The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
The Welcome to Las Vegas sign is an iconic staple that was built in 1959; it stands at 25 feet tall (which is much smaller than expected in person). This sign is a quick uber ride from the Las Vegas Strip and is only a 15 minute walk from Mandalay Bay. It often has tourists lined up to take photos, so if you want to avoid this line you can head over to the left side of the sign and take photos in between groups (or even just crop them from your photo). While there is no cost to access the sign, there is usually photographers that will offer to take "professional" photos; I wouldn't recommend them as they are often overpriced and just take cheesy tourist photos. Have fun with this location and take your time to get the perfect photo by avoiding the tourist line completely!
2. Neon Museum
The Neon Museum allows you to look back through the history of Vegas via one of their signature features; NEON SIGNS. Tickets are $20USD for tourists and $16USD for locals. Note that at this location tripods, outfit changes, video recording and large bags are not permitted. The museum is open from 3pm-11pm on most days. You can also buy a membership and visit for free! It is a 10 minute drive from the Las Vegas strip at 770 Las Vegas Blvd N. This museum has a variety of different signs and iconic spots for photos, so take your time to enjoy it.
3. The Venetian
The Venetian hotel is one of the classiest hotels in Vegas with high ceilings, ancient architecture and CANALS! I felt like I was living a boujee lifestyle just by walking around this hotel. There are so many aesthetic places to take photos here from restaurants and shops to floral walls and even venetian canal boats (which you can pay to ride on). This hotel is a European dream and is best for classy and elegant photos. This is definitely the place to go for all the high class vibes!
4. Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic mountains are an art installation just 25-30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15. These colourful rocks were originally a temporary piece, but since they were so popular they are now here to stay. They are free to visit and they will leave you with the most magical and colourful photos for you feed. It can definitely get busy at this location so arrive shortly after sunrise if you'd like photos with no people in the background. Also keep in mind that there are no restrooms on site aside from one outhouse that is pay to use. Seven Magic Mountains was produced by the Nevada Museum of Art and Art Production Fund. Check out more info on this installation at here.
5.Luxor Hotel and Casino
The Luxor Hotel and Casino might be a little far from the heart of the strip, but it has one of the cutest pools in Vegas. It imitates Egyptian architecture and even if you're not staying here, the pool is super easy to access. You can rent pool cabanas for a decent price and they always have tons of chairs for laying out in the sun. Inside the hotel there is a variety of fast food restaurants and shops to explore as well. Plenty of rotating shows are also available in the Luxor hotel. We saw the Americas Got Talent show and it was such a good choice. Luxor is definitely one of the older hotels but it definitely has a lot of heart!
6. The Eiffel Tower
This replica of the Eiffel Tower is attached to the Paris Resort and Casino is near Caesar's Palace. It is beautiful during the day for bright and fun photos and at night it lights up and sparkles with the rest of the Vegas scene (with light shows every 30 minutes). Day or night, this replica is the perfect photo spot from every visible angle. Classic French cuisine is available at the restaurant in the tower for brunch and dinner; reservations recommended. You can even pay to have the Paris Eiffel Tower experience with access to the viewing deck. Locals and students can receive a 50% off the viewing deck discount with valid ID. To book your experience or check out more info you can visit here
7. New York, New York
Want to visit New York while you're in Vegas? This is the place! This hotel has an amazing replica of the New York skyline all built in to one hotel on the Las Vegas strip. You can even ride the Big Apple Rollercoaster for only $17USD. This hotel has plenty to offer aside from its eccentric exterior. You can explore entertainment, restaurants, the casino and more! Tons of classic New York cuisine is available inside and its rumoured that they get tap water transported directly from New York to make their pizza taste like the real deal. We went to New York Bagel shop while we were here and the pretzel hotdogs were to die for!
8.High roller at the Linq
The high roller is the worlds tallest Observation wheel that gives a 360 degree view of the Vegas strip. It stands at 550 feet tall and it takes about 30-40 minutes to complete one revolution. Adult tickets at 34.75USD at any time for a regular ride and $60.00USD for a happy half hour (unlimited drinks). I would definitely recommend reserving tickets in advance as it can get booked up pretty quickly. Tickets can be purchased here.
9.Excalibur
The Excalibur truly brings all your princess dreams to life! Although it's one of the cheapest hotels on the strip, it's super fun to explore the exterior of the hotel. The whole hotel resembles a giant castle from a fairy tale with dragons, stone bridges and more. This hotel is really huge so it took me a while to find this photo location. When you get there, ask for directions to the front of the building to find this exact spot! The Excalibur is also the home of the famous "Dick's" restaurant; if having your server purposely be mean to you is your thing, check it out!
10. Take a Hike!
Around the Las Vegas area there are tons of locations to hikes and trails to visit. This specific location is at Red Rock Canyon National Park. Keep in mind that most parks charge an entry fee and close around 4 pm, so get out as early as you can! Other great hiking locations include the Valley of Fire State Park and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. Do your research and see what is best for you. If you don't have a car you'll definitely need to rent one. Service can be unreliable sometimes in the national parks. Get out and do something active in Vegas, the best way to get rid of a hangover is the sweat it out!