Once you are in Vegas, you will have many choices to make on how you want to spend your time. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with relaxing by the pool of your hotel all day, but you will probably regret it if you don’t get out there and experience some of the great attractions Las Vegas has to offer. There are a lot of free attractions (which I will cover later) that are very fun, but there are also some great things to do if you don’t mind spending a few bucks.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, your first stop should be the Stratosphere tower, standing at 1149 feet. For 34 dollars you can get an all-day pass to go on all of their thrill rides. This includes the big shot, a 160 foot high rocket launch; “Insanity” the ride which reaches 3 G’s and rotates off the edge of the tower; and x-scream, a 69 foot extreme teeter totter that gives you the feeling you are going to be launched off the top of the tower.
Not included in the 34 dollar day pass is the sky jump. For 110 dollars, you can have the chance to jump off the edge of the Stratosphere tower. But don’t worry; you’ll have metal cords attached to you that will give you a controlled free fall. You will not reach speeds of more than 40 miles per hour, giving you enough time to enjoy the view of the strip as you descend over 800 feet.
If you are in the mood for romance, be sure to head over to the Venetian. For 16 dollars each you can enjoy a beautiful indoor gondola ride. Another romantic must is to head over to the Paris hotel. The Eiffel tower experience is 10 dollars per person. Located 460 feet above the strip, you and your partner can enjoy the beautiful views of the strip. The Eiffel tower at the Paris hotel is exactly half the size of the real Eiffel tower.
If you like animals don’t miss Siegfried and Roy’s secret garden and dolphin habitat. For 20 dollars each you can see a lot of exotic animals, and most of the day you can get very close to the dolphins. Each dolph
in has its own personality, but many of them love to come to the edge of the tank to be touched by humans. Odds are good you will be able to pet a dolphin. If you really want to go all out, you can reserve the chance to be a dolphin trainer for a day. The cost is 550 per person, but it is a once in a lifetime experience.
Also be sure to check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. For 18 dollars each you can pet a sting ray (don’t worry, they won’t pull a Steve Irwin on you), and see many amazing sea creatures from sharks to piranhas.