I flew across the country to spend 48 hours in Las Vegas. Here are 4 things that were worth it and 4 that weren’t.

I went on a quick weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock

I flew from Connecticut to Las Vegas for a 48-hour weekend getaway.
I didn’t need a ton of time to enjoy what the city has to offer, but I’m glad I planned ahead.
I’d definitely see some entertaining shows again, but I probably wouldn’t gamble if I returned.

I took a weekend trip to Las Vegas from my home in Connecticut.

After a long flight and a few timezone changes, I landed and was quickly reminded of how unique the city is. Vegas sees an average of 40 million tourists a year, and I think everyone should visit at least once.

Throughout my 48 hours in Sin City, there were attractions worth checking out and a few things I’d skip in the future.

I recommend enjoying at least one of the city’s many incredible shows.

The Sphere is a new venue in Las Vegas.

Carly Neil

The Sphere is a performing-arts venue in Las Vegas that doubles as a stunning lights display.

The structure is a sight to see in its own right, and you don’t have to buy a ticket to whatever performance is happening inside to appreciate the engineering and technology.

However, if you can get inside, it’s pretty incredible.

I had a blast scoping out the best restaurants.

The Venetian has actual canals inside.

Carly Neil

The resorts found up and down the Strip, the iconic stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard, are all open to the public. You don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy the ambiance.

Many of the hotels in Las Vegas have beautiful artwork, shopping, dining, and attractions throughout, like St. Mark’s Square at the Venetian.

Even if the hotel you’re staying in has everything you need, it was a lot of fun to check out the other properties (and maybe even scope out a hotel for my next visit).

On the other hand, I wasn’t really into the gambling.

Some of the treats I found in Vegas were fun, but they were really expensive.

Carly Neil

Like any major city in America, there’s an added cost when enjoying Las Vegas. There are tourist traps and overpriced souvenirs galore.

I was tempted by some of the fun treats along the Strip, but I don’t think I’d pay $6 for one doughnut again — especially if I’m trying to stick to my budget.

Waiting until the last minute to decide where to eat made me waste a ton of time.

There are fun things to see outside of the Strip.

Carly Neil

My time constraints got in the way a little bit during this trip, but I wish I’d trekked outside the city to find some of the country’s most stunning landscapes.

Las Vegas is only a 30-minute drive from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and two hours from Death Valley National Park.

I was basically on the Strip the whole weekend, but it would’ve been cool to explore more.

This story was originally published in October 2023 and most recently updated on October 24, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

source:https://www.businessinsider.com/best-things-to-do-las-vegas-weekend-what-to-skip-2023-10