Skip the tourist traps. This is my local's guide to Vegas, from a quiet morning at Floyd Lamb Park to a show at Absinthe, dinner at Oscar's, and a night out on Fremont Street. You'll find old-school Vegas, great eats in Chinatown, and a few spots tha...
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Closest to the Strip
Outside of the Strip
Closest to the Strip
This is one of the most talked-about shows in Vegas. It's a raunchy, adults-only mix of acrobatics, circus acts, and comedy in a small tent, so you're a few feet from the performers. It's loud, fast, and very funny, and not for the easily offended. B...
Absinthe at Caesars Palace - Las Vegas
As a Vegas local, this is one of the places I send people when they want a great steakhouse night. It's in the Plaza on Fremont Street, so you can pair dinner with a walk through old Vegas afterward. It's a proper night out, and it's a spot locals tr...
Oscar's Steakhouse
Las Vegas's Chinatown is a stretch of Spring Mountain Road just west of the Strip, about five minutes from the big resorts. It's a food lover's paradise, packed with Asian restaurants and shops in busy plazas: hot pot, dim sum, ramen, Korean BBQ, bob...
Chinatown Vegas
Circa is the newest big resort in downtown Vegas, right on Fremont Street, and it's adults-only (21+). It has a fresh, modern take on classic Vegas. The huge, multi-level sportsbook is a highlight even if you're not a sports fan, and Stadium Swim is ...
Circa Resort & Casino
Area15 is an immersive art and entertainment complex just off the Strip, and it feels nothing like a casino. The big draw is Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, a surreal walk-through art installation disguised as a giant grocery store, with hidden passages and ...
AREA15
Housed in a historic former federal courthouse in downtown Vegas, The Mob Museum tells the story of organized crime and the law enforcement that fought it. It's hands-on and surprisingly fun, with interactive exhibits, real artifacts, and a look at h...
The Mob Museum
Standing over 1,100 feet tall, The STRAT is the tallest observation tower in the U.S. and one of the best skyline views in Vegas, at a fraction of the crowds and cost of the Strip's big attractions. Up top are the thrill rides and the SkyJump, a cont...
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
This is the heart of old Vegas. A massive LED canopy stretches over the pedestrian mall, and there's live music, street performers, and classic casinos on every side. Adventurous visitors can ride the zip line overhead. Go after dark, when the canopy...
Fremont Street Experience
Outside of the Strip
A quiet, green escape from the Strip, with lakes, shade trees, and walking paths. It's great for a slow morning.
Floyd Lamb Park
This open-air center is a laid-back alternative to casino crowds. It has a good mix of shops, restaurants, and cafes, plus a movie theater and plenty of spots to sit outside. It works for a full afternoon of shopping and lunch, or an easy evening str...