When it comes to Las Vegas, most people only visit the more popular locations in the city. While there is nothing wrong with that, Las Vegas has tons of spectacularly hidden local gems.. Regardless of how many times you visit the city, you will always find something new thrown your way every time you visit. Check out these ten local gems in Las Vegas.
1. Akhob
Las Vegas is a city filled with all sorts of light shows everywhere you look, which is why this specific light show is being recommended. Known as the Akhob, the light show by James Turrell can be found inside the Louis Vuitton store and requires you to make a reservation. You are also required to take your shoes off and share the room with a few other people.
You will be taken personally into a room, where what you are about to witness is explained briefly. Once that is done, the show begins, and you are taking a trip to another dimension. The experience is truly unique and will leave you thinking about it for a long time.
Keep in mind that viewing the installation is free and open to the public, but you should make reservations ahead of time to get in. Consider doing so a month in advance to be on the safe side.
2. The Neon Boneyard
If there is one thing that Las Vegas is known for, it’s the iconic sights of neon lights. These lights served as a sign of the infamous image most people identified Las Vegas with, hence the name it earned, City of Lights.
Some of the most recognizable neon displays from a bygone era of Las Vegas casinos have been created by Young Electric Sign Company. The Salt Lake City-based company is the one behind maintaining the storage yard in Las Vegas for several decades. The three-acre plot has become a massive graveyard filled with disused neon signs.
It has become the final resting place for some of the most recognizable pieces of Vegas history, such as Binion’s Horseshoe, the Golden Nugget, Silver Slipper, and the original Aladdin’s lamp from the first version of Aladdin Casino. Right now, there are over 150 decommissioned and non-restored none signs at this location. Sometime during 2005, the La Concha Hotel was moved up the street to serve as the museum’s visitor center.
3. The Mob Museum
During the early days of Las Vega’s growth into what it has become today, the city had issues with organized crime. While that is no longer the case, the Mob Museum was created around 2012 to show what the city once had to deal with, and it spans across multiple floors. The attraction may not be suited for everyone, but it does reveal an interesting side of Las Vegas. The history shown in this museum offers us a chance to gain insight into a city filled with crime.
Visitors will see some very intriguing items exhibited within the museum walls, something you will have to discover on your own.
4. The Underground Speakeasy at the Mob Museum
The Mob Museum has another intriguing place that you should consider visiting. If you head into the basement area, ring the bell, and provide a password, you will be granted access to the museum’s prohibition-era bar and working distillery covered in 1920’s decorations. Known as the Underground, this place produces its own drinks and is a privilege that only a few people have experienced. The cocktails they serve are some of the best around and have a live jazz band that guarantees a good time.
5. National Atomic Testing Museum
If you ever had an interest in the Atomic Age, there is a fascinating place for you to visit close by the Mob Museum. The National Atomic Testing Museum celebrates a part of the history that most people are glad to be over with, yet still consider it fascinating. The museum houses over 12,000 artifacts that show the history of the Nevada Test Site. It also tells the story of the nation’s nuclear program and the effects it had on Las Vegas and its surrounding areas.
Around the 50s and 60s, the population in Las tripled in size with people who were excited to see the scientific happenings and watch the mushroom clouds reach towards the sky. Since the museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, you will not be getting some boring old photos and Geiger counters. The place also highlights pop culture and sociological trends of what is considered a controversial moment in American history.
6. Hand of Faith Gold Nugget
It seems only proper that Las Vegas would be the home of one of the largest gold nuggets to be found in the world. The Hand of Faith was discovered by a man named Kevin Hiller, who went out with his new metal detector and managed to unearth something that would earn him a heap of massive cash. This golden nugget is around 875 troy ounces and weighs 61-pounds.
After going through an exciting press conference, Hiller sold his gold nugget to the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, for over a million dollars. The nugget can be seen in the hallway near the hotel lobby, brilliantly shining for all to witness and admire.
7. The Berlin Wall
The wall that kept the east and west side of Berlin separated has managed to go through some defacement until it fell in 1989. By going to the first floor of Main Street Station and entering the men’s bathroom, you will discover a piece of the Berlin wall on display. The wall is mounted behind glass which has three urinals, and it is only one of the historical oddities of this casino. Women can ask security them an all-clear so they can take a peek at the wall.
Among the casino’s many artifacts, you will discover Winston Churchill’s snooker table, Buffalo Bill Cody’s rail car, a 19th-century chandelier from the San Francisco Opera House, and much more.
8. Casa de Shenandoah
Wayne Newton is a well known figure in Las Vegas due to his casinos making up a good percentage of the Strip. The fame he has acquired throughout the years has allowed him to live an opulent luxury that is exemplified in his massive Casa De Shenandoah estate, which has opened to the public in the last few years.
Over the decade’s Newton managed to build eight homes on the land. That also includes small areas like lakes, horse stables, and enclosures for exotic animals, such as peacocks, penguins, monkeys. All of this was constructed right in the middle of the Nevada desert. The homes have become an opulent showpiece, holding memorabilia and vintage car collections. One of the homes even has a customer passenger plane built into the wall.
This place could only be visited by some of the most riches and famous individuals, who were fortunate to be invited over. However, in October 2015, Newton allowed the gates to be opened to the public, offering tours of the site, where he continues to live.
9. Titanic Exhibition
The Titanic Exhibition at the Luxor Hotel costs $32 to enter and holds some priceless artifacts from the Titanic. Consider the amount of effort that has gone to acquire pieces of the Titanic, it is worth the visit.
Furthermore, you get to leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for such a piece of history. Not only will you find some large and heavy pieces of artifacts from the titanic, but it also contains smaller items like glasses, bottles, dishes, and brushes. The most prominent item found on this exhibition would be the massive portion of the hull, coming in at 15 tons. Along with the artifacts, there are all sorts of stories from the trip and warnings about potential cardsharps.
10. Wallflower Cannabis House
The Wallflower Cannabis House is another excellent gem we recommend you visit during your time in Las Vegas. With the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, our cannabis dispensary has stepped up to the plate to serve the Las Vegas people with all of their marijuana needs. You can find all sorts of products in stock, from concentrations, pre-rolls, flowers, edibles, and so forth. If you need a bit of pick me up after a long day touring through the City of Lights, consider stopping by the Wallflower Cannabis House. Our cannabis dispensary
Happy Visiting!
There you have it, some of the best hidden local gems you can find while on your trip to Las Vegas. Each of these places provides its own set of excitement, so make sure to step away from the Strip and check these places out.
