Everyone knows that Las Vegas has a certain stereotype associated with it. Obviously, every single citizen of Vegas lives in a casino, and obviously, every single citizen has a gambling addiction. Of course, the only things to do around here is gamble and party the day away in a casino. (Please note the obvious sarcasm here.)
Some of the coolest things to do around Las Vegas are as far from a casino as you can get. Here are some of those things.
1. Springs Preserve
Springs Preserve is a beautiful place to learn about the valley's history and culture. With new exhibits opening every season, the gardens and live shows, along with interactive sights, to a great job of teaching even the youngest of the community. My favorite of the exhibits is the beautiful exhibit done during Day of the Dead.
2. The Container Park
The Container Park is a great place for shopping. Located on Fremont Street, this little park is a cute little collection of boutiques and snack places. There's even a tiny playground to keep kids entertained!
3. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
While this attraction is technically located within a casino, the beauty of it as is far from the smoke and gambling as you can get. Every season, the room is transformed into different beautiful scenes--all made out of flowers. Yeah, you heard that right. Flowers. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and definitely worth the trip.
4. The Smith Center
For all you theatre nerds, this one's for you! The Smith Center's one of the most prestigious places here in Vegas but it's also one of the coolest. The shows that come here are absolutely gorgeous, even those that aren't a Broadway production. The gorgeous house and beautiful lobby might just move you to tears before the show even starts.
5. Discovery Children's Museum
Located right next to the Smith Center, this museum is completely designed for children. Interactive echibits show an assortment of subjects, including science and nature. While it is suited more for younger children, there are certain exhibits designed for older children as well. It's a great wway to spend a free afternoon.
6. The Pinball Hall of Fame
This place is perfect for any old school gamers. The entire place is filled with tens of old pinball machines, each in perfect condition. If pinball isn't your thing, there's even some old games like Pacman and Galaga against one wall.
7. The 7 Magic Mountains
This art exhibit is one of the weirdest and coolest things in Vegas, honestly. Made by Ugo Rondinone, these colorful rocks are an instant tourist attraction. Hurry up, though! The attraction is only going to be up for another year!
8. The Mob Museum
This is one of the most underrated places in Vegas. The Mob Museum tells the stories of some of America's most notorious mobsters with videos and pictures that can be a little gruesome. It's really cool, though. It's a piece of history that not many people learn about.
There you have it, folks. These are some of the coolest places to go in Las Vegas that don't contribute to the Las Vegas stereotype.
