Best Things to Do in Las Vegas in the Summer

It's time for a summer vacation and Las Vegas is calling your name. Not a casino goer? No need to worry. Whether you’re traveling with friends, vacationing with family or flying solo, the city of high rollers offers so much more than poker and slot machines. 

From museums and state parks to exciting attractions along the Strip, you’ll never run out of things to do in Las Vegas in the summertime.

Cool Off with a Dip in the Pool

When Las Vegas temperatures hit triple digits at the height of summer, there’s nothing like a dip in one of the city’s numerous pools to cool you off. Las Vegas offers a variety of public pools for both family and adult fun. With an indoor, 18-lane lap pool and an outdoor water park, the Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility is the perfect choice for families and fitness buffs – and it’s only 12 miles southwest of downtown. Right next door, a large recreation area features a skate park, soccer and baseball fields, a dog park, areas for picnicking and a playground. Situated roughly seven miles east of downtown, the Hollywood Aquatic Center also makes a great swimming destination for parents and kids.

If you’re looking for something more grown up, test out the facilities at some of the Strip’s most luxurious spots, including:

• The Mirage Pool
• The Mandalay Bay Beach
• Go Pool at the Flamingo
• The MGM Grand Pool Complex

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Find Fun and Adventure on the Las Vegas Strip

Although the Las Vegas Strip attracts plenty of gamblers, there are plenty more thrills to discover outside the casino halls. At Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium, you can get up close and personal with sharks, piranhas, giant rays, sea turtles and golden crocodiles.

Taking water fun to a different level, FlowRider at Planet Hollywood allows visitors 48 inches or taller to test their surfing skills on a controlled, continuous wave.

From a platform rising 921 feet in the air, Big Shot at the Stratosphere propels riders even higher – another 160 feet to be exact. The sensation coming down is almost as much fun as the thrill of going up. For a calmer, more tranquil ride, board a gondola at the Venetian, and enjoy the views as the gondolier sings his way down the Grand Canal. Finally, for a sweet treat, nothing beats a frozen hot chocolate or an ice cream sundae at Serendipity 3 in Caesars Palace.

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See the Sights at Springs Preserve

When looking for a more serene and natural outing in Las Vegas, Springs Preserve has much on offer for any keen naturalist, ecologist, geologist, zoologist or historian. Owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, the 180-acre property sits just three miles west of Downtown. With museums, botanical gardens, wetlands, hiking trails and an outdoor amphitheater and playground, it’s easy to spend the entire day exploring.

At the Origen Museum, you can learn about flash floods, the evolution of Las Vegas and local wildlife – take a look at live critters too, from pocket gophers to Gila monsters. The Boomtown 1905 exhibit offers a trip back in time, and period costumes make the journey extra authentic. Nature explorers can make their way along interpretive trails by foot, bike or train, while the cafe and gift shop offer scrumptious bites and fun mementos of your one-of-a-kind experience.

Explore Las Vegas Museums

From old neon signs and dinosaurs to mobsters and Egyptian artifacts, Las Vegas museums offer something for everyone. To explore vintage art and get a lesson in Las Vegas history, turn to the Neon Museum. Just north of Downtown, this attraction features more than 200 neon signs rescued from old casinos, motels and other city businesses.

If you have a fascination with gangsters, goons, heavies and hoodlums, head to the Mob Museum in the old U.S. Post Office and Courthouse. Photos, artifacts and hands-on storylines deliver an in-depth look at organized crime – and the gift store features an array of mementos such as books, movies, T-shirts and mobster-style hats.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum offers an affordable day trip for families and is home to exciting exhibits like Dinosaur Mummy CSI, African Rainforest and Treasures of Egypt.

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Discover Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

If you're looking for outdoor adventure, you can't go wrong at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park – an area designed to preserve the Sandstone Ranch located within its borders. Roughly 25 miles southwest of Downtown Las Vegas, the working ranch-turned-luxury-getaway had its share of intriguing owners, from millionaire Howard Hughes to German actress Vera Krupp. These days, you can explore the blacksmith shop and Sandstone cabin – some of the oldest buildings in Nevada – as well as the Sandstone ranch house. Hiking trails, shaded picnic sites and a summer theater program make this a must-visit attraction.

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With lots of glitz, glamour and adventure in store, Las Vegas is the perfect pick for a summertime getaway. What summertime Vegas activity are you most looking forward to?

Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page, where we have even more suggestions for fantastic summer trips.