five fun things to do in las vegas that aren't gambling

We love Las Vegas. We love the glitz. We love the food. We love the nightlife. We love the cheezy, tacky parts of Vegas.  And we love to gamble, too. But so many times when we tell our friends how much fun we have whenever we go, they always balk at joining us.  "I don't gamble," they say.  Well, there's plenty to do in Las Vegas aside from playing blackjack and feeding the slot machines.  So, here's the Huckleberry Travel list of top five "non-gambling" activities and attractions in Sin City.

1. The Neon Museum.  I've heard some folks refer to this as the "Neon Graveyard," which is appropriate, because it's where all of the old Las Vegas signs go to die.  The museum has collected all sorts of light-up signage from the Las Vegas area, and not only old casino signs. The signs are at ground level, so you can really appreciate the scale, and since all visitors go on a guided tour with a docent, you really start to understand how the neon signs of Las Vegas really amount to the architectural history of Vegas.

2. Hiking in the Red Rock Canyon.  If you want to see spectacular scenery, but need more activity than just riding in a helicopter, you might consider heading to the stunning Red Rock Canyon, for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding or rock climbing.  Red Rock Canyon is a photographer's dream, as well. It's only about a half-hour from the strip.  Or, if you have more time and want to go a little farther from the bright lights of Vegas, you could go to Valley of Fire State Park for a hiking or ATV tour.

3. Take a Self-Guided Gastro-Tour. It's probably not news to you that nearly every celebrity chef in the known universe has a restaurant along the Las Vegas Strip. But there are reasons that you might be better off making reservations at the Vegas outpost of that famous restaurant you've always wanted to try. For example, if you don't have a connection to wrangle an invite to Rao's in New York City (where you have to have a standing reservation at your own table to get in), you can pretty easily be seated at the Rao's restaurant that's ensconced at Caesar's Palace. And you can reserve on Open Table!  Line up your foodie dream itinerary in advance, and eat your way through town!

4. Day Trip to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, it's possible to get in a helicopter at the crack of dawn in Vegas, and spend the day soaring over the Strip, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  When we took this trip, we actually landed in the canyon, and walked around a bit, while the guide explained the geology, the geography, and, well... a bunch of other stuff about the canyon.  You're not going to be in the deepest and widests and most majestic part of the canyon--but it's very impressive, just the same.  After we were done with our canyon visit, we headed to the base of the Hoover Dam, which--I gotta say--is a pretty humbling experience just to stand there and see how huge it is. From the base of the dam, we got into a pontoon raft and floated down the Colorado River for a bit.  It all makes for an incredible, awe-inspiring day.  The Grand Canyon isn't the only spectacular day trip you can take from Vegas. Tours to Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks, to Death Valley and

5.  Get Married.  Okay. Maybe this one is a little bit cliché, but stick with me for a minute. There are so many fun and creative ways to tie the knot in Vegas, that if you're looking to plan a destination wedding, Vegas is a really great option.  And it doesn't have to be a fun, kitchy wedding either.  Oh, sure, you could get married by an Elvis impersonator.  But with so much natural beauty surrounding Las Vegas, you could have a lovely, classy outdoor ceremony, as well. And with so many great travel deals, a Las Vegas wedding just might be the most affordable way to get all of your far-flung friends and family in the same place at the same time.

Whether you're planning a destination wedding, an outdoor adventure trip, or a gastro-tour to Vegas, Huckleberry Travel can help put together an amazing trip for you and your friends.  Drop a line to get us started!