Heading to Las Vegas for five full days as first time visitors. NOT gamblers.... just want to "see and experience" it. Have tickets for a few night performances. Plan to rent a car for a few days to visit surrounding areas. Thinking of doing Grand Canyon one day. Know it is 4 1/2-5 hour drive but can't see missing it if it is that close. We are used to rising early and doing day trips. Also thinking another day for Valley of Fire, Lake Meade and Hoover Dam. May also like to see Red Rock Canyon and downtown Vegas. Open to suggestions and recommendations. Thank you!!

#1. Spend a day/night @ Zion.

When is this trip?

Are you willing to spend a night at the Grand Canyon? That is preferred rather than making the long drive there and back in one day.

Hoover Dam is on the way to/from the Grand Canyon, you don't need to schedule another day trip to see it.

Death Valley is closer than Grand Canyon so put that on your list of potential destinations.

Red Rock Canyon didn't excite me at all.

A day trip to the Grand Canyon is the worst of all worlds (not totally but really unsatisfactory). You get there in the early afternoon when all the tour buses and day trippers are then and you leave the same time they do. and trip over others.

Stay one night - then you get the sunset on your arrival day, sunrise the next morning and a few hours both days without the hordes, and can still be back in Vegas for a late lunch.

Other than the night performances, I guess I'm not sure why you would stay in Vegas that whole time, when your interests don't really lie there. I agree that you should overnight at the Grand Canyon, seeing the sunset and sunrise is a very special experience.

Was this written before the recent massacre? Now is probably not the best time to visit Las Vegas.

Stay either in Henderson or out at the Hoover Dam Lodge (2.5 miles from the dam). Drive across the dam to the AZ side. The second and third parking lot are free. The covered parking on the NV side is a rip off IMO.

>>Was this written before the recent massacre? Now is probably not the best time to visit Las Vegas.

Red Rocks is about 30minutes from the strip and beautiful. Hikes from elementary ro expert are available in about a 12 mile loop drive.

The spa/fitness centers at the better hotels are among the finest. Likewise the pools are showplaces.

The restaurant scene is one of the most wide ranging anywhere. From In N Out to Has House a Go Go to extraordinary steak houses or whatever you fancy.

<Now is probably not the best time to visit Las Vegas.>
I could not disagree more! Now IS the time to show support for the city. And certainly from a practical standpoint, meaning, flights, hotels, casinos, shows, etc., there is no reason for a tourist not to go.

Read the history of Howard Hughes' Spring Mountain Ranch, it's just 10 mins further when you go out to Red Rock Canyon .

Zion National Park is a better full-day trip than Grand Canyon because you'll have 4 more hours at the park and 4 less hours on the freeway.

If you're from the east coast, great, you'll be rising really early (keep your bodies on east-coast time) and can beat the traffic ....Vegas traffic has gotten pretty awful from 6:30 to 9am and from 4:30 to 6:30

Now is as good time as any to visit Vegas.

Eldorado Canyon and Nelson gold mine. Go past Nelson to touch the Colorado River

If you do go to the Valley of Fire take the Northshore Road (Rt 167) back to Vegas.

Good suggestions so far. In Vegas itself, there is not a whole lot to see unless you want to wander in and out of casinos (which pretty much look alike on the inside). Best as I remember, there's:

-the auto collection at Imperial Palace.
-Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, and the fake erupting volcano, both at Mirage.
-the Neon Museum, and the Freemont Street Experience light show, both outdoors at Fremont Street.
-the trick fountains and the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Bellagio.

That would hold you for about a day tops.

Since I've been, the following have apparently also opened, among other things:

-the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.
-National Atomic Testing Museum.

No idea what they're like.

You can also take a bus tour of Death Valley if that's of interest.

Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame.

I'm not a Vegas fan, but now that I know there's a Pinball Hall of Fame there, I'm going to have to go back!

I agree with Newbe, do not cancel plans to visit Las Vegas. A return to normalcy is exactly what that city needs right now. Why punish the residents who rely on tourism for their livelihoods. The only exception would be if you were staying at Mandalay Bay. Not sure if they are back up and running normally just yet.

The Titanic exhibit at Luxor was way better than I expected. Get most tickets at a Tix4tonight booth for better prices. Those booths are all over the strip.

Thanks so much for all the input.....

Definitely going to bite the bullet and rent a car 2 days. Just can't not go to see the Grand Canyon..... not bothered by long car rides (do 10-hour trips to NYC several times a year!!)Also plan on doing Valley of Fire, Lake Meade, and Hoover Dam on the next day.

Leaves us 3 days for the strip, Fremont Street and 'old' Vegas. Don't get the negativity by some to not go at this time..... this is definitely when they need support and tourism to keep them going. Getting excited and closer to departure.

Appreciate all the thoughts and ideas.

I'd visit the Bellagio after the show to enjoy the fountains, the glass, and the everchanging botanical gardens and quiet alleyways. Its magic when the daytime's leave.

Go to the Springs Preserve. You'll learn about the history of Las Vegas and Nevada. It's very interesting and not far from the Strip.