LAS. VEGAS. BABY.

Vegas is one of the most exciting cities in the U.S., famed for its debauchery and good vibes. There’s so much more to Vegas than just hangovers and flashing lights. Vegas is home to such a mix of activities that it’s impossible to get bored. My friend and I flew out to Vegas for the Life is Beautiful music festival, but we crammed our days full with fun activities. Here’s my guide to some of the best off-the-beaten path adventures in Las Vegas.

Outdoor Activities:

Kayaking to Emerald Cave

We toured with Blazin’ Paddles and they were absolutely incredible. Our guides were funny and engaging, and they provided our tour group with lots of water and snacks. The tour included: a 4-hour paddle session along the Colorado River, a small hike to a scenic overlook, and a short ride into the Emerald Cave. This was actually my favorite part of our Vegas trip!

PRO TIP: There are a few optimal times to make your booking. First, choose the self-drive option to save $40 on your kayaking price. While the company expects you to pay the $25 state park pass fee for the self-drive option, if you book your tour during off season, there is no entrance fee. Second, book the 12:30 launch time. By the time you reach the cave, the entire cave ceiling will be glittering with sunlight.

Walk Over the Hoover Dam

On your way to kayaking, stop by the Hoover Dam visitor center. It’s completely free to enter! You can walk across a pedestrian bridge that overlooks the Dam, or you can actually drive over it.

Hike Mt. Charleston

If you’re a nature girl like me, you HAVE to check out Mt. Charleston. It’s a 45-minute drive from Vegas and into the Spring Mountains. I hiked the Mary Jane Falls trail, which is a quick out and back trail that’s about 3 miles altogether. The trail takes you up to the falls, though because the falls are a result of snow runoff, it is only fully gushing in the spring. However, the views at the top are incredible, and if you hike about a quarter of a mile more, you can climb up to a cave that has the most incredible overlook.

Drive through Valley of Fire State Park

This was my absolute favorite nature excursion we did. Located about an hour from Las Vegas, this state park is red rock heaven in the middle of the Mojave Desert. What I like about this park is that you can drive from end to end and still see everything in one day. Just park your car at the various stopping points and walk around for a bit! Here were a few of my favorite stopping points:

1. Beehives: This is the first stop if you’re entering the park from the east side. I loved the contrast in this area between the desert mountains and the red rocks.

2. White Domes: This short 1.5 mile hiking loop was super fun! You get to walk through sand and huge white rock formations until they tower above you. About a half mile in, you get to walk through a beautiful slot canyon.

3. Mouse Tank Road: Take Mouse Tank Road (past the visitor center) up to Rainbow Vista and park. Cross the street and then walk down a bit (there’s no trail, just walk on the rocks) for an insane overlook of the road dipping below the mountains in the background. This is probably the best spot in the entire park for pictures!

Seven Magic Mountains

Hidden in the desert just outside of Vegas is this unique and FREE art instillation. These painted boulders are the perfect background for your next Instagram post! I arrived around sunset and there were a lot of visitors, so I recommend going early. BUT I did spot quite a few people picnicking to watch the sun set over the desert, which was such a vibe.

Address: S Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89054

The Vegas Strip

You can’t come to Vegas without walking the Strip. It’s basically like adult Disney World! Pop in and out of the various resorts to experience the different attractions of each hotel. Each hotel creates a different experience, like Paris Las Vegas or the Venetian.

Explore the Flamingo Habitat

One of my favorite experiences on the Strip was watching the flamingos at the Flamingo Resort. The hotel has a free exotic bird habitat where you can watch the flamingos hang out in the Vegas sun.

Look Over the City at the STRAT

Ride the elevator to the top of the world, all the way to the 108th floor of the Sky Tower. That’s taller than the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building! The indoor and outdoor viewing decks both have full views of the glittering Las Vegas skyline. You can even grab a drink at the 108 Bar, or if you’re feeling adventurous, bungee jump from the side of the building (props to you if you do!).

Watch the Bellagio Fountain Water Show

This is a MUST when walking down the Vegas Strip. The fountain show runs every 30 mins before 8 PM and every 15 mins after.

Views from the Highroller Ferris Wheel

Take a spin on Vegas’s enclosed Ferris wheel at the LINQ Hotel. Tickets range between $25-$37, depending on what time of day your ticket is for.

Fremont Street

Jam Out at Life is Beautiful Festival

LIB is the BEST music festival I’ve ever been to! The festival shuts down Fremont Street and the surrounding blocks for this multimedia festival that merges music, art, and comedy performances. So many of my favorite music artists performed the year I went: Green Day, Illenium, Meg the Stallion, All Time Low.

Zipline Across the Vegas Streets

No Vegas bucketlist can be complete without ziplining down Fremont Street! You can cruise the Slotzilla Zipline either Superman style or bottom down, for either $59 or $39, respectively. You do have to schedule your timeslot in advance, so put your name on the list as soon as you get to Fremont Street.

Vegas is a must for your bucketlist! Take a break from the party and pick an adventure of a lifetime. What adventure would you choose in Vegas?

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