Things to Do in Las Vegas Besides Gamble

I love Las Vegas, and to be frank I also love to gamble. However, I know there are many folks out there who can't stand the thought of gambling. This could be because it's against their principles or simply because they can't stand the thought of parting with their hard earned money (I on the other hand live by the motto "no risk no reward"). It's all good. It takes all kinds to make up this world we live in.

This article is for you folks who find yourselves in Las Vegas (most likely not by choice). I'm going to share with you some fun, in many case inexpensive things to do in Las Vegas that have nothing to do with gambling.

Let's start with the shows. There are some great deals to be found in Las Vegas when it comes to shows. Thanks to companies like Tix4Tonight and Goldstar you can purchase tickets for Las Vegas shows at up to 50% off the normal rate. In order to take advantage of the offers from Tix4Tonight you need to visit one of their 6 Las Vegas locations on the day you want to see a show. The show offerings change daily, but to save 50% it's pretty painless.

Goldstar is company that only sends offerings to people who sign-up for their email newsletter. It's completely free, and they also offer discounted tickets to shows in other cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and more. What's nice about Goldstar is you can buy your show tickets in advance and normally as late as the day before a show (the individual venues set the rules). Goldstar charges a small fee for their service, but you'll still be saving as much as 50% off your show tickets.

Speaking of shows, let's not forget all the FREE shows Las Vegas has to offer including:

The Bellagio Fountains

The Sirens of TI (Treasure Island)

The Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Palace

The Show in the Sky at The Rio

The Volcano at The Mirage

The "Freemont Street" Experience in Downtown Las Vegas

In addition to free shows here are several free "attractions" to enjoy:

The lion exhibit at The MGM Grand

The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Hilton

The 117,000 gallon aquarium at the Silverton Casino

Once you've had enough of free shows how about a FREE tour? Ethel M Chocolate Factory offers self-guided tours 7 days per week. However, I suggest you try to catch this tour during the week when the factory is really "buzzing" with activity. Plus at the end of the tour a friendly candy maker is waiting for you with a delicious sample of Ethel M. Chocolate. What could be a better? Free chocolate is reason enough to go on this tour.

For all the cigar aficionados out there, there's even a free cigar factory tour. Don Pablo Cigar Factory offers tours 7 days per week. It's fun, free and informative.

Another educational attraction is the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. This museum has prehistoric life gallery, a wildlife gallery, an African Savanna exhibit, African Rainforest exhibit and an Out of Africa exhibit. There's also a Nevada wildlife gallery, a marine life gallery and a young scientist center. All this for only $8.00 per adult, and if you have a Bank America Card of **any** type you can get FREE admission the first full weekend of every month. Let the educational fun begin.

To think you all thought that Las Vegas was only about gambling. In addition to free shows and attractions, let's not forget ALL the great places there are for shopping. While the "shopping" part is free, the buying part is a whole other story. I personally love to take a little drive back to state line, now called Primm, Nevada. I love to visit the stores at Fashion Outlet. Another great place to check out for bargains is the Las Vegas Premium Outlets located just minutes from the Strip. There are 150 outlet stores for you to explore and find that special treasure (or two).

Perhaps you like to have some fun that's a little more exhilarating. Well, Las Vegas has plenty of thrilling experiences that don't involve the gambling floor of a casino. How about some great thrill rides? New York, New York Hotel offers a roller coaster called the Manhattan Express that's known by roller coaster enthusiasts throughout the USA (and perhaps further). It's also the first of its kind. This coaster opened back in 1997 and its design is called a steel heartline rollercoaster. This ride will take you to heights of 203 feet, drop you 144 feet and do barrel roll turns.

Still looking for more thrills? How about being suspended OVER the Las Vegas Strip? The Stratosphere Hotel offers a thrilling ride called X-Scream. It resembles a very large see-saw. If it's not scary enough to be riding a ride that's already 866 feet in the air, how about the added knowledge that you'll be propelled 27 feet OVER the edge of the Stratosphere and dangle weightlessly above the Las Vegas Strip? After you do that you're pulled back in and get to do it all again. If you don't have heart trouble when you get on this ride, you might by the time you finish.

Perhaps you really like tempting death. Our friends at Stratosphere are happy to serve. They have another heart-stopping ride called Insanity. I think the name says it all. This particular ride is over 900 feet in the air. As if that's not scary enough, a mechanical arm extends the ride 66 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere. You'll be spun to speeds that take you to 3Gs' and then tilt you at a 70 degree angle. I highly suggest you go on this BEFORE lunch or dinner.

I think I'll put these last two rides on my personal "bucket list." However, in my case I would most likely "kick the bucket" while riding either one these rides. I like some excitement in my life, but these kinds of thrills are insanity (hey that sounds like the name of a ride).

I hope all you folks who thought Las Vegas was just about slot machines and Black Jack tables have some new insights into all the fun and excitement Las Vegas has to offer for everyone; both gamblers and non-gamblers alike.

Sources:
www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/