Summer in Las Vegas is notoriously hot. A time when the city slows down and visitors flock to the air conditioning of casino floors and shaded cabanas that wrap around hotel pools.
But there are always attractions old and new to keep everyone busy. We’ve narrowed down a few favorites that are especially fun during the summer season.
The John Wick Experience
Area 15 • Adventures begin at $49.99
Step into the exciting world of your favorite hitman with The John Wick Experience.at AREA 15. The 12,000-square-foot attraction recreates the fabled Continental Hotel, drawing in fans of the blockbuster franchise. The John Wick Experience isn’t a movie museum. It’s closer to an escape room, but even that doesn’t truly explain the themed rooms, live character interactions, games, and challenges. When your action-packed adventure ends, enjoy a craft cocktail at the John Wick Las Vegas Continental Bar and explore the gift shop.
Netflix Bites
MGM Las Vegas • Prices vary
Are you a fan of “Bridgerton,” “WWE Raw” or “Love Is Blind”? Visit the MGM Grand’s restaurant experience, Netflix Bites, featuring a menu of dishes and drinks inspired by the streaming giant’s lineup of hit shows. Sample high tea from “Bridgerton” or Upside Down-worthy waffles that Eleven of “Stranger Things” would love. Indulge in a delectable showboat of sushi treats inspired by “One Piece” or let fate decide your culinary destiny with a spinning wheel of Red Bite, Green Bite in the style of “Squid Game.”
Swingers
Mandalay Bay • Tickets from $30
Get ready for the ultimate combination of fun, mini golf, street food and incredible cocktails. Swingers at Mandalay Bay specializes in Crazy Golf — the fancy British term for mini-golf with adults-only environment with great pizza and an arcade of carnival games. Swingers is opening up afternoon sessions to youngsters throughout the summer while school’s out.
Tea on the Strip
Departs from The Sahara Hotel and Casino • Tours start at $99
Tea on the Strip is a uniquely British adventure aboard a charming, pink double-decker tour bus. Climb aboard and sip on a variety of tea while enjoying a delightful 75-minute tour of the Las Vegas Strip. The experience includes a variety of sweet and savory treats and an up-close look at iconic Vegas landmarks. The bus departs from the Sahara. Please arrive 15 minutes before embarking on your adventure.
Play Playground
Luxor Hotel and Casino • Tickets start at $40.50
Admit it: you’re still a bit nostalgic for the days of school playgrounds, tetherball, and the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. Play Playground at the Luxor boasts 15,000 square feet of more than 20 hands-on, physical games and attractions. There’s no VR, no AR and no video games. Just real-life fun. The games are big, the drinks are strong, and there are absolutely no kids under 16 allowed. Plus, you don’t have to go home when the streetlights come on. General Play experiences last about ninety minutes, with Unlimited Play and Group packages available. And remember to play nice.
Sphere
The Sphere is one of Las Vegas’s most unique and popular attractions, featuring a massive high-def video wall and special effects. The summer lineup includes classic rockers The Eagles, country music superstar Kenny Chesney, and boy band icons the Backstreet Boys. The Sphere also presents cinematic experiences like V-U2: An Immersive Concert Film and the stunning “Postcard from Earth,“ an out-of-this-world sci-fi spectacle from director Darren Aronofsky.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio has a new exhibit, “Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer,” on display through September 6, featuring unique floral designs and interactive photo ops. Book a reservation at the Garden Table for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Guests enjoy a the scenery feasting on brunch by Sadelle’s or a multi-course dinner by Michael Mina.
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions at 63 on the Las Vegas Strip is a whopping 15,000-square-foot attraction that plays tricks with the mind, using infinity mirrors, dynamic lighting and forced perspective trickery. Highlights include a seemingly spinning bridge, a high-stakes poker game (with yourself) and dozens of other mind-bending experiences. Originally launched in Croatia, the Museum of Illusions has grown to over 40 locations worldwide.
Hall of Excellence
The Hall of Excellence opens at the Fontainebleau on June 20. Launched by NFL legend Tom Brady and award-winning sportscaster Jim Gray, the museum of sports memorabilia features exhibits showcasing the likes of Muhammad Ali, Vince Lombardi, Jim Brown, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. You’ll even see Brady’s own collection of seven Super Bowl rings. The definition of excellence also extends beyond sports with items like Oprah Winfrey’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. Narration of the tour is provided by actor Morgan Freeman.
Shark Reef Aquarium
The enchanting Shark Reef Aquarium is inside Mandalay Bay, mixing an educational experience with under-the-sea wonder. Get up close and personal with an impressive collection of exotic sharks, colorful fish, turtles, sting rays and a Komodo dragon!
Welcome to the Weekend Fireworks
Plaza • Free
For the second straight year in a row, the Plaza hotel is hosting a weekly fireworks show throughout the summer. Located just west of the Fremont Street Experience, the resort launches fireworks above the pool deck every Friday night at 9:15 p.m. through September 26. It’s a simple way to kick off the weekend in spectacular, explosive fashion. The Plaza is also offering a special “all-inclusive” hotel deal throughout the summer with breakfast, dinner, pool access, and unlimited drinks at two different bars built into the $125-a-night price.
Illuminarium, located just outside the main AREA15 building, is a fascinating space where unique environments come to life in an immersive 4D experience. Visitors are surrounded by high-definition video with sounds, scents, and vibrations that enhance the experience. Current programs include “Amplified,” an immersive tribute to the history of rock by Rolling Stone magazine, “Lite-Brite” (based on the popular children’s toy), and “Space,” which simulates a journey to the moon.
Discovering King Tut’s Tomb
The Luxor • Tickets begin at $33 for adults, $23 for children
Discovering King Tut’s Tomb arrived in Las Vegas just in time to mark the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter’s discovery of the Egyptian Boy King’s undisturbed tomb. Combining education and entertainment, this stunning exhibit includes a simulation of the tomb, art displays, and multimedia presentations that dig deep into intriguing Egyptian history and culture, the legacy of the Valley of Kings, and the short but fascinating life of King Tut himself.
Colors of Mexico at Fantasy Lab
Fashion Show Las Vegas • Free admission
Fantasy Lab is hosting Colors of Mexico, a free attraction based on a south-of-the-border theme. This immersive, interactive experience started in Mexico City before migrating to the Fashion Show shopping mall in Las Vegas. Guests have the opportunity to visit seven different rooms, each representing varying aspects of Mexican culture and history. Be ready to snap some eye-catching photos as you feel the colors of Mexico around you in this immersive, captivating spot. Admission is $15, but can be redeemed for food, drinks or merchandise.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition showcases hundreds of items recovered from the notorious sunken ocean liner while paying respect to the victims of the tragedy. You’ll see a 15-ton piece of the ship’s hull, recreations of the Titanic’s staircase, cabins and promenade deck, plus cutlery, silverware and china from the ship’s kitchen.
The Paradox Museum
Get inspired at the Paradox Museum, an interactive and immersive experience from the original creators of the Museum of Illusions. Located at the Showcase Mall, the Paradox Museum is a series of winding hallways and more than 90 head-scratching exhibits, ranging from an interactive, talking piano to a carousel that changes appearance three times during a single rotation. You’ll see Vegas-inspired touches in an Elvis guitar, visualizing the pluck of a string and a “strip club” room that defies gravity when photographed at the right angle.
AREA15
AREA15 is one of the most exciting attractions in Las Vegas. Located just west of the Strip near Chinatown, this multi-purpose entertainment complex is a truly out-of-this-world experience. Top exhibitions include Omega Mart, an expansive and immersive art installation; Birdly, a flight simulator that sends users soaring over cityscapes; and Haley’s Comet, a hang-gliding-style motorized zipline ride. There are also restaurants, snack bars, lounges, and cocktail bars that are just as bright and bold as the exhibits. Be sure to check out Oddwood, where visitors over 21 can grab a drink and marvel at a 23-foot LED tree centerpiece that pulses to the music.
Grand Prix Plaza
The Strip • Tickets start at $59
Start your engines! Las Vegas is fast becoming a hot racing destination thanks to the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. Grand Prix Plaza lets you relive races, see real-life race cars and have cocktails at the Turn 1 Lounge. Race into the future of immersive entertainment at F1 Drive.
FlyOver Las Vegas
FlyOver Las Vegas allows guests to take “flight” in a simulated hang-glide ride, overlooking beautiful destinations and scenery projected onto an ultra-high-definition screen that spans more than 52 feet. This truly immersive experience is enhanced with surround sound and gusts of wind for a full sensory experience. Current rides include “Wonders of the American West,” “Iceland,” “Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies” and the venue’s newest addition, “Believe Chicago.”
Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck Experience
For a sky-high escape from the hustle and bustle of the Strip, take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. A half-scale replica of the Parisian original, the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck boasts stunning 360-degree views. You won’t want to miss the Bellagio Fountains from this spot. Book a dinner reservation at the elegant Eiffel Tower Restaurant to seal the deal on a magical evening.
High Roller
Take your Vegas vacation to new heights and climb aboard the High Roller for an incredible 360-degree view of the Las Vegas Valley. Located at the east end of The LINQ Promenade, North America’s tallest observation wheel even provides an in-cabin open bar and personal bartender for an extra fee. The entire ride usually takes about 30 minutes and peaks at around 550 feet in the air.
Skypod Viewing Deck
Standing at 1,149 feet, The Strat is one of the tallest freestanding structures in the United States. Take the elevator to the Skypod observation deck on the 108th floor to walk the perimeter for full views of the surrounding area and grab a cocktail at 108 Drinks. An outdoor viewing area is on the 109th floor, where you can enjoy the rush of insane thrill rides that dangle over the edge of the tower.
Dinosaur Outpost
Dinosaur Outpost is a prehistoric attraction that takes visitors back to the Jurassic Period through an immersive 15,000 square-foot exhibit in Town Square, just south of the Strip. Play tug of war, shoot blaster cannons, or even ride on one of 32 animatronic dinosaurs. Families can also enjoy a soft play area and snacks at the on-site Fossil Fuel cafe. It’s a perfect off-Strip endeavor for families with children between the ages of 5 and 12.
Bodies…The Exhibition
For a fascinating educational experience, explore Bodies…The Exhibition. Luxor’s thought-provoking attraction showcases preserved human specimens, offering an in-depth view of the human body. The three-dimensional displays include 13 whole-body specimens and more than 260 partial-body exhibits, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of human anatomy. Real Bodies, a rival exhibition from another company, is located on the lower level of the Horseshoe Casino, offering a competing study of the human anatomy.
