Topic Of The Week: Non Vegas Related Fun

[Steve]

This week's Topic Of The Week question is:

What is the one thing you've had the most fun doing in Las Vegas that WASN'T a typical Las Vegas thing to do? That would, of course eliminate gambling, weddings, sex, shows, extravagant dining.

I am looking for suggestions for some Topic Of The Week questions. Please email me at mrvegas98@aol.com if you have one.

Steve

[monsterpocket]

The most fun that I have had in a non Vegas activity is that we rented ATV's and spent the day riding in the desert it was a blast and we will be doing it again

[luvmesumvegas]

for me that would the time we went sunset horseback riding. They picked us up from the hotel, we went on a 2 hr ride and they had dinner waiting for us when we returned. Then they took us back to the hotel. It was fun :D (except for all the flys:mad: ).

[jo45an]

We saw the Titanic Exhibition at the Tropicana last year. While this wasn't exactly a "fun" thing to do, it was very interesting and I was surprised to find this genre in any Vegas hotel. I didn't even know it was there, we found it
after we had arrived. Very historically accurate, and there was even a video playing which showed how they managed to retrive some of the artifacts. Next day we went to the Jubilee
backstage tour, and that was definitely a "Vegas thing to do"!

Joan in PA :)

[tryon4]

Now before you reach for the phone to call the man in the whitecoat please listen.
When we get casino'd out (don't tell me it never happens to you), we drive out to MaCarron airport viewing area on Sunset. There is a parking lot there where you can watch the planes coming and going. If you turn your car radio to 98.5FM you can listen to the conversation between the pilot and the tower. It is always very interesting. We have seen some strange landings and takeoffs doing this. It will amaze you just how busy this joint is.
I also go there every morning after my morning drive to read USA Today and have a cup of coffeee while waiting for my wife. I'm the real early riser so I am usually on the road by 5:00 A.M. and some of the sights at that hour of the AM are to say the least different!!!

[MikeinChi]

Earlier this year, when visiting the Red Rock Canyon area, we stumbled upon Bonnie Springs Old Nevada. There's an old mining town plus a very large petting zoo. And I believe there's an old hotel on the property as well, but we didn't see that. The whole place was unexpected and somewhat bizarre. I couldn't believe the number of animals running around - chicks, roosters, turtles, peacocks, sheep, rabbits - and then we saw some old western "shoot-out" in the square of the town (staged of course). We ended up having a blast and are still talking about it.

[Tweeets]

Now before you reach for the phone to call the man in the whitecoat please listen.
When we get casino'd out (don't tell me it never happens to you), we drive out to MaCarron airport viewing area on Sunset. There is a parking lot there where you can watch the planes coming and going. If you turn your car radio to 98.5FM you can listen to the conversation between the pilot and the tower. It is always very interesting. We have seen some strange landings and takeoffs doing this. It will amaze you just how busy this joint is.
I also go there every morning after my morning drive to read USA Today and have a cup of coffeee while waiting for my wife. I'm the real early riser so I am usually on the road by 5:00 A.M. and some of the sights at that hour of the AM are to say the least different!!!

I don't think it's strange at all. I may try it one of these days.

[judyqu]

Now before you reach for the phone to call the man in the whitecoat please listen.
When we get casino'd out (don't tell me it never happens to you), we drive out to MaCarron airport viewing area on Sunset. There is a parking lot there where you can watch the planes coming and going. If you turn your car radio to 98.5FM you can listen to the conversation between the pilot and the tower. It is always very interesting. We have seen some strange landings and takeoffs doing this. It will amaze you just how busy this joint is.
I also go there every morning after my morning drive to read USA Today and have a cup of coffeee while waiting for my wife. I'm the real early riser so I am usually on the road by 5:00 A.M. and some of the sights at that hour of the AM are to say the least different!!!

This is something we make it a point to do at least once each trip. Very busy airport; seems there are always 3 or 4 planes lined up to land.

[sonntex]

We don't do much non-Vegas stuff, but last summer we did make it out to Hoover Dam and also saw the Titanic Exhibition. The only other thing you might call non-Vegas is get lost on the way to visit the Cannery. Never did make it.

[dscs007]

To me the Hoover dam is as Vegas as gambling as it supplies all the power for the strip's lighting and a/c etc. For us, it was a trip out to Bonnie Springs also.

David

[AnnPedi614]

We have done the Valley of Fire and Hoover Dam the same day with my SIL and BIL. That was fun, especially when BIL bought a beer that they charged him the price of the six pack at some gas station out by Valley of Fire, we still laugh about that.

The thing I enjoyed most was the Faberge collection at the Bellagio. We purposely went out to Vegas while it was there, so we could see it. It was amazing. I would still like to go to Russia and Richmond to see more of them, but it was great.........very informative. The coolest thing was a saphirre necklace that had been found in the 90s that one of the jewlery makers must have hidden back in 1917, it was found in a wall of an old building where he used to live.

[KenoMom]

I would still like to go to Russia and Richmond to see more of them.

Before I moved to Richmond, I used to come here almost every year to view the Faberge Eggs for my birthday :)

My non-Vegas activity is to visit the flea markets (indoors at Decatur and outdoors in North Las Vegas) as well as two great antique shops - one on Flamingo near Terribles and one near the airport area. The flea markets over the years have turned sort of trashy but we've lucked out with many nice finds at the antique shops -- an Uncle Sam bank for $5, Howdy Doodie Doll for $7 and even some of the old Ford tools such as wrenches.

Another non-Vegas activity was last year when I was lucky enough to hit Vegas at the same time that a musician friend of mine from Nashville was playing an acoustic show for a folk organization in the area. It was held in a small place off the strip...just about 30 of us. Bare bones but some of the best music that you'd find, without the casino noise for distraction. I even won the doorprize - an overnight stay at a hotel in Jean, NV which I passed on to one of the musician's relatives that had attended the function that evening.

[Podie1956]

I'm really surprised the airport observation area and radio broadcasts are still going on. They fenced off all areas even close to where the planes approach the runways in Orlando soon after 9/11 due to sniper fears.

I like to "escape" by going to Red Rock or Valley of Fire. I get a kick (literally, if I get too close) out of the wild burros and horses in those areas.

[tryon4]

[quote=Podie1956]I'm really surprised the airport observation area and radio broadcasts are still going on. They fenced off all areas even close to where the planes approach the runways in Orlando soon after 9/11 due to sniper fears.

M'Carron was fenced off just after 9/11 but it reopened about 6 months later. Security is constant. The area is so open it would be difficult to do anything. Also there are a number of people who use this area as their hotel.:confused:

[cindyinnj]

I don't have a non-related Vegas thing that I did! :( I could say Hoover Dam, but I agree with dscs007 that the dam is part of a "Vegas thing". Whenver I come to LV, I always do "Vegas stuff". Perhaps my next trip I might have one. I plan on doing the horseback riding dinner tour or a ghost town/gold mine tour.

[Boston_Bill]

This week's Topic Of The Week question is:

What is the one thing you've had the most fun doing in Las Vegas that WASN'T a typical Las Vegas thing to do? That would, of course eliminate gambling, weddings, sex, shows, extravagant dining.

I am looking for suggestions for some Topic Of The Week questions. Please email me at mrvegas98@aol.com if you have one.

Steve

Um.......... OK I guess the one thing sitting in Krispy Kreme downtown having coffee and a donut enjoying the morning air.

[Steve]

I love people watching. In the morning I will sit with a cup of tea on the MacDonalds balcony next to Harrah's. People are so interesting. Another great people watching spot are the benches in front of the Barbary Coast.

Steve

[Tweeets]

I guess the most non-Vegas thing we have ever done is attending Sunday Mass in Henderson. :)

[smmoo]

I've been to Little League Baseball games and Flag Football games. I've been to a gymnastics demonstrations and to a half a dozen local parks. I've been to several different churches for Mass and to every non strip museum there is. I've been to Bonny Springs with a 2rd grade class and once to a State Fair a few miles out side of Vegas. I've been grocery shopping and clothes shopping and Christmas shopping. Probably a lot more things I'll think of later:eek:

[iam4nd]

When we are in Las Vegas on Sunday we normally attend mass at Guardian Angel Cathedral just off the strip near the Wynn. Not surprisingly, the choir and musicians are amazingly talented. Certainly not your everyday volunteers. A few years ago we were there for Easter mass and the voices and music were incredible, almost like going to a show.

I suppose most of you have heard the story about people putting slot tokens and gaming chips in the collection basket at Las Vegas churches. They say that these are all taken to a monastery out by Mt. Charleston where they are divided up per casino property so they can be cashed in. Once every few weeks one of the friars takes them into town to redeem them for cash to be redistributed back to the local churches. He is known as the "chip" monk.;)

[Boston_Bill]

I love people watching. In the morning I will sit with a cup of tea on the MacDonalds balcony next to Harrah's. People are so interesting. Another great people watching spot are the benches in front of the Barbary Coast.

Steve

My favorite places to people watch are NYNY either at the bar at Gallaghers or the other bar where they have bands at night. Also love sitting and cooling off in the Forum Shops.

[magicfish]

Gotta be a trip to Mt. Charleston. So Un-Vegas that we couldn't believe it. What a great day!

[dreamcatcheril]

In the summer, I got to drive, a cousin got to say turn left, turn right, I had no idea where we were. Up some moutain we went. There we saw a ski lift and we had lunch in some German place where I was forced to watch an oompa pa band with 4 grown men waring leather shorts play oom pa pa ooom pa pa over and over.

[LaVerne]

There are some great places located with a few hours drive of Las Vegas. We love Death Valley, Valley of Fire state park, going down to Laughlin for a day, and one of the most fun places is Oatman, Arizona. This old western town is just off Interstate 40 off of old Rt. 66. The donkey's come out of the hills and spend the day roaming the streets and waiting for the tourist to buy a bag of $1 carrots to feed them. They are really tame and the children love them. Also the old hotel is located here where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon. It is free to roam around the old hotel and see their room. It's amazing how small the rooms were back then. Also, area 51 is with a short drive. There's a lot more to see in the vegas area than just the casinos.

[Irishsis]

As i read these posts I am raking my brain trying to think of something "non-vegas" and in probably over 50 visits I have NEVER done anything that has not involved gambling, drinking, eating, a show or a wedding...I have never even been to the Hoover Dam:p Well I am going on the 24th of March, maybe I can sneak something in.......but i doubt it:D

[Mr.C]

I have been reading all the postings for quite a while without contributing. It just hit me I always stop at several Pawn shops,whenever I am in Vegas, not to pawn but to buy! I always go with some one, for some of the areas are questionable, however the rewards are unbelievable!!

[Johanna7]

In January we visited the Las Vegas rubber stamp store on Sahara Blvd. east and it was quite a revelation.

We have been - over the many years - to all the other things around Vegas, some many times such as Laughlin, Primm, Lake Havasu City, Death Valley, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam numerous times including the Hard Hat Tour and boat rides on Lake Mead, you name it.

The stamp store stands out. Wow - they have rubber stamps from all over the world. A nice couple runs and and they have 3 dogs and 3 cats in the store and they are very friendly animals. Their stamps are really lovely and they sell related items like cardstock, stamp pads. Some used for a quarter and they are pretty good.

Next time I am visiting them again. It is a bit out of the way but you can take the Deuce bus to Sahara Ave and the (I think) 304 bus east to a commercial plaza, cross the street, pass a High School that looks like a factory (small one) Trinity High School, then pass Zingers Night Club, turn left and there it is. You must ring 2 bells and they will let you in.

Loved it. Got some very interesting stamps including a few Las Vegas ones that go nicely with my pictures. Also some Paris ones which fit right in.

Johanna

[hipster818]

Now before you reach for the phone to call the man in the whitecoat please listen.
When we get casino'd out (don't tell me it never happens to you), we drive out to MaCarron airport viewing area on Sunset. There is a parking lot there where you can watch the planes coming and going. If you turn your car radio to 98.5FM you can listen to the conversation between the pilot and the tower. It is always very interesting. We have seen some strange landings and takeoffs doing this. It will amaze you just how busy this joint is.
I also go there every morning after my morning drive to read USA Today and have a cup of coffeee while waiting for my wife. I'm the real early riser so I am usually on the road by 5:00 A.M. and some of the sights at that hour of the AM are to say the least different!!!

I never thought of that, but that sounds just like the thing that my wife and I would enjoy. We'll have to try that next time we go. Thanks for the tip.

As for us we always enjoy going to the mall and people watch. What makes Fashion Show Mall so different is that the place is international and there are so many different people and just a fun to feel to watch people there. On top of that the walk there is always allow us to some fresh air.

[slugr]

La Verne I have done all the things you said several times. When you take out friends you have to show the other wonders that don't cost an arm and a leg.

[Bookkeeper]

Took a cab to Cashman Field to watch the Omaha Royals play the 51s. It was bat night. We got a small plastic bat with the 51s logo on it. They have a great designated driver program. If you sign up, you receive several soft drink, O'Douls coupons. If you want more, just go back to the kiosk and get more!
We wore our KC Royals shirts (Omaha is their minor league team), and took a lot of ribbing. Oh, well, that's part of the fun.
When we left the stadium, we saw teenagers handing out loaves of Sara Lee Delightful bread. They had racks and racks of it. People were taking 4-5 loaves apiece!! It was not fun waiting for the cab to pick us up. It took forever, and we were among the last 3-4 people to leave the stadium. It was kind of scary. It's not like we could walk back to our hotel. But I would do it again in a heartbeat!

[westie]

We have done quite a bit of birding over the years in the greater Las Vegas area. Best spots have been the Spring Mountains, Corn Creek Field Station @ the Desert National Wild Life Refuge, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (aka Henderson Sewage Ponds), Wetlands Park Nature Preserve (end of E. Tropicana), Red Rock Canyon and Sunset Park.


We also always check to see if there are any art & craft shows running in the immediate area while we are in town. To date we have gone ones held in Boulder City (the best), Summerlin, Lake Las Vegas and downtown Henderson.

[Hockey53]

My wife and I go to watch the L.A. Kings hockey team play a preseason game(Frozen Fury) at the MGM Garden Arena every year in September.