Looking for a weekend guide to Las Vegas? When you think about Vegas, you think of the city that never sleeps so the last thing that comes to mind is a relaxing, romantic getaway. I bet you didn’t know that Vegas is actually a great relaxing couples weekend getaway. Vegas has so much to offer from delicious restaurants, shows, museums, free things to do, and so much more! It’s also a super affordable quick weekend trip.
Where to stay
Well, there is no shortage of places to stay when it comes to Vegas. Last time we visited Vegas in 2012 we stayed at the Luxor which is towards the end of the strip. This time we stayed at a newer property the LINQ hotel. But believe me when I say your choices are endless, you can stay on the strip, off the strip or even at an Airbnb. It’s really up to you and what your preference is. Check out some Vegas Hotels Here.
The LINQ Hotel & Casino
We chose to stay at the LINQ hotel mainly because of the location. I researched a ton before booking our trip and decided on the LINQ because it is smack in the middle of the strip. We wanted easy access to everything and they have the LINQ Promenade which has a ton of shopping and restaurants plus a ton of attractions like The High Roller, and Ziplining!
What To Eat
This is also a no brainer. There are a TON of places to eat along the strip and also off of the strip. From buffets, to your favorite fast food restaurants Vegas has all the great food. Here are a few places we checked out that were AMAZING.
Peppermill
We took a stroll when we first landed and came across this hidden gem in Vegas. It is towards the end of the strip so I would recommend taking the bus if you are not up for walking. A timeless must-visit stop on the Las Vegas strip! The Peppermill Restaurant and Lounge is a has a classic but cool atmosphere. It kind of takes you back in time a bit, it reminded me of a diner. They have some really good and unique drinks, and the food was amazing! This restaurant has been featured in many movies such as The Auction and The Trust. Peppermill is centrally located on Las Vegas Blvd between the Wynn and the old Riviera.
Address:
2985 Las Vegas Blvd (View Map). Phone: 702.735.4177
Now I did a ton of research on the restaurants as well before our visit and this one kept coming up in my searches so I knew we had to check it out. The fried chicken was so tasty and well seasoned. I recommend this spot for a great afternoon lunch before hitting the strip. The fries are also soooo good! Definitely check this place out. Its located right by Bally’s in the food court.
I’ve eaten at YardHouse when I visited Atlanta last year. I ordered fish tacos and they were amazing. Plain and simple they have really good beer and food. I ordered the shrimp tacos and of course I forgot to get a shot of my food because I inhaled it! It was so good! The restaurant is located right on the LINQ promenade so it was super close to our hotel.
My husband and I researched different buffets because we knew during our trip that we wanted to go to at least one buffet while we were in Las Vegas. We finally decided on Cravings at the Mirage. Cravings was advertised as the ultimate buffet. They have eleven international cooking stations, a street of restaurants serving all-you-can-eat dishes, it is also the only buffet to offer enhanced self-service beverage stations with 150 Coca Cola flavors (this is where we got our sparkling water which was a huge advantage for us). They also serve unlimited beer & wine with every entry making it great if you love wine for dinner and are looking to get more for your money.
Virgil’s
Virgil’s is known as the best BBQ on the Las Vegas strip. If you’re looking for some good southern BBQ and also great beer on the Las Vegas Strip, Virgil’s Real BBQ is the place! We wanted some breakfast before we headed out on our last day and conveniently located right in the middle of the action at the LINQ Promenade where we were staying. It’s walking distance from the beautiful Bellagio fountains, and it’s also surrounded by the biggest attractions Las Vegas has to offer, the High Roller with the best views of the city.
Things to do
As I keep saying there is no shortage in anything in Vegas! There is so much to do even if you don’t gamble. There are a ton of free things to do as well as paid things. But here are some of the things we did for fun.
Visit the Welcome To Las Vegas Sign
So I will admit, I’ve been to Vegas numerous times and I have never visited the Welcome To Las Vegas sign. This trip was my first time seeing the iconic welcome to Las Vegas sign with my own two eyes. This is totally FREE! Tip: go early to avoid crowds and also you can take a photo from the side if you don’t want to wait in the line. That’s what I did 🙂
The Flamingo Exhibit at the Flamingo Hotel
My husband loves to look up ALL the free things and for this trip, he was so excited to see the Flamingos and tell our daughter about it. I actually never even knew this existed in the Flamingo hotel. Its an outdoor area that is so very peaceful. Check out more information on the exhibit here.
See the fountains at the Bellagio
Each time I go to Vegas I make sure I see the Bellagio fountains. No matter how many times you’ve seen it before it’s a must see for me everytime I visit Vegas. There is something about just seeing the fountains in person that makes me happy! The Fountains of Bellagio were destined to romance your senses and it definitely does that! The show consists of a spectacular show of thoughtfully interwoven water, music, and lights designed to mesmerize you. The great thing about this attraction is that it’s absolutely free for any visitor to enjoy. Relax along the strip and watch the exceptional performance with the backdrop of the Las Vegas lavender sky.
Take a Ride on the High Roller
The High Roller Las Vegas is the World’s Tallest Observation wheel! It’s 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip. I am not going to lie, I was a little scared to get on but I am glad that I did. You are able to see an amazing view of Vegas. We went late at night and were able to see 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley and The Strip. I will let you know that it’s a 30 minute ride to complete one revolution. You can book a 30 minute open bar on the special cars if you would like that experience. Learn more about the High Roller and everything this attraction offers here.
Zip lining
If you are into ziplining there are several places where you can zipline in Vegas and get your adventure on. There is the zipline at the LINQ Promenade (the only zipline on the strip) and also they have ziplining on Fremont Street.
Visit “Old Las Vegas” Fremont Street Experience
Everytime I go to Vegas it’s a must that we visit Fremont Street. It’s just a different experience compared to being on the Las Vegas Strip. They have everything from free concerts, great restaurants, people dressed up as their favorite characters, and even gambling if you want to do that as well. They also have their own zipline the SlotZilla. There are even a ton of places to stay if you would like to experience downtown Las Vegas rather than staying on the strip. It’s so much fun and you must check it out if you are headed to Vegas. Learn more about the Fremont Experience here.
Visit the Neon Museum
I learned about the Neon Museum during my research of things to do in Vegas. The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 and is dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. The Neon Museum includes the outdoor exhibition space that is known as the Neon Boneyard, There is also a visitors’ center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery which has additional rescued signs and is available for booking for weddings, special events, photoshoots and also educational programs. You can view the signs either through an hour-long guided tour or a self-guided tour. We chose to do a self-guided tour. The tours are available seven days a week and tour times vary based on the season. Make sure you check this museum if you are headed to Vegas it’s so fun and a must see!
Visit all the Hotels on the Strip
It is an experience just going into each hotel, and guess what the best thing about it all is that it’s totally free. Each hotel has different stores, food, and attractions. A travel tip is that you should definitely plan out which hotels you want to visit on your trip so that you can map their restaurants and attractions out to save you some time on your trip.
As you can see there are a TON of things to do in Vegas. We only scratched the surface. I know that on our next visit we will see even more and experience new things. I love visiting Vegas because each time you go you can have a different experience. Have you visited Vegas lately?
Traveling again soon? Check out my travel guide to Denver.
