interesting to do, here are a few of my favorites and some things on my to-do list.

Watch The Bellagio Fountains

This is a popular destination so you’re not going to escape the crowds, but it’s a fun show to watch. Depending on the date and time, the show could view every 30 mins to every 15 minutes.

Be sure to check out their website for the most up-to-date details.

View The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden

While you’re near the Bellagio, be sure to check out the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens inside. Each season the 14,000-square-foot garden is transformed into a beautiful display of florals themed to each of the four seasons. It’s a delight for the senses, and free. Check out their site for more details.

Go On A Gondola Ride Through The Venice Canals

The Venetian Resort is something to see. With the Canals of Venice, Italy replicated both inside and outside of the resort, you have two options for this fun and unexpected experience. We opted for the indoor ride as 70 degrees in the direct sun was not our idea of a good time. The rides last about 11-13 minutes and include some interesting facts about Venice and a few songs by your Gondolier. If you’re looking to make this a romantic gesture, be prepared to shell out twice the cost of tickets for a private ride, otherwise, you’ll be sharing a Gondola with two strangers.

The Gondolier March, a special tradition that only happens twice a day, happens at 9:45 am and 4:30 pm. Catch them singing as they march in unison along the indoor canal to announce their arrival.

Check out their site for more details.

See The World

The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles of chaos, casinos, and familiar worldly themes. You’ll see an Egyptian Pyramid at Luxor, the Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel, the Venice Canals at The Venitian, and even the New York City skyline at New York, New York hotel to name a few. You can make a game out of finding all the worldly destinations on your trip and getting a photo with each.

Things to do on the strip on our to-do list: High Roller Observation Wheel, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay and the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Hotel

Eat Your Heart Out

Let’s be honest, the best part about travel is experiencing the food, and if Vegas has anything-it’s a lot of restaurants. From famous buffets and Michelin Star restaurant spots to secret spots, they’ve got something for everyone. To help narrow down your list, here are some of our favorite restaurants, and what’s next on our to-do list. You may notice several places are centralized around The Cosmopolitan and Park MGM and that’s because they have a great selection of restaurants, are modern and fresh-feeling hotels, and just happen to be where we always are. Maybe in the future, we’ll venture out further, but for now, enjoy!

Secret Pizza

There is a little spot on the 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan that has some mighty tasty pizza that we might have waited in a long line at 2 am to get one last slice of before leaving town. You won’t find them listed on Cosmopolitan’s website, and you won’t find any signage leading you there, but you may see a long line of folks standing in a vintage record-covered hallway with the best pizza smells wafting by you. Visually, it might not look like anything special, but trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Beauty & Essex

Looking for a unique but beautiful dining experience hidden behind a pawn shop like a speakeasy but for food? Then check out Beauty & Essex, a dimly lit and unexpected dining experience. Much of the food is served in sharable bites that are surprisingly filling. We dined on flavors like Mexican Street Corn Ravioli, ‘Chicken’ Arepas, and House Made Deep Dish Focaccia Bites… but the one dish that earned a spot on my most memorable travel meals is the Grilled Cheese, Smoked Bacon & Tomato Soup Dumplings. I don’t even like bacon or tomato soup if that tells you how incredibly good this dish was. In fact, we liked it so much that we put in a second order before the kitchen closed.

Be sure to make a reservation as early as you can, we forgot and there were only late-night slots open at 10 pm. You may not think it wouldn’t be packed at 10 pm, but you forget what city you are in. 🙂

Momofuku Milk Bar

I own their book, and I’ve made the cake from scratch, but it wasn’t until we visited their spot in Vegas did I get to try their ice cream and famous birthday cake. Now, it’s a go-to staple for us when in Vegas (and other cities). I highly recommend getting a slice of birthday cake, or a cup of cereal milk-flavored ice cream. Yum!

Dirt Dog

While in downtown Las Vegas, there’s a spot with some deliciously themed hot dogs that’s worth a visit. We were hanging out at the bar next door and put in an order for Elote Fries and they were so. freaking. good. I can only imagine how the rest of their food tastes.

Black Tap

This spot is well known for its insane milkshakes, which we were too full after our meal to try, but there’s an entire stand in the middle of the restaurant dedicated to making their shakes if that tells you how serious they are about it.

Hello Kitty Cafe

OK, if you are like me and obsessed with Hello Kitty growing up this is a must-visit spot to pick up a little treat while in town. The Strawberry Lemonade was so tasty, and we grabbed a handful of treats to have in the room for late-night snacking. So adorable!

Eataly

This Italian spot is not unique to Vegas, but it was an enjoyable place filled with a variety of Italian food stands and delicious smells. Book a reservation if you have a larger party so you can all sit together easily.

Eggslut

If you’re looking for a delicious egg-based sammy to start your day, look no further than Eggslut. According to their Wiki page, an Eggslut is someone who puts eggs on everything to make it better. Whenever we’re near one of their shops, we always visit at least once. Delicious.

In-N-Out

Okay, I’m writing this as someone who lives in the eastern half of the country who isn’t surrounded by In-n-Outs and can go whenever I want. In-n-out has become our obligatory first meal after landing whenever we’re out west and it’s worth a visit if it’s not a place you can go to anytime (looking at you midwest and east-coasters).

Restaurants & bars on my to try list: Best Friend, La La Noodle, Superfrico, Ghost Donkey, The Laundry Room, Nomad Library, Mama Rabit, Lucky Day, The Henry, Black Out Dining in the Dark, Bouchon, Hash House A Go Go

So there you have it, my curated list of things to do if you don’t like Vegas. After our last couple of visits, I have to say I’ve warmed up to Las Vegas a little more and I’m actually excited to check out our to-do list destinations on future visits. I hope you found this list of things to do inspiring if you find yourself visiting Las Vegas in the future.

Did I miss any great destinations or unique attractions that should be on this list? Let me know in the comments!

Pin For Later

Share this image on Pinterest to help share this post and remember it for later! Thanks for your support.

Find more content like this under: Destinations, Guides, Las Vegas, Nevada

Other Posts You Might Like

Valley Of Fire State Park When You Only Have Half A Day
New! 25+ Epic Things to do in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway Neighborhood
Colorful homes surrounding rain covered courtyardPhotographing New Orleans: 15 Things You’ll Want to Capture

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terri says

    March 26, 2022 at 4:14 pm

    These are great ideas for cool things to do if you are not a fan of Las Vegas’ casinos.

    Reply
    • Jen @ Local Love & Wanderlust says

      March 26, 2022 at 4:55 pm

      Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  2. elenaf18 says

    March 26, 2022 at 4:44 pm

    I was happy to stumble upon this because I’ve never been to Vegas…and yet, I’ve decided that I wouldn’t like Vegas. You know, on principle. Lol. Anyway, it’s cool to know there’s plenty of stuff for people like me to do (and eat). Thanks for the inspo!

    Reply
    • Jen @ Local Love & Wanderlust says

      March 26, 2022 at 4:55 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Ketki says

    March 26, 2022 at 10:14 pm

    Thank you for such an honest blog. You are probably the first one to say all this. May be the city is popular because it is showcased in so many movies and everyone just wants to tick it off from their travel list for the heck of it.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Next Post >

Cleveland Downtown City Guide: 24 Exciting Things to Do

Primary Sidebar

Behind The Blog

Hi, I'm Jen - a Cleveland-based photographer, designer, and content creator with a love for travel and my hometown. I share curated travel guides, inspiring itineraries, business and restaurant spotlights, hiking-focused outdoor content and all the best things to do in Cleveland showing you why it, too, is a travel-worthy destination.
So glad you're here!

Learn More
Work With Me

Let's Connect

Disclosure

Local Love & Wanderlust is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Read our disclosure for more details on other partnerships we have.

Follow Along

@localloveandwanderlust

✨September Was Full of New-To-Us Adventures✨ ✨September Was Full of New-To-Us Adventures✨

New hikes, new state visited, new restaurants, new experiences, new haircut, lots of newness.

Here are some of the highlights. 

1:  Hiked the @clevemetroparks Chippewa Creek Gorge 

2: and hiked the Tree Farm Trail at @cuyahogavalleynps adding 2 new-to-us trails for our #hike24in23 goal.

3: Dinner at @literary_tavern in #tremontohio for the first time and had the best grilled cheese.

4: We also finally visited @cloakanddaggercle and had delightful cocktails and loved the decor.
 
5: haircut time at my favorite @greenopalsalon and finally went back to bangs 🙌

6: We visited @newmexicotrue for the first time. Explored Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell, White Sands NP, Carlsbad Caverns NP, Guadeloupe Mtns. NP and pictured Bandelier National Monument… one of our favorite hikes to date.

7: Finally got to witness the monarch migration at @clevemetroparks Wendy Park 😍

8: Husbands birthday dinner at @tuttocarnecle and it was so good!

9: Finally had a chance to visit @thewickedplantco and it’s awesome inside! Of course I left with a new plant friend.

10: Went to see @playhousesquare @psqdistrict #marqueemoments and it was incredible! The new marquees look amazing. 

What’s one of your September highlights?

#september #photodump #thisiscle #travelblogger #clevelandblogger #hikemore #clevelandmetroparks #cuyahogavalleynationalpark #newmexicotrue #nationalparks
✨PLAYHOUSE SQUARE • DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND✨ The ✨PLAYHOUSE SQUARE • DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND✨

The second largest theatre district in the country just got a makeover and it’s dazzling. We had fun at the Marquee Moment’s celebration to see the lights turn on!

What do you think of the new signs? I like that they have changing color lights on them and they all have a unique look. Fun!

#thisiscle #playhousesquaredistrict #playhousesquare #theatre #downtowncleveland #clevelandohio @psqdistrict @playhousesquare
🍁 2023 FALL GUIDE TO CLEVELAND🍁 Save to ref 🍁 2023 FALL GUIDE TO CLEVELAND🍁

Save to reference later & tag someone who should know about this post 

NEW ON THE BLOG • Link in BiO 🫶

Hi everyone - welcome to my 2023 guide to fall fun in Cleveland. This is a curated guide, not a comprehensive guide. A collection of events and things to do that caught my eye or are my faves. I think I found some gems for you! Happy Fall! 🍁🎃💀🧡

Tell me what’s on your fall bucket list this year in the comments ⤵️

#fallincle #fallincleveland #thingstodoincleveland #fallguide #thisiscle #clevelandohio #traveldestination #travelblogger #fallfoliage #ohiotheheartofitall #ohio #autumnvibes @thisiscle @ohiotheheartofitall
🔶One Day in Albuquerque Inspirations We squeez 🔶One Day in Albuquerque Inspirations

We squeezed a lot into one day, here are some highlights you’ll want to add to your future itinerary!

🥞 Breakfast: Central Grill @centralgrillabq 
This breakfast hot spot has some of the best pancakes I’ve had. Fluffy and delicious.

🌮 Lunch: Pueblo Indian Kitchen @pueblokitchen 
Try out an Indian taco to get a taste of fry bread and chiles (something you may be eating a lot of on your trip. Get it ‘Christmas’ style, a mix of red and green Chile.

🍜 Dinner: Ten3 @ten3tram 
Eat your final meal of the day 10,300 feet above Albuquerque. There is a casual dining spot and a formal dining spot (requires fancier clothing). Food was good and the views? Epic. 

🚡Do: Sandia Peak Tramway @sandia_peak_tramway 
Get breathtaking views of Albuquerque from above as you enjoy a 15-minute ride up 10,000+ feet up the Sandia Mountains. The sunset was incredible.

🗺️ Explore: Old Town @abqoldtown 
Enjoy the southwestern aesthetic as you browse many local and awesome shops. Find your perfect souvenir and enjoy the views. 

🔵 Shop: Breaking Bad Store @breakingbadstoreabq 
If you’re a fan of the show this is such a cool spot to visit! Don’t forget to head to the back where there’s a whole museum dedicated to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul memorabilia.

✏️ Learn: Pueblo Indian Cultural Center @indianpueblo 
Learn all about the people of the land and how they lived, created, and beyond.

🛏️ Stay: Zazz Hotel @hotelzazz 
This adorable renovated motel has the quirkiest style. We loved getting popsicles from the hydration room, our adorable room, and the hotels style. The soaps in the bathroom smelled SO good and were locally sourced. Love that.

🍹Drinks: Lounge, a speakeasy inside Hotel Zazz
We checked out this fun space after a long day out and about. I had a mocktail that I’m still thinking about today called a Pink Flamingo. So. Good.

Hope that list helps inspire your future trip to Albuquerque! I hope we can get back to explore more soon. New Mexico is a gem.

#newmexicotrue #thingstodoabq #trueabq #albuquerque #newmexico #travelblogger
🥾🍁 Fall Hike in Cleveland with Epic Views W 🥾🍁 Fall Hike in Cleveland with Epic Views

With the official start of fall this weekend and pops of fall color already popping up, it’s time to talk fall hikes 🍁🥾

Last Fall I checked out the newly opened Eatern Ledge Trail within the Euclid Creek Reservation, part of the @clevemetroparks 

This trail winds you through a fall forest along a flowing creek and takes you to a ledge overview 130 feet above Euclid Creek. 

I found it to be a easy to moderate trail due to the incline. The views were epic, especially when the sun is out creating intense shadows.

Tag a friend or send this to someone you’d love to hike this trail with! 

🥾1-mile out & back

🍁 Mixed terrain, paved parts of trail are accessible 

↗️ easy to moderate

🚘 Nearby parking, picnic area, and play area

📍Euclid Creek Reservation 44143

#findyourpark #euclidcreekreservation #easternledgetrail #clevelandmetroparks #thisiscle #clevelandohio #euclidcreek #clevelandhikers #hikemore #ohiotheheartofitall #optoutside #fallhikes #clevelandblogger

Footer

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

On The Blog

  • Cleveland
  • Destinations
  • Lifestyle
  • Outdoors
  • Guides
  • Photography

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure

Search The Blog

Copyright © 2023

 

Loading Comments...