Grindeldoo

I get into Vegas on the evening of 9 June after a week with friends in SF and 16 days of visiting/hiking in a number of national parks including Zion, the Grand Canyon as well as Valley of Fire state park with a small group. My flight to London leaves at 21.30 on 10 June, which means being the airport by 19.00. The group will doubtless spend our final evening together, but I have no idea how to spend the next day without spending much money - other than next to a swimming pool. Any suggestions? I don't gamble, am not interested in visiting a casino even to watch others spending, and I don't like helicopter rides.

Tomsd

Red Rock Canyon is 20 minutes away, the Ethyl M chocolate factory and cactus garden about 15 minutes from the strip, the Arborterum at Bellagio is amazing, getting down to see the big dam is also fun, and on and on.

For a few ideas - see: https://www.google.com/#q=Things+to+do+in+Las+Vegas

longhorn55

I'm not a gambler either, but when we went to Las Vegas a few years ago, we had a blast just walking down the Strip and stopping to see the various attractions in the hotels--Chihuly glass and fountains show in the Bellagio, cheesy pirate show at Treasure Island, the fake Roman town/shops at Caesar's Palace, etc. All of these free cheesy and not-cheesy attractions plus some time by the pool should make for a cheap, but fun day in Las Vegas.

tomfuller

Take at least 1 ride up and down the "Strip" on the upper level of "The Deuce" which is a double decker bus.
Watch the light show over Fremont Street Experience.
My favorite all you can eat buffet is upstairs at the Golden Nugget along Fremont. The largest gold nugget on public display (62+ lb.) is in the Golden Nugget across from a vending machine that you can buy gold from.

abram

We also loved Red Rock Canyon; didn't get to Valley of Fire, but it had been recommended.

On the Strip, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, seeing the lions being fed at MGM, Imperial Palace Car Museum, Mirage Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat.

Of the Strip, Atomic Testing Museum, Springs Preserve, Hoover Dam, history museum in Henderson.

DebitNM

http://www.apassionandapassport.com/...tractions.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g4...es.Gamble.html

http://kevinvisser.com/2332/30-fun-t...ides-gambling/

isabel

I also spent a few days there while waiting for my traveling companion to fly in before we went to the National Parks. I had a great time walking through the hotels. The gambling areas are not all there is. As several people already mentioned there are lots of cheesy and a few not so cheesy sites, most are free. I certainly wouldn't go back to Vegas but it was kind of fun to see once. Here's my photos. None of these places cost anything to see.
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/las_vegas

clarkgriswold

is the Imperial Palace Auto Collection still open?

On what part of the strip will you be staying...it's miles long, maybe we can recommend some attractions within walking distance.

The Natural History Museum is a short cab ride and quite nice. Or you could check to see what is happening at the Springs Preserve on that day.

emalloy

If you didn't get to Death Valley on your NP tour, go there. It is about 2 hrs from Vegas.

Or go to Hoover Dam, take the dam tour.

WhereAreWe

I would assume you are already visiting Hoover Dam while out on the road visiting parks? Since you are going to the Grand Canyon you'd be driving either right over it or very near it already.

For sure go to Fremont Street and the fountains at Bellagio that first evening.

How strenuous is your hiking/sightseeing vacation? And how much walking do you anticipate you'd be willing to do in Vegas? Personally I'd do some quick sightseeing in the morning, then hit the pool all afternoon to relax. Just make sure you can visit your hotel's pool after you check out.

Grindeldoo

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. Clarkgriswold the hotel I'll be staying at is the Alexis Park Resort at 375 E. Harmon Ave, which is opposite the Hard Rock Hotel and about a mile from the Strip. The walking ideas/short cab and bus rides rather than sitting sound particularly good since I'll be sitting in a plane for 10 hours.

clarkgriswold

The Hard Rock has a nice collection of music memorabilia and is worth a walk-through. They might have a free shuttle to the strip where you can board the "DEUCE" double decker bus and have a nice ride to downtown ("Old las Vegas). From there you can easily get to the Natural History Museum if the exhibits are of interest to you. www. lvnhm.com

nytraveler

Agree to visit the various attractions at the casinos. It's a perfect Disney for adults - some thing amazingly weird or funny - and worth it for hoot - esp Caesar's.

tomfuller

Within easy walking distance of your hotel is the Hofbrauhaus which has great German cooking and German beer too.