Over A Dozen Ways to Enjoy Vegas Without Gambling • JUST LIVE JOY

Do you want to learn over a dozen ways you can enjoy Vegas without gambling? Can you imagine? Going to Las Vegas if you don’t gamble? Will it be fun? Can I bring my family? Las Vegas is the town of infinite possibilities.

We don’t gamble, but we love Vegas. We’ve been there several times [and with our kids] and our friends always ask “what can you do besides gamble in Vegas?” Well, let me tell you. I’ve been here no less than a dozen times and still haven’t covered everything that I want to do.

Love to shop? You’re covered. Do you enjoy hiking? Yup, tons of options. Is eating fantastic food something you’re interested in? Too many options. How about thrill rides? We got you covered there too. I think you can see a pattern here. There is a ton of things to do.

Hotels We’ve Stayed In:

I’ve graded the hotels by A, B, and C.

Bellagio (A): Great rooms, a really cool garden you can walk around, fountain show, high end shopping, and good location.
Paris (B-): Rooms are basic, but you can take a ride up the eiffel tower and the location is pretty good.
Palazzo (A+): One of our top picks. Great location for shopping, restaurants, quiet, large rooms, and nice pool area. They have a great spa. I ordered a kombucha there one day after a spa treatment and they had a choice of alcohol or no alcohol. Back where we come from, you only have once choice. So it was a treat!
Caesars Palace (A): Make sure you get a room in the remodeled towers otherwise the rooms aren’t great, unless they have upgraded since we stayed there. A great location, good shopping, & close to Joes (good food).
Mandalay Bay (B): Now this was back before the “event” took place …we haven’t stayed here since that. I would say the rooms are amazing and big and the wave pool is great for kids. One of the major downsides other than the obvious, is that I don’t like the location at all.
Monte Carlo (B-): The rooms aren’t great. When I go to Vegas, I want plush. The room we stayed in was very average. The location is great, however. It also has the Dolphin encounter on site.
Cosmopolitan (A+): We’ve stayed here a few times. I love the rooms, great restaurants, very fun pool area (we went on a girls trip and had so much FUN at the pool), & decent location for that side of the strip.
Rio (C): The only thing good about staying here was the VooDoo Rooftop nightclub. That works if you are adults only, not for kids. The rooms were old and the location stinks.

Our Top Three Favorite Places to Eat:

Joes Seafood: We have eaten here too many times to count. It is SO GOOD! I’ve never had a bad meal here. It’s located in Caesars Palace, so you can do a little shopping before your reservation if you want. From seafood to steak, you choose. My son is a pretty basic eater and even he likes it. Reservations HIGHLY recommended. I doubt you will get in if you don’t make some. The last thing I ate here was the sea bass. YUM! This will always be a stop during our Vegas trips. View their menu and exact location here: https://www.joes.net/las-vegas/
Grimaldi’s: If you eat in Vegas, you know it’s not cheap. While I don’t mind paying for good food, I don’t want to blow my whole budget on food, especially when traveling as a family. This is a cute, quiet, and budget friendly pizza place (it’s a chain) in the Grand Canal Shops in the Palazzo strip. We were staying here, so this was super convenient. We ate here twice! I discovered a wine called Butter, which was exactly how it sounds; a nice buttery chardonnay taste. They have a coal, brick oven gluten-free, dairy-free pizza, which we ordered twice, along with a salad to share. We really enjoyed it. I did a little shopping at Tory Burch, which was nearby as my family waited for the food. A win, win if you ask me! For their menu, click here: https://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/
Nobu: If you are looking for some good sushi, check out Nobu. This is also located in Caesars Palace. It has vegan and gluten free options as well. The atmosphere is fun and the food is great. Make reservations here: https://www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/nobu#.XPZ6zNNKg0o

Palazzo Spa
Grimaldi’s
Walk Vegas

You Don’t Have to Gamble to Have Fun:

People watch and walk. You literally could spend all day doing this. There are several street performers and a lot of interesting characters out on the strip. As you can see above, we walk a lot! This is my #1 tip. Wear comfortable shoes. Even if you don’t walk as much as we do, you’ll still walk a lot!
Top Golf: Located on the other side of the MGM Resort Hotel. It has several floors of golf, a bar, and a restaurant (and a pool even). You won’t get in unless you make reservations, so make sure to do this especially if you walk there from the other side of the strip like we did (twice!). It’s fairly expensive, but it’s a great venue if you are into golf and a fun atmosphere overall. Our friends participated in this, but we didn’t make the reservations, so we went to Gucci and bought a tie instead for the same price (wink, wink). Even though we didn’t “golf,” it was still an adventure and we are glad we went to check it out. To see how cool it is, click here https://topgolf.com/us/las-vegas/
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat: Located in the Mirage. I’m a sucker for Dolphins and a relaxing walk, plus I LOVE animals, so I’ve visited this place a couple times. Learn about dolphins, tigers, lions, and more. Some people think it’s a steep ticket price at $22 a person, but I didn’t think so. I got what I paid for. In this case, it was better than an overpriced pizza or margarita. Click here for tickets.
Bellagio Fountains: Always a must see. We must have seen these dancing fountains a dozen times and they still attract us. Find a spot early in front of the Bellagio hotel for a dancing fountain spectacular. These fountains offer music, lights, and water. You can even dine while taking in the fountain show. For show times, click here.
Go Kart Racing: There is a really cool racing track a couple blocks off the strip near the Palms called Pole Position Racing. My son and husband have done it on two different occasions and always have a blast. I go shopping, they go racing. I’d say a perfect combination?
Fall of the Atlantis Show: Located in Caesars Palace, this show offers fire, talking statues, and other special effects. We usually take it in when we are shopping at the Forum shops for some excitement. It might be a little corny, but it’s free so if you don’t like it, you’re not out anything. The shows run every hour on the hour. Click here for more details.
Madam Tussauds Wax Museum: Kind of lame, but if you want something to do with your kids, it’s pretty realistic, but we’ve been there, done that, and once is enough. Located at the Venetian. To save $10 on your entry, click here https://www.madametussauds.com/las-vegas/en/tickets/
Clubs: We aren’t big clubbing people any more, but we have gone to a few of the clubs over the years. I don’t think they even get “going” until midnight. Hello! I’m long asleep by this time. But check it out if you’re ready for a party. If you can’t stay up that long, check out all the day parties, located at pools around Vegas. So much fun! They usually happen from 11AM-5PM and have live music. It’s super high energy and it is a party. So if you don’t like tight crowds and a loud atmosphere, stick to your hotel pool. People are partying like rockstars at these pool parties.
Shopping: If you like shopping, Vegas is the place to go. There is all kinds of shopping from budget stores to high end and plenty of it! This is a huge draw for me because I can shop all day and not even buy a thing. Maybe it’s partly about the people watching too, but whatever, it’s fun to me. I start at the Fashion Mall near Treasure Island or basically across the street from the Palazzo. It has over 250 stores and 25 restaurants. You won’t get bored here. To see a full directory, click here: https://www.thefashionshow.com/en/directory/. You also have the Grand Canal Shops located in the Venetian, The Forum Shops in Caesars Palace, & Miracle Mile shops located at Planet Hollywood. There are also fun shops in every hotel, including high end shops in the Cosmopolitan and Bellagio. Anywhere you go, you can shop.
Bull Riding: For a quick fun thing to do, we did this with our son while shopping at the Miracle Mile shopping center. It’s an electronic bull located right when you walk into the mall in the PBR Rockbar and Grill. Like I said, we do it all.
Fremont Street or Downtown Las Vegas: This year was the first year we decided to venture downtown Vegas. Everyone was talking about how ‘great’ it is. We were very eh about it. We walked downtown, but we walk everywhere in Vegas and it was a bit of a hike. So if you’re not into putting on 15 miles a day, I’d get an Uber. It’s on the other side of the Stratosphere. The famous Pawn Shop is on the way, so you can stop there and make a deal if you’re into that or want to see a TV star. We arrived and there were some hotels, a zip line, shopping vendors, and a haunted house. It was dirty and a different crowd. We didn’t love it. The only reason I’d ever go back downtown is for a concert, otherwise, not on my return list. Check it out here for more information.
Rides at Stratosphere: If you are daring or have daring kids like I do, definitely head on down to the Stratosphere. My son has done them all and loves the thrill. You have to pay to go up in the tower, but the view is amazing. For more information on the thrill rides, click here. You also should check out the free fall. My son was brave enough to do this as well. We also ate at the rotating restaurant and the views and food were wonderful. You can see the sky jumpers during their decent from here. It’s pretty cool! Recommended.
Rafting or Hoover Dam Tours: There are several tour company’s that will take you rafting or on Hoover Dam Tours. We rented a car (on a couple different occasions) and did the Hoover Dam tour on our own (about a 45 minute drive). We loved it! The tour is full of education and it is beautiful. If you are this close, this is a MUST SEE!
Helicopter Tours/Grand Canyon Tours: Another option while you are in Vegas is to take a helicopter ride over the city or out to the Grand Canyon. I won’t get into any specific links or tour company’s because we didn’t take the helicopter ride and we rented a car and drove out to the Grand Canyon ourselves. There are several tour company’s you can find.
High Roller Ferris Wheel: This is the worlds largest observation wheel. The ride is about 30 minutes and each pod holds about 40 people. If you want a great view of Vegas, this is a must do. You can also upgrade to an open bar cabin if you want to keep the fun going. 21+
Hiking: There are several areas to hike around Las Vegas. This is a top list item for our future trips to Las Vegas. We looked at a couple when we were there last time, but didn’t have enough time. On one trip, my son and husband drove to Zion National Park from Vegas and absolutely loved it. We are planning to go soon. It’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive. I can’t wait!
And of course gambling: We don’t gamble and we suck at it. If you like it, you will have a lot of choices!

Interesting Downtown Vegas

Shows We’ve Seen:

O: Located in the Bellagio. If you have never seen a Cirque du Soleil show before, this is probably the first one you should see. Cirque shows are like a circus, so have that in mind. There is a lot of acrobatics and fun. The tickets are expensive, but worth it. The show is based on a stage of water. It’s so cool! Swimming and diving with dance and more. There is a story behind some of these shows, so you should look that up before you go. Be prepared for a lot going on at once, but in a good way.
Le Reve: My runner up to O is Le Reve. Another show with water that has a plot about a women’s dreams. The performers act out her dreams. Read about it here. This is a must see experience! Located in the Wynn.
Mystere: This is another must see Cirque show located in Treasure Island. We have a preference to this show because my husbands first cousin was the manager for a few years and we got to meet some of the performers and see the ins and outs of the show. It’s high energy, high performing acrobatics and is a must see.
Absinthe: One of our favorite Vegas shows. It’s a little bit circus, and a lot funny. It’s located in a circus tent outside of Caesars Palace and be warned, it’s a little crude, but I laughed my pants off. Not for kids…
Terry Fator: We were trying to find a show we hadn’t seen with the kids, so with some hesitation, we chose this one. I am so glad we did. It was hilarious! My kids laughed, we laughed, and we would go again. Terry won American’s Got Talent and is a master ventriloquist. I highly recommend. Located in the Mirage.
Carrot Top: Located in the Luxor. This was another show that I wasn’t that hot on seeing. My husband and I went one night and we were glad we did. The venue is fairly small, but I liked that. Carrot Top was hilarious. We liked it so much, we went again with friends. He has these trunks he pulls stuff out of and cracks jokes about them. It may not sound funny…it is. 16+
Mat Franco: Located in the Linq. Another America’s Got Talent winner. He is a magician and illusionist. The show was decent. Would I go again? No.
David Copperfield: MGM Grand. A magician. He is a true magician and will blow your mind. I don’t know if I was tired this evening, but I didn’t love it. Maybe I’m just not into magic? I didn’t care for his personality either. However, it’s a highly rated show, so check it out and don’t go by me. You might like it.
Raiding the Rock Vault: Hard Rock Hotel. I loved this show. If you are into early rock (70’s and 80’s), you’ll love this. It has a plot, but I enjoyed the music so much! I would see this again. My kids even enjoyed it.
Zumanity: Another Cirque show. If this is a family trip, you probably shouldn’t go see this. It’s a show about sex and afterwards, I read up on what some of the acts were about….yikes! It’s a little nudie as well. You need to be a very open minded person if you go to this show. Would I go again? Probably not.
Penn and Teller: Located in the Rio. It’s a duo act of magic and comedy. I didn’t enjoy it. Maybe it was the whole scene of the Rio, but I wouldn’t recommend it. They are the longest running show at a hotel in Vegas, so maybe I missed something that appealed to so many??
Rose. Rabbit. Lie.: Located in the Cosmopolitan. We would up getting free tickets to this on a girls trip and I’m glad they were free. The show was terrible. Odd. I don’t even know if they have this show any more. If they do, don’t go.
Michael Jackson ONE: Yet another Cirque show I’ve seen. Yes, I’m Cirqued out. I feel asleep. I’m not a MJ fan to begin with and the tickets were expensive. It might be for you, but it wasn’t for me. It’s mostly about MJ and doesn’t have a lot going on.
Concerts: We have seen a dozen concerts around Vegas. If you get a chance, I would recommend doing this. When Faith and Tim had their show, you got an up close and personal concert experience. I didn’t realize it was like that. Amazing! The concerts change so much, so check out the calendar before you go.

*TIP: Watch for the yellow ticket booths called Tix4Tonight. A lot of times you can get half price tickets or at least discounted tickets. It’s legit and use them to save money. And remember to watch which shows go dark (don’t play) on which days.

What to Wear:

First of all you need some travel essentials. Check out our 10 things to make your flight there more comfortable.

Next, wear comfortable shoes like I said. Sandals, tennis shoes, ballet flats, whatever. Just make sure they are comfortable. It really depends on the season. Winter can be cold and summer can be darn hot. Pack easy casual dresses and leave the heels at home unless you’re brave enough to go clubbing. At that point, you need some pretty hot heels.

Here are some of our top Vegas wearables:

Hurry and get in on the Serena and Lily sale! Use the code: WAVES for additional savings.

This is a great summer blues (in a good way) look for your summer porch or outdoor patio! Granted the items are a splurge but they are built to last.

Disclosure: We may receive commissions for purchases made through links in our post content at no extra cost to you. This does not impact our recommendations and Just Live Joy only promotes products we believe in.

Now you’ve seen it. Over a dozen ways to have fun and not gamble at all. We will have a dozen more by next year. We always have fun in Vegas and we will be back.

Hotels We’ve Stayed In:

Our Top Three Favorite Places to Eat:

You Don’t Have to Gamble to Have Fun:

Shows We’ve Seen:

What to Wear:

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