If you’ve been around here for a while, or even a little bit, you know Las Vegas is one of my favorite places. Now if you’re not from the southwest I understand that this can make me sound like a complete lush. Even as a travel agent, I find myself justifying Las Vegas as a perfect long weekend getaway. But there have been many trips where I have gone to Vegas and done non boozy activities.

So instead of justifying myself over and over again, I thought I’d compile a list of 15 non boozy things to do in Las Vegas.

1. See a Show
Oh my goodness this has to be one of my faovirte things to do in Vegas. And now with the new TMobile arena, there are even more options of shows to see. I’ve seen a few different Cirque de Soleil shows, Blue Man Group, Jennifer Lopez and so many more different shows while in Las Vegas. And there are so many more shows that I want to see. (Like Backstreet Boys and Britney!) These shows are absolutely fantastic and there are options for everyone’s style.

2. Grand Canyon Tour and the Hoover Dam
The first time I went to Las Vegas, my sister and I joined our parents for a little family vaca. My parents had gone the year before and weren’t really into visiting the Grand Canyon again, so my sister and I woke up early one day, took a taxi to a hotel downtown and hoped on a bus tour to the Grand Canyon. It was pretty interesting learning about the history of Boulder City and how the Hoover Dam was built. Our first stop was the dam, where we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed out to the Grand Canyon. For our first trip out to the West, it was definitely worth the visit.

3. Freemont Street Experience and Zipline
All the way at the north end of the current strip is Freemont Street. This is where the hotels that built Las Vegas are still standing. At night you can head down to Freemont Street via taxi, Uber or even the bus system, and check out the light show. Hanging over a few blocks on famous Freemont Street is a huge screen of LED lights. When I was there last there, the show played lights to classic rock music. And if you’re up for it, there is even a new zipline that runs down the street.

4. Venetian Canals and Gondolas
Just like Italy. Okay maybe not but this hotel is definitely somewhere you can spend the day exploring the high end shops, taking a ride on the gondolas, and ending the night with some pasta. The Venetian is defiantely one of my favorite hotels to get lost in.

5. Seven Magic Mountains
Last summer, after our trip to Vegas to see Garth Brooks, we stopped off of route 15 to see the oh so instagramable pieces of art along the freeway. Check it out here, and next time you’re in Nevada, check out these rocks. They are absolutely enormous and a sight to be seen.

6. Stratosphere thrill rides
Not something that I have done, or will do, but if you are a thrill seeker you need to visit the Stratosphere. Here you can bungee jump, go on a rollercoaster and a set of swings, all sitting 1,149 feet above Las Vegas Blvd. Or if you’re like me you can watch all of the crazies from the observation tower where they have a cute little restaurant. (If you really want to freak someone how, bring them here and don’t tell them about the bungee jumping… then watch their face as someone falls off the side of the building… it’s great.)

7. The Neon Museum Las Vegas
The Neon Museum is a pretty cool stop for any history or entertainment buff. With 6 acres full of old neon lights and signs, these signs show the history of Las Vegas and pays omage to some of the cities most famous attractions.

8. Golf…or better yet, TopGolf
TopGolf came to Las Vegas a few years ago, and now you can’t go there without a wait. Anytime you want to hit some balls, you can head over to the four story dirving range between 9am and 2am, attached to the MGM Grand. There are climate controlled bays where servers can serve you food (or booze) between your practice swings. There are even two pools, VIP cabanas and private suites. Very Las Vegas.

9.Helicopter Tour of the Strip
I haven’t done this yet, but it is definitely on my bucket list. For myself, I may need a little vino to get myself up in a helicopter but for most people, this can be a non boozy activity. I’ve always loved the view of the strip from up high. On my last trip to Vegas, I was that annoying guest at check in asking if there was anything better. I went back three times but the view was pretty good.

10. The Mob Museum
Based in the old Las Vegas Courthouse and Post Office the mob museum was built to show the history of organized crime in the US, which is actually a lot of the history of Las Vegas. This has been a place I’ve wanted to visit in Las Vegas since it opened about 5 years ago.

11. High Roller at the LINQ
The High Roller is new to the strip but has quickly become a part of the Las Vegas skyline. This beautiful, huge Ferris wheel sits right in the middle of Las Vegas Blvd. behind the LINQ hotel. You can take the trip during the day or at night, in a “cabin” with an open bar, or how I like to view it, from the ground at the Promenade at the bottom. Hanging out at the Promenade is a nice little afternoon of stopping in the stores, grabbing a drink at one of the restaurants or bars or even a cupcake at Sprinkles.

12. Fountains of Bellagio , Mirage Volcano and Treasure Island’s Pirate Show

Most people visiting Las Vegas make it a point to check out the Bellagio’s water show that goes off every half hour to 15 minutes each afternoon and night depending on the day. But there are other shows along the strip that don’t get as many spectators. Depending on weather both the volcano at the Mirage and the pirate show at Treasure Island are really cool and fun shows to stop and check out.

Back in the spring my girlfriends and I took the ultimate girls trip to Las Vegas to shower our friend Amy before she got hitched. This bachelorette party was the perfect, quintessential Vegas girls trip done in a very classy, “were entering our 30s” type of way.

I’ve been to Las Vegas for a lot of different celebrations. I’ve gone for my birthday before, friend’s birthdays, to see concerts and shows, but this was my first bachelorette in Vegas. We had a few first timers to sin city, including the bride, and it was so much fun to show them around and do everything Las Vegas.

What we did:
Friday we got in and hung out in our suite for the day and just relaxed. Like I said, we are all pushing 30 and my visits to Vegas now have been a little different than when I first started going 7 years ago. (Grandma’s got to take a nap!) We got ready and grabbed some drinks and appetizers before heading out to a club. Saturday, we woke up early and went down to the Mandalay Bay pool where we split our time between our cabana and the lazy river. Saturday night was our nice dinner out, but more on that later on.

After we had food we did what every, and any bachelorette party in Vegas should do. Thunder From Down Under. And wow ladies, that was an experience. Not something I need to do again but done, complete, checked off the bucket list. After the show, we went up to the Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay which has amazing views of the strop. Oh my goodness. Defiantly one of my favorite spots to get drinks in Las Vegas. You are 62 floors above the strip with panoramic views all the way down to the Stratosphere.

Sunday morning was another early morning, since we had to get up early to get ready for a pool party. We should have known better but it took us a little bit to get moving and we actually didn’t make it to Encore Beach Club to see David Guetta until about 2. Which, honestly, was perfect because I am not sure if we’d all be living if we were there much longer.

Needless to say after day 3 we were all in bed and asleep by 10pm.

Monday morning, since we all had flights at different times, we packed up our room, left our luggage at the bell hop’s desk and headed down to finally explore the strip. This may have been my favorite day because exploring is my favorite part of Vegas. This town is constantly changing. There is always a new show, or restaurant popping up and it had been about 8 months since I’ve been to Las Vegas. Lots had changed.

We got to check out all of the casinos, eat some noodles (which was a big goal on the trip), and watch the water show outside of the Bellagio. I had to head out early to catch my flight, but some of the girls were even able to catch and early Cirque du Soleil show.

Where we ate:

A lot of our weekend, and I mean a lot, was centered around our snacking. We are all big time foodies and defiantly love a good meal. Here are my favorites from the weekend.

Holsteins was our apps and drinks place the first night we got there. I am pretty sure we just ordered one of everything at this cute little place in the Cosmopolitan. We kind of just stumbled upon it while exploring the beautiful Chandelier Bar inside of the Cosmo, and Holsteins had no wait so we decide why not. The lobster mac and cheese was hands down my favorite. But the philly steak egg roll and buffalo chicken dip both came in a close second.

We knew we wanted to do some type of nice, sit down dinner for the night before the male review and when the maid of honor read the reviews for Crush, she knew she had to try it. This MGM restaurant defiantly did not disappoint! Their prefixed, sharable menu was absolutely fantastic. We had arugula salad, veggie risotto, stead, salmon and gnocchi to feed an army. (Thank God for the vegetarians that allowed for that gnocchi to be possible!) Literally not one thing that I did not love. I cannot wait to go back there for dinner again.

The bride did have one major request for the weekend. Noodles on the last day. (You know, so we didn’t have to get in a bathing suit again.) We ate at Noodle in the Bellagio and while the service was a little on the slower side, the food was definitely worth the wait. I was a little basic and ordered their Pad Thai, dim sum and miso soup. A-mazing!

Where we stayed:

Mandalay Bay is by far one of my favorite hotels on the strip that is pretty budget friendly. This four diamond hotel is at the very south end of the strip, just by the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and across from the airport. We had a panoramic queen, two bedroom suite for 8 of us and it was comfortable. With one girl on a rollaway and one on the couch, getting ready defiantly had to be organized and planned out but otherwise, we had plenty of space. I had stayed in one of these rooms before with a big group, and I would definitely recommend it. There is two living areas, that are a little bit separated from each other, two bedrooms sleeping 6, and most importantly, two bathrooms. And our view of the strip didn’t hurt either.

To me, the amenities at Mandalay Bay are really what makes me love it. I love their pool area. With a lazy river, wave pool, adults only area, and Jacuzzis there is something for everyone. Whether you are taking a girls trip, family trip, or couples getaway, everyone will be happy. Last time I went to this pool was in October and there were significantly less families than this time, but that’s what you get around spring break or during the summer in Las Vegas.

How we survived:

So surviving Vegas was something we actually had a discussion about. Actually, a few discussions. We know our limits (well sometimes) and we definitely cannot hang like we used to. We wanted to be able to do everything there is to do, while not draining ourselves so we had built in relaxation time. The first day we got there, everyone was a little woozy from the crazy wind during the landing and waking up on the east coast super early in the morning. So we grabbed some food and laid on the couched in the suite and just hung out. Super teenage girl sleep over status but we needed it before going out that night.

Splurging for a cabana was WELL worth it for Saturday when we just laid by the pool. We had a server for drinks and food, and plenty of food. Water and sleep were also our friends! Best friends. Since I had drove from California I brought a case of water bottles from Costco and we drank every last one.

A lot of people have a weird preconceived notion that Vegas is just clubs and strippers but it really isn’t true. I love Vegas, and I hate clubs… and strippers… Anyone can really have a great time in Vegas.

Weekend in Las Vegas Under $300

Yesterday was my birthday and I wanted to celebrate my 27th in a fun and positive way with my good friends. My sister came out to L.A. to visit for the week and we took a weekend trip to Las Vegas with some of my close friends. None of us really had the budget to do Vegas right. Two of my friends are students still, one is in her first year of teaching and as you know my focus has been paying down my debts. Well we still did it pretty good. Chris got us some amazing hook ups with an amazing dinner and a VIP lounge overlooking the strip from 60 floors up with complementary drinks and our own waitress and security. Security? Not sure who they thought we were but we had our guy.

Even without our amazing night at the top of the strip we had a great weekend without spending a ton of money. Here is how we spent a weekend in Las Vegas.

When you think of Vegas you think of lights, shows, clubs and dollar signs. But there are a ton of things to do in Las Vegas without spending a lot of money. Start by stepping out onto the Las Vegas Strip and walk. The first time my family took a trip to Nevada I walked through every hotel and casino I could. The different themes, architecture and designs are amazing, unique and breathe taking. Below are some of my favorite things to do without opening my wallet.

My Favorite, Free Las Vegas Activities

1. The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio

2. The Bellagio Fountains

3. M&M’s World

4. The Volcano at the Mirage

5. Lion Habitat at MGM

6. Fremont Street Experience

photo credits: gogobot.com, vegaslinks.blogspot.com