8 Fantastic Off-the-Beaten Path Vegas Attractions

Once you finally land in Vegas, its quite hard to draw yourself away from the excitement of The Strip. Totally understable with all the fabulous restaurants, shows, casinos, and endless entertainment. I lived in Flagstaff for several years so I could easily hop over to Sin City for the weekend (and I did many times). However, if you have already been here a time or 2 and are seeking a more unique, offbeat experience, then taking some time to explore away from all the crowds may be a nice change of pace.

After too many buffets, shows, seeing all the main tourist sites, and endlessly walking around the massive malls, I decided it was time to do something different. I really love oddball attractions, and thus, I seek them out all over the country. For those willing to leave the glitz and glamour behind (if only for a few hours), there are plenty of exciting and eclectic activities to keep you busy. Here are a few of my top picks. As a bonus, many of these activities are pretty cheap so you may save a few bucks in the process.

1. Pinball Hall of Fame

Located just minutes away from all the casino action is an old-school gem known as the Pinball Hall of Fame, home to the largest collection of pinball machines in the world! Nostalgia overload hits anyone who grew up spending their free time in old-fashioned arcades. While I wasn’t alive during the main heyday, I do remember the day of claw machines in pizza restaurants and arcades in 7-11.

As soon as you step in the door, you are taken back in time, back to the days where everything was simpler, cheaper, and more fun! From a classic Simpsons pinball machine, to a Super Mario’s Brothers joystick arcade game, to one of those old time claw prize machines, this place is so much fun for those of us who grew up in the 80’s. Really, I could stay in here all day.

The large collection includes pinball machines from the 50’s-90’s. And fortunately, the pricing is also more in line with the past with games ranging from just 25-50 cents! Where else can you walk in with just 5 bucks and leave happy?! Unlike the casinos which more often than not do not provide a great return on investment, The Pinball Hall of Fame is a bargain. And all ages can enjoy some fun here so it doubles as a perfect under 21 activity.

Update: The Pinball Hall of Fame has moved into a bigger space right on the Strip. The new address is: 4925 Las Vegas Blvd S (across from the Mandalay Bay).

2. The Neon Museum

The Stardust, Fitzgeralds, The Aladdin…have you ever wondered where all these old neon casino signs actually end up? Lots of casinos have come and gone over the years and the remaining signs have to go somewhere, right? Fortunately, a wonderful museum started preserving these vintage treasures in 1996.

Today, some of us can reminiscence about the old days of Vegas before LED technology began to take over. My first vacation here was long after most of the big signs retired, but I have seen all the old signs in various movies. I admit that the neon is so much more appealing and eye catching than the new signs dominating today. We learned during our tour that YESCO, a leading sign manufacturer, donated many of the neon signs. These flashy signs were stored in their “boneyard.”

Touring The Boneyard should be a blast for anyone who used to vacation here in the old days. Tours run both day and night, although nighttime tours sound pretty cool as 19 of the signs have been restored and lit up. For just over 20 bucks a person, this attraction is a real steal. You get to learn about the history of Neon signs, take some really cool photos, and enjoy a quiet setting away from the commotion. On one negative note, it was so hot (prepare for no shade although they do provide umbrellas). Check out some of the cool signs we saw during our visit.

3. Red Rock Canyon

For those who have never ventured away from all the action, Nevada is actually a pretty gorgeous place with so many beautiful state parks and recreational areas to explore. Really, minutes after leaving, you are transported into a totally different world. I lived in Nevada a few years back so I already appreciate the wonderful mountain scenery that is often overlooked.

Recently, we decided to take a daytrip out to Red Rock Canyon. One of the benefits of living within driving distance is being able to plan all these cool daytrips to natural wonders.

At this local gem, you can choose between 19 gorgeous trails and a 13 mile scenic drive. It’s the perfect activity for hikers, joggers, bikers, and anyone else looking for a peaceful nature escape from the city action.

It was a nice change of scenery from the man made congestion. We took a nice long drive and strolled a few of the shorter trails. Next time, we would love to block out a little more time to see a waterfall.

While it’s hard to pull yourself away from all the action, once you arrive here, the beauty of these colorful towering rock formations will take your breath away. As soon we began this beautiful mountain drive, we completely forgot about all the casinos for a while which is just what we were looking for.

4. Ethel M. Chocolate Factory

Now here’s a reason to motivate some sweet lovers to leave – free chocolate tastings! At Ethel M. Chocolates in Henderson, you can take a free self-guided tour of a working chocolate factory, sample some tasty candies, and even pre register for a more intense chocolate tasting experience (just $25).

Also on-site is a beautiful cactus garden with many varieties of the unique desert plant lining all sides of an easy nature trail. With over 300 species, it’s one of the world’s largest cactus gardens! Assuming the weather isn’t too unbearable, the garden is a really nice place to take a rejuvenating stroll, especially after dealing with endless crowds and loud casinos! This year, we checked out there beautiful holiday display; it was so fun and different to see all the cacti strung with lights.

This one is a good half hour drive, however, there’s plenty more to explore in Henderson including the Lion Habitat Ranch and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

More info on Ethel Factory tours