VIVA LAS VEGAS
Our guide for the city of lights!
FOOD
There's a lot of great food in Vegas! These are just a few that we recommend but definite research yourself to find things in your taste.
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Mexican food is amazing in Las Vegas! We love the tacos at Tacos El Gordo next to Town Square
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There are multiple Tacos El Gordo locations in Vegas. You really have no excuse not to go. Get one of the Al pastor, one of the lengua (cow tongue - it’s great), and one of everything else
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There's lots of Mexican fast food spots that have various locations that are open late and delicious! Robertos and Don Tortaco. Also Faustos is a personal favorite of Josue’s too.
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Blueberry Hill Diner is open 24/7 and has the best pancakes! "They are amazingggg, and I don't even like pancakes!" says Olivia.
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There are also a lot of late night food deals at casinos, like at South Point you can get steak and eggs for about $5 and its an experience.
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Casino buffets serve a wide array of foods, might be a little pricey but definitely a good option if you want to eat a lot
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Casinos food courts also host some great places that range from casual (Saginaw’s for NYC-style delicatessen) to high-end restaurants (Mijo’s Modern Mexican)
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THINGS TO DO
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Shows:
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David Copperfield (Josue's dad's friend works the door, and probably we can arrange much cheaper tickets for you if you agree to slip him cash lol)
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Cirque du Soleil shows (at various casinos)
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Vegas Novelties:
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The Strip: There's a lot of stuff to do around the Mandalay Bay, so just walk up/down the strip and visit casinos/stores. Fun thing about casinos is that you can walk in, walk around, explore and just leave. Consider the casinos as if they are part of the city's public spaces (although ofc they're not). There is also a Taco Bell Cantina on the strip (you can even get married there!)!
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You should go to The Strat (short for stratosphere lol) - beautiful view of the strip and the whole city, especially at night. You can just show up and buy tickets to the top but I think it's probably easier if you book in advance.
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The Sphere - I’ve never been, but worth noticing from afar! You should see while you land to the airport.
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Las Vegas Sign - take photos there!
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The Fountains at Bellagio - there is like a fountain show every 15m or something
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The High Roller ferris wheel
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Excaliber Tournament of Kings - there's a big arcade in there too!
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The New York New York roller coaster ride
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Locals casinos like South Point will have things like gambling for a bit cheaper, bowling, bingo (more fun than it sounds!), movie theaters, also after midnight $10 steak-and-eggs which is an experience
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Battlefield Las Vegas Gun Range - first time Olivia ever shot a gun! We got a super cheap groupon.
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Bass Pro Shops - (this is a fishing and gun store like on steroids - a museum, an aquarium, games... totally an experience)
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Themed Museums/Art:
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Pinball Hall of Fame - a lot of really old school arcade games, we had a lot of fun here!
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Mob Museum - fun, historic, and interesting!
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Haunted Museum
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Meow Wolf art exhibit at Area 15 - immersive art installation
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Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art - rotating exhibitions that can be pretty high end. Not too expensive and might be able to save a few extra dollars with a student ID.
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Day Pool Parties
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The Garage - a gay bar!
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Shopping: There's a lot of options for malls in Vegas where you have all of the shops you would want in one place. Las Vegas South Premium Outlets, The Fashion Show, Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. For real fancy shops go to The Shops at Crystals.
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Sports:
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ESports Arena at the Luxor - there’s usually a competition happening on the big screen
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Vegas Golden Knights hockey games are a ton of fun, not too expensive, and T-Mobile arena is just a few minutes walk from the MGM Grand
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Basketball games from the Sportsbook section of casinos like the Bellagio, Aria, and MGM Grand can be a ton of fun if you’re into watching with other sports fans on BIG TVs
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FREMONT STREET
Don't miss the Fremont Street Experience, a.k.a. the "old Las Vegas strip". It's more "low brow" than the strip but in an outrageous/fun/interesting way. Nearby here is where I would more recommend for going out:
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the LED canopy is insane, people ziplining underneath there, general people watching is also crazy here, there are also stages here that will have live bands
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more local-ish casinos here that can be fun to pop into
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Downtown Container Park just a few blocks away has a praying mantis sculpture that breaths fire here it is worth seeing!
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Discopussy is a club near here
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Writers block is a cute bookstore
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there are also some nice bars to bar hop that will have locals: Atomic Tavern, ReBAR, Stray Pirate
GAMBLING
Remember that this is for fun! Only gamble with money you’re fully okay losing and have fun being in it for the up and downs, getting to meet new people, and getting some new experiences!
This is also a great way to get a free drink (or a few) from the casino even if you’re just sitting down at a machine for a few minutes before dinner. At busy times it can take some time to find a server, but be patient and if you tip (just $1 per drink!) they’ll come back to you!
If you don’t know the rules to any of the games, the dealers should be incredibly nice and helpful (if they’re not that’s a one-off just move to a different game or table)!
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Craps
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By far the most social game at the casino. You really don’t need to know the rules to start playing. Just throw some dice and win or lose together as a table! If someone rich wins a lot you might even find yourself with a generous friend!
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Poker
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You’re playing against other people! By far the most competitive part of the casino so only go if you’re into that! Also the best chance to make positive value bets 😎
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DAY TRIPS / OUTDOORS
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Red Rock Canyon is beautiful and extremely popular with outdoor rock climbers so you'll see a bunch of ppl scaling the cliffs which is fun
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Hoover dam is nearby and an impressive feat of engineering!
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Mt. Charleston has hiking trails. There is even a little ski slope!
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Hot springs about an hour north drive of Vegas have some great hiking and overnight camping (don’t put your head under the water though!)
MOVIES & TV SHOWS TO HELP YOU GET INTO THE SIN CITY VIBE!
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Showgirls (1995) - Las Vegas natives agree with me, one of the best films set in/about Las Vegas!! A total trip, an erotic drama, and also with trigger warnings.
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The Hangover
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Ocean’s 11
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
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Hacks (2021-present) - About two women comedians in Las Vegas - one Boomer and one Gen Z (the show is equally critical of both!) Funny, and Leo recommended!
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Casino (1995) - Directed by Scorcese, I think of this film as the Las Vegas version of Goodfellas. A+ character acting from Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci.
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The Last Showgirl (2024) - A drama where Pamela Anderson (and with Brenda Song!) plays a middle-age Las Vegas showgirl.
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Bugsy (1991) - Did you know the Las Vegas Strip was founded by a Jewish-American Mobster from Williamsburg, NYC?! About the very start of the development of Las Vegas, this film explains it all! Set in 1941 and starring Warren Beatty as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, this film will also give you a “Golden Age” of Hollywood fix you might not have known you were looking for.
OLIVIA'S TWO CENTS
Coming from NYC or Europe, Vegas might feel a surreal and overwhelming! Here, flashy and kitschy doesn't mean low quality - in fact, sometimes the more over-the-top spots will deliver the best experiences. Advertisement can also be art (and means someone got paid!), and Las Vegas has unique, immersive work that could be found no where else. Keep an open mind, follow your whimsy and your most niche interests, and enjoy the ride!!
WEATHER
Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert. Desert weather is relatively predictable - no rain, and hot during the day and cold at night. In March, highs could be up to 85°F (30°C) and lows could be down to 40°F (5°C). When you head out for the day, layer accordingly or bring a sweater!