It's not exactly sightseeing, but what's been called life-seeing. Or neighborhood tourism. Or simply, doing as the locals do. Beyond the densely developed, heavily themed, world-renowned 3-mile-long Las Vegas Strip are many more options for travelers.
Some visitors may not be intrigued by gambling. Some may be traveling with youngsters. And habitual visitors may be curious about what lies beyond the tourist corridor. Those who live in southern Nevada can go years without setting foot on the Strip and often make recommendations to friends and family not necessarily interested in the hustle and bustle.
Consider, for example, Springs Preserve, a 180-acre regional cultural institution just a few minutes west of the Strip. The birthplace of Las Vegas, where water bubbled to the desert's surface, has museums, galleries, art, vibrant gardens and interpretive trails.
Another outdoors, family-friendly getaway a little farther away is Gilcrease Orchard, where guests are invited to pick apples, peaches, pears, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins (in season); buy already-picked fruits and vegetables like at a farmers market; or simply stop in for a cup of coffee. The farm is closed for the season but expected to reopen in mid-April; check the website to find out when.
Also perfect for the spring are two waterparks where locals love to cool off: Cowabunga Canyon in the far southwestern corner of the valley and Cowabunga Bay in Henderson. Both feature plenty of colorfully imaginative waterslides, lounging pools, fountains and food choices.
Those with kids in tow who need to be back indoors when the weather gets too hot can step inside the Pinball Hall of Fame on Las Vegas Boulevard (but south of most of the congestion). Parking and admission are free, and guests can plug quarters into machines from the decades before computers, tablets and smart phones took over the video game scene.
Foodie havens
Even farther south from the pinball fun is Bootlegger Italian Bistro, a loving callback to what Las Vegas used to be: an intimate space with classic dishes and a stage with live entertainment. Also in the neighborhood for a quick bite is Tacos el Gordo, next to Town Square Las Vegas, an open-air shopping mall with more than 120 shops and restaurants.
In the burgeoning Arts District downtown are vintage clothes sellers, antiques spots, murals, coffee shops, galleries, breweries and restaurants. Symbolizing the area's rebirth is Esther's Kitchen, a beloved spot for seasonally fresh Italian food since 2018 that just last month moved into a building five times as large as its original space.
Bob Taylor's Original Ranch House & Supper Club has been serving shrimp scampi, crab-stuffed mushrooms, prime rib, steaks and other decadent dishes since 1955. And Golden Steer, another Las Vegas institution since 1957, recently added some space but maintained its sweetly nostalgic vibe.
The Golden Tiki on West Spring Mountain Road serves as a gateway to city's Chinatown, with all types of Asian food for all budgets.
On the other side of the Strip, with its northern Thai specialties and extensive wine list, Lotus of Siam (620 E. Flamingo Road) is listed among longtime critic John Curtas' 52 Essential Restaurants. It has routinely garnered national attention and opened an outpost last year at Red Rock Resort, a Strip-quality hotel-casino in Summerlin to the west of the Strip.
More fun stuff
Downtown Summerlin includes an outdoor shopping center with more than 120 shops and Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. Reasonably priced tickets, excellent sightlines, $2 beers on Thursday and giveaways such as Fin the Bat Dog jersey night on April 19 keep locals entertained. (Yes, Fin retrieves bats from his station in the on-deck circle.)
The Beverly Theater in downtown Las Vegas is a new venue for movies and live events. Photo Credit: The Beverly Theater
Just beyond the left field wall is City National Arena, where guests can watch the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights practice, lace up ice skates themselves or have a bite to eat at MacKenzie River Pizza.
Back downtown, just beyond the Fremont Street Experience is the Fremont East Entertainment District, with several bars, clubs and restaurants more attuned to locals. Check out Commonwealth bar, Evel Pie and the Downtown Container Park, a shopping, dining and entertainment center made of repurposed shipping containers.
Not too far from there are the impeccable PublicUs coffee house, charming breakfast and lunch destination Eat and the exquisite Beverly Theater, a 14,306-square-foot film house and concert venue that opened last year. That's next door to Writer's Block, another beloved spot for print lovers with carefully curated selections, book readings and friendly staff members.