Las Vegas is a city of luxury, a place that practically begs its guests to indulge in a richer lifestyle, but there is more to do here than booze and club hop; Las Vegas is home to some of the most over-the-top experiences we’ve ever encountered from chartered helicopter rides to tasting menus that never end. You’ll be so thrilled to share your vacation with friends that you’ll happily buck the “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” tagline in order to spread the word about your best vacation yet. So, book a flight—it’s east to get here from Stockton thanks to Allegiant airlines—and escape to Las Vegas with a vow to have the best weekend ever, one filled with lush new experiences and plenty of good food, drinks, and adventure. Use our list to help you build an itinerary that is uniquely “Vegas.”
Rent a Private Cabana by the Pool
A day by the pool sounds like the perfect way to unwind after a roaring good time, but don’t settle for just any old lawn chair by any old pool. Vegas is full of options for just this kind of activity. At Tao, the vibe is more chill than raunchy singles, and private cabanas offer refuge from the sun. Order up a pitcher of flavorful vodka lemonades and sip poolside while you canoodle with a loved one or go all out and book the outdoor “room” overlooking the pool where a large group is the center of the party—and it’s usually a party inside. To get in you’ll line up at the Tao club entrance and wait for the concierge. When you’ve been approved, you’ll be led upward to the rooftop deck. Keep in mind, this is a topless venue, and while many of the guests stay fully clothed, some may choose to let loose. 3377 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 388-8338, TaoLasVegas.com
Ride a Helicopter Over the Strip
See Las Vegas like you’ve never seen it before, getting a bird’s eye view of the city from the sky. Helicopter tours of the strip allow visitors to see the skyline in all of its lighted glory. At Maverick Helicopters, tours take about 15 minutes and begin with a champagne toast. After the toast, guests are loaded into a copter and take off for the sky. Fifteen minutes allows for a full trip across the famous Las Vegas Strip, so riders can see everything below them. 6075 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Enjoy A Bottle of Champagne with a View at Skyfall
Skyfall is the ideal place to start a night out on the town. Arrive early so you can toast with a bottle of bubbly and a charcuterie platter as you wait for sunset. The view here is unparalleled, offering a panoramic look of the city from up in the sky. The vibe is decidedly casual, featuring laid back music and an easy place to converse with friends as you see the city from every angle (but cocktail attire is encouraged). As the sun descends, the Las Vegas strip comes alive with twinkling lights that’ll beckon you outdoors, but if you’re not ready to leave the chill of Skyfall behind, step next door where Rivea takes you into dinner hour, serving French and Italian influenced cuisine overseen by Chef Alain Ducasse. Expert Tip: Stay here. Skyfall hosts a daily sunset hour from 7:30-8:30 PM including a champagne toast exclusively for guests of the hotel. 3940 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 632-7888, DelanoLasVegas.MGMResorts.com
Lunch at Spago in Vegas
There is certainly no shortage of places to eat in Las Vegas, but for a truly spectacular meal, you’ll want to visit Spago by Wolfgang Puck inside the Bellagio hotel. Check the listings to ensure you get a daytime sighting of the fountains going off (weekends only) while you sip champagne on the back patio. Meal highlights include decadent, homemade sandwiches like the grilled chicken sandwich (pictured) finished with smoked bacon, avocado, heirloom tomatoes, and served with French fries, or a NY sirloin steak salad featuring market vegetables, black peppercorn ranch, and maytag blue cheese. The starters list is just as impressive, boasting delicacies such as spicy tuna tartare or a half-dozen oysters. We filled our plates with shareable sides like the charred sugar snap peas dressed in a lemon vinaigrette and broccoli rabe served with garlic, chili, and anchovies. Finish your meal with a spiked lemon, a dessert made of Japanese yuzu cream, chiffon cake, and citrus mousse decked out with real gold flakes (yes—in Vegas you can eat gold). 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 693-8181, Bellagio.MGMResorts.com
Sip Boozy Milkshakes at Holsteins
Holstein’s is celebrated for its easy menu of “the best burgers in Las Vegas” but that’s not the only food you’ll be clamoring to get your hands on. Holsteins is also home of the bam-boozled shake, an alcohol-infused dessert that tastes as good as it looks. Scoops of ice cream make the base and the top is piled high with decadent toppings—for only $15 each. The Campfire Smores option features marshmallow vodka, graham crackers, chocolate sauce, toasted marshmallows, a chocolate pocky stick, s’mores chocolate balls, chocolate-covered graham crackers, vanilla frosting, and a graham crumble (pictured), but it’s certainly not the only one on the menu. Choose from options that pack cotton candy on top or feature specialties like Oreo candy canes. Expert Tip: In the same food court sits another ice cream shop dubbed Milk you might want to try. Hold the alcohol here—these scoops play with cereal for a unique spin on the favorite treat. As it melts, you end up with a base to drink your desserty breakfast. 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 698-7940, HolsteinsBurgers.com
Sip Absinthe Cocktails at Absinthe (the show)
Don’t even think about stepping foot into the tent outside of Caesar’s Palace if you’re easily offended by anything. Spoiler Alert: we watched a woman from the front row walk out after the MC gave her a proper roast. It’s par for the course at Absinthe where absolutely nothing is PC (politically correct). From over-the-top bedroom jokes to a host that proves no topics are off limits, the sexy tale of that little green fairy will leave you with mouth gaping open, in awe of the spectacular acrobatics and the no-hold-bars jokes coming from every direction. Pick your jaw up off the floor and enjoy the show—and don’t forget to order up one of the signature Absinthe cocktails offered (and no, it doesn’t really make you hallucinate). 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (866) 227-5938, Caesars.com
Drive Your Own Excavator
Dig This! is a unique experiences with locations in New Zealand and Las Vegas (so it’s not exactly something you can do just anywhere). In a large dirt lot off the strip, play basketball with buckets and race your friends to fill giant holes that you scooped yourself. Depending on the package you pick you may also get the chance to operate a bulldozer—and even the youngest kids can get involved with a special sandbox filled with mini machines they can man. Experiences last from 30 minutes to three-and-a-half hours and range from mini excavators and skid steers to full-sized diggers and bulldozers. The most expensive option on the menu is akin to a rage room outdoors. An aggression session lasts 30 minutes and allows guests to use a 30,000 lb.-Caterpillar excavator to crush, smash, and basically destroy, a used car. Safety Tip: No one will be able to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system so stop by here before you hit happy hour. 800 W. Roban Ave., (702) 222-4344, DigThisVegas.com
Dine on Caviar and Cotton Candy at NoMad
Inside the luxurious NoMad hotel is NoMad Restaurant, a high-ceilinged eatery with a library theme. Among the shelves of books, diners eat meals of crab cakes, filet mignon, wild salmon, and lobster fra diavolo. Extras like foie gras mousse and ridiculous mac n cheese finished with Alaskan king crab and black truffles are delivered with poise. Two of the most delicious items on the menu, however, are the caviar presentation (a charcuterie of sorts spilling over with accompaniments) and cotton candy, playfully presented at the end of your meal. If you’re dining with a group, you’ll want more than one dessert—or at least one big enough to feed the table. The Baked Alaska, rich in flavors of strawberry and lime, is served tableside flambé making for an unforgettable end to your meal. Expert tip: for something light, finish your meal with the milk and honey dessert, a honey-oat shortbread served with brittle and ice cream. 3772 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (833) 706-662, NoMadLasVegas.MGMResorts.com
Have the Meal of a Lifetime at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
There may not be a meal more decadent in Las Vegas that one had at Bazaar Meat, the upscale steakhouse inside the SLS hotel (Sahara Las Vegas). You can’t go wrong with any dish here, but for an experience unlike any other, go full boar into the specialty tasting menu where courses come out in the most peculiar ways—one is even draped across the antlers of a metal deer’s head. There are two options, the more extensive including a bagels and lox cone drizzled with dill sauce, smoke and ice fresh oysters with an apple mignonette, an extravagant selection of cured meats, a buttered potato puree, and dessert sampler, to name a few. Expert Tip: Don’t forget to indulge in a cocktail here. The magic mojito is served over cotton candy in a martini glass and the foggy hill negroni is its own expert blend made with sweet vermouth and aperol. 2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 761-7610, SaharaLasVegas.com
Sight-See in a Lamborghini
Much of the action is on the strip in Las Vegas, but there are some cool attractions a little farther out, like the seven magic mountains—a painted display of colorful rock towers—or the infamous Hoover Dam. However, with this sort of vacation, an Uber simply won’t do. Royalty Exotic Car Rentals has a green Lamborghini that is sure to be a showstopper as you ride through Las Vegas in style. Plus, it’s the perfect way to see the sites. Rent the car for your whole stay, or just one day. 4305 Dean Martin Dr. #120, (702) 919-5616, RoyaltyExticCars.com