Can you also shoot a man in Vegas just to watch him die?
February 19, 2007 6:04 PM Subscribe
[VegasFilter] A friend of mine is heading to Las Vegas for a rock climbing trip with a buddy in March/April. He wants to know about interesting and crazy things to do in Vegas that don't involve drinking or gambling.
His main criteria, besides the no-alcohol and no-gambling exceptions, is that he gets some good stories out of them, and that they involve things he can't really do anywhere else. Other than that, he's open to pretty much anything in the area. I think he's got at least a couple of days out there, so daytrip-type activities probably wouldn't be out of the question.
His main criteria, besides the no-alcohol and no-gambling exceptions, is that he gets some good stories out of them, and that they involve things he can't really do anywhere else. Other than that, he's open to pretty much anything in the area. I think he's got at least a couple of days out there, so daytrip-type activities probably wouldn't be out of the question.
There's always legal brothels. (But not in Vegas itself.)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:11 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:11 PM on February 19, 2007
Are hilarious pictures as good as good stories? I recommend Madame Tussaud's, the wax museum.
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:13 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:13 PM on February 19, 2007
There are a few gun ranges out there that will let you rent fully automatic machine guns.
posted by tkolar at 6:23 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by tkolar at 6:23 PM on February 19, 2007
Be sure to check out these previous threads - 1, 2, 3, 4.
posted by ericb at 6:25 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ericb at 6:25 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Just walking along "The Strip" (Las Vegas Blvd.), taking in the ambience and people-watching is great fun... I was there a few years ago with my former co-workers, and our favorite memories and stories are about things we encountered simply by walking around.
posted by amyms at 6:27 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by amyms at 6:27 PM on February 19, 2007
National Pinball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Virtually all of the machines are set up for you to play, and you have probably never seen so many immaculately maintained vintage machines in one place before. It has brought more than one grown man to tears.
And the change machine has the best odds in town.
posted by toxic at 6:34 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Virtually all of the machines are set up for you to play, and you have probably never seen so many immaculately maintained vintage machines in one place before. It has brought more than one grown man to tears.
And the change machine has the best odds in town.
posted by toxic at 6:34 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Atomic tourism at the Nevada Test Site (if he can get the dates right).
posted by handful of rain at 6:38 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by handful of rain at 6:38 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
I don't know about too many stories they will inspire, but how about a trip to the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon. I enjoyed both.
And he must see at least a couple of shows!
If he's crazy suggest the rides on top of the Stratosphere hotel.
I've been on the Big Shot. Never again.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:48 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
And he must see at least a couple of shows!
If he's crazy suggest the rides on top of the Stratosphere hotel.
I've been on the Big Shot. Never again.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:48 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine is heading to Las Vegas for a rock climbing trip
oops, he's probably already heading to Red Rock.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:50 PM on February 19, 2007
oops, he's probably already heading to Red Rock.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:50 PM on February 19, 2007
Seconding the Hoover Dam, especially if they still offer the hard-hat tours.
posted by Joh at 7:59 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by Joh at 7:59 PM on February 19, 2007
Don't forget that Vegas has some of the most awesome shopping in the western hemisphere. Caesar's, Venetian, and Wynn each have what amounts to an attached (very upscale) mall, and they're all in walking distance of the Fashion Show Mall. There is an antique store under the Venetian that has a very interesting netsuke collection, and it doesn't cost anything to look.
Don't forget the animal exhibits and faux volcano at the Mirage, and the Siren show at TI. And you really ought to ride the monorail, even if it is more of a Shelbyville kind of idea. There's a race track at the north end of town. And if your friend likes hiking don't neglect the Valley of Fire and Lost City Museum. If cooler weather is his thing, Mount Charleston.
I haven't even scratched the surface.
posted by ilsa at 8:09 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Don't forget the animal exhibits and faux volcano at the Mirage, and the Siren show at TI. And you really ought to ride the monorail, even if it is more of a Shelbyville kind of idea. There's a race track at the north end of town. And if your friend likes hiking don't neglect the Valley of Fire and Lost City Museum. If cooler weather is his thing, Mount Charleston.
I haven't even scratched the surface.
posted by ilsa at 8:09 PM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Joh, hard hat tours were alas discontinued after 9/11. It's still an impressive place.
posted by ilsa at 8:10 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by ilsa at 8:10 PM on February 19, 2007
Art Galleries: Jewelry & Minerals of Las Vegas 420 East Sahara Ave has awesome gem/minerals displays, dark rooms with very large quartz crystals internally lit. easy walk off strip.
posted by hortense at 8:24 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by hortense at 8:24 PM on February 19, 2007
as thrill seekers they would go for the free-fall wind-tunnel thing. Expensive as all hell, tho.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 9:20 PM on February 19, 2007
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 9:20 PM on February 19, 2007
A friend of ours just did the NASCAR driving experience, and had a blast. $400 bucks, but he said he'd do it again in a second.
Me, I'm more excited about the buffet at the Bellagio. Damn good food and a whole lot of it.
Or, if he wants to get really crazy.....swinging good times are alleged to be had.
posted by purenitrous at 9:28 PM on February 19, 2007
Me, I'm more excited about the buffet at the Bellagio. Damn good food and a whole lot of it.
Or, if he wants to get really crazy.....swinging good times are alleged to be had.
posted by purenitrous at 9:28 PM on February 19, 2007
OMG, seconding KA at the MGM Grand. I have seen hundreds, possible thousands, of performances of every type, and I have trained in the sort of work that Cirque does...and KA still blew me away like nothing I have ever experienced. Spend the $ for seats near the front.
posted by hsoltz at 7:51 AM on February 20, 2007
posted by hsoltz at 7:51 AM on February 20, 2007
seconding red rocks, amazing hiking and rock climbing, only a few minutes drive outside the city.
posted by nomisxid at 8:21 AM on February 20, 2007
posted by nomisxid at 8:21 AM on February 20, 2007
he might want to consider hopping over towards mojave.
there is a decent chance he can get a tour from the guys doing the jet refuling. also cool: hoover dam. take the helicopter tour they offer right next to it, it's amazing.
posted by krautland at 9:13 AM on February 20, 2007
there is a decent chance he can get a tour from the guys doing the jet refuling. also cool: hoover dam. take the helicopter tour they offer right next to it, it's amazing.
posted by krautland at 9:13 AM on February 20, 2007
2 things on the strip...
Even if he isn't a geek, the Star Trek Experience is good for a few laughs, or if he is, then perhaps it would be a moving experience for him.
I had fun at the indoor skydiving, but then again, I've never done the real thing. Still, how often does one get to hover above an airplane engine?
posted by mikshir at 10:12 AM on February 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by mikshir at 10:12 AM on February 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Oh Oh Oh and I keep forgetting the antique neon lighting museum in the Fremont area. And Chinatown!
As food goes -- and I lived there -- some of my favorite places are Cafe Babareba at the Fashion Show, Kona Grill on Rampart at Charleston (in Boca Park, yet another shopping desination), Osaka on Lake Mead long about Buffalo, and Sushi-ko on Craig near 95. Be advised that "Best of Las Vegas" editors choice is almost always good, but readers choice is often shorthand for "lots of food."
posted by ilsa at 1:39 PM on February 20, 2007
As food goes -- and I lived there -- some of my favorite places are Cafe Babareba at the Fashion Show, Kona Grill on Rampart at Charleston (in Boca Park, yet another shopping desination), Osaka on Lake Mead long about Buffalo, and Sushi-ko on Craig near 95. Be advised that "Best of Las Vegas" editors choice is almost always good, but readers choice is often shorthand for "lots of food."
posted by ilsa at 1:39 PM on February 20, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sanko at 6:10 PM on February 19, 2007