Las Vegas: The land that never sleeeps and is full of Casinos, but also surprisingly great opportunities to get into nature!

Sin City Tips:

Look, I am going to preface this entire blog post with the simple fact that I am just not a Vegas girl. It’s not my scene. I don’t gamble. I don’t like hoards of tourists. I don’t like overpriced things. It’s just not my ideal spot to visit. I spent a lot of time exploring the other areas around Vegas far more than the Strip area. If you are in Vegas for any reason I’d recommend exploring the Arts District and surrounding parks.
Traffic on the strip can be ridiculous, so just keep that in mind when planning your outings.
Be mindful of the extreme heat from June-September if you plan to do any hiking/outdoor activities during your visit!
Doing a road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Tucson guide here, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree guide here, Los Angeles guide here and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Las Vegas Recommendations:

SerVehZah: A great beer bar that also has some wines and liquors available. I was impressed with the tap list and can selection. Located in the Arts District.
- CraftHaus Brewery has a taproom right here as well. This is their smaller satellite space while their main brewery is in Henderson (below).
Beer Zombies: Easily the best beer spot in the Vegas area with 3 taprooms across the city. The Dean Martin space is quite small with just a few bar stools but the tap list and can selection here is still fantastic. They make their own beers which are great and they also have guest taps and cans.
Neon Desert Brewing: A great brewery near the Arts District with tasty beers. The tap list tends to focus on IPAs and Lagers and they also have wine and canned cocktails.
Valley of Fire State Park: A beautiful state park that is about 45 minutes east of Vegas. The entrance fee is $15. Be prepared that some trails are closed June 1 to September 30 due to extreme heat. With visiting during early September I missed out on some of the popular trails such as The Fire Wave because it was closed, but it was also a nearly completely empty park at this time which was very nice. It is not called Valley of Fire for no reason, it is extraordinarily hot here. Things to see at the park:
- The Seven Sisters: I would actually recommend stopping at the viewpoint along the road of the Seven Sisters for a nicer view and photo versus the Seven Sisters picnic area itself.
- Atlatl Rock: Take the stairs up to a viewpoint that has petroglyphs
- Arch Rock: Right around the corner from Atlatl rock is a large arch carved out of rock.
- Beehives: Unique sandstone formations
- Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail: This is 1 mile long out to an overlook that is mostly flat and takes about 25 minutes. The trail is all sand so it’s more difficult than it sounds!
- Hike the White Domes Trail: This is a 1 mile long loop trail at the end of the road in the park. There is a cool canyon and a large colorful rock. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The Silver Stamp: A dive bar with fun retro vibes serving up a surprisingly fantastic beer selection alongside your other classic dive bar staples. They’ve also got a small food menu with hot dogs, pickles and chips. Located in the Arts District.
Able Baker Brewing: A nice brewery with ample indoor and outdoor seating in the Arts District. Arts District Kitchen is housed inside for eats. They’ve got a pretty large tap list with a variety of beers to choose from.
Explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: This is a popular area to visit since it is just 30 minutes west of Vegas. To enter between October 1st to May 31st you will need a reservation. You will also need a National Park Pass or will need to pay $15 to enter. This area is focused on conservation not recreation so that is why it is not considered a park, but a conservation area.
- The scenic drive here is incredibly pretty showcasing the striped mountains and pretty canyons. There are turnouts for views throughout the loop drive. It would take about 35 minutes to drive with no stops.
- Calico Tanks Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 406ft of elevation gain and took about 1.5 hours. There are a couple of scrambles making it a little challenging but overall it is a moderate trail. There are views of the Vegas skyline and entire Red Rock Canyon which are quite beautiful. The parking lot is labeled Sandstone Quarry.

Las Vegas Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

Neon Museum: Home to the old neon signs from throughout the Strip and a super unique museum. Be sure to visit at night when things are aglow and book tickets in advance.
Welcome to Las Vegas sign: This feels like a must do but it’s even more touristy than you’d expect. The line for a picture in front of the sign is ridiculous so personally I snapped one of just the sign from the side and left. There is conveniently a parking lot in the middle of the road for this though.
Kayak Willow Beach to Emerald Cove: This is a pretty area to kayak or SUP with mountains along the way and very clear water. This is also a popular area for boat launches, fishing and camping.
- You can take a tour or rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from Willow Beach Marina and go on your own. The rentals are by the hour and in total it took me 1.5 hours to go to Emerald Cove and back to the marina at an average pace.
- Keep in mind it is a $300 fine if you take off your life jacket. You will need a National Park Pass to get into Lake Mead Recreation Area or to pay $25 to enter.
Stay at or explore Caesar’s Palace: This is a nice place to stay on the Strip with a great pool area. The hotel itself is insanely massive with numerous restaurants and bars inside alongside the sprawling casino.
- Skip Carmine's Italian Restaurant that is housed at Caeser’s. The food was pretty meh for the prices. If you are trying to eat at one of the “nicer” hotel restaurants be sure to make reservations far in advance.
Explore the Fremont Street Experience: A large open air space with a variety of bars, restaurants, and touristy activities. The only brewery here has since closed but the queso at Nacho Daddy is legit.
See the Hoover Dam: Overhyped in my opinion but proceed as you will. To enter the dam area you’ll need to go through security first and then pay $10 to park in one of the designated lots or you can park for free at the Bridge View area. From that parking area you can take the stairs or ramp up to the bridge to see the Dam. There is also a Lake View area and Visitor’s Center.

Henderson THings to do & Tips:

Explore Henderson’s “Booze District”, an industrial area that is home to 3 breweries, 1 winery and 1 meadery:
- CraftHaus Brewery: A solid brewery with a small food menu focused on pretzels and sausages. The team here is pretty rude.
- Bad Beat Brewing: Great beers and chill vibes!
- Astronomy Aleworks: A quiet brewery with a unique tap list.
Mojave Brewing Company: A popular brewery in downtown Henderson. They have a front and side patio for outdoor seating and solid beers. They also share a building with Biscuits and Bourbon.
Lovelady Brewing: This brewery has 2 locations in Henderson, the downtown spot is a 4 minute walk from Mojave. They are housed in a cool building and have a front patio. The beers here are pretty average.
Skip the Skyline Hotel in Henderson: The staff here was quite rude, the room was musty and overall I regretted not just booking a Hilton.

Other Vegas Area Ideas:

White Owl Canyon via 33 Hole: This is a pretty hike in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay $25 to enter the area. On the route to the trailhead there are a couple of nice overlooks and beaches. The canyon is quite cool with how twisty and colorful it is and there are nice views of the mountains. The trail is 4 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain, but it feels a bit more difficult due to the loose rock that is difficult to traverse. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for seashells along the trail as well!
North 5th Brewing Co: A brewery in North Las Vegas with a wide variety of beers that are solid. The folks here are very nice and they also have a few picnic tables for outdoor seating.
HUDL Brewing Company: An average brewery on Main Street in the Arts District. The tend to do dark beers best! You can get BBQ from the spot next door SoulBelly BBQ.
595 Craft & Kitchen: A craft beer bar and full restaurant with a solid beer list. The eats were tasty and bartender was friendly!
Oyo Hotel and Casino: A nice spot to stay just off the strip. The rooms are average hotel rooms with views of the strip and the pool area is quite nice. Inside there are several restaurants, bars and the casino, but in comparison to Caeser’s Palace it is much smaller.