Underrated Things To Do in Vegas – Under the Radar “Stuff”

I just wrapped up a rundown of Overrated Aspects of Las Vegas, and although the list is short, taking a negative tone about Vegas had me feeling down… to be clear, I’m bullish on Vegas.

To lift my spirits, I wanted to create a list of underrated or commonly overlooked things to do, eat, and drink in Vegas.

Add your “hidden gems” in the comments!

Underrated Vegas Activities

Old Mormon Fort: An attraction you’ve never heard of costs just $3 to experience, and is a short ride from Fremont Street.

The Old Mormon Fort was the first non-native settlement in Nevada, established in 1855.

The majority of the site is a recreation, but the Adobe Building is the oldest standing structure in Nevada. It has been used for myriad purposes over the years, including as a concrete testing lab during the construction of the Hoover Dam.

NYNY Big Apple Coaster: There’s a reason 1.4 million people pile onto this rollercoaster annually, which provides great views and an exhilarating ride. At $25 for a ride ($10 for re-rides), it’s a great value.

What makes this underrated Vegas attraction better is the lack of a line. Jump right on!

Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition: Located on the top floor of the Shops at Crystals, Diana is an expertly constructed museum attraction featuring 700+ artifacts from her life, including handwritten notes.

While I’m not a “Royal-Watcher” per se, I heard an actual British person say it was “Marvelous”, so it must be legit.

Popstroke at Town Square: Located south of the Strip at Town Square, Popstroke is the best mini-golf in Vegas.

For $35, you can putt around their two courses as many times as you want, which are designed to look and play like a real putting surface. In addition to golf, there’s a bar with a full menu and free yard games.

Popstroke is worth the trip, and is an incredible deal when compared to places like Swingers Crazy Golf on the Strip.

CX Bus to Fremont Street from the Airport: While the Deuce, which goes up and down the Strip to Fremont Street, is overrated due to overcrowding and frequent stops, the CX is the exact opposite.

I’ve ridden it several times and have found it both convenient and deserted.

Getting from the airport to downtown is only $2 via the CX, a crazy deal.

Play Playground at Luxor: This one sounded “gimmicky”… until I experienced it and had a blast. Play Playground is home to 20+ carnival-style games that are intuitive & a blast.

An “all-day pass” that lets you play 12 games starts at $37, and it’s worth it. A fun diversion that not enough people are talking about.

Vintage Slot Games: Most Las Vegas casinos offer only slot games with modern TITO (ticket-in-ticket-out) technology, eliminating the need for coins or tokens; however, some still have machines that spit coins into a metal tray.

If you crave that familiar “ting, ting, ting, then check out my (shrinking) list of casinos that still offer real token/coin-operated games, including the impossible-to-find original Sigma Derby horse racing game.

Miracle Mile Shops: While most malls suck, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood are among my favorite places to visit for the abundance of cheap food & drink deals available.

Hit up Flights for 3-for-$15 cocktails, or La Salsa Cantina for their $6.99 breakfast special ($9.99 on weekends).

Blondies has a $20 AYCD deal on weekdays, and there’s a brand new food hall with budget-friendly bites.

Frozen Baileys at O’Sheas: Nothing soothes your throat like the ice-cold, malty consistency of the Frozen Baileys offered at O’Sheas inside LINQ. It’s heaven.

Instead of buying one for over $20, shove a $20 into the bartop VP and get a complimentary version, or two.

Convenience Stores on the Strip: All I hear is the outcry. The rage. How dare the Strip further commercialize!

The reality is, convenience stores deliver a heck of a lot of value. You can stock your room cheaply and grab a 3-pack of tall boys for the road.

I know I’ll never spend $19.99 on a small bottle of sunscreen at the hotel gift shop again!

In addition to the essentials, convenience stores are commonly home to the cheapest ATMs in Las Vegas.

Museum of Illusions: Stuff like this pops up in Las Vegas all the time, and I’ll admit I was skeptical of the Museum of Illusions coming in. I’ve now made two trips and think it’s an underrated value.

Located between Cosmopolitan and The Shops at Crystals, The Museum of Illusions is packed with visual illusions that were legit cool, along with easy-to-understand explanations of what I was seeing.

What I enjoyed most were the photo opportunities that let me be part of the illusion. You’re going to get some fun photos!