As an early birthday present, my family and I spent this past weekend in Sin City, and while it lived up to its name "Lost Wages", we still found ourselves enjoying the food, sights, and sounds of the city.

Yet, when you're in the city that literally never sleeps, there's always somewhere to go or something to do, and that means you're always spending money. However, I discovered some pretty cool places totally worth the extra buck.

Here are eight awesome ways (besides gambling) to blow your money in Las Vegas.

---

1. Hash House A Go Go

Bring your abnormally large appetite (or abnormally large hangover) down to The LINQ if you want some delicious and giant grub. They have pancakes bigger than your head, towering stacks of fried chicken, and other dishes guarantee to fill your entire plate. (They also have a multitude of house cocktails if you need a little "hair of the dog".)

2. Fulton Street Food Hall

You can find this gem in Harrah's. Along with a regular restaurant (my fiance recommends their chicken fried steak with sausage gravy), it has a pastry and coffee counter (their pineapple upside down cake is everything), a nook for a variety of nachos and burritos, a pizza place, a noodle bar... You name it.

3. Shark Reef Aquarium

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino houses one of the coolest aquariums I've ever seen. From crocodiles and snakes to exotic fish and sharks, they have it all. The giant jellyfish tank was out of this world, but I thought the shipwreck shark tank came in close second. It's definitely worth a stop, especially if you have kiddos.

4. Purple Zebra

There are a million daiquiri bars in Vegas, but this one is my favorite. You can find it just down the escalator from Hash House at The LINQ. (They also have one in Rio.) All of their flavors are colorfully tasty, and you get to choose from an assortment of crazy cups. You get discounts on refills, and you can add an extra shot for a few dollars more.

5. Hexx

Located in Paris, Hexx is a restaurant powerhouse. They offer modern indoor and festive outdoor seating right on the strip. The service is great, the cocktails are even better, and the food is fantastic. (They even have a candy store next door!) They are on the expensive side, but I promise you won't be disappointed.

6. Madame Tussauds

Though we purchased tickets for this wax museum at the Bellagio by mistake, I was pleasantly surprised. Once we got past the initial creepiness, my mom and I had a blast. We found out you can get married inside the museum, and you also take part in an exciting 4D Marvel Comic experience at the end of the tour.

7. BLVD Creamery

Just outside the Monte Carlo is a dessert dream come true. This sugary shop has everything wonderfully sweet all in one place. Candy, baked goods, ice cream... You can have it all. (I recommend the Not Your Father's Rootbeer Float!)

8. Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life

Let your fan girl flag fly because Planet Hollywood is now home to the Backstreet Boys! This was 95% of the reason we went to Vegas for the weekend, and I'm so happy we did because they put on one heck of a show. They looked great, sounded great, and they threw in a few surprises for the fans away from the stage (*hint, hint*). Go see them before they leave in June, and thank me later!!!