11 things to do in Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas!
When most people think about Las Vegas, the first thing that may come to mind is the Strip. The thought is of fancy hotels, world renowned buffets, amazing shows, and some of the best casinos around! These things are awesome, but for the average college student, they are out of our price range and we aren't quite old enough to venture over to that 3.4 mile stretch of entertainment. So, as an incoming freshman, you might be wondering what can you do in Las Vegas? Don’t worry because the staff here at the Rebel Report have you covered!
1.Hiking
Red Rock
Red Rock is located near the Summerlin and is about a 54 min drive from UNLV's campus. Loading up a car with some of your new friends in the dorm is a great way to spend a Saturday. Red Rock Canyon has over 19 different trails that range from easy to difficult. The trails showcase small rivers, waterfalls, and beautiful multicolored rocks.
Mount Charleston
Mt. Charleston is located in the Spring Mountains and is northwest of Las Vegas . This is a great place to visit during the winter months when you start to get tired of the typical Vegas weather. You can play in the snow, build snowmen, and go sledding. There are 13 hiking trails ranging from beginner to advanced all of the trails are open spring through fall.
Gold Strike
Gold Strike Hot Springs is located near Boulder City Nevada about 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas. This hike is really unique. It starts out as a easy and beautiful hike and the farther in you go the more difficult it becomes. There are 8 fixed rope sections to help you climb up and over some of the larger canyon and boulders. It is truly an adventure and if you make it to the end you are rewarded with pools of warm water. Wear a bathing suit and pack a lunch hang out in the springs for a while before heading back up the trial.
2.Lakes
Lake Las Vegas
Lake Las Vegas is located in Henderson, Nevada, which is about a 30 minute drive from campus. This lake is a great place to escape the desert with its grassy hills and mediterranean style shopping center. There are always different music and food festivals taking place at Lake Las Vegas. So keep an eye open. If you want to cool off you can try some water sports, Lake Las Vegas has everything from jet packs to paddle boarding.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is about a 45 minute drive from campus into the Henderson, Nevada area. It is is a beautiful lake of blue waters and canyons, making it a great place to camp, fish, kayak and they even have a museum. They have an awesome picnic area. Lake Mead provides a great opportunity to can grab your friends, an ice chest, and spend all day under the shade and dipping your feet in the cool water.
3.Food
Fukumimi Ramen
This "hole in the wall" ramen shop is located on Eastern and Tropicana Avenue about a 5 minute drive and a 30 min walk from campus. Fukumimi is open from 11:30am- 10:30pm and has 11 different ramens that range from $7.50-$8.95. It’s the perfect thing to get when the weather is cold and you need something cheap but delicious to warm you up!
Taco y Taco
Taco y Taco is located on Tropicana Avenue and South Pecos Road, making it a short 10 minute drive from campus! This go-to taco spot is open from 10am-10pm. They have street tacos for only $2.25, burritos for $8.25 and nachos for $8.95. These delicious meals won’t break your bank, but will definitely fill you up! My personal recommendation is the Al Pastor tacos, an Elote (corn on the cob with mayo, parmesan cheese and chili powder), and a horchata!
Yama Sushi
Yama Sushi is super close to campus it’s only a 3 minute drive and a 10 minute walk from campus. It’s located on Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road. This is a great place to go for all-you-can-eat sushi. The lunch price is $20 and dinner is $25. Yama is a great place to go with a group of friends. Unlike many other all-you-can-eat restaurants, there isn't a special menu for AYCE you can order any thing off of their normal menu and as much as you want. . . just make sure you know your limits
Aloha Kitchen
Aloha kitchen is a famous lunch stop for UNLV students- it's so close to school that it's practically on campus. Definitely a place you want to walk to. The cross streets are Maryland Parkway and Joe Delaney Lane. The most commonly ordered dish is the called the "student special," which is a chicken teriyaki bowl for $4.25. They have a ton of awesome affordable Hawaiian food.
4.Museums
Pinball Hall of Fame
Pinball Hall of Fame is a museum for pinball machines. It opened in Paradise, Nevada in January 2006. It is located at 1610 E Tropicana Ave. The museum is a project of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, and it features pinball machines from all eras. It features over 200 different pinball games, including some classic video arcade games and other novelty machines of the past and present. The Pinball Hall of Fame is a nonprofit venture and its creation came about in part due to donations, which are still accepted.
Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is a history museum located in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. It is dedicated to featuring the artifacts, stories, and history of organized crime in the United States, as well as the actions and initiatives by law enforcement to prevent such crimes. The museum offers a variety of sections addressing the Mob’s involvement in illegal activities such as gambling, drugs, prostitution or bootlegging and the efforts of the law enforcement to counteract and eliminate those criminal operations. The Mob Museum is open daily from 9am-9pm and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
The Neon Museum
The Neon Museum is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza Road. It features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors on over 6 acres. The signs are considered by Las Vegas locals, business owners, and government organizations to be not only artistically, but also historically significant to the culture of the city. Each of the restored signs in the collection holds a story about who created it and why it is important. You can purchase tickets online and it is best to do it in advance because there are only so many time slots for each guided tour.
5.Rides
Stratosphere: Big Shot
The Big shot shoots you 160 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour as you overlook the majestic Las Vegas Valley. In a matter of seconds, the thrill ride catapults 16 riders from the 921-foot high platform up the Tower's mast to a height of 1,081 feet and down again. It costs $25 to ride and is open from 10am-1am.
Big Apple Coaster
The Big Apple Coaster is located inside the New York New York Hotel and Casino. This ride begins with a 180-foot lift and a 76-foot drop, followed by a hill and a 144-foot drop. The train then traverses two inversions, a standard vertical loop and a dive loop (twist and dive element), where the train performs a 180 degree spiral and then performs a half-loop maneuver. The rest of the ride is executed on the roof of the casino, and the ride's station is themed to a New York City Subway station. The ride costs $14 and $8 for a re-ride.
6.Shopping
Fashion Show
Fashion Show Mall is a shopping mall located on the Las Vegas Strip. The mall spans 1,888,151 sq ft of space, with more than 250 stores and seven department stores, and hosts weekend fashion shows on a retractable runway with the mall's central atrium, hence the name.
Town Square
Town Square Las Vegas is an upscale, open air shopping, dining, office, and entertainment center on Las Vegas Boulevard. Town Square features more than 120 stores, an 18-screen AMC Theaters movie theater, a 37,000 sf ft GameWorks, and over 20 restaurants. Town Square also host nearly 70 different community events annually, including their signature Hop & Shop Easter Festival, Movies in the Square, Town Scary Halloween, and Santa's Arrival Parade.
7.Entertainment Centers
Gravady
Gravady is an indoor trampoline park, there are a ton of different activities and obstacles you can play around on. It is located at 7350 Prairie Falcon Rd and is open Mon-Wed from 10am-9pm, Thursday from 3:30pm-9pm and on Fridays they are open until midnight! In order to jump around you pay by the hour $13 for 1 hour and $20 for two. This is a great place to go with a group of friends or even for a fun date.
Pole Position
Experience real head-to-head indoor go kart racing at Pole Position Raceway this isn't your typical go karts or bumper cars the karts at pole position go up to 45 mph. It costs $25.50 to race and for walk in guests it is on a first come first serve basis. You can always call ahead and make a group reservation for you and some friends! There are two locations here in Vegas the Strip location is closest to UNLV but there is also one in Summerlin.
8.Sports
Las Vegas 51’s
The Las Vegas 51’s Baseball Team is a Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets and member of the Pacific Coast League). They got their name after Area 51 which is located about 80 miles outside of Las Vegas. We don’t have a professional baseball team here in Vegas so the 51’s is a great way to enjoy the season. Tickets range from about $15-$35 depending on the section you are seated.
Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team is the first professional team to come to Las Vegas. They play in the T-Mobile Arena and multiple ticket options from individual games and different types of season memberships.
9. Music
Brooklyn Bowl
The Brooklyn Bowl is an awesome space they have everything from comedy shows to concerts there is always something fun going on! It is located in the Linq and ticket prices vary depending on the show. This is definitely something to keep an eye on when you need a fun night out!
10. Festivals
Nicknamed The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is world-renowned for its lavish casino and resort complexes lining its eponymous main boulevard known as the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas hosts a variety of events that appeal to a diverse range of interests. In Las Vegas, one can attend equally unique and rowdy festivals such as the Punk Rock Bowling Festival or Electric Daisy Carnival, or more family-oriented festivals such as Pirate Fest Las Vegas and Spring Reserve's Ice Cream Fest. Vegas is the ultimate escape and bastion of fun for people from all walks of life, so if you're still on the hunt for the festival of your dreams, follow the bright lights of Las Vegas to discover a world of adventure, curiosity and most of all, fantasy.
11. Shows
Smith Center
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is located in Downtown Las Vegas's Symphony Park and is a five-acre performing arts center consisting of three theaters in two buildings.The Smith Center features international music, and dance companies and is the home of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre.
West Wind Drive In Movie
The drive in movie is located 4150 west carey avenue and general admission costs $7.50 and on tuesdays its $5.25. West Wind offers first run movies at the same time as indoor theatres. They even feature midnight screenings of major releases and early openings so you’ll never miss a big premiere. This is a super fun and affordable night out with friends or an adorable throwback date.