Las Vegas Outside the Box
Venture beyond the “usual” & discover 10 fun & fabulous spots in & around Sin City.
Story by Erin Deinzer
Undoubtedly, there are many people who’ve never been to Vegas. If you’re one of them, then by all means — get thee to a Cirque de Soleil show and an endless buffet. But for those who’ve visited the city on numerous occasions and are looking to mix it up a bit, why not take a gamble on these fun-and-fab spots just beyond The Strip?
EAT
Tacotarian dazzles with its extensive menu of recognizable Mexican dishes, all with a twist: everything they serve is plant based. Choose from tacos like the carne asado (made with settan), gabacho (featuring Beyond Beef), or the barbacoa (which uses chili-braised jackfruit). The setting is light and airy, the food is amazing, and you can even do a bit of shopping for Mexican-made or -inspired goods. https://www.tacotarianlv.com/about/
Mention Las Vegas and the word “pasty” in the same sentence and you can imagine what image that might conjure up. But the Cornish Pasty Co. is a G-rated establishment that serves a dazzling array of 25-plus English pasties to tantalize your tastebuds. Consider the following options: Lamb and Mint, (lamb, potato, rutabaga, onion, fresh mint, and red-wine gravy); Guinness Stew (beef simmered in a Guinness gravy with cheddar, potatoes, sauteed leeks, portobello mushrooms, and cabbage), or Spicy Asiago Chicken (chicken, roasted corn, black beans, asiago cheese, hatch chilis, and pico de gallo). Have fun and order more than one; then plan to bring some home. https://www.cornishpastyco.com/menu/
From the tantalizing vegan menu (Pear & Mission Figs, Linguine Pomodoro, Vegetable Curry), to inventive specialty cocktails (Angry Pineapple Margarita, Time to Sparkle, Poison Envy), to creative main dishes (Sticky Duroc Pork Ribs, Blue Crab Fondue, Roasted Jidori Chicken), Honey Salt draws in locals and visitors alike to its location in an upscale shopping mall in Summerlin. Inside, the restaurant welcomes diners via a sophisticated (but not stuffy) farmhouse vibe. Owned by restauranteur Elizabeth Blau and her husband, award-winning chef Kim Canteenwalla, the space is reflective of the couple’s passion for entertaining — which includes building relationships with local vendors, as well as farmers, fishermen, and growers.
The restaurant also hosts special events open to the public, such as the two-hour Farm Table Dinner Comedy Night featuring a welcome cocktail, prix fixe menu, and a comedy show. If you’re simply looking for a spot to spend a few happy hours, Honey Salt has a “Sips & Savors” menu from 3-to-6pm Monday through Friday, with $4 draft beers, $5 house wines, and $6 well cocktails and a handful of tasty nibbles. https://honeysalt.com/
PLAY
When it’s hotter than Hades outside but staying indoors hitting the slots doesn’t sound appealing, putt-putt on over to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino’s KISS by Monster Mini Golf®. The 13,000 sq. ft. glow-in-the-dark course features 18 holes of mini golf surrounded by KISS-themed, custom-designed artwork, stage props, and video screens showing the band playing at past concerts. KISS music surrounds you as you make your way through the course, all while learning about the history of the band. It culminates at the last hole, which challenges you to (naturally!) hit your ball up Gene Simmons’ outstretched tongue.
Once the game’s over, take a bit of time to appreciate the memorabilia on display including drummer Eric Carr’s Porsche (gifted to him when he signed on with KISS), various guitars, and every album cover since the group started — each one signed by individual band members. https://kissminigolf.com/
“Go big or go home” is an apt expression to describe the Pinball Hall of Fame, where hundreds of machines are lined up in rows at the world’s largest public collection of flipper-sided games — some of which date back to the 1930s. You can easily stay entertained for hours and still have enough money left over for the casino slots, as it costs less than a dollar to play each machine. http://pinballmuseum.org/
Ever wondered where old neon signs go to retire? If they’re lucky, it’s The Neon Museum. Founded in 1996 as an homage to the artistry behind neon signs, the collection has morphed into a larger-than-life walk back in time to Vegas’ heyday as a glittery getaway for the rich and famous — and those hoping to rub elbows with them.
The nighttime guided tour is the best way to enjoy the signs. The Main Boneyard, where the tour takes place, contains hundreds of unrestored signs, while various restored signs will light up the night as your guide leads you through their history.
And in true Vegas fashion, the museum recently added a “Neon Night Flight Spectacular” which begins with a helicopter flight above Las Vegas and concludes with a guided tour of the Boneyard. https://www.neonmuseum.org/visit
The Las Vegas Strip can be viewed from space and is known as the brightest spot on earth — where an estimated 12-million lights come on every evening. But if you’re looking to be dazzled by a bit of brilliance indoors, you’ll find it (appropriately) at The STRAT. iLuminate, billed as “the most fun you will ever have in the dark,” was voted Best New Act in America on America’s Got Talent. An immersive mix of dance, lights, music, and humor, it features costumed musicians, dancers, and acrobatic performers wearing glow-in-the-dark costumes. A fusion of dance and technology, it’s a brilliant reflection of the vision and creative talent of Miral Kotb — the woman who conceived and created the process of customized, wireless lighting programs. https://www.iluminate.com/
If you’re a paranormal enthusiast, you’ve likely already heard of Zak Bagans, the host of “Ghost Adventures” on Discovery+. Bagans and his crew are known for investigating scary, supposedly hunted, or “possessed” places around the world. So it’s not surprising that with all those years of poking around in some of the darkest places on the planet he’d open a museum to further connect us with those who’ve departed.
In a property originally built in 1938, The Haunted Museum lures you into winding hallways and secret passages into 30-odd rooms, including one that houses the Dybbuk Box which is said to be “the world’s most haunted object” and believed to house a malicious spirit, and another that features the original staircase from the “Demon House” — an Indiana home noted for its paranormal activity. You can also sign up for the Late-Night Flashlight Ghost Tour Experience, a pricey ($199 pp) but extrasensory opportunity for you to have after-hours access to the museum. Consider bringing a friend or two so you’ll have someone to cling to if things get too scary! https://thehauntedmuseum.com/
STAY
Just like the snowbirds who escape their cold climes and head to the desert for sunshine and warmth, so can Las Vegas visitors go in search of cooler temperatures to escape the desert heat. In just over a half-hour’s drive from The Strip off Nevada Hwy 157, you’ll arrive at the Mount Charleston Lodge, where log cabins with private decks overlook the towering pine trees below in the shadow of the surrounding mountains. Best of all? Each of the quaint cabins offers a fireplace and double-wide whirlpool tub.
The rustic lodge is a calm, quiet, and cozy escape from all that Vegas bling, making it a welcome respite for an overnight stay. https://www.mtcharlestonlodge.com
Sure, you could stay at one of the myriad hotels or casinos in town, but why not do a one-eighty and consider camping? A mere hour’s drove northeast of Las Vegas (and six miles from Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s northernmost entrance) lies Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s oldest state park. Named for the area’s spectacular red and yellow sandstone, the park is a part of the same geologic formation found in Red Rock Canyon.
Pitch your tent, set up camp, then set off to explore the park where Native Americans once hunted, gathered, farmed, and practiced religious ceremonies. Their remaining petroglyphs — easily viewed from the sandy paths and accessible for up-close exploration — cover the sandstone formations, providing a fascinating glimpse into lives lived thousands of years ago.
The 46,000-acre park offers two campgrounds with 72 spots that include a fire pit, water, and picnic table. (Note: The fine, soft red sand will infiltrate any shoes you’re wearing, so consider hiking sandals that are easily cleaned with soap and water.) https://travelnevada.com/parks-recreational-areas/valley-of-fire-state-park/
