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July 28, 2007updated Dec 11, 2015

The 10 Best Things to See and Do in Las Vegas

By Chris Boyle

Venetian Gondola Rides

Equally rich in culture and glamour, Las Vegas offers daytime entertainment as diverse and exciting as its nightlife.

From stereotypically Vegas experiences like the Venetian’s Gondola rides, to the unique Cowboy Trail horseback rides across the desert and Red Rock Canyon, no two days in Vegas will ever be the same.

BEACH CLUB AT ENCORE

Encore Beach Club © Russell MacMasters

Pool parties are the ultimate in daytime Vegas glamour and the Beach Club at Encore is no exception.

With long velvet-roped queues and high entry prices, the Encore’s $68 million offering attracts only the most discerning partygoer. Luxurious daybeds featuring private safes, and 26 lavish cabanas outfitted with refrigerators and flat-screen televisions flank an array of impressive tiered pools. For the ultimate in extravagance hire out one of the eight decadent pool bungalows, complete with private infinity hot tubs, private bathrooms, temperature controlled cooling systems and exclusive poolside access to the flavorful fare from Executive Chef René Lenger of Switch Steakhouse.

COWBOY TRAIL RIDES

Experience a unique Vegas tradition with a Cowboy Trail Ride through the beautiful Red Rock Canyon Conservative Area.

Led by highly experienced wrangler-guides, you can ride along a canyon rim, follow winding trails down through the narrows of canyon floors, and travel across the desert to the breathtaking red sandstone formations that give Red Rock its name. An exciting alternative to other Las Vegas tours, the trail rides offer a taste of true Western hospitality. Elite Traveler recommends the Sunset BBQ Ride, an experience that combines the breathtaking twilight view over Red Rock Canyon, with an authentic Western barbecue and nighttime campfire.

BELLAGIO GALLERY OF FINE ART

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Credit MGM Mirage

Located at the elegant Bellagio resort, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is an impressive venue showcasing world-class art to visitors and locals. Since opening in 1998, the gallery has exhibited works from internationally acclaimed museums and private collections, including The Impressionist Landscape, Fabergé and Picasso Ceramics.

The gallery’s popular Art and Wine Events are held on the second Wednesday of every month and are designed to offer a unique insight into the exhibitions. Exploring the emotion and relationship between art and wine, the events feature conversation with the Gallery of Fine Art’s Director and the Director of Wine and Master Sommelier. Guests desiring a more intimate experience can arrange an after-hours tour with the director on request. Showing until January 8, 2012 is the exhibition: A Sense of Place: Landscapes from Monet to Hockney.

Sarah Johnson

+1 702 693 7871

Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 89109

www.bellagio.com

VENETIAN GRAND CANAL GONDOLA RIDES

Venetian Gondola Rides

Experience the romance and luxury of a Venice Gondola ride in the heart of Las Vegas at the lavish Venetian Resort.

Float beneath bridges, beside cafés, under balconies and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape in the comfort of an original Venetian gondola. Complete with a singing gondolier, the Venetian Grand Canal offers a blissful escape from the hectic Las Vegas Strip. Weather permitting, the Venetian also offers the option of an outdoor Gondola ride taking you along a beautiful lagoon located at the front of the resort. Arrive before the gondolas open and you can catch the gondoliers singing a morning song.

+1 702 414 4300

The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 89109

www.venetian.com

SIEGFRIED AND ROY’S SECRET GARDEN AND DOLPHIN HABITAT

Train with Dolphins at Siegfried and Roy’s Dolphin Habitat

Step into the exotic, enchanting and wondrous world of Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

Surrounded by lush greenery and foliage native to the animal’s natural habitats, elite travelers will come face-toface with white lions, white tigers, panthers and leopards in the impressive Secret Garden complex. Created by performers Siegfried and Roy, the habitat is dedicated to preserving a collection of unique animals including a family of bottlenose dolphins. Take an exclusive, guided VIP tour of the complex to see the impressive work that goes on behind the scenes or for a more hands-on experience, become a trainer for the day at the Dolphin Habitat and learn the ropes yourself.

+1 702 792 7889

The Mirage Resort and Casino, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 89109

www.miragehabitat.com

HIKE THIS!

Red Rock Canyon Credit Hike This!

Led by long-time, passionate hiker Neil Sobelson, ‘Hike This!’ shows you a different side to Las Vegas.

Based less than 30 minutes from the Strip, hikers can experience the thrill of the majestic Red Rock Canyon, complete with wildlife, waterfalls and uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. Experience an invigorating private hike or try your hand at rock scrambling, an energetic, adrenaline-fuelled adventure. Taking you deep into canyons, over creek bed boulders, and up massive sandstone rocks, Sobelson’s hikes are a must-do adventure away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip.

+1 702 393 4453

7500 West Lake Mead Boulevard, 89128

www.hikethislasvegas.com

LAS VEGAS COUNTRY CLUB

The Golf Course at Las Vegas Country Club

Established in 1967, the Las Vegas Country Club is a facility rich in history and prestige.

Having recently undergone a $5.4 million renovation, this exclusive club boasts an 18-hole golf course, six tennis courts and a swimming pool. Providing its members with a personalized, dedicated service, the club offers luxury amenities and pristine views of the city and course. Relax in the men’s or women’s lounge, socialize in the club’s elegant dining room and bar, or take advantage of the impressive banquet facilities. Presidents, celebrities, politicians and business moguls have visited the Las Vegas Country Club since its inception, making it the place to be seen for any elite traveler.

 Erica Smith

+1 702 576 9961

3000 Joe W. Brown Drive, 89109

www.lasvegascc.com

LAGASSE’S STADIUM

Created by Emeril Lagasse, the celebrity chef’s Lagasse Stadium is a unique dining experience designed around the traditional sporting pastime, tailgating.

Featuring game day menu favorites, free flowing brew and more than 100 HD TVs, Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant is the perfect place to watch a sports game in style. The venue offers luxury private boxes complete with couches, old-school video games, pool tables and a collection of extraordinary sports memorabilia.

Daniel Lydia, General Manager

+1 702 607 2665

The Palazzo Las Vegas, 3325 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 89109

www.palazzo.com

SHARK REEF AQUARIUM

An endangered Komodo Dragon at Shark Reef Aquarium

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a unique sensory experience designed to transport visitors to an underwater world of sights, sounds and encounters.

As North America’s only predator-based aquarium, Shark Reef houses a variety of creatures including Golden Crocodiles, a Giant Pacific Octopus and a Shark Ray. Walk through two underwater tunnels, get up close to some of the aquarium’s inhabitants in the Touch Pool experience or wander round the many exhibits on offer. Visitors will see more than 2,000 animals, including several endangered and rare species such as the Komodo Dragon, Green Sea Turtles and Black Piranhas.

+1 702 632 4555

Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 89119

www.sharkreef.com

ONBOARD LAS VEGAS TOURS

 

Unlike other hop-on, hop-off bus tours, OnBoard Las Vegas offers a more personalized experience with a dedicated guide accompanying you at each stop.

With a range of VIP tour options, OnBoard can customize each experience to make it unique to each group. Choose your vehicle, your pick-up place and time, the duration of the tour, what stops you make and much more. A winner of the Concierge Choice Awards, OnBoard Las Vegas also offers nighttime and helicopter tours around the Strip, Downtown and the Grand Canyon.

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