Las Vegas is widely considered to be the entertainment capitol of America, if not the world. For adults. For those of us unfortunate enough to be older than what most daycare centers consider “children” but still not 21, Las Vegas is more of a locked theme park than a city. State law prohibits people under 21 from gambling, and minors can’t buy alcohol. Even a trip to Hoover Dam requires that all minors be accompanied by an adult.
However, Las Vegas does have a surprising amount of venues off and on the strip. Mandalay Bay has the Shark Reef Aquarium, and New York New York and the Stratosphere both have roller coasters. Blue Man Group plays at the Venetian, and Carrot Top still hangs out at the Luxor. Planet Hollywood is also home to The Mentalist, if you like magic shows. Treasure island has it’s pirate show, and the Bellagio has its famous fountains open free to the public.
The MGM Grand is home to the famous Rainforest Cafe and the Studio Walk, home to the CSI Experience and the CBS Television City Research Center, where tourists can preview proposed TV shows.
If you’re willing to walk north to Fremont Street, Circus Circus has the Adventuredome theme park, and the Street itself turns into a light show at night. The street is also hosts the Flightlinez zipline that runs beneath the laser light show. East of the Tropicana is the Pinball hall of fame, and the Atomic Testing Museum offers insight into the development of the nearby Nevada Test Site.
west of the strip is the Pole Position Raceway, which offers go-cart racing for anyone with a valid drivers’ licence.
Shopping is always an option, such as the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, and the Las Vegas has outlet centers North of the strip, in addition to the various stores on the strip. Sega has a sizable arcade beneath the M&M store, and the Hawaiian Marketplace offers cheap novelties and T-shirts.
Outside of Vegas, Nevada is known for its beautiful desert landscapes and hiking trails. East of Vegas is Frenchman Mountain, which offers views of Las Vegas and nearby Nellis Air Force Base, and in Henderson is Lake Las Vegas, which offers year-round boating and fishing. If you are willing to make the trip west, Red Rock Canyon offers beautiful desert scenery and vistas of Las Vegas.
Las vegas may be well known for its gambling and drinking, but taking a closer look at the city reveals more things and activities that are not limited by your age.
