Unusual Things to Do in Las Vegas

unusual things to do in las vegas

Believe it or not, there are plenty of unusual things to do in Las Vegas that don’t have anything to do with gambling. In fact, many of these unusual things to do in Las Vegas aren’t even on the Strip.

Dig This
3012 S. Rancho Drive
Smash and crash as you get behind the wheel of a bulldozer or excavator with the backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip. You can even crush a car during an aggression session, where you spray paint your thoughts and feelings onto the car, and then smash it to pieces with a 30,000 pound excavator. Prices start at $650 for 30 minutes.

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Neon Museum & Boneyard
770 N. Las Vegas Blvd.
Pay homage to some of the old signs of casinos and businesses that once graced the Strip at this 2-acre campus that includes an outdoor exhibition space (the Boneyard) with more than 200 signs. Guided tours are available seven days a week, with day tours costing $15 to $19, and night tours priced at $22 to $26.

unusual things to do in las vegas
The Neon Museum in Las Vegas.

Pinball Hall of Fame
1610 E. Tropicana Ave.
Love pinball? Well, you’re in luck because this place is 10,000 square feet of all things pinball. There’s a mix of both pinball machines and class arcade games – and all you need is a pocketful of quarters to get in on the fun.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum
900 N. Las Vegas Blvd.
Kids will love the 35-foot T. rex exhibit, as well as exploring the rainforest, marine life gallery and treasures of Egypt (just to name a few). There are also special, limited-run exhibits, such as a Rainforest Adventure that ran through last summer. $12; $6 ages 3-11; ages 2 and under free.

Las Vegas Springs Preserve
333 S. Valley View Blvd.
The preserve features 180 acres of nature walks and displays, as well as Boomtown 1095, a re-created historical streetscape that highlights Las Vegas’ beginnings. $18.95; $10.95 ages 5-17.

The Wildlife Habitat
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Nestled on the Flamingo Hotel’s lush 15-acre grounds, the habitat is stocked with exotic birds, fish and turtles. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk and there are also two live feedings every day. And the best part is it’s all free!

The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Ave.
Explore the history of organized crime in Vegas in this massive exhibition space that includes multisensory exhibits, including the bloodstained wall of the St Valentine’s Day Massacre rebuilt brick by brick and an electric chair you can sit in (feel free to snap a photo, too!). There are also guided tours available. $20.95; $13.95 ages 11-17; free ages 10 and under.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
State Highway 159
Take in all of the area’s natural beauty at Red Rock Canyon. It’s a great spot to hike and bike, and there are different trails to choose from so just choose the one that’s right for you. Whichever trail you pick, there’s plenty of nature to take in – 600 types of plant to be exact, including a Joshua tree. And don’t forget to say hello to Jackson, the Red Rock Canyon burro! $7 per vehicle.

Hoover Dam
Located 35 miles south of Las Vegas on U.S. Route 93, Hoover Dam is an amazing engineering achievement in the country’s history. Tours are $30 per person; participants must be ages 8 and up.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
601 Nevada Way, Boulder City
A 30-minute drive from Las Vegas, Tule Springs is home to fossils that date back all the way to the Ice Age, including mammoths, lions and camels, just to name a few. It is also one of the first parks to tell the story of Pleistocene paleontology, and it was the first site where scientists first applied radiocarbon dating in the United States. The National Park Service distributes maps that take visitors on self-guided walking tours.

The Discovery Children’s Museum
360 Promenade Place
This 58,000-square-foot facility is three stories full of fun. Families can enjoy Eco-City, a “city” made with sustainable and eco-friendly materials; get creative at Fantasy Festival, which has a lifesize ship, castle and stage to inspire imaginative play; let the little kids play at Toddler Town and more. $14.50 for ages 1 to 99.

Shark Reef Aquarium
Mandalay Bay, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Be awed by the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay, with 14 exhibits that feature 100 sharks, piranhas, rays and crocodiles. There is also a touch pool and the 1.3 million gallon shark exhibit with a walk-through tunnel. $25; $19 ages 4-12; free ages 3 and under.

Lion Habitat Ranch
382 Bruner Ave., Henderson
Several lions and a giraffe live at this sanctuary, which features guided tours and feeding experiences. The lions were formerly at the MGM Lion Habitat. When the habitat closed and the lions couldn’t be returned to their natural dwellings, the ranch was opened so they would have a safe home. $25; free ages 14 and under.

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort
6725 Lee Canyon Road
Believe it or not, you can ski in Vegas! The winter season starts in late November, and the resort is open through April depending on the weather. There’s also tubing, snowshoeing and snowboarding. And you can even learn to ski for free!

Did we miss any unusual things to do in Las Vegas that you enjoyed during your trip? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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