Las Vegas Bucket List for First-Time Visitors

Visiting Hoover Dam should be on your bucket list. It’ll take you around 55 minutes to drive there.

The world-famous Hoover Dam has helped Vegas have continuous electricity and water for nearly 100 years. It is also one of the 7 wonders of the engineering world, alongside feats such as the Great Wall of China and the Golden Gate Bridge.

More information about guided Dam Tours can be found here. Pricing starts at $15 per person.

The Chandelier Bar has become an iconic feature of Las Vegas. Because it is indoors, it has become the most popular place to take a selfie in Las Vegas by sheer volume. In other words, if your friends were visiting Vegas for a bachelorette party, this is the most likely place where you will see a group picture of them.

The Cosmopolitan’s website touts that “The Chandelier expresses elements of playground, art exhibit, and cocktail haven all at once.” The Chandelier Bar technically is three different bars with spaces on Levels 1, 1.5 and 2. We think that you are most likely to take your selfie or group pic on Level 2.

If you are visiting Vegas with a vehicle, make plans to visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. If you don’t hike, driving around the scenic loop and seeing the formations of red rocks will make you think that you have landed on Mars. It takes about 30 minutes to drive around the loop once you are there – likely longer as you’ll stop for pictures and selfies. There is nothing else like it in the world, in our opinion.

Reservations are now required October through May.

More information about Red Rock and other short side trips near Vegas.

What better place to start your adventure than the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign?

The sign, which is located about a five-minute drive south of Mandalay Bay, easily tops the must-see list of Vegas attractions. It’s free to visit and bask in the history of this iconic monument. The best time to go is usually in the morning to beat the heat and avoid crowds.

Snap a selfie in front of this famous landmark before exploring the rest of the Las Vegas Strip.

When Steve Wynn opened The Bellagio in 1998, it quickly set the standard for luxury in Las Vegas. You’ll find countless reasons to visit this resort, Chihuly sculpture, piano bar, and elegant atmosphere.

The most iconic and must see feature is The Bellagio Fountains. The Fountains have been voted as the top tourist attraction in the entire United States by numerous travel publications. The fountains perform to a rotating list of songs every 15 or 30 minutes between 3pm and midnight on weekdays and between noon and midnight on weekends (weather permitting).

Bellagio also features a 14,000 square foot Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The displays change five to seven times throughout the year, bringing the masterpiece of the botanical gardens to the desert – and it’s entirely free. Past themes have included Christmas, Chinese New Years, Spring flowers and cherry blossoms, Fourth of July and Fall.

Premier Tip: We do not recommend agreeing to take pictures with the people in costumes who will try to convince you to take one with them. Visitors have reported that many of these performers will hustle you for large tips afterwards.

Downtown Vegas is home to many bucket list items for first-time visitors, but the Fremont Street Experience is the most memorable.

A whirlwind of adrenaline-filled fun, Fremont features free rock concerts, street entertainers, a zip line, light shows, casinos, and countless places to eat & drink.

One of Fremont’s newest features is the SlotZilla zip line – an 11-story high, 5-block-long adventure. Tickets can be booked in advance for both the “superhero experience” and the regular zipline.

Larger than the London Eye, the High Roller in Las Vegas is the tallest observation wheel in the world. Visitors can take in the skyline of the entire Las Vegas Strip from 550 feet in the air.

With 30 minutes of exceptional views, the tickets for this bucket list item are surprisingly affordable, with prices varying depending on the day and time. Day tickets start at $27 for adults, with Tickets for “anytime,” including night rides, running $40 for adults.

With 30 minutes of exceptional views, the tickets for this bucket list item have prices varying depending on the day and time. Day tickets start at $27 for adults, Tickets for “anytime,” including night rides, running $40 for adults.

In the heart of the Las Vegas Strip is the luxurious Venetian Resort. While simply staying at this upscale hotel could be considered a bucket-list-worthy item, Venetian made this list for one of its more unique features.

Directly through the middle of the Grand Canal Shoppes are actual canals of water featuring a full-size Gondola ride. It’s like Venice in Vegas – albeit the gondolas actually are motorized and the paddling is just for show…

There are indoor or outdoor versions of the ride that you can take. The Gondolas are a perfect family activity or an activity for just you and your sweetheart. Tickets must be booked on-site, and prices start at $39 with photo packages starting at an additional $40.

The Strat Hotel, Casino, & Skypod is one of the most recognizable features of the Las Vegas skyline. Built in 1996, the hotel boasts the tallest observation tower in the United States.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, The Strat offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Some attractions at the top of the property include:

• Restaurants with handcrafted treats and cocktails
• Thrill rides
• A rotating dining room
• A wedding chapel

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can try the SkyJump from the 108th floor. All attraction and ticket options are available on the Strat’s website.