Las Vegas is the place to go for the casinos, bright lights, and clubs of The Strip. However, there is more to Las Vegas than you may realize. It has hidden gems that show you a different side of the city. Seeing diverse cultural, artistic, and natural gems will add extra enjoyment to your visit to Vegas.
Secret Pizza
A tiny eatery nicknamed Secret Pizza by those in the know is a great place to go after a night of gambling to order pizza and beer. It’s a slightly hidden destination that you may miss if you don’t know it’s there.
The pizzeria is hidden on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. To get there, you need to pass through a narrow hallway full of album covers of singers like Frank Sinatra. This hallway leads to an unmarked entrance.
At Secret Pizza, you can order some New York-style pizza to go. While you wait for your pizza, continue your gambling experience by playing some games at online casinos.
Valley of Fire State Park
For a complete contrast to the city itself, you can enjoy the tranquility of nature an hour northeast of Vegas. Valley of Fire State Park may not be as well-known as Red Rock Canyon, but that’s one of the reasons why it’s perfect for an adventure in the desert. You can spot petroglyphs made by Native Americans and hike the scenic trails. Red sandstone formations that look like flames at sunset give the park its name. You will develop a new appreciation for the beauty of the Nevada desert.
Akhob
Of all the things to do in Vegas, don’t miss out on viewing an installation by artist James Turrell. He is an internationally acclaimed space and light artist. You need to make a reservation for the 24-minute experience. The installation is hidden inside a Louis Vuitton store in the center of the city. Akhob is an ancient Egyptian word that is believed to mean “pure water.” The immersive show includes two chambers that are filled with slowly changing light. You will experience space and color in ways you haven’t done before.
Seven Magic Mountains
Another activity to enjoy in spare time is a trip to see the Seven Magic Mountains. They may be very popular, but you will still feel as though you’ve come across a magical secret in the desert.
Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone designed the installation. It features 30-foot stocked boulders painted in bold colors to show how the natural and artificial intersect. This is a special site for art lovers and makes for some stunning Instagram pics.
The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is a history museum in downtown Las Vegas. It is a non-profit organization that gives you more understanding of organized crime and the impact it has had on America. One of the best parts of visiting the museum is enjoying a real speakeasy experience. Many speakeasies operated during the prohibition era in the U.S.
Get transported back in time when you go down to the museum basement, ring a bell, and offer a password to enter. This prohibition-era bar has a working distillery. You can see artifacts from the 1920s and order some moonshine or prohibition-era cocktails.
The Chandelier
The Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan is one of the most popular cocktail bars in Las Vegas. However, it is like discovering a hidden hideaway when you get to Level 1.5 of this multi-story bar. You will never have tasted some of the cocktails you can get here before. They may feature ingredients like Szechuan flower, salted churro syrup, and black pepper honey.
Pinball Hall of Fame
In an arcade tucked away from the Strip is the Pinball Hall of Fame. It features a collection of vintage pinball machines and arcade games from decades gone by. Take a step back in time and test your skills on the machines. All the proceeds go to local charities.