Vegas is always a good time. But for most people, they only make the trip out for a bachelorette weekend or a birthday party. However, Vegas is the perfect weekend getaway spot anytime of year. With so much to offer, you aren’t doing the town justice if you fail to explore beyond the Strip. Here are 3 under-the-radar experiences you have to check out the next time you’re in Sin City!
Take a Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon
We love taking helicopter tours when we visit new places (read all about how we explored Curacao in one 2 years ago!). And when I was researching unique Vegas experiences, I discovered that the Grand Canyon is so close to Vegas! And we decided to take a helicopter tour with Papillon. They pick you up from your hotel at 5:45 in the morning, you drive out to Boulder City, about 30 minutes from Vegas and then it’s time for your tour!
Once you start flying towards the Canyon, you realize what a natural beauty southern Nevada/Northern Arizona really is!
And not only do you get to see the Grand Canyon, you also fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead! Which are sights to be seen all on their own!
And once you get to the Canyon, you realize immediately why it is a wonder of the world!
The views are just breathtaking!
Explore Fine Dining
Vegas is obviously the nightlife and gaming capital of America, but it is also one of our fine dining meccas as well! With world-class chefs, all having outposts here, you just have to take the time for a nice dinner or two while you are in Vegas! One of the best meals we’ve had in a while was at Michael Mina’s Bardot Brasserie at the Aria Hotel. From start to finish, the meal was fantastic.
Beginning with 2 glasses of Veuve and some tartare, we were impressed from the start. As you all now, we are tartare aficionados and we like nothing better than a straightforward, well executed version. And this was just that. Next up, we tried the fois gras and French onion soup, again perfection.
And for main courses, we had the salmon and ribeye. The salmon’s skin was crispy and the flesh was juicy and ribeye was a perfect medium rare. And the wine parings the sommelier brought over were just the icing on the cake.
And all that tasty food, in the buzzing atmosphere of the restaurant, was the perfect way to end our busy day!
Get the Best View in Town
As you can tell, we love sky-high views. And so we headed over to the High Roller observation wheel. The world’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet, the High Roller gives guests 360-degree views of the Strip. Taller than the London Eye, the High Roller is a truly amazing piece of engineering and has brought something new and exciting to the Strip since it opened in 2014.
Open for rides almost all day long, guests can enjoy the beautiful view of Vegas and snap some great pictures! And for guests over 21, you can even enjoy a “Happy Half Hour” on the wheel. With an open bar for the duration of the ride, your “Happy Half Hour” tickets could be the perfect start to your night out!
You get a different view all throughout the ride, so it is the perfect way to take in all the beauty of Vegas!
Where to Stay
Vegas has so many amazing accommodations, but our choice on our recent trip was the Aria Tower Suites. A chic, luxurious option, right on the Strip, the Aria Tower Suites were great! With a private lounge for Tower Guests only, on the casino floor, amazing views from top levels, and exceptional service, these are certain a luxury traveler dream.
In our “Panoramic Suite” we had views of the Strip and the mountains, along with this amazing bath tub!
Will definitely be back to the Aria Tower Suites!
