We here at GVG are obsessed with everything off the beaten path. With a city as large and over the top as Vegas, you can bet on the fact that there are tons of things in Las Vegas you don’t know about.
Heck, one of us has lived in Vegas for 6 years and there are even things WE don’t know about.
Yes, everyone suggests riding the High Roller, detouring at Seven Magic Mountains, seeing the retro signs at Neon Museum, catching a Cirque du Soleil show, and taking a day trip to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, but we can do way better than that.
Use this guide to discover some of the weirdest, off-beat, and unique things to do in Las Vegas right now.
1. Day trip to Area 51
If you’re obsessed with the idea of aliens, boy has Vegas has got the perfect excursion for you. On this 10-hour day trip to Area 51, you’ll get a wonderful alien-themed day out with an expert guide who’ll provide you with lots of information, UFO stories, and stops at key locations that scream government secrets.
Start by seeing the top-secret Janet Airlines at McCarran International Airport, known for transporting workers to the mysterious Area 51 daily.
Travel along the “Extraterrestrial Highway” to the world-famous Little A’le’ Inn, featured in movies like Independence Day. Here, you can dive into a wealth of information and pick up unique souvenirs while enjoying a tasty Alien Burger. The tour continues to the infamous Black Mailbox, a sacred meeting spot for UFO enthusiasts, before reaching the perimeter of Area 51.
As you approach the base, you’ll pass through an eerie Joshua tree forest and encounter guards—known as the “Camo Dudes”—standing watch with detection devices and cameras.
2. See the Hand of Faith (the largest nugget of gold on Earth)
Did you know the world’s biggest golden nugget is on display right here in Las Vegas? And yes, it’s fittingly housed at the Golden Nugget.
Back in September 1980, Kevin Hillier was testing out his new metal detector in the small town of Wedderburn, Australia. What he found wasn’t the usual bottle cap or paper clip, but something treasure hunters could only dream of—a massive 61-pound golden nugget buried just a foot underground.
Known as the Hand of Faith, it holds the title of the largest golden nugget in existence, the second-largest ever discovered, and the biggest one ever found using a metal detector.
As for Hillier, he did pretty well for himself, selling his amazing discovery to the Golden Nugget for over a million dollars.
If you want to see this piece of history for yourself, it’s free! Just head to the back of the Golden Nugget casino and into the hotel area. The Hand of Faith is proudly displayed in a wall case near the lobby.
3. Go moonshine tasting at The Mob Museum
If you love mob stories and true crime, we think you’re going to like this one. At Downtown Las Vegas’ Mob Museum, you can delve into all kinds of dark and fascinating history of organized crime.
Located in a former federal courthouse, this museum offers an immersive experience with exhibits on infamous mobsters, law enforcement efforts, and the impact of organized crime on America.
Among its most interesting exhibits are the Wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which is an actual piece of the wall where one of the most notorious mob hits took place, and the interactive Crime Lab, where you can learn all about forensic science and criminal investigations.
Other highlights include the Prohibition-era Speakeasy, where you can enjoy authentic period cocktails, and the Distillery, where you can pay extra for a drinking tour and taste their very own moonshine made with 100% corn and bottled at a strong 50% ABV.
4. The Punk Rock Museum
Are you a big punk/alternative music fan? Learn all about the gritty, rebellious world of punk rock at The Punk Rock Museum.
This unique museum showcases the evolution of punk music, culture, and the absurdity of it all with exhibits featuring iconic memorabilia, rare photos, and original artwork from punk legends.
Expect the world’s most expansive, inclusive, and intimate display of artifacts, fliers, photos, clothing, instruments, handwritten lyrics, artwork, and just about everything else donated by the people and bands who were there.
5. Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame is full of old pinball games that are actually playable, perfect for reliving the glory days of arcade gaming. Best of all, admission is completely free!
If you can think of a game, they probably have it — this spot carries the world’s largest collection of pinball machines, ranging from vintage classics to modern faves.
Play your way through decades of pinball history and experience the charm of these old-timey games while you’re there. You’ll find rows and rows of machines, all ranging from $0.25 to $0.50 per play.
(Don’t be surprised if you find that 30-40% of the pinball machines don’t work. They ARE old as heck, after all.)
PRO TIP: The Pinball Hall Of Fame is located right across from the famous ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign, so if you’ve been dying to get a pic in front of the sign, you can pair it with a visit to the museum.
6. BLACKOUT Dining In The Dark
BLACKOUT is a dining-in-the-dark experience that takes you on a sensory journey like no other. In total darkness, you’ll savor a seven-course mystery meal that heightens your senses of taste, touch, smell, and hearing.
Guided by staff equipped with night-vision goggles, you’ll be seated and served without any visual distractions. Expect a pre-fixed menu featuring soup, appetizers, entrees, and desserts, all revealed only after your meal.
I’ve always wanted to do something like this, except I have no one to go with because all my friends are convinced they’re going to be fed brains or other crazy things. If this is your idea of fun, experience it for me and report back — please and thanks!
7. Miss Behave’s Mavericks
Miss Behave’s “Mavericks” is an ever-changing, world-class variety show that’s recently made Plaza Hotel its home.
Miss Behave and her notorious crew deliver a flirty, filthy and fabulous blend of comedy, circus, burlesque and variety—all delivered with an irreverent wink and cut-throat wit.
Audiences can expect a fast-paced spectacle filled with jaw-dropping stunts, hilarious antics, and audience participation that keeps everyone on their toes.
With the focus on charismatic talent, seasoned legends and a sublime ambiance—all for a refreshingly affordable ticket price—Mavericks is classic Vegas to its core, sped up for the roaring 2020s!
WHY WE LIKE THIS SHOW: It’s affordable because it doesn’t come with the crazy junk fees that most other Las Vegas shows come with (it sucks, but a good majority of shows are sold through Ticketmaster).
8. Marriage Can Be Murder Dinner Show
Marriage Can Be Murder is an award-winning interactive comedy and murder mystery dinner experience where the audience members become part of the show. If you liked the movie Glass Onion or the game of Clue, then this is a dinner show that you won’t want to pass up.
Plus, it’s marriage-themed which is so fitting, right?
This murder-mystery comedy features a mix of intrigue, shenanigans, and a suspect hidden among the guests, turning the audience into detectives playing alongside the cast.
Seated at banquet tables, you’ll enjoy a chef’s tasting menu with options like smoked bourbon brown sugar tri-tip and grilled lemon butter chicken.
PRO TIP: We like booking Las Vegas shows and attractions through VEGAS.com or GetYourGuide because they periodically offer discounted pricing. For the best deal possible, be sure to compare ticket prices on both platforms before booking. Parking is also FREE at The Orleans, woohoo!
9. Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Looking for a disgustingly spooky activity near Downtown Las Vegas? Horror lovers will feel right at home at Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum.
Zak Bagans is the guy that hosts the popular paranormal TV show Ghost Adventures. Yeah, you’ve probably seen it on TV at one point in your life. Known for his fascination with the supernatural, Bagans curated this museum to house his extensive collection of haunted objects and oddities.
There are over 30 rooms filled with haunted artifacts, creepy memorabilia, and spine-chilling exhibits. You can expect to see items like the Dybbuk Box, a supposedly cursed wine cabinet, and Dr. Kevorkian’s death van, among other unsettling relics.
While we would personally never set foot in this place (we are chickens), we think it’s perfect for people who love the idea of ghosts — if these kinds of people are even out there! Well, given how many stellar reviews this museum has, we’ve determined that these people are definitely out there.
10. Electric Playhouse
Standing as one of the newest attractions on the Strip, Electric Playhouse gives you the chance to play motion-activated games that don’t require any controllers or headsets—just you and your moves!
Electric Playhouse first made waves in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it quickly became a local hit for its one-of-a-kind interactive experiences. Combining cutting-edge projection technology with immersive, family-friendly fun, it drew crowds looking for something beyond the usual arcade or theater setup.
This wild success sparked the idea to expand, and now Electric Playhouse is bringing its playful energy and innovative approach to entertainment right to the Las Vegas Strip!
This interactive playground features 16 unique spaces filled with projection games like Can Blaster, Light Hockey, and Paint Pong. Come dressed to play — some games involve physical activity including running, jumping, and quick lateral movement. Tickets start at a wallet-friendly $15.
11. The Magician’s Study
The Magician’s Study is not your average Las Vegas show. First things first: every show is very small and intimate, yet so interactive and fun!
Your magician for the night will be a mysterious man in a (rather sinister-looking) rabbit helmet. He takes it off pretty quickly, at which point you’ll then realize that you’re dealing with an Australian guy –we’ll leave him unnamed– who was in Australia’s Got Talent.
At this point, the most intimate magic show on the Strip will commence! And with an audience of no more than 60 people, you are very close to all the magic!
Access to this secret, small-scale show is by invitation only. It’s not heavily marketed, nor is it on sale to the general public. To get tickets, you’ll have to go to their site and follow the directions. Those fortunate to be invited will receive a codeword that unlocks the ticketing page.
12. Have a meal at the all-new food hall at Durango
In late 2023, the brand-spankin’-new Durango Casino & Resort opened its doors along with a 25,000-square-foot culinary venue, the Eat Your Heart Out food hall. The food hall features 11 food venues from Las Vegas and beyond.
A food adventure here could mean biting into classic burgers and fries at Irv’s Burgers, sinking your teeth into New York-style pizzas at Prince Street Pizza, or going an Asian route with Yu-Or-Mi Sushi and Shang Artisan Noodle. If you’re feeling Hawaiian, the local fave Ai Pono Cafe is a no-brainer!
But because this is a Station Casino, there’s one iconic spot we haven’t named yet: Oyster Bar.
This open-all-night local chain can be found in nearly all of the Station Casinos, offering dishes prepared before your eyes—including steamed clams, freshly shucked oysters, homemade pan roast (our personal fave!), soul-warming gumbo, and seafood pastas. SO. FREAKIN. DELICIOUS.
13. Survive a horror-themed escape room
Escape rooms are all the rage these days. In an escape room experience, you’ll gather your friends, solve puzzles, and enjoy a unique and fun-filled activity that challenges your mind and teamwork skills.
If you’ve tried one before, just know that the ones in Las Vegas are next level. If you’re into a slight horror mix, try the IT-themed (yes, the scary clown from the movie) or SAW-themed escape rooms for an extra fun experience — especially if someone in your group gets scared super easily!
There’s also another highly-rated horror-themed escape room called The Basement, with unbelievable realism and live performers. Once you master this one, try out the sequel room called The Study!
14. Hollywood Cars Museum
If you’re a car aficionado with a soft spot for movie magic, Hollywood Cars Museum should be on your go-to list when you’re in Las Vegas. Tucked away just moments from the Strip, this gem offers an eclectic collection of iconic vehicles that have graced both the big and small screens.
Get up close and personal with cinematic royalty like the DeLorean from Back to the Future and Herbie the Love Bug.
Ever wondered what it would be like to cruise in the Batmobile, or the James Bond vehicles for that matter? This is your chance to find out.
It’s not every day you get to witness a collection of historic cars that are instantly recognizable and tell stories beyond their shiny exteriors.
15. Las Vegas: Pawn Stars, Counts Kustoms, Shelby American Tour
Love cars? See all that Las Vegas has to offer when it comes to cars and all things Americana!
On this best-selling multi-stop bus tour, you’ll visit WelderUp, made famous by the Hit TV Show ‘Vegas Rat Rods’, marvel at the customized automobiles of Count’s Kustoms, and see the Shelby American collection full of Shelby Mustangs, GT350’s, GT500’s & more.
16. Enjoy a night of laughter at a comedy show
For a darn good time with your friends/family, we’d recommend going to a comedy show while you’re in Vegas. With so many premium shows overshadowing these poor comedy clubs, a lot of people make it through their Vegas trips without even knowing they exist SO conveniently on the Strip!
Three of the best comedy club venues in Vegas are The Comedy Cellar at Rio, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand, and LA Comedy Club at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod.
These comedy clubs have featured some of the biggest names in comedy (like Aziz Ansari and Tiffany Haddish), so you may very well come across a special guest that you’ve seen on TV performing at these clubs!
17. Play unlimited arcade games at Game Nest
This one’s perfect for gamers! Whenever Papu and I are in town, we always make time to spend a few hours at Chinatown’s Game Nest Arcade.
Game Nest is essentially a pay-by-the-hour arcade. You pay one fixed price and get hours of unlimited gameplay at top arcade games!
If you love overpriced arcade games (like Dance Dance Revolution, Time Crisis, Mario Kart, Air Hockey, Jurassic Park, etc.) but have always held back because of how expensive they are, Game Nest is your answer. Everything is on free play, so once you’re in, you can play whatever you like.
They also have an area where you can plan Xbox One, PS5, and Nintendo Switch (all of which are also included in the hourly price).
18. Get tiki drinks at Stray Pirate
The folks at Stray Pirate invite you to indulge in elixirs featuring flavors plundered from the seven seas! As one of the newer immersive bar experiences in Las Vegas, Stray Pirate packs a punch when it comes to its decor and its drinks.
This tiki-inspired bar offers a unique twist on nautical-themed venues, sans traditional tikis but still brimming with character.
Featuring ample seating around the bar, spacious tables, cozy booths, plus thematic decor like “underwater” screens and pirate dog paintings, the ambiance is so fun and immersive. It’ll have you feeling like yer part of the crew in no time.
Located in Vegas’ Arts District, it’s perfect as a pit stop while exploring eclectic shops in the area or enjoying a relaxed evening of bar hopping.
19. Dine at Heart Attack Grill for the ultimate food coma
Heart Attack Grill is one of the weirdest restaurants in Las Vegas. This hospital-themed restaurant in downtown Las Vegas has become internationally famous for embracing and promoting an unhealthy diet of incredibly large, multi-patty hamburgers.
Customers are referred to as “patients”, orders as “prescriptions”, and waitresses as “nurses”. Anyone who weighs over 350 pounds is invited to enjoy unlimited free food provided they weigh themselves on an electronic cattle scale in front of a cheering restaurant crowd.
When you dine there, they’ll go as far as to dress you up in a hospital gown! If you don’t finish your plate a “nurse” will come over with a paddle and humiliate you by announcing you couldn’t finish to everyone. You’ll even get spanked for not finishing… like I said — it’s a strange place that you won’t find anywhere else!
20. Have a drink at Plaza Hotel’s Carousel Bar
Even on a street lined with endless outdoor bars, Carousel Bar stands apart from the rest. Lit by the shimmering bulbs of the hotel’s façade, Carousel Bar offers the state’s only outdoor video poker machines, multiple HD television screens, and an outdoor cooling system.
The one-of-a-kind bar serves handmade cocktails, shareable drinks, and a premium selection of beer and wine inside a life-sized, animated Vegas-themed carousel setting just steps away from the excitement of the Fremont Street Experience.
Carousel Bar’s unique design includes carousel horses that move up and down, a ribbon of lights rotating above the bar, and life-sized Vegas-themed elements such as a deck of cards, a spinning martini glass, and a 14-foot-tall neon showgirl sign at the entrance.
21. Play bingo at Plaza Hotel
Plaza Hotel and Casino is quite a famous destination known for its Old Vegas charm. Besides its Carousel Bar, there’s another main draw: this is the only bingo room in downtown Las Vegas.
The 280-seat bingo room allows guests to play and win big. Its smaller bingo room features daily sessions and specials like the Hotball Jackpot & Cashball Bonus. They offer six daily bingo sessions per day with games every odd hour: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm.
We really like this bingo room for a few reasons: it’s the closest to the Las Vegas Strip, you get 2 free drinks with a bingo receipt, and there are soda/coffee machines that are free for all (meaning coffee and soda doesn’t count against your 2-free-drinks allocation).
Check here for the latest bingo events.
22. See the mermaids at the Silverton Las Vegas aquarium
Named the “Best Free Attraction in Las Vegas”, the Silverton Las Vegas aquarium holds more than 117,000 gallons of water and is home to thousands of tropical fish. From time to time, the aquarium is ALSO home to mermaids!
If you time your visit right, you can catch magically skilled mermaids swimming underwater and entertaining the crowd. Watch as they gracefully swim through the aquarium, interacting with a variety of sea creatures and bringing the magic of the ocean to life.
Mermaid appearances take place Thursdays to Saturdays from 12PM – 8PM and Sundays at 10:30AM – 6:30PM. Mermaids swim every half hour, except during scheduled stingray feedings.
23. Discover the kooky world of Omega Mart
Described as the weirdest and most psychedelic grocery store, Omega Mart (by the ultra-creative minds at Meow Wolf) is an art installation where everything, including the quirky items on display, is available for purchase.
This other-worldly art exhibit invites participants of all ages to step into new and surreal worlds, where storytelling takes on a trippy and playful form! Within the whimsical aisles of Omega Mart, you’ll find a ton of hilarious products that exist just to confuse you.
Even though this exhibit is on the pricier side compared to other attractions at AREA15, it’s still the best bang for your buck if you consider its size and how long on average people take to get through the experience.
Your experience will be equal parts glitchy, campy, colorful, and very Instagrammable!
24. Experience Wink World at AREA15
Wink World at AREA15 is an immersive art experience created by Chris Wink, the Chief Creative Officer of Blue Man Group. This psychedelic art house offers visitors a unique journey through six infinity mirror rooms, each designed to integrate sound, light, color, and motion in a captivating way.
As you step into this enchanting world, you’ll first wander through a narrow hallway adorned with curated art pieces, setting the stage for the sensory adventure ahead.
One standout room is the “breathe room,” which is a favorite among visitors for its immersive and tranquil atmosphere. We won’t give you too many more spoilers on that one!
All in all, if you have a fondness for the Blue Man Group, you’re likely to appreciate the creative genius of Chris Wink showcased in Wink World.
25. Ice Age Fossils State Park
Did you know that one of the most spectacular records of Ice Age fossils on the entire planet sits only 20 minutes north of The Strip?
The all-new Ice Age Fossils State Park in North Las Vegas has proven to be a jackpot of fossil remains, brimming with one of the largest and most varied collections of Ice Age-era prehistoric fossils ever discovered.
More than 100,000 years ago, this part of Las Vegas, known as the Upper Las Vegas Wash, was once home to herds of Columbian mammoths, American lions, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, and prehistoric camels, bison, and horses.
Adjacent to Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, the 315-acre Ice Age Fossils State Park opened in 2024 with a state-of-the-art visitor center and three trails. One of the trails takes you through the history of the Big Dig, a large-scale archaeology project that took place in 1962.
Planning Your Trip To Vegas?
Here are some of our other Vegas travel guides to help you plan an incredible trip:
- How To Snag Discounts On Las Vegas Attractions And Shows
- Here Are All The Absolute Must-Do’s In Las Vegas For First Timers
- 25+ Unique And Totally FREE Things To Do In Vegas
- Top Las Vegas Magic Shows That Will Knock Your Socks Off
- 15 Fun Places To Eat On The Las Vegas Strip
- 15 Kid-Friendly Shows In Las Vegas Perfect For Families
- 5 Cheaper Alternatives To Cirque du Soleil Shows In Las Vegas
- 10 Fun Rides and Roller Coasters In Las Vegas For Thrill Seekers
- 10 Secret Bars And Speakeasies On The Las Vegas Strip (+ Where To Find Them!)
- 20 Quirky And Fun Museums You’ll Only Find In Las Vegas
Read Next:
15 New Las Vegas Attractions That Are Worth Your Time
28 Unique And Totally Free Things To Do In Vegas
