87 Best Sights in Las Vegas, Nevada

As Las Vegas grew, so did the amount of treated water released by its wastewater treatment plant. Recycled water making its way back to Lake Mead carved out a "wash" that needed to be constrained by a series of porous dams (known as weirs). The resulting wetlands eventually hosted so much plant- and wildlife, the county turned it into a 2,900-acre refuge in 1999. No one would consider Wetlands an essential Las Vegas visit compared to the marvels of Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon, but the park saw a big jump in popularity during the pandemic, when locals gravitated to its wide-open spaces and the unique charm of being able to see the Strip one minute, then be completely disoriented as you descend down winding paths surrounded by tall grass. All sorts of birds and critters call the place home, from great blue herons to beavers. There's an impressive Nature Center complete with a small museum and children's area. But plan to picnic or eat later—there's no restaurant or food service beyond a few bags of chips in the gift shop. Dogs and bicycles are allowed on the outer loop trail, but not in the inner core of the preserve.

The DISCOVERY Children's Museum is one of the most technologically sophisticated children's museums in the entire country. The facility comprises nine theme exhibition halls, all of which are designed to inspire visitors—both children and adults—to learn through play. The star of the show: a 12-story exhibit dubbed "The Summit," with education stations on every level and a lookout that peeks through the building's roof. Parents of the smallest visitors will also love "Toddler Town," an area designed for those who are still crawling or just learning how to walk. "Fantasy Festival," another exhibit, comprises a life-size pirate ship (yes, really), and ample clothes for kiddos to dress up.

It turns out shipping containers—the same kinds you see on cargo ships and tractor trailers—can be pretty versatile. At this open-air mall, for instance, on the outskirts of the Fremont East neighborhood, the structures have been repurposed into food stalls, bars (try Oak & Ivy), boutiques, offices, and even a three-story "tree house" complete with grown-up-friendly slides. The place also has an amphitheater stage fronted by real grass. Although the tree house is fun (especially with young kids), the highlight of the attraction is the large, fire-spewing praying mantis, which was originally constructed for use at the Burning Man festival in northern Nevada.

This open-air shopping mall with more than 125 stores and restaurants sits at the center of the Summerlin planned community, and, since it opened in 2014, has become the very heart of town. Locals are delighted to have name-brand stores such as lululemon and Sur la Table around the corner, and on-site restaurants are always packed. On Saturday, the mall hosts a farmers' market from 9 am to 2 pm; other events are scheduled throughout the year. The mall has its own movie theater with luxury seats and a full bar, and is a short walk from Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa. In spring 2019, Downtown Summerlin welcomed another tenant: the Las Vegas Ballpark, home to the Las Vegas Aviators, the AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

Ethel M celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2016 and renovated its Henderson factory to commemorate the occasion. Today, watching gourmet chocolates being made on one of the daily tours will make your mouth water; fortunately the self-guided tour is brief, and there are free samples at the end. You can buy more of your favorites in the store. There are also chocolate tasting experiences beginning at $20, where you will learn about how chocolate is sourced and produced and become an honorary chocolatier complete with certificate afterward. Randomly, the factory also happens to be home to the largest cactus garden in the southwestern United States, and hosts spectacular light displays at Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.

Just next to the pool area at the Flamingo Las Vegas, a flamboyance of live Chilean flamingos lives on islands and in streams surrounded by sparkling waterfalls and lush foliage. Other animals on-site include swans, ducks, koi, sturgeons, brown pelicans, hummingbirds, and turtles. The 4-acre habitat makes for a fun, brief stroll. Learn more during the Keeper Talks at 8:30 am and 2 pm.

The Experience was originally the name for the 1,450-foot arched canopy that was built 90 feet above "Glitter Gulch," downtown's main drag, to revive its sadly fading epicenter. The plan worked, slowly but spectacularly—now the whole street is an "experience." The Viva Vision synchronized light shows, which run the length of the canopy, got a $32-million makeover in 2019 and now sparkle with LED lights (officially touted as "16.4 million brilliant pixels") to create displays that are seven times brighter and four times sharper than previous versions. The brief shows are themed, such as the salutes to homegrown rockers The Killers and Las Vegas–based music producer Steve Aoki. They play five to seven times a night, depending on the time of year, and the six-minute presentations change regularly.

The upgrades to the overhead show were necessary to keep up with the carnival atmosphere on the street. Costumed characters and street performers vie for attention with the live bands playing on two stages, and outdoor bars now line the fronts of the historic casinos, the bar tops doubling as stages for dancing showgirls. Thrill-seekers can ride one of two zip lines beneath the length of the canopy; the zips emerge from the face of the world's largest slot machine, appropriately dubbed SlotZilla.

Let a gondolier "o sole mio" you down Vegas's rendition of Venice's Grand Canal. We love this attraction because it's done so well—the late owner Sheldon Adelson was obsessed with getting the canals just right: he had them drained and repainted three times before he was satisfied with the hue, and the colossal reproduction of St. Mark's Square at the end of the canal is authentic right down to the colors of the facades. The gondoliers who ply the waterway are professional entertainers and train for two weeks to maneuver the canals. It all makes for a rather entertaining way to while away an hour on the Strip. Outdoor gondola rides along the resort's exterior waterway are also available, weather permitting. Photo packages are available with all rides.

The Roman Catholic cathedral often has standing-room only on Saturday afternoon, as visitors pray for luck—and sometimes drop casino chips into the collection cups during the tourist-friendly mass. According to tradition, a priest known as the "chip monk" periodically collects the chips and takes them to the respective casinos to cash them in. There are daily masses, with three on Sundays.

The massive Harley-Davidson dealership on the south end of the Strip is mecca for hog lovers. You can shop, rent, or even buy a bike right off the showroom floor. There’s also a specialized service department and a riding academy for newbies. And if you’re looking for Harley merchandise—from vests to T-shirts to onesies for babies—you aren’t likely to find a better selection anyplace else. Check out the Recharge Zone, a convenience store within a store.

Chocoholics rejoice at the sight of the two-story West Coast flagship of Hershey's Chocolate, which is a part of the streetscape fronting New York–New York. The attraction includes an 800-pound Statue of Liberty made of chocolate, a retail store, a café, and a tester area where visitors can sample some of Hershey's newest confections. Visitors can also personalize Hershey's chocolate bar wrappers, star in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup TV ad, or put together a bag of different-flavored Hershey's Kisses chocolates wrapped in a variety of different colors.

Standing more than 100 feet taller than the London Eye, the 550-foot-tall High Roller is the largest observation wheel in North America. The giant Ferris wheel at the east end of the LINQ features 28 glass-enclosed cabins, each of which is equipped to hold up to 40 passengers. One full rotation takes about 30 minutes; along the way, riders are treated to a dynamic video and a music show on TV monitors in the pod, as well as one-of-a-kind views of Sin City and the surrounding Las Vegas Valley. The experience begins and ends in a state-of-the-art wheelhouse, where visitors can read about the engineering behind the project as they wait in line, buy drinks to take with them on the ride, or pick up souvenirs commemorating the spin. (There's also a Happy Half Hour option, which includes drinks.) The best time to ride the wheel is nighttime, when 2,000 LED lights on the wheel itself create an otherworldly vibe.

Formerly known as Pole Position, this is still the place to floor it in electric miniature racers (think: souped-up golf carts) and reach up to 45 mph. You and up to 12 competitors zip around the ¼-mile indoor track full of twists and turns. Computers track your overall performance from race to race, and over multiple visits. You'll get a score sheet giving a detailed score breakdown to compare with your friends.

This 320-acre, man-made lake outside Henderson is regarded for its golf courses, boating, fishing, and hotels. Two resorts sit on the lake shore: Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa and The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The lake was created by an earthen dam in 1991.

The emergence of the offbeat Las Vegas Arts District (which comprises 18 blocks bounded by South 7th, Main, Bonneville, and Charleston Streets on Downtown's southeastern corner) continues to generate excitement in the city's arts community and, increasingly, among visitors. With a number of funky, independent art galleries in its confines, the area is a growing, thriving cultural hub—think of it as the Anti-Strip. In addition to the galleries—some of which contain impressive collections of locally known and world-famous artists—you'll find interesting eateries and dive bars to serve the alternative artists, musicians, and writers who have gravitated to the neighborhood. Each month the district hosts a First Friday gallery walk from 5 to 11 pm, with gallery openings, street performers, and entertainment. It's an excellent time to come check out the still nascent but steadily improving scene for yourself.

The newest addition to downtown Summerlin is also the home of the Las Vegas Aviators, the Class-AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The 10,000-seat stadium opened in time for the 2019 season and was named the best Triple-A Minor League park in 2019 by Baseball Digest. Amenities include breathable mesh seats to keep fans cool during summer, a kids’ zone, and a pool beyond the outfield wall (to name a few). General admission tickets go for as low as $13 a pop, and there are two tiers of seats with prices that include two beers and all-you-can-eat food. There are vegetarian menu options, including a smoked tofu bowl. The stadium replaces Cashman Field, a circa-1983 downtown ballpark that was home to the team under its previous name, the Las Vegas 51s.

If your kids are into animals (or taxidermy), they'll love this museum, where every continent and geological age is represented. You're greeted by a 35-foot-tall roaring T. rex in the dinosaur gallery that features Shonisaurus, Nevada's state fossil. From there, you can enjoy rooms full of sharks (including live ones, swimming in a 3,000-gallon reef tank), birds, cavemen, and scenes from the African savanna. Kids especially enjoy the various hands-on exhibits; the Young Scientist Center offers youngsters the opportunity to investigate fossils and animal tracks up close. After that, tour the Wild Nevada Gallery, where kids can see, smell, and even touch Nevada wildlife. Two-for-one ticket coupons are available online.

Tucked just inside the main Strip entrance to the MGM Grand resort, this expansive space is essentially an arcade for hipsters, combined with a great bar. Games include everything from Pop-A-Shot and foosball to shuffleboard and more; most cost about $1 apiece. There also are three virtual-reality experiences for teams of up to eight: Zombie Survival (about the inevitable apocalypse); the military-space challenge Singularity; and Engineerium, set in a world of oversize floating mythical creatures. Plus there are live sports on giant screens, theme nights, and live music or a DJ nightly.

This 6,000-seat arena serves as the practice facility of the Henderson Silver Knights, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. When the home team isn’t on the ice, there are adult and youth hockey leagues and clinics and camps to keep the puck moving. Open skate sessions and skating classes are offered as well. To keep energy levels up, visit the Public Works Coffee Bar in the northeast corner of the arena. On the building’s second floor, there’s MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub for bar bites and brews.

This cedar-and-redwood chapel on the South Strip is one of the city's most famous. The kitsch is kept under control, and the setting borders on picturesque (it's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places—ah, Vegas). Since it opened in 1942, the church has been the site of more celebrity marriages than any other chapel in the world.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the rustic Little Church of the West, where wedding ceremonies have been performed since 1942, is a landmark on the South Strip. Its doors are often thrown open to provide views of the candlelit interior. Regular packages range from the few-frills Ace of Hearts to the Supernova Love (with a dozen roses, classic wedding music, and a walk down the aisle), and you can have the ceremony performed by a minister, an Elvis impersonator, or a Johnny Cash impersonator. Premium packages include a limo, video broadcast, and more.

Welcome to the land of the Egyptians—Vegas-style. This modern-world wonder is topped with a xenon light beam that burns brighter than any other in the world and can be seen from nearly anywhere in the Valley at night; it's supposedly visible even from space. The exterior is made with 13 acres of black glass. Forget elevators; climbing the slanted walls of the Luxor pyramid requires four "inclinators" to reach guest rooms. Above the casino is the world's largest atrium—you get the full impact of the space from the second floor, where Bodies. . .The Exhibition gives guests an eerie view of the human body. This atrium also is home to Fantasy, a seductive adult revue that's fun to share with your significant other, and Carrot Top, who—believe it or not—is still performing live shows in Vegas after nearly 20 years. Or take in Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. For something entirely unique, head outside the casino, walk past the porte cochere, and follow the sidewalk inside a replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Only in Vegas.

Swanky nightclub meets gun range in this only-in-Vegas addition to the scene. In an industrial neighborhood just west of the Interstate, "MGV" (as it's known) offers 10 indoor shooting lanes, including two in an ultraexclusive VIP area, as well as a number of outdoor lanes. Visitors have dozens of firearms to choose from, and you can be part of "Seal Team 6" or a "Femme Fatale." If you have the time, they will even take you out into the Mojave Desert to shoot outdoors. Package deals all include multiple guns and supervised instruction. 

Revel in the fabulousness of Lizzo and Missy Elliott, stand toe-to-toe with Muhammad Ali, or croon a tune with Drake or Nicki Minaj as you explore the open showroom filled with uncanny celebrity wax portrayals of people from the worlds of show business, sports, politics, and everywhere in between. Among the new attractions is the Marvel Universe 4-D film in which you can actually feel (as well as watch and hear) your heroes save the world. Crowd-pleasers include Steve Aoki, Snoop Dog, Captain America, Dwayne Johnson, and Miley Cyrus. Hit the bar at The Hangover Experience to immerse yourself in a storied Las Vegas romp and enjoy a cocktail while you're at it.

Mandalay Bay is famous for a few things: the House of Blues, which brings in some epic concerts throughout the year; the Shark Reef aquarium, which boasts a 1.6-million-gallon saltwater tank with more than 2,000 different animals; and an A-list of restaurants. Additionally, international flavors are tasty attractions here, among them the authentic Emerald Isle experience at Rí Rá Irish Pub and the exquisite Japanese food, framed in delicate Asian ambience, at Morimoto. Technically the complex is three separate brands: Mandalay, Delano Las Vegas, and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. If you're into design, the lobby for Delano incorporates natural features from around the Vegas Valley and is one of the sharpest lobbies you'll find in Nevada. Also worth noting: minus5° Ice Bar, which is located in the Mandalay Place shopping corridor that connects Mandalay Bay with Luxor; for the price of admission you get to borrow a parka, waltz into a subzero drinking establishment, and throw back vodka from a glass made of ice.

This museum on the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus has a growing collection of works by artists with ties to Southern Nevada. The exhibits are largely held in one cavernous space, with an adjacent auditorium hosting lectures focused on art. The Xeric Garden in front of the museum, which dates to 1988, was the first xeriscape demonstration garden in town. It usually doesn't take too long to see the museum, but the free attraction provides a good reason to stroll the campus grounds and see the nearby Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery or visit the student union. The Barrick Museum closes completely for several weeks at a time when new exhibits are installed, two or three times a year.

Take to the skies and head to points near or far in one of Maverick’s fleet of futuristic ECO-Star helicopters. You can float along above the Las Vegas Strip, go to Red Rock Canyon or the Grand Canyon (South or West Rim), or combine experiences; there are even tours with dining options. You can even have a wedding in the sky or at one of the company’s destinations.

One of the largest outfitters in the Las Vegas Valley, McGhie's rents equipment for skiing, bicycling, and sandboarding. This location, in downtown Blue Diamond, which is just west of the city in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (there are others in Henderson and on South Fort Apache in Las Vegas), specializes in bikes—convenient, since it's right on the doorstep of 125 miles of hard-core mountain biking. The company rents bikes individually, and also offers a host of guided tours around Red Rock and beyond. Unlike other outfitters in the area, McGhie's also rents bikes specifically for kids.

Ever wanted to be a mermaid? The Silverton hosts classes for kids, adults, and families (with cheaper rates for kids of course). Would-be mermaids need to be strong swimmers, but equipment, including goggles, is provided. Just bring a swimsuit or towel and prepare to dive into the resort’s 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.

A regal, bronze rendering of the roaring MGM lion mascot fronts the four emerald-green, fortresslike towers of the MGM Grand, one of the largest hotels in the world. Over the years, the property has become synonymous with big fights, most of which take place in the hotel's Grand Garden Arena. In recent years, the property also has added Hakkasan, an upscale restaurant and nightclub; Level Up, a hipster arcade with booze; Topgolf Las Vegas, a state-of-the-art driving range; and Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, where the beloved comic from Everybody Loves Raymond performs regularly. The hotel also has its share of restaurants from celebrity chefs, including Morimoto's first foray into Las Vegas.