Best Hidden Gems in Las Vegas to Experience

Las Vegas is well known for its gambling and casinos.  However, I was recently invited by FlyOver Las Vegas to experience Vegas in a different light.  It turns out that there is much more to experience beyond its casinos.  From simulated flights through the American West, Iceland and the Canadian Rockies, to iconic Vegas signs and a Mob Museum, here are several best hidden gems in Las Vegas to experience during your next visit to Las Vegas!

As part of the familiarization trip, accommodations, meals and tickets to attractions were complimentary.  As always, though, all opinions are my own.

Best Hidden Gems in Las Vegas to Experience

I don’t gamble and I don’t drink alcohol.  But neither of those are necessary to enjoy a visit to Las Vegas!  I always enjoyed my visits to Las Vegas and this recent trip was no exception.  Indeed, I was able to experience Vegas in a whole new light, beginning with FlyOver Las Vegas.

FlyOver Las Vegas

FlyOver Las Vegas is relatively new to Las Vegas.  It opened in 2021 and for those of you familiar with Disney’s Soarin’ Around the World, it’s similar in concept.  However, unlike Soarin’, FlyOver Las Vegas has three different themed rides:   Wonders of the American West, Legendary Iceland, and Windborne:  Call of the Canadian Rockies. The visuals came from a over a hundred hours of helicopter flights and many more hours of drone footage.

Seated on a bench with 9 others, suspended over 50 feet in the air, you feel as if you are flying yourself. Imagine if Peter Pan grabbed your head and took you soaring, through a full sensory experience where you travel through mist, feel the wind on your face, smell, and even taste the locations as you pass through them. It is an incredibly immersive ride and, with no aggressive drops, there was nothing distracting you from enjoying everything it had to offer.

FlyOver Las Vegas has a great location.  It’s located on the Las Vegas Strip, next to the Hard Rock Cafe and within walking distance of Park MGM and New York New York Hotel & Casino.  Pricing for different packages can be found here, but the rides also include pre-shows that are just as amazing as the rides themselves. Only 40 people can fit in a theatre at one time and there are only two theaters so the rides can fill up quickly. 

Is FlyOver Las Vegas kid friendly?

Yes!  I wouldn’t hesitate to bring my 10 year old son.  However, while there is not an age limit, there is a height limit.  Guests must be at least 40 inches tall in order to ride.  

Is FlyOver Las Vegas plus size friendly?

I’m plus sized so I was worried that I would have difficultly fitting in my seat.  However, there was no need for me to worry.  FlyOver Las Vegas does not have an individual weight limit/restriction.  Each individual seat is a 19 inch seat and is consistent with a commercial airline seat, with seatbelts that extend 5 feet.  However, there is a weight limit for the entire ride apparatus.

Other FlyOver Locations

There is a location in Vancouver, Canada and another location in Reykjavik, Iceland.  There will be a third location opening in Chicago in March 2024 (the Navy Pier).

The Lost Cactus Bar and Lounge

Guests can purchase drinks and snacks at FlyOver Las Vegas.  There are alcoholic beverages called Fire and Ice, Desert Sunset, and Canadian Sky, inspired by the three different themed rides. There are also mocktails available for guests who prefer not to drink alcohol.  I drank a mocktail called the Gold Rush and it tasted really good.  I wish I had another on hand right now! 

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Another hidden gem in Las Vegas is the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  Admission is free.  The gardens change seasonally so guests can experience a different theme throughout the year (depending on the time of the year ).

During my recent visit, the summer theme was Majesty:  The Grandeur of Nature.  It was simply breathtaking to experience in person and I would love to experience it during the holidays, too!

I also had the opportunity eat at Sadelle’s, a restaurant which overlooks the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  The food is amazing, but the desserts stole the show (more about that below).

The Neon Museum

Another hidden gem in Vegas is the Neon Museum.  The Neon Museum stores and preserves iconic Las Vegas signs, such as the Stardust sign. I loved hearing more about the historical significance behind the signs.  

Not only do visitors learn about the different Vegas signs, they also learn more about the designers behind them.  For example, I did not know that a woman, Betty Willis, designed the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.  She also designed some of the signs preserved at the Neon Museum, such as the Moulin Rouge sign.  

While most of the museum is located outdoors in the Main Boneyard, the Visitors’ Center is constructed from the lobby from the La Concha Motel.   As a part of the guided tour, I learned that La Concha Motel was designed by architect Paul Revere Williams, the first documented African-American member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

*I recommend booking the Evening Admission and Guided Tour.  It’s fun to see the signs lit up at night and I learned a lot from the guided tour that I don’t think I would have learned otherwise.

Mob Museum

Another hidden gem in Las Vegas is the Mob Museum.  The Mob Museum tackles all things gangster related, from how mobs were originally formed, to the impact and influence they had on casinos and Las Vegas.  The museum itself is located in a building that was the first federal building in Las Vegas as well as the first post office.  As a result, there’s a lot of history there to begin with!

There are several exhibit rooms in the Mob Museum, and some of the rooms contain artifacts such as sunglasses belonging to Bugsy Siegel and a black book listing a well known gangster (you will have to go there to find out his identity!) who was not welcome in casinos.  There are also original bricks on display from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

The Mob Museum also has an Underground Speakeasy and Distillery for guests who are at least 21 years of age.  Guests will feel like they are back in the Prohibition days when they enter the basement of the Mob Museum.

Where to Stay in Las Vegas

There’s no shortage of resorts and casinos in Vegas and I love seeing all the different personalities of the hotels and casinos.  For me, checking out the various lobbies is part of the fun.  However, during my visit, I stayed at the New York New York Hotel & Casino, which was recently renovated.  Not only did I love the New York vibe and theme, but I appreciated that there are several dining options, from a fine dining steakhouse to quick service counters that sell crepes, donuts and bagels.  Not only that, but the New York New York Hotel & Casino has a great location, within walking distance of Park MGM and FlyOver Las Vegas.  There’s also two Starbucks’ on property, for those who need their Starbucks fix.  And as for me, my favorite is the Hershey store which is also located on property!

The New York New York Hotel & Casino Rooms

As I mentioned above, the rooms were recently renovated.  I found my room to be very spacious and clean, with plenty of counter and storage space.  Although the room did not contain a mini fridge, it did contain an ice bucket.  There are ice machines on the floor, making it easy to fill up the bucket with ice.  

My room also had a view of the Big Apple Coaster.  It was a unique view, but for guests who don’t want to hear the coaster operating at night, you might ask for a room away from the coaster.

Where to Eat in Las Vegas

There are several dining options in Las Vegas, making it difficult to narrow down the list.  However, listed below are some of my favorites:

Eataly:  An Italian marketplace located inside Park MGM.  I ordered a nutella crepe for breakfast and it was the best crepe I’ve ever eaten!

Sadelle’s:  A fine dining restaurant located inside Bellagio.  While there are several food options, I opted for a cheeseburger with fries.  It was delicious, especially since dessert followed.

Outdoor Grill:  An indoor and outdoor restaurant located inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  I ordered the cinnamon roll french toast, which is also delicious.

Retro by Voltaggio:  A quirky 80s and 90s themed restaurant located inside Mandalay Bay.  The portions are served family style, and I felt very full by the end of the evening.  My personal favorite are the pepperoni rolls.

I had a great time in Las Vegas and can’t wait to go back!