Vegas is a great town. Overall, its fairly cheap to stay in and fly into, though food can be pricey. However, the typical idea of Vegas may not sound like it is for you. If you are not into the hustle and bustle, neon lights, and craziness, there are still a TON of things for you to enjoy.

For those who are not into the casinos, don’t feel like Vegas is not for you. Vegas is for everyone! Here are a few suggestions on activities to do in Vegas that do not concern the traditional gambling aspect. (if you do want to gamble, scroll to the bottom to see some of my tips)

• Enjoy a day at Zion National Park. Known for The Narrows, Zion is a perfect place to plan a hike. Trails range from beginner to expect and very in length. There is something for everyone. Even those of us who are not hikers will enjoy a trip to Zion. The beautiful rocks, arches, and tunnels are a photographers dream. The price is $35 a car (my blog on National Parks explains how to save a TON of money on entrance fees, check it out!). Just a 3 hour drive north of Vegas, located in the gorgeous state of Utah.

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• Consider an overnight stay outside of Vegas. Utah has some gorgeous places, and if you venture up to Zion, consider just spending the night and enjoying other National Park close by like Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon is located just over an hour away from Zion NP so they are easily done together. Bryce Canyon is full of amazing rock formations in such a brilliant color. Hoodoos galore! A brilliant sight to see, and most of which can be viewed from the car! Of course there are tons of trails for those who are willing and able, but fear not if hiking is not for you! Pictures do not do this NP justice. You must visit to fully appreciate its beauty. There is a $35 per vehicle fee, but FREE with these options!

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• For something COMPLETELY different, go an hour west of Bryce Canyon or an hour north of Zion (just 3 hours from Vegas) an experience Cedar Breaks National Monument. When we left Vegas we were in 105 degree temperatures. When we arrived in Cedar Breaks the temperature was in the low 30s. Snow was all over and we are FREEZING. It was a little Christmas town in the middle of summer and I loved every second. We enjoyed 2 days here and it was quite a hit. Neither of us wanted to leave. One of our favorite activities was going up to Cedar Breaks (hotels are down the mountain a little bit, not far) and setting up our camera and taking photos. Cedar Breaks NM is an International Dark Sky Park, which just means that there is such little light pollution there that you can vividly see the sky. We really enjoyed photographing it. We even attended a Star Party that the NM hosted (Support your Parks, people!) There is a fee of $7 per person to enter the NM. Remember to see my tips on how to avoid these fees at every stop!

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• Just 45 minutes south of Vegas, near where you get off to go to the Dam, you will find a little town called Boulder. There you will find some of the friendliest people, cute little shops and restaurants, and Boulder Beach. We fell in love with this little town. We ventured there several times during our stay in Vegas because we just loved swimming in the lake. HA! Who would have thought? It was so warm and so clear, we could even see fish swimming at the bottom when we were up to our necks! It was quite rocky, so swim shoes are a must, but it does get sandy once you get in the water a little bit. We highly recommend spending a day here and exploring around. There are several other beaches, we even went to them, but Boulder was the BEST. *Note: there is a $25 fee per vehicle, but if you have the America the Beautiful pass, it is free!

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There are so many more options around Vegas for things to do, but these are my favorite. Consider some of the family friendly activities on the strip like the High Roller , a Gondola ride, or the Big Apple Coaster. No matter what you end up doing, there is something in, around, or near Vegas for everyone!

If you do enjoy gambling, even just a little, here are a couple tips.

1. Not all casinos are the same. If you are gambling on the strip you will find that a lot of blackjack tables have a minimum of $20. WHEW. Not for my teaching budget. If you do wish to stay on the strip, check out Binion’s. They have $5 tables and they are located right on Fremont Street. If you are staying too far from there, consider going a street back from the main strip. You will likely find $2-3 table minimums.
2. Wherever you are playing, find the area where they give out their loyalty cards. Most come with some form of a special bonus when you first sign up. The Tropicana let me spin a wheel and I won $20 of free play. If you play enough you can win more rewards as well. It is a win-win.
3. One of the main reasons that I dislike casinos is because they allow smoking. I understand why, and they really do have some great air filtration, but if I sit near someone smoking I always have a difficult time breathing. One thing that I did find out on my last trip was that nearly all casinos have a nonsmoking area of slot play. Upside – no smoke around you. Downside – you’ll be the only one there so don’t expect someone to come offer you drinks very often.
4. There are a ton of places that you can park for free in Vegas. If you are new to Vegas I recommend that you check out a bunch of different casinos. Not all will float your boat, some are more relaxed (like Paris and the Tropicana) while others are more intense (like the Golden Nugget). I felt super out of place in some, but others I felt like I belonged. My suggestion is to try out the places that you can park for free, and the ones that are beside it first. Then, move on toward ones that do make you pay to park. Remember that most will validate your parking if you ask, but only for the first couple of hours.