From Formula 1 racing and atomic history to Downtown Las Vegas and incredible views of the Strip, these were some of my favorite experiences during a four-day trip to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is one of those destinations where everyone seems to already have their favorite hotel, restaurant, casino or show. The Bellagio fountains, the Sphere and Fremont Street are famous for a reason, but on a recent four-day trip to Las Vegas, I wanted to experience some of the other things the city has to offer.
I flew nonstop from Grand Rapids on Allegiant, and my actual flight time was only 3 hours and 13 minutes. That still amazes me. In a little over three hours, I went from West Michigan to walking out of the Las Vegas airport. If you can grab a window seat, the scenery as you get closer to Las Vegas is also pretty incredible.
I packed a lot into a relatively short trip and came away surprised by how much there is to do in Las Vegas beyond gambling. From Formula 1 racing and two very different museums to seeing the Strip from above and exploring some of Vegas’ newer resorts, these were some of my favorite experiences—and several weren’t really on my radar before the trip.
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1. Grand Prix Plaza – One of My Biggest Surprises
I’ll start with one of my favorite experiences of the trip: Grand Prix Plaza.
Formula 1 has exploded in popularity, but I’ve never been a huge F1 follower. I was still excited to check this place out and ended up having an awesome time.
I started with the museum experience, which was much more interactive than I expected. You can learn about the evolution of F1 cars, see how racing helmets and uniforms have changed, experience what happens inside the communications hub during a race and even try changing a tire during a simulated pit stop.
One of my favorite exhibits allowed me to design my own F1 car, including the color scheme, and then watch as my design was projected onto a car.
But the highlight was F1 DRIVE.
This isn’t your standard go-kart track. Before racing, I put on a helmet and neck support and climbed into a kart for a race that starts indoors before heading outside.
I happened to race at night, and that’s absolutely when I’d recommend going. The outdoor portion of the track was completely lit up and had a really cool atmosphere. There were technical sections, straightaways and even boost functions on the steering wheel that added another dimension to the race.
I spent most of my race in first place before eventually getting passed. I tried to use the extra power to get the position back but couldn’t quite make it happen.
As far as go-kart racing goes, this felt like a premium experience. I’d absolutely do it again, and it’s something I’d love to bring my kids back to experience.
Photos courtesy of Grand Prix Plaza
2. F1 Arcade – Racing, Food and Drinks on the Strip
If Grand Prix Plaza is the more immersive racing experience, F1 Arcade Las Vegas is the social version.
Located inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, the two-story venue features 23 full-motion racing simulators along with food, drinks and an outdoor terrace overlooking the Strip.
I was impressed by both the food and the venue itself. This isn’t just a room filled with racing simulators. It feels much more like a restaurant, bar and entertainment experience built around Formula 1.
It’s also something you can enjoy even if you aren’t a huge F1 fan—which was one of my takeaways from both Formula 1 experiences I tried in Vegas.
And there’s now a Great Lakes connection. F1 Arcade Chicago opened August 14, 2026, in River North at the former Rock Bottom Brewery location, giving travelers from our region a chance to experience the concept a little closer to home.
Photos courtesy of F1 Arcade Las Vegas
3. Don’t Overlook The Mob Museum
If you’re heading downtown to experience Fremont Street, I’d strongly consider adding The Mob Museum to your plans.
I knew there was obviously a connection between organized crime and Las Vegas, but I didn’t appreciate how much history there was until walking through this museum.
The exhibits explore the characters who shaped organized crime, how different organizations operated around the country and, of course, the Mob’s influence on Las Vegas. The museum also tells the other side of the story, focusing on the law enforcement officers who spent decades fighting organized crime.
There are hundreds of artifacts and interactive exhibits, and you could easily spend a couple of hours here if you’re interested in history. There’s even a Prohibition-era speakeasy and working distillery called The Underground in the museum’s basement.
Photos courtesy of The Mob Museum
4. Spend an Evening in Downtown Las Vegas
If I were planning my trip again, I’d try not to bounce back and forth between the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas. There’s enough to do around Fremont Street that I’d dedicate an afternoon and evening to this part of town.
The Fremont Street Experience itself is something I can’t imagine visiting Vegas and not seeing, especially after dark. The enormous overhead canopy, crowds, music and energy are all part of the experience.
I also really enjoyed walking through Circa Resort & Casino. The newer casino has a different feel than some of the older properties in Vegas—modern, open and spacious.
The sportsbook was the showstopper for me. You ride an escalator down and suddenly this enormous wall of screens and rows of seating come into view. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Upstairs is Stadium Swim, which I didn’t experience on this trip but would love to return to. Watching an NFL Sunday, playoff game or March Madness there looks like it would be an incredible Vegas experience.
5. The National Atomic Testing Museum Is Worth Leaving the Strip
Here’s another attraction that wasn’t really on my radar before planning this trip: the National Atomic Testing Museum.
You’ll need to venture away from the Strip to get there, but if you enjoy history, I thought it was well worth the trip.
Nevada played an enormous role in America’s nuclear testing program, and the museum walks you through everything from the race to develop the first atomic weapons to decades of testing in the Nevada desert.
I especially enjoyed learning about the people and technology behind the Manhattan Project and the history of the Nevada Test Site. The museum covers both atmospheric and underground nuclear testing and includes an immersive Ground Zero Theater designed to recreate the experience of observing an atmospheric test.
There’s also a newer World of Fallout exhibit connecting real-world atomic history with the Fallout franchise.
It’s exactly the kind of Vegas attraction I enjoy finding—something interesting that probably wouldn’t have been near the top of my list on a first visit.
Photos courtesy of The National Atomic Testing Museum
6. Ride the High Roller After Dark
Some attractions are popular because they’re simply worth doing, and I would put the High Roller Observation Wheel in that category.
I rode it on my first night in town, and it was a great way to kick off the trip.
Part of the fun is walking through The LINQ Promenade on the way there. The pedestrian area is packed with restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment and had a ton of energy when I visited.
Then you get above it all on the High Roller.
Looking over Las Vegas after dark gives you a completely different perspective on the city. I’d definitely recommend scheduling this one after sunset.
Between the High Roller, Sphere, Bellagio fountains and Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas at night is almost visual overload—and that’s part of what makes it so much fun.
Photo courtesy of Ceasars Entertainment
7. Fontainebleau Is Worth Exploring
I stayed at The Venetian, which has a great location and huge rooms. My room had a separate sunken living area and an incredible view of the Sphere that became especially impressive after dark.
I enjoyed the pool, had good food and loved being able to walk to so much of the Strip. Some of the common areas and casino felt a little dated to me compared with some of Vegas’ newer properties, but I’d still consider The Venetian a good option, particularly if location and room size are priorities.
The newer property that really caught my attention was Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The lobby is enormous, with high ceilings and an almost ridiculous amount of fresh-cut flowers. Several art installations throughout the resort also caught my attention and added to the overall experience as I explored the property.
I also liked that an enormous resort still had smaller spaces that felt inviting. Collins Bar stood out with cozy booths, handcrafted cocktails and live piano music. It isn’t a huge space, which actually adds to its appeal.
Bleau Bar has a completely different feel. It’s right in the middle of the action and highlighted by a massive chandelier that immediately grabs your attention.
Between the restaurants, bars, pool, casino, flowers, art and overall design, Fontainebleau was just a fun property to explore.
Photos courtesy of Fontainebleau Las Vegas
8. Don’t Forget the Classic Vegas Experiences
I spent much of this trip looking for experiences beyond the obvious Vegas attractions, but there’s a reason some things have become classics.
See the Bellagio fountains after dark. Walk through Wynn and check out the property and Lake of Dreams. Spend some time simply walking the Strip. And if you haven’t experienced the Sphere at night, it’s difficult to appreciate just how much that thing dominates the skyline until you’re there.
One of my favorite things about Las Vegas was that everywhere I looked, something seemed to surprise me.
I saw autonomous vehicles buzzing around town, huge crowds waiting for the Bellagio fountains and packed sidewalks even in extreme heat. At one point, I even saw what looked like a stretch monster-truck limousine driving down the road.
Vegas is sensory overload, but that’s part of the fun.
You Can Pack a Lot Into a Short Las Vegas Trip
One of my biggest takeaways was just how much you can experience in three or four days.
I didn’t arrive until the middle of the afternoon on my first day, yet that evening I checked into The Venetian, visited F1 Arcade, raced at Grand Prix Plaza, walked through The LINQ Promenade and rode the High Roller.
My biggest advice would be to organize your trip geographically. Dedicate an afternoon and evening to Downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street rather than repeatedly traveling back and forth. Group your Strip attractions together and leave yourself some time to simply walk around and explore.
And you certainly don’t need to make gambling the focus of a Vegas trip. I think I spent about $100 gambling during my entire stay, yet I never felt like I was running out of things to do.
When I left The Venetian for the airport around 4:30 in the morning, I walked through the casino and couldn’t believe how busy it still was. People were gambling and drinking, and plenty looked like they were still finishing the night before.
It seemed like an appropriate way to end a trip to a city that really doesn’t stop.
Have a Vegas recommendation? I plan to keep this article updated as I make return trips and hear from readers. If there’s a hotel, restaurant, attraction or experience you think belongs here, send it my way.
