The Neon Museum – Where Vintage Vegas Signs Live On
Las Vegas is synonymous with the glitzy, larger-than-life neon signs that have long lit up the night sky and captured the imagination. But what happens when those nostalgic signs fade or venues close their doors? Thankfully, many find new life at the Neon Museum! This outdoor gallery features over 200 rescued and restored neon marvels from iconic Vegas hotels and businesses.
As you stroll through the main Neon Boneyard, it’s like taking a trip back in time through the city’s rich history. The Callville Bay and Silver Slipper signs conjure up the vintage Vegas of the 1940s and 1950s, while the iconic giant horse from the Hacienda Hotel represents the Rat Pack era of the 1960s. I love gazing up at the towering steel and colored glass letters imagining the streets when they first glowed to life. The museum breathes new energy into these retired relics with an illuminating guided tour and an after-dark experience where signs are selectively relit with their original vibrant splendor.
Beyond the Boneyard, don’t miss the Neon Museum’s visitors center located in the refurbished La Concha Motel lobby, another mid-century gem rescued from the wrecking ball and installed here. With great preservation efforts like these, the soulful spirit of classic Vegas stays alive!
The Neon Museum
770 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 387-6366
Discovery Children’s Museum – Creative Play for Kids in the Heart of Vegas
When you’re traveling with little ones, finding a family-friendly oasis amidst the casinos of The Strip can be challenging. That’s where the Discovery Children’s Museum comes in! Tucked away on the 18th floor of The Smith Center downtown, this hidden treasure is a must with kids.
As soon as you step inside, you’ll know this is their space to play, create, and explore. Budding builders can design houses and skyscrapers using real tools in the construction zone or put on a hard hat to climb on a play bulldozer. Pint-sized foodies will love playing chef at the pizza parlor and grocery store play sets. There are spaces to perform music, experiment with gadgets, make art, and even try on costumes for the stage.
One highlight is the outdoor patio featuring Splash Pad, a water play area perfect for cooling off from Vegas’s heat. Another unique creative space is ARTslab, where kids are encouraged to get hands-on with various art materials to ignite their imaginations. With so many awesome interactive exhibits to spark their curiosity, your kiddos won’t want to leave! The Discovery Children’s Museum shows you don’t have to miss out on kid fun in Vegas.
Discovery Children’s Museum
360 Promenade Pl #100, Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 382-3445
Sunset Park – A Scenic Nature Retreat Right in the City
Nestled in the southwest valley, Sunset Park comes as a verdant surprise in the middle of the Vegas desert. Its rolling grassy hills, shimmering ponds, and shady trees look so lush, it’s hard to believe you’re just minutes from the mega resorts on The Strip!
Spread across over 300 acres, the park is one of Las Vegas’s largest and most popular outdoor retreats. At the center, 11-acre Sunset Lake is stocked for fishing and usually dotted with paddlers in kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards that can be rented on-site. For lazy days, pack a picnic to enjoy on the shores under a pavilion.
Families also flock here to the shaded playgrounds and recreational facilities like baseball diamonds, volleyball and basketball courts, and a skate park. If you’re craving some exercise, lace up your sneakers for the scenic tree-lined hiking trail that loops the lake and riparian wetlands habitat. The best sunset views are from the observation deck atop Sunset Knoll. When the desert heat takes its toll, Sunset Park’s grassy hills, cool lake breezes, and recreational activities beckon as the perfect city escape!
Sunset Park
2601 E Sunset Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89120
(702) 455-8200
The Arts District – Where Creativity Thrives Off The Beaten Path
Just a few blocks west of the Fremont Street crowds, the 18b Las Vegas Arts District has emerged as an inspiring hub for local artists, artisans, and designers. You could easily spend an entire day gallery hopping, mural hunting, boutique browsing, and cafe crawling in this vibrant neighborhood.
Along Main Street and Charleston Boulevard, industrial warehouses now house hip boutiques, studios, and workshops where you can find truly one-of-a-kind fashions, furnishings, and artworks. Not to be missed is Retro Vegas, a treasure trove stacked floor to ceiling with every kind of nostalgic novelty and kitsch. Around the corner, Funk House has beguiling displays of unique art and décor crafted by local artisans.
The Arts District is also home to thought-provoking contemporary galleries like Trifecta Gallery and the Arts Factory galleries. Keep your eyes peeled for stunning murals and street art covering many facades too. When it’s time for a break, stop in the Hop Nuts Brewing jazz café or one of the cute bistros in the 18b Las Vegas Plaza courtyard. The Arts District deserves its own day of creative discovery!
Arts District
Located between Charleston Blvd & Colorado Ave, and S Casino Center Blvd & Hoover Ave
Explore the 18b Las Vegas map for individual shop locations
Lorenzi Park – A Slice of Small Town Charm in the City
In the middle of the bustling city center, Lorenzi Park comes as a nostalgic ode to vintage Las Vegas. Elderly folks chat on shaded benches, while shrieking children frolic about the playground equipment. On weekends, the gazebo hosts family picnics and spirited salsa dancing late into the night. An archway of trees framing historic homes along Lorenzi Avenue adds old neighborhood charm.
The centerpiece of this deceptively simple park is its duck pond. As classic as they come, this pond dotted with turtles and ducks brings joy to kids and adults alike as they tear off bits of bread to feed the quacking fowl. On sweltering afternoons, the park
fountain provides a refreshing oasis.
Lorenzi Park offers a portal to the vintage Vegas of the mid-1900s, before mega resorts dominated the landscape. Soak up the nostalgia, chat with the locals, and savor this humble neighborhood park—a rare find nestled among glitzy high-rises just west of The Strip.
Lorenzi Park
333 W Washington Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89107
The Mob Museum – An Interactive Journey Through Mafia History
No city has a more storied organized crime past than Las Vegas. To uncover these fascinating secrets, pay a visit to The Mob Museum in downtown’s historic federal courthouse and post office building. Through engaging exhibits and artifacts, you’ll learn all about the mafia’s deep influence in building the early Las Vegas casino industry and their role in famous crimes.
Calling this place a regular \”museum\” doesn’t do it justice – it’s more like stepping inside an immersive, interactive experience. Get hands on with one-of-a-kind exhibits like an electric chair once used at Nevada State Prison. Touch a tommy gun or slide your finger across a rum runner’s secret compartment trunk. Take the elevator down to the underground distillery to see how moonshine was made. Spend some time in the speakeasy lounge or see a live Mob trial reenactment.
Beyond the captivating exhibits, the stories shared here are chillingly real – like Tony \”the Ant\” Spilotro’s actual black book of names. From start to grim finish, the Mob Museum offers a vivid glimpse into gangsters’ rise and fall as told through a uniquely Vegas lens!
The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 229-2734
Red Rock Canyon – Striking Natural Beauty Close to the City
You don’t have to travel far from the buzzing Vegas Strip to find yourself surrounded by the stunning natural landscapes of Nevada. Just a 20-minute drive west leads you to the rugged cliffs, canyons, and desert scenery of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Here, you’ll gaze up at towering 3,000-foot sandstone peaks tinted in crimson hues from iron oxide mineral deposits. Get up close to these geologic wonders on scenic hiking trails winding through box canyons and winding gorges. For a peaceful walk, head to the River Mountain Loop Trail encircling the canyon base. More experienced hikers will love the challenge of scrambling up the saddle connecting La Madre and First Creek Peaks for panoramic views.
At the park’s visitor center, be sure to check out the outdoor native plant garden and indoor exhibits that decode the natural and cultural history of the Mojave Desert habitat. Just beyond the bustling Vegas sprawl lies the striking beauty of Red Rock Canyon waiting to be explored.
Red Rock Canyon
1000 Scenic Loop Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89161
(702) 515-5350
Container Park – Where Art Meets Shopping and Dining
Tucked away in the heart of downtown, the quirky Container Park is an unexpected treasure blending artistic spirit and revitalized urban space. As the name hints, it’s built entirely out of repurposed shipping containers! Stroll through an oasis of hip shops, restaurants, bars, and art installations that attract both tourists and locals.
Wander three stories up past murals and fairy lights strung between containers to discover all kinds of boutiques selling gifts, fashion, and artsy accessories you won’t find in the mega malls on The Strip. When it comes to dining, you’re spoiled for choice from BBQ to Hawaiian poke bowls here. Don’t miss the giant, fire breathing Praying Mantis art piece that’s simply hard to explain but totally mesmerizing. Round off your visit with a free movie screening under the stars at the outdoor theater. The Container Park brings communal creativity and welcome quirkiness just steps from the Fremont Street crowds!
Downtown Container Park
728 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 359-9982