From the Show Floor to the Strip

After you’ve put in work on the NACS Show floor, it's time to enjoy Las Vegas. Whether you're squeezing in one last night of fun or adding a few extra days to your trip, the city delivers endless options for dining, entertainment and adventure.

Activities for All Ages

The pumpkin lattes are flowing, but October is still pool season in Las Vegas (weather permitting). You can easily spend at least a couple of hours soaking up sun at your hotel pool. If hanging poolside with three or more people, consider splurging for a cabana. The added cost pays off in shade, extra privacy and a dedicated food and drink server.

For a popular photo op, visit the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. It’s busy, but the long line moves quickly. Be aware that the loitering Elvis impersonators, showgirls or other costumed characters expect a tip for photos. Vegas street performers hang out all over the Strip and downtown. They’re equipped with portable card readers.

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is immersive and impressive, with more than a dozen types of sharks, sea turtles and a rare Komodo dragon. The entrance is a brisk 10-minute walk from the casino. Book tickets in advance so you don’t make the trek only to find it’s sold out.

Tucked between New York-New York and Park MGM, T-Mobile Arena is headquarters for Sin City’s NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Home games (October 8, 10 and 15) are huge spectacles with an electric vibe and pregame entertainment, including a parade, medieval sword fighting and special effects. Go Knights Go!

If you stop by the Linq Promenade, home to the High Roller Observation Wheel (more on that below), be sure to pop into the Flamingo Las Vegas to see Chilean flamingos and other waterfowl in the free Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. Keep your eyes open for an inconspicuous stone memorial to the Flamingo’s founder, notorious mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.

Explore the city’s history of organized crime more thoroughly at The Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas. After posing for a personal mug shot, adults can grab moonshine made on-site in the museum’s Prohibition-era Underground, which includes The Speakeasy and The Distillery.

The clown-themed Circus Circus Casino Hotel has seen better days, but it offers free circus acts on its midway and five acres of rides and games in the pink glass-enclosed Adventuredome amusement park. If that sounds like fun, there’s also a rollercoaster in front of New York-New York with upside-down loops.

If you pick only one thrill ride, however, make it the Big Shot on top of the Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower. While off-Strip entertainment complex Area15 has a similar ride, the Big Shot provides a rush and a view from 1,081 feet in the air.

Located near Chinatown Vegas, Area15 houses the world’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream buffet at the new Museum of Ice Cream. Don’t let the name fool you: It’s not a museum with historical or informational exhibits. It’s an interactive funhouse for kids and adults, including slides and a sprinkle pool.

Meow Wolf’s surreal and satirical Omega Mart is another enigmatic attraction in Area15. It's not for everyone but it has enthusiastic fans. Before you dive into its hidden world of passageways, slides and conspiracy theories, don’t forget to browse the grocery store facade, where you can ask an employee for a Boop Card to enhance your “shopping” trip.

Bars and Nightlife

Tourists commonly wander around to see where the night leads. If you prefer a more intimate experience, plan your night and opt for small lounges and restaurants. You won’t have to visit multiple venues. Instead, hit up a few spots within walking distance or connected by a tram, keeping in mind that Las Vegas resorts are like mini-cities, and they’re farther apart than they seem.

Wynn Las Vegas and the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are particularly renowned for their creative cocktail programs. At Wynn, try the Aft Cocktail Deck overlooking the Lake of Dreams, a multimedia water show that runs every 30 minutes. The Cosmopolitan takes you down a rabbit hole with secret menus—such as the Verbena at the three-story Chandelier bar—and secret venues. Ghost Donkey is a tequila and mezcal bar hidden on the second floor. Hint: Look for a door adorned with a donkey.

Sunsets in the Mojave Desert are truly spectacular, and they’re best enjoyed from rooftop bars and venues. If you time it just right, you’ll have the rare opportunity to watch from 550 feet above the Strip on the world’s largest observation wheel, the High Roller. Skip the Happy Half Hour package and buy a drink from the bar near the boarding area. Hop in your pod when the sun starts setting (check a weather app for the time). You’ll reach the peak as the Strip lights up and the sun ducks behind the Spring Mountains.

Arrive early in the evening to score a sunken fireside booth under a mirrored ceiling at the retro Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge. A beloved institution since 1972 (ancient by Las Vegas standards), this throwback diner, across from Resorts World, is open 24 hours a day, ideal for a hair-of-the-dog breakfast. (During the NACS Show, it's packed with industry people—and the vibe is right if you want a relatively easy, in-and-out meal. Just get reservations.)

In Downtown Las Vegas, you’ll find crowds and a party atmosphere at the Fremont Street Experience. The open-air pedestrian mall has five blocks of casinos, restaurants, the Slotzilla Zipline and flowing booze, all beneath the world’s largest LED video screen. Because Halloween will be right around the corner, you’ll also likely encounter a few haunted houses.

Escape the commotion by walking a few blocks to the Fremont East Entertainment District or the Las Vegas 18b Arts District. Both are trendy neighborhoods with street art and murals, locally owned shops and hip hangouts. It’s busy here but more low-key.

Before trying your luck in a casino, sign up for a free players club card to earn points for free play, discounts and dining perks. Almost all the casinos have them, and many work at multiple properties.

There are a few downtown, but Slots-A-Fun at Circus Circus is the only Strip casino with coin-operated machines, plus old-school prices, including $2 drinks.