Las Vegas things to do

Few things irritate me more than people putting down Las Vegas by saying there's nothing to do off the Strip or outside the casinos. No, it's not a cultural centre, and I doubt it ever will be, but there's plenty to do - you just have to look for it. The Neon Boneyard is a brilliant way to learn the history of the town, and the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery will satisfy those of you who can't visit a town without stepping inside an art gallery, but Vegas' main attractions are outside. And the beautiful thing about them is that many of them are free, or charge only for parking. 

Speaking of which, I highly recommend you hire a car, at least for a day or two. Taxis are expensive here and car hire is pretty cheap - and if you come to Vegas without seeing any of the natural attractions (Red Rock Canyon or the Hoover Dam is the minimum, if you ask me), you really are missing a huge part of what's on offer. I find the landscape here some of the most beautiful in the world (it's actually a large part of why I moved here) and when I used the word "breathtaking" (which I have a lot in these listings), I'm not exaggerating. The desert has a huge amount to offer - it's up to you to get out there.

Vegas is gloriously manageable since the Strip is so concentrated and most of the attractions don't take long to get through. I've covered a range of things to do from the obvious (the Bellagio fountains and the Welcome sign are essential for first timers) to the less so. And you'll find several ideas for outside trips, too - even if you're not active, I can't recommend getting out into the desert enough. This is America, home of the "scenic drive", after all - you can visit national parks and barely need to leave the car.