10 INSTAGRAMMABLE THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas is known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World" and has become one of the world's premiere travel destinations for good reason. If you thought Las Vegas wasn’t your scene, think again! Though Vegas is known for its fancy hotels and entertaining nightlife, there’s so much more to see, eat and do than you could ever have imagined. Because Las Vegas has a price point for everyone, it is a great destination for a quick weekend getaway or an extended stay.
I was recently hosted on a trip to Las Vegas and I had the opportunity to finally experience all that the city had to offer. Think award-winning restaurants run by celebrated chefs, iconic spots to catch a view of the city, and unique outdoor adventures — all picture perfect to fill your weekend and your Instagram feed!
Getting There: I flew Southwest Airlines from San Francisco (SFO) to McCarran International Airport (LAS) with my hubby. After checking into our room at the Park Hotel Las Vegas, Shahzeb and I were eager to hit the town so we made reservations at Mon Ami Gabi for a delicious French dinner followed by an incredible show, La Rêve, at The Wynn! We spent the next two days exploring Las Vegas and found some of the most Instagrammable things to do!
1. Walk Into A Work Of Art in the Desert: 7 Magic Mountains
Creating quite the impression on the Ivanpah Valley, these colorful stacked boulders created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone are a must-visit while in Vegas! Each tower stands more than 25 feet tall and is made from locally sourced boulders painted in vibrant neon colors. The exhibition opened in May 2016 and was originally scheduled to be on display for two years (scheduled to end this month), but producers are currently working on an extension plan to enable it to remain for several years to come.
Wearing: Elise Navy Jumpsuit by Morning Lavender
2. Snap A Photo at the Las Vegas Sign
Located on the Las Vegas Strip, this historic sign is a great place to commemorate any trip to Vegas. If you're looking to avoid the crowds, come early! I got here around 8:30am to shoot and by 9:15am, families and groups were already forming a line!
3. Sweeten Your Morning @ Donut Bar
I loveee a good trendy donut, and nobody does it better than Donut Bar. Their award-winning donuts were featured on the likes of Food Network, Ellen, Conan and Fox News! If you love an over-the-top donut and are intrigued by the large selection of flavors offered, this is your spot! Arrive early, as the most popular flavors sell out quickly! What to Order? The Homer is extremely famous, but was sold out by the time we arrived. I got a cookies & cream and red velvet donut.
4. Ride the World's Largest Observation Wheel: High Roller @ The Linq
The best way to experience a city in my opinion, is from a bird's-eye view! Located 550 feet above the heart of the Vegas Strip, The High Roller is the world's LARGEST observation wheel (yup, it's larger than both the Singapore Flyer and the London Eye). With 28 pods holding 40 passengers each, you get a 30-minute ride with sweeping 360-degree views of Vegas.
Shahzeb and I arrived here first thing in the morning and got a pod all to ourselves! Tickets available here. You can even purchase "Happy Half Hour" tickets to upgrade your experience for an open bar cabin.
5. Enjoy A Las Vegas Style Brunch
If you didn't brunch, did you even go to Vegas?! Some of my favorite spots are Yardbird, Park on Fremont and Le Village Buffet in the Paris Las Vegas.
Brunch @ Park on Fremont
Related: 9 Instagrammable Hidden Gems in San Francisco
6. Take A Lip Smacking Foodie Tour
Lip Smacking Foodie Tours is Las Vegas' #1 Food Tour and after experiencing it for myself, I can see why! Each of their walking food tours takes you to 4 or 5 carefully-selected restaurants in downtown and includes a bit of history of the place and surrounding sights along the way.
I chose the "Savors of the Strip" tour, since Shahzeb and I really enjoy fine dining. Our tour was 3 hours and included five stops where we indulged in gourmet dishes all night long. We were whisked inside the exclusive doors of Vegas’ most dynamic restaurants to enjoy their most renowned menu items, without any lines or reservations — the absolute VIP treatment everywhere we went. I loved our tour guide, and our lively group from all over the world made for such a fun evening!
7. Get Tickets to an Epic Vegas-Style Show
Las Vegas lives to put on a good show and with so many incredible performances to choose from, you'll never run out of options! Shahzeb and I attended Le Rêve at The Wynn our first night in Vegas and remained entertained for the entirety of the show.
French for "The Dream", Le Rêve combined water, fire, swimming, acrobatics and some of the most spectacular effects I've seen live on stage. What I loved most was the intimate nature of the show -- in this theater, no seat was further than 42 feet from the stage, which will give you a great view no matter where you sit!
Photo by: The Wynn Las Vegas
Photo by: The Wynn Las Vegas
8. Drive Through Red Rock Canyon
Shahzeb and I love to escape big cities in search of a little adventure no matter where we travel to. So, off to Red Rock Canyon we went! Red Rock Canyon features a one-way, 13-mile scenic drive with hiking trails, plants, wildlife and geology to explore! You can spend anywhere from 1 hour to a full day here, depending on what you plan to do, as there are multiple hikes and walking trails to choose from. We spent about 2 hours here, stopping to photograph scenic spots throughout the drive. The first couple stops were the most fascinating to me, as they contained the most vibrant red rock formations, and this is where we spent most of our time. Remember: since it is a one-way road, you cannot go backwards, so plan your drive accordingly.
9. Watch the Bellagio Fountains Come to Life
These iconic fountains put on show of water, music and light designed to mesmerize visitors from near and far. More than a thousand fountains magically dance in front of the hotel, with water reaching as high as 460 feet in the air! Show times vary from every 15-30 minutes. Check specific fountain show times here.
Photo by: Bellagio Las Vegas
10. See Retired Vegas Signs at the Neon Museum
Looking for a blast from the past? Stop by and explore the Neon Boneyard, where all the retired Vegas signs lay to rest. Each sign has a unique story about who created it, what inspired it, where & when it was made, and how it fits into the development of Las Vegas and the city's rich past. The tour is pretty history-heavy, so if you're a history buff, this would be a perfect fit for you!
You can also book the Brilliant tour where you'll see static signs come to life, accompanied by the soundtrack of some of the greatest musical performers in history. Unfortunately, this was sold out during my time in Vegas, but I'd love to go back and experience this someday!
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Thank you Southwest Airlines and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) for hosting me during my stay.
As always, all honest opinions are my own.