Las Vegas Sightseeing: Romantic Views, Spectacular Scenes & People Watching

If you know Las Vegas from TV or movies, you’ll probably expect a lot of glitz, glamour and white tigers. While Vegas has those in spades (at least the glitz and glamour, anyway), there’s more to do than roll craps and nurse hangovers.

If you’re into tours, there are several Las Vegas tours to choose from. You can take bus tours of the city, helicopter tours of the strip, helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon and a host of others that put you on everything from kayaks to the backs of mules. A lot of these are geared toward spectacular/romantic views; if you’re there with a sweetheart, a sunset helicopter tour can’t be beat, especially if you can find one that includes a nice dinner.

If tours don’t float your rubber raft, the city itself offers a ton of fun things to see and explore. Of course, there’s the Las Vegas Strip, nearly four miles of world-class casino resorts. These fantastic hotels have something for everyone; whether you’re taking a family vacation or planning a bachelor party, the strip’s hotspots can fit your niche. Personally, I like people-watching, and the fountains at the Bellagio are a good spot to gawk at gawkers and people reenacting the end of Ocean’s 11.

Of course, you might want to add a little organization to your Las Vegas sightseeing. I recommend this, because you’ll really be able to make the most of time. Idly wandering is great and all, but if you stop by the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Center Bureau (across from the Hilton Hotel), you’ll be able to make an itinerary and probably save some money, too. I recommend Madame Tussaud’s House of Wax. Sure, it might seem a little kitschy, but honestly, all those famous doppelgangers are pretty fascinating, and you can make jokes about your favorite celebrities to their faces without worrying about getting punched out or sued. You’ll also want to go to the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History. This is where the King Tut exhibit ended up following its tenure at the Luxor. For zoo lovers, you can check out the Secret Garden at the Mirage (white tigers, elephants and dolphins—oh my) and the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay is not to be missed.