The Best of Las Vegas

Photo Credit: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

For those of you headed to the Sin City Classic (SCC) from January 16-19 (and who’s NOT?), what’s the best advice for getting the most out of your trip? Come early; stay late!

While some athletes come only for the four days listed, many do come a day or so early and a number of others stay an extra couple of days once the festivities are over. Here is a small list of suggestions for things you can enjoy in addition to the SCC

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Big Bus Tours

If you’re a Vegas newbie try the Big Bus Tours first. Whether you choose a day or nighttime tour, this hop on/hop off format let’s you tour the famous Las Vegas Strip, Fremont Street, the Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the city’s very best museums back to back, spending more time in your favorite places while still saving your feet for the competition.

Fly On The Fly LINQ Zipline

Fly at the speed of fun 12 stories above The LINQ Promenade on the Strip’s only zipline experience, FLY LINQ. The FLY LINQ Zipline is an adrenaline fueled and electrifying sky-high experience for thrill-seekers looking for an exhilarating ride! Fly seated starting at $30 but if you’re ready to fly it like a superhero, it’ll start at $40. (P.S. Backwards flying is now available.)

The Big Apple Coaster

For more thrills, try the Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York. For just $15 you can hop aboard The Big Apple Coaster, zip your way past hotel skyscrapers and take in unmatched views of the Strip. With speeds up to 67 mph, this taxi’s twists and dips are sure to have you screaming and coming back for round two.

Ride On The LINQ High Roller

The LINQ High Roller is a 550-foot tall, 520-foot diameter giant Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise,. With sweeping 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley and The Strip, the wheel takes 30 minutes to complete one revolution and features 28 spacious cabins to accommodate guests. It’s currently the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.

Eiffel Tower Light Viewing Deck

If you prefer your viewing with less motion, try the viewing deck atop the Paris, Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower. The high-altitude attraction is located 46 stories up and is a half scale replica of the world-famous Paris, France landmark. And take in their new free, recurring light show every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from sunset to midnight. The show features synchronized and choreographed twinkling and colored lights for visitors to enjoy nightly on The Strip.

Hit the Slopes at Mt. Charleston

Snow in Las Vegas? You’ll find it in the high elevation of Mt. Charleston. Head to Lee Canyon for skiing, snowboarding, tubing and other winter activities. The resort also has a new lodge this season. So feel free to grab a drink and warm up by the fireplace.

INDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Experience Virtual Reality at the MGM Grand

Perfect for a group of friends who want to compete against each other to secure the highest score (sound familiar?). Virtual Reality Powered by Zero Latency lets you don googles and backpacks to play 3D virtual reality games that may include walking up ramps, traveling through space or shooting guns around corners. It’s hard to believe you’re really just roaming around a single padded rectangular room.

Compete in eSports

Visit the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor, a multi-level venue that hosts tournaments, special events and stations for anyone to play. The Rio is also getting into the act with The Wall, a restaurant and lounge with 30 gaming stations.

Drive golf balls at Topgolf

It’s hard to find a more fun place to drive golf balls in Las Vegas. Located behind the MGM Grand, Topgolf has three levels of hitting bays plus food, drink and even a couple swimming pools.

Visit the Shark Reef Aquarium

Explore the beauty of nature, animals and sea life at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. The highlight is a 1.3 million-gallon tank with a walk-through tunnel featuring sharks and thousands of exotic fish. You can feed rays and sea turtles, and even get an up-close look at a Komodo dragon.

Ice Skate at the Cosmopolitan

The Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas turns into a winter wonderland ice rink during the holidays. You can skate across 4,200-square-feet of ice, rent fire pits, roast s’mores and drink some hot cocoa.

SHOWS

A wide variety of wonderful shows are a staple in Vegas but check to be sure the one you want to see is playing the day/time you want to go.

Cirque Du Soleil Shows