This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
We just got back from our annual trip to Las Vegas, and I am happy as ever to report that, despite this being a trip we take every year, it never gets old!
By now, I would consider us to be veteran Las Vegas explorers (someone make me a badge, please!) and you may have already seen some of my best tips to save money while you’re in Las Vegas.
In Case you Missed it, here are two of my recent posts about making your money go further in Las Vegas:
If you Can’t Afford to Travel, Travel to Las Vegas
Three Apps that can Make Your Next Trip to Vegas
More Affordable
Now let’s get into the good stuff. You’ve saved all the money there is to save, time to have some fun!
Here are the highlights from our most recent trip, along with any important information you might need to include theses stops on your next trip to Las Vegas. I put those extra special tips in bold letters so you can find them again later!
The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam was the very first stop for us this year. We hopped off the plane, picked up our rental car, and hit the road. I love driving through the desert (okay, I love everything about the desert…) and this quick drive flew by.
We parked at the parking garage (which cost $10) and walked across the Hoover Dam. We had originally intended on doing a tour of the inside of the Dam as well, but the line to get on a tour promised a 1.5 hour wait, and we didn’t have that kind of time to spare this weekend. Next time!
The Bypass Bridge
Instead we went to the “Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge” which is the view that most people are used to seeing the Hoover Dam from. The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is a unique piece of architecture in itself, but offers some of the best views of the Hoover Dam.
To get to this vantage point, you’re going to want to pull off to the right as soon as you drive your car through security. (Side Note: you will have to drive your car through security to enter the Hoover Dam grounds. That was very surprising to me.) There is what seems to be a little pull-off point immediately after security. We completely passed it up at first because it didn’t look like more than a place for people to pull off and eat a picnic lunch. But just beyond that parking lot is a path that leads to the bridge, and to some of the best views of the Hoover Dam!
One thing I loved about walking around at the Hoover Dam was the chance to be in two different states (and possibly even two different time zones, depending on the time of year!) at the same time, since the Hoover Dam rests right at the boarder of Nevada and Arizona. Don’t forget to take your iconic photo of your feet standing in two states at the same time. If you take a photo like this, be sure to tag me in it so I can see it!
After the Hoover Dam, we headed back into Las Vegas. We were sure to stop at an In-and-Out Burger before we got too close to the strip. If you don’t have one of these close to where you live, you’re going to want to add this to your itinerary!
Park MGM
When we got back from the Hoover Dam, we moved all of our things into our hotel for the weekend. This time around, we stayed at the Park MGM and absolutely loved it!
I go way more in depth on our stay here, and include lots of photos of our hotel room so you can see for yourself how adorable it is! You can see all of this on my post: A Sneak Peek at the New Park MGM Resort in Las Vegas!
The Neon Museum
That night, once it got dark and extra cold, we drove down near Fremont Street and took a tour of the Neon Museum. (It gets pretty chilly in Las Vegas at night in the winter. If you’re visiting during the winter months, I’d recommend you bring a jacket!)
Tours can sell out here, and tickets are very easy to purchase online. Jason purchased ours from his phone in the middle of nowhere when we were driving back from the Hoover Dam. Check in at the front desk when you arrive, and they’ll have your tickets waiting for you.
When we visited, tickets were $28 each, and were absolutely worth it! (Remember all that stuff before about saving money on food, shows, flights, and hotels? This is why! Save money early on so you can spend it on more experiences later!) We took the guided tour of the Boneyard and could not recommend it enough! The tour guide was more like a curator than your typical scripted guide. She was so knowledgeable and had all kinds of great stories to share about the history of Las Vegas and what hints the neons could provide to tell this story. Really, really awesome tour!
Once we got home, Jason devoured a book about notorious Las Vegas mobster Benny Binion. We got a brief history of this guy on our tour, but it barely scratched the surface of his crazy life. If you want to check it out, you can find that book over here:
Cirque Du Soleil: KA
Every year, we see a free Cirque Du Soleil show by redeeming our rewards on MyVegas Slots. This year, we saw KA. I don’t have a great gauge for the “typical” Cirque Du Soleil show, because the only other one we’ve seen is Zumanity. The story of KA was a bit slow, but the stunts were very cool! At one point the stage even goes completely vertical and the performers continue on as if it was nothing! Check out the trailer below if you’re still trying to decide if you want to see it (and to get a quick glimpse at the vertical stage!)
Tickets for this show can typically cost between $55 and $200, depending on your seats or the night you go see it. But you can get your tickets completely free if you redeem your rewards on MyVegas Slots for a comp ticket!
Buffets, Buffets, Buffets!
This time in Las Vegas, we had three buffets in one weekend! Here’s a list of the one’s we tried on this trip and what we thought:
MGM Grand Brunch Buffet (redeemed a MyVegas Rewards Buy-One-Get-One on this Buffet!) – Entry to this buffet will cost you $30. Which means we saved $30 with our MyVegas Rewards on brunch for the two of us here!
MGM Grand Dinner Buffet (redeemed a MyVegas Rewards Buy-One-Get-One on this Buffet!) – Entry to this buffet will cost you $40. Which means we saved $40 with our MyVegas Rewards on brunch for the two of us here
The Orleans Brunch Buffet – Entry into this buffet will cost you $21 per person and is available on Sundays only. This buffet also includes unlimited champagne (which also means you can make yourself some unlimited mimosas!) But unless you like cheap champagne, and I mean really cheap champagne, you can skip the bubbly all together and save room for another cheese blintz!
A Post Card From Las Vegas
For me, no trip is complete without sending a Postcard! My friend, Hannah, and I are always sending postcards to each other from our most recent travel destinations. It’s a tradition that many people have abandoned since the dawn of social media, but one we love to do together.
I wanted to include you in on the fun, so I made you a free downloadable postcard with photos from my most recent trip to Las Vegas! Print it out and start a new postcard tradition just like we did! Directions for how to score this postcard are below!
Access your FREE Postcard Download and more in my Resource Library! Click the Image Below to gain Access!
Are you trying any of these out on your next trip to Las Vegas?
If you’re visiting any of these stops on your next trip to Las Vegas, I’d love it if you let me know in the comments below! Got any other Vegas favorites for us to check out on our next trip? Let me know that too!
These are great Las Vegas sights! I loved touring Hoover Dam. It’s awesome to be underground there.
I wish we would have been able to get underground while we were there. The line was so long we would have spent our entire day there which wasn’t the plan this time around but next time we are going to try going on a week day and beat some of the crowds! Everyone says it’s worth it!
I’m planning to there and this will help me a lot. Thanks for the very helpful post…
Of course! Enjoy your trip!
The Hoover Dam looks so incredible! We were supposed to make a trip a few months ago but never got the chance.
I hope you get the chance to make it back there some day!
Kelly, what would you recommend for a nature lover, first time visitor to LA. I think you’re the person to ask. A couple of years back my hubby and I did a tour through Arizona, visited Sedona, Grand Canyon then continued on to Las Vegas for the first time. I’ll admit after spending so long in open spaces, we found LA a little overwhelming. We drove in and then straight out again and spent our time at Hoover Dam instead (which was lovely).
If we returned what would be a good option for us? Do you have an article that talks about that?
Las Vegas can be overwhelming if you’re used to the quiet open road, traffic on that small stretch of road is ruthless! If you’re looking to explore around the Las Vegas area, I’d suggest Lake Mead, Red Rock, or Valley of Fire! But keep in mind, these destinations can be crowded on weekends and during the summer.
If you wanted to give Las Vegas another try, be sure to go on a weekday and try late winter/early spring to avoid the most crowds.
I haven’t been to Las Vegas in years! I think I would really enjoy visiting the Neon Museum. And even though I’ve been to Las Vegas many times, I’ve never been to Hoover Dam! I always try to take guided tours where ever I go because you always learn so much more. Hope you get to take the Hoover Dam tour next time.
You’ll absolutely love the tour at the Neon Museum! It took us a while to get to the Hoover Dam, too. But it is really magnificent in person!