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Find your fun in Las Vegas this summer

Raise your fun factor this summer with our guide to the best events and activities in town—and how to kick the good times up a notch
Time Out in association with Crocs
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Summer is full of opportunities for adventure—waterways to explore, trails to discover and gorgeous parks to plant yourself in for sunny afternoons (okay, that last one isn’t so adventurous—but we’re totally there). And we love all of that good stuff. This year, though, we want something more, and so Time Out is teaming up with Crocs to say no to standard summers. First, we’re helping you find your fun with dozens of great activities right near you; then, we’re telling you how to take that fun to the next level. Try these great fun-stuffed activities below and use the hashtag #FindYourFun to show the world your summer of good times.

Photograph: Courtesy Lakeside

Dine al fresco at the Lake or the fountain

Summer is patio season, and nowhere does alfresco dining quite like Las Vegas. For a particularly memorable dining experience, book a table overlooking the Wynn’s Lake of Dreams at Lakeside (3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-770-3310), where expertly prepared seafood comes with a show projected onto the lake’s manmade waterfall.

Make it more fun: Want epic people-watching, a stunning view and some fresh air—on the strip? For the best of all worlds, pull on your Sienna Flats and head for Paris Las Vegas’s Mon Ami Gabi (3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-944-4224), where French bistro fare pairs perfectly with Stripside seating and a prime view of the Bellagio fountains. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Vegas Indoor Skydiving

Skydive—sans plane

You can get airborne without ever leaving the ground at Vegas Indoor Skydiving (200 Convention Center Dr, 702-731-4768), a local attraction that simulates the weightless feeling of launching yourself into the friendly skies using a 1,000-horsepower motor. Just pull on a flight suit, learn the proper position and prepare to soar—no plane required.

Make it more fun: Go much, much higher with a trip to the tip top of the Stratosphere (2000 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-380-7777) tower where spinning, falling, teetering rides will make you scream 900 feet above the ground. If you really want to scare yourself silly, opt for the Sky Jump, a controlled free fall that’s the next best thing to throwing yourself out of a plane. Just be sure your Karin Floral Clogs are on tight—don’t want to lose a shoe. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Pinball Hall of Fame/Kent Kanouse

Ogle vintage arcade games at the Pinball Hall of Fame

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but step through the doors of this east-side attraction and you’re greeted by rows and rows of gorgeous arcade relics. The Pinball Hall of Fame (1610 E Tropicana Ave, 702-597-2627) is packed with games, from simple vintage machines to modern marvels with all the bells, whistles and animations.

Make it more fun: Slide on your Yukon Mesa Clogs and fill your pockets with quarters. It’s time to channel your inner pinball wizard. Many of the Hall of Fame’s games are fully functional, so spend some time working the flippers and trying your hardest to keep that little silver ball in play. Oh no! There it goes! Make a game of it with your group by seeing who gets the highest score. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Adventuredome

Take a thrill ride at the Adventuredome

Circus Circus might be known for its big top-style performers, old-school steakhouse and Hunter S. Thompson cameo, but kids know that the real draw is the Adventuredome amusement park (2880 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-794-3939), an indoor playland where scream-inducing entertainment is at every turn.

Make it more fun: Your grandma can handle the teacups. Test your mettle on El Loco, the park’s newest coaster, which sends riders careening over drops and screaming around turns at 45 miles per hour. Step into your Isabella Sandals and hang on tight. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Sara Bayer

See how Mr. Las Vegas lives

For years, Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah (3310 E. Sunset Rd, 702-547-4811) was mostly a mystery to the general public, a verdant Vegas estate hidden behind high walls and gilded gates. That all changed last year when the crooner turned his home into a museum where you can board his private plane, check out his costumes and see dozens of artifacts from his performing career.

Make it more fun: Upgrade your tour to include a demo by one of the gorgeous Arabian horses that Newton breeds and trains in Las Vegas. You’ll watch the delicate animals prance around a ring and even take a dip in the equine pool before you stroll the property in your Sloane Platform Flips and meet Shenandoah’s other inhabitants: wallabies, peacocks and Boo, the capuchin monkey. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Clintus McGintus

Bounce off the walls at Sky Zone

If one trampoline is a good time, an entire warehouse with the floor and walls covered in springy rectangles is even better. That’s what you’ll find at Sky Zone (7440 Dean Martin Dr #201, 702-560-5900), a massive house of hops where bouncing off the walls isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged. The kids are going to love it.

Make it more fun: One word: dodgeball. The middle-school gym game gets an energetic upgrade on Sky Zone’s tramps. Round up the family, put your little ones into their Kids’ Swiftwater Clogs and prepare for some high-flying, ball-dodging action. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Golden Nugget

Slide through a tank full of sharks

The pool at the Golden Nugget (129 E Fremont St, 702-385-7111) is called the Tank, and as soon as you arrive, you’ll see why. The centerpiece of the space is a 200,000-gallon tank teeming with sharks. Checking out the creatures is cool, but the animals themselves are only half of the attraction. The Tank also features a waterslide that zips through their aquatic enclosure and gives you an up close and personal view of the predators.

Make it more fun: Grab your Swiftwater Clogs and catch a behind-the-scenes tour where the property’s marine biologist will explain how the resort cares for its toothy residents, including what the sharks eat and how the feeding process works. Spoiler alert: There’s seafood on the menu. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Smart Destinations

Ponder the art at the Bellagio

Think casinos are all flashing lights and flying chips? Think again. The Bellagio’s Gallery of Fine Art (3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-693-7871) showcases works from the likes of Picasso and Andy Warhol in well-curated exhibitions that offer just the right break from the Strip’s lower brow pursuits.

Make it more fun: Create your own art crawl in Downtown Las Vegas with a stroll around Fremont East. Grab your Sienna Flats and check out large-scale murals painted on numerous walls as part of the annual Life Is Beautiful Festival. The impressive roster of international artists includes folks like D*Face, Zio Ziegler and Bordalo II. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Slotzilla/Scott Roeben

Glide through the neon skies

The Fremont Street Experience (425 Fremont St, 702-678-5780) is a kaleidoscope of crazy, from the drunken revelers sipping margaritas out of plastic footballs to the street performers wowing crowds, the vendors hawking odd souvenirs and the canopy above it all, which puts on illuminated shows to classic soundtracks at regular intervals after sunset. See the chaos from a totally different angle with a ride on Slotzilla, the massive slot-shaped zip line that spits out riders hanging or flying Superman-style above the fray.

Make it more fun: Take your zipping to the great outdoors at Bootleg Flightlinez (1644 Nevada Hwy, 702-293-6885), a local adventure that will have you zooming over the Mojave Desert on four different lines for a total of distance of 8,000 feet airborne. Take in the views while you fly past at up to 60 miles per hour in your Yukon Mesa Clogs. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Mandarin Oriental

Soak up the sun at the Mandarin Oriental pool

Treat yourself to the ultimate pool day at the outdoor oasis at Mandarin Oriental (3752 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-590-8888). The vibe is sophisticated chill, the water’s lovely and the staff stroll around with complimentary extras like mini-smoothies and chilled fruit throughout the day.

Make it more fun: To truly live like a VIP you need a cabana. Reserve a private retreat and spend the day sipping fresh cocktails, snacking on seasonal fare and generally doing pool day like a boss. Don’t forget your Isabella Sandals or your sunscreen—even VIPs aren’t immune to the power of UV rays. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Mirage

Step into a not-so-secret garden at the Mirage

As the country’s self-appointed playground, Vegas offers all kinds of entertainment at your fingertips: alluring pools, blackjack tables, wild dance parties and, lions, tigers and dolphins. Oh my! Head to the Mirage for a visit to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat (3400 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-791-7188) to watch the exotic menagerie in all its graceful, natural glory.

Make it more fun: Commune with the dolphins while you center yourself with a one-hour yoga session inside the viewing area for the Mirage’s aquatic environment. Pull on your Sienna Flats and get ready to work on your downward dog, crow and, yes, dolphin poses. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Upgrade your golf game at Topgolf

This brand-new Vegas attraction is like going to the driving range, a bar and dinner all at the same time. You provide the friends; Topgolf (4627 Koval Ln, 702-963-0000) gives you a bay where you’ll hit microchipped balls at a series of targets marked on the lawn and compete against your companions. Worst score buys the beer!

Make it more fun: Try one of Topgolf’s additional challenges. Get comfy in your Yukon Mesa Clogs and take a swing at TopPressure (where you’ll have to hone in on sections within a target), TopDrive (where you’ll aim for the farthest reaches of the field) or TopChip (where you’ll work on your short game). Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Exotics Racing

Be a racecar driver for a day

Calling all car geeks and speed freaks. With Exotics Racing (7065 Las Vegas Blvd N, 702-405-7223), you can try your hand at making blazing left turns in a killer set of wheels on the same track where some of racing’s greats have driven. Your new profile pic should definitely be in the front seat of a Lambo.

Make it more fun: Forget fancy sports cars. If you want to feel like a racecar driver, you need a racecar, don’t you? Grab your Swiftwater Clogs and definitely buckle your seatbelt. You’re about to take an EXR LV02 on the adrenalin-pumping drive of a lifetime. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Go on a mission for vintage

Everything old is cool again, and the best place for finding vintage treasures in Vegas is Main Street in the Arts District, where Patina, Retro Vegas and a handful of other boutiques promise happy hunting for art, furniture, clothes and decor from a bygone era. The hard part is not taking it all home.

Make it more fun: Head to Broadacres Swap Meet (2930 Las Vegas Blvd N, 702-642-3777) in North Las Vegas, where a sprawling city of stalls offers just about everything you can imagine, from pickup trucks to blue jeans to spices. In between the browsing and bargaining, get a tasty Mexican lunch from one of stalls and spend a few minutes listening to the bands onstage. In your Sloane Platform Flips, your feet will last longer than your wallet. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Gold Spike

Have a game night at Gold Spike

Giant Jenga, darts, table shuffleboard, corn hole and Connect Four. Game night grows up (but just a little) at Gold Spike (217 Las Vegas Blvd N, 702-476-1082), the Downtown casino-turned-techie-clubhouse that Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh stripped of its slots and turned into a coworking/restaurant/bar space with games free for the playing and a stylish backyard full of lounge chairs. Round up some friends and take on that massive Jenga set.

Make it more fun: Get ready to slip out of your Yukon Mesa Clogs and into some old-school skates for Down & Derby, the disco roller derby spectacular that takes over the Gold Spike backyard on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Entry and skate rental are free. Wowing everyone with your sick spins and slick backward skating? Priceless. Shop now

Discover more fun activities

Photograph: Courtesy Cosmopolitan/Thomas Hart Shelby

Catch a movie poolside at the Cosmopolitan

Every summer, the Strip’s hippest hotel turns its Boulevard Pool (Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-698-7000) into an outdoor theater with Dive In Movies on Monday nights. This year’s lineup includes Jaws, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Bourne Identity.

Make it more fun: Make a night of it: Throw on your bathing suit and Karin Floral Clogs and get your splash on while Matt Damon fills the big screen. Then grab poolside bites created by the chefs at casual Italian eatery D.O.C.G. and cocktails from the Cosmo’s killer mixology program. Movie-theater popcorn has nothing on this. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Experience an underwater world at Mandalay Bay

Never mind that Las Vegas is desert-bound without a coastline. You can still take a trip below the seas at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-632-4555). Along with toothy golden crocodiles and the giant Pacific octopus, you can lock eyes with 11 species of shark, including the sand tiger, zebra and Galapagos sharks.

Make it more fun: Go behind the scenes with one of the aquarium’s animal encounters. Slide on your Swiftwater Clogs and take a turn feeding a few of Shark Reef’s gentler residents, like the massive green sea turtles or speckled zebra sharks. The turtles have a penchant for Romaine lettuce and green peppers. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Go stand-up paddle boarding at Lake Mead or Willow Beach

Explore Nevada’s massive, man-made Lake Mead or peaceful nearby Lake Mohave and get a great workout simultaneously with a standup paddle board rental from Paddle to the Core (multiple locations, 702-335-3036). Beginners can opt for an Easy Sup session, while more advanced paddlers grab a board and get going after a quick refresher. Think laid-back water sport with a side of great obliques.

Make it more fun: Turn your paddling into a sightseeing tour with a guided trip through Black Canyon on the Colorado River. Slip into your Swiftwater Clogs and head to the launch point for a few hours of aquatic adventuring. Just be sure to slather on the sunscreen before you start paddling! Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Brooklyn Bowl/Erik Kabik

Watch a show at Brooklyn

The desert sibling to the famed original location in—you guessed it—Brooklyn, this mid-sized music venue opened two years ago inside the Linq but already possesses the warmth and character of a venue far older. With acts nearly every night of the week and bookings that range from the Used to George Clinton to the Avett Brothers, it’s always worth checking the Brooklyn Bowl (Linq, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-862-2695) calendar to see who’s playing while you’re in town.

Make it more fun: Make like a baller—er, bowler—and upgrade your group to a lane for the show. Pull on your Yukon Mesa Clogs (don’t forget your bowling socks!), and make a night of the concert with your own private bowling lane adjacent to the stage. You’ll roll while the place rocks, and if you’re smart, you’ll order up a platter of fried chicken and a French bread pizza or two as well. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy The Mob Museum

Get to know the Mob’s colorful history

People love to say that Vegas was better when the Mob ran the joint, but the often shocking realities of organized crime—in Nevada and around the country—are on display at the excellent Mob Museum (300 Stewart Ave, 702-229-2734) in Downtown Las Vegas. Take a dive into the history of the Mafia and the law enforcement that fought it with exhibits filled with artifacts like tommy guns and an electric chair.

Make it more fun: Make like a Mobster and dine at one of the old-school Vegas restaurants where real life gangsters and molls used to sup. Pull on your Leigh Graphic Wedges and anything vintage in your closet and head to the Golden Steer (308 W Sahara Ave, 702-384-4470), where the red leather banquettes, table-side Caesar salad and hefty steaks will make you feel like you’ve stepped right back to the 1960s. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Sample the frosty temptations at Gelatology

Desyree Alberganti’s gelato is the stuff of our heat-induced fever dreams. Serving cool, luscious treats in inventive flavors, Gelatology (7910 S. Rainbow Blvd. #110, 702-914-9144) is the place to satisfy your ice cream cravings, and sampling spoonfuls of the day’s creations is half the fun. Try a taste of green tea Oreo, baklava or mascarpone gelato before committing to a cup or cone of your favorite.

Make it more fun: Ice cream in a cone is old news. Put on your Isabella Sandals, throw your diet to the wind and go big with one of the shop’s tempting inventions like an ice cream-filled whoopee pie. A former Strip pastry chef, Alberganti is one gelato maker who knows her way around the oven, too. (Plus, the colorful gelato case makes for great Instagram photos.) Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Mandalay Bay

Splash the day away at Mandalay Bay Beach

You want sand and waves? You could drive to L.A., or you could steer yourself to Mandalay Bay Beach (Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-632-4720), where 2,700 tons of sand, a 1.6 million-gallon wave pool, a lazy river and poolside casino beckon. If you’re bringing friends, consider booking a private cabana or bungalow to make the most of your “beach” day.

Make it more fun: Days at the pool are a Vegas staple, but nights by the water can be even cooler, especially when they include a concert held on a stage jutting out into the blue. Grab your  Sloane Platform Flips and a beach blanket and hit the sand for one of Mandalay’s Concerts at the Beach, featuring acts like Salt-N-Pepa, Slightly Stoopid and Ziggy Marley. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Super Summer Theatre

See a play on the grass at Super Summer Theatre

For decades, this local theater company has been entertaining audiences with lively musicals performed at its outdoor theater nestled into Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Grab a patch of the grassy lawn or a chair, and watch energetic local thespians take on shows like Beauty and the Beast, Memphis and even Bring It On: The Musical. Backed by rocky cliffs and with the occasional burro braying in the background, Super Summer Theatre (6375 Blue Diamond Rd, 702-579-7529) makes for a memorable date night.

Make it more fun: Slip into your Sienna Flats and pack your beach blanket and stock a picnic basket with some cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine. You’re welcome to BYO for a night at SST. Nibbling on goodies and sipping some Sauvignon Blanc while the sun sets over the Ranch and the folks onstage start belting one out—it’s easy to love summer in Las Vegas. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Tom Donoghue

Take yourself out to the ballgame

Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, off-key communal singing—minor league baseball packs in most of the fun of the big leagues at much cheaper prices. Book a night with the Las Vegas 51s (Cashman Field, 850 Las Vegas Blvd N, 702-943-7200), the New York Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, and yell yourself hoarse cheering on the home team.

Make it more fun: Schedule your game for one of the 51s special promotions like Dollar Beer Night, logoed pint glass night or Viva Las Vegas night, when the stadium sets off fireworks to the tune of songs by musicians with a local connection like the Killers, Imagine Dragons and Frank Sinatra. Slip into your Yukon Mesa Clogs, and you’re ready to roll. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Shutterstock

Try a big-wave ride at Cowabunga Bay

Surf’s up this summer at Cowabunga Bay (900 Galleria Dr, 702-850-9000), where you can try out a brand-new attraction appropriately dubbed Wild Surf. Supposedly the largest man-made wave in the world, this ride drops four-person rafts 60 feet into a massive swell. It’s the closest you’ll come to hanging 10 in Las Vegas.

Make it more fun: Leave the daylight in your dust at Point Panic, an enclosed, black-lit slide that gives the waterpark a disco edge. Stash your Swiftwater Clogs somewhere safe before you dive into the darkness. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Barry Toranto

Take a walk in the Park

That sounds incredibly simple, but Las Vegas’ latest, greatest attraction is the Park (3784 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-693-7275), an open-air, desert-landscaped, pedestrian-only strip sandwiched between New York-New York and Monte Carlo. Take a stroll, snap a photo of the 40-foot Bliss Dance sculpture and enjoy some of the well-engineered shade.

Make it more fun: Make it more fun:  Slip the your little one into their Kids’ Karin Clogs or Kids’ Swiftwater Clogs and into Sunset Park (2601 E Sunset Rd, 702-455-8200), Vegas’s go-to spot for family picnics, kickball games and playgrounds. Kids can romp, while adults can play sand volleyball or test their aim with a round of disc golf. With 185 developed acres, there is space and entertainment for just about everyone here. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Linq/Erik Kabik

Get a bird’s-eye view of Vegas

Seeing Vegas from above is truly a treat, and nowhere provides a more spectacular vista than the High Roller observation wheel at the Linq (3535 Las Vegas Blvd S, 866-328-1888). Riding in a spherical pod some 550 feet above the Strip, you’ll have a full 30-minute rotation to take in the stunning sights and snap an epic selfie or two.

Make it more fun: Make your ride a very happy half hour inside one of the High Roller’s bar cabins. Pull on your Sienna Flats and enjoy unlimited beer and mixed drinks during your ride above the city. Test yourself by seeing how many casinos you can name from above. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Canyon Ranch/Todd Eckelman

Leave your tension behind at Canyon Ranch SpaClub

Serenity arrives now inside Canyon Ranch’s Vegas outpost (Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-414-3600) where you can schedule some serious pampering. Opt for a body scrub, Ayurvedic treatment or an Ashiatsu deep barefoot massage, which will have your technician walking on your back and using their feet to release the tension in tight muscles. Lovely.

Make it more fun: Why not spend an entire day inside the 134,000 square foot spa sanctuary? Slip into your Sloane Platform Flips, book a SpaClub passport and take advantage of all the incredible spaces and activities Canyon Ranch has to offer, from experiential rains to barre classes, the igloo environment and the salt grotto. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Pick your own produce at Gilcrease Orchard

Freshly farmed fruits and veggies in the desert? You bet. At the 60-acre Gilcrease Orchard (7800 N Tenaya Way, 702-409-0655) you can pick your own produce like beets, squash, bok choy and berries. Check the website to see what’s ripe this week.

Make it more fun: Step into your Karin Floral Clogs and let someone else do the cooking (and the dishes) at Harvest by Roy Ellamar (Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, 702-693-8865). This new Bellagio restaurant is dedicated to celebrating the seasons with fresh, health-focused fare that sources ingredients from nearby farms whenever possible. Don’t skip the cart of daily special nibbles or the craft cocktails made with cold-pressed juices. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Pinball Hall of Fame/Kent Kanouse

Ogle vintage arcade games at the Pinball Hall of Fame

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but step through the doors of this east-side attraction and you’re greeted by rows and rows of arcade relics. The Pinball Hall of Fame (1610 E Tropicana Ave, 702-597-2627) is packed with games, from simple vintage machines to modern marvels with all the bells, whistles and animations.

Make it more fun: Slide on your Yukon Mesa Clogs and fill your pockets with quarters. It’s time to channel your inner pinball wizard. Many of the Hall of Fame’s games are fully functional, so spend some time working the flippers and trying your hardest to keep that little silver ball in play. Oh no! There it goes! Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy MGM Grand

Float down MGM’s lazy river

The MGM Grand Pool Complex (3799 Las Vegas Blvd, 702-891-1111) is huge, even by Las Vegas hotel standards: six-and-six-tenth acres of water including five pools, three whirlpools and, best of all, the 8,000-foot-long lazy river pool. Grab a tube, kick back, and enjoy a leisurely float with your friends or family down Vegas’s own little Mississippi.

Make it more fun: Just because the river is lazy doesn’t mean you have to be. Put on your Swiftwater Clogs and prepare to race your buddies down the river—and get a little Grease (in a gentle way) by kicking their tube to the “river” bank as you go. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Minus5° Ice Bar

Cool off at Mount Charleston

Summer in Vegas can be brutal, and while escaping into a great show or deliciously air-conditioned restaurant is always tempting, consider something more natural: Mount Charleston. Just 15 miles from the city, this peak in the Spring Mountains picks up fresh, cooling breezes to go with a light hike. There are 52 miles of tracks to explore.

Make it more fun: Reward yourself—and cool down even more—by slipping out of your Swiftwater Clogs and into your night-ready Leigh Graphic Wedges for an evening at Minus5° Ice Bar (Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd, 702-643-7800). Everything inside is made of ice (so you may need to change into boots briefly while you’re in the igloo!); even the cup containing your hard-earned cocktail is made from the frozen stuff. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Hire a boat at Lake Mead

This canyon-surrounded lake on the Colorado River is a favorite for Las Vegas locals and a rare treat for visitors. Hire a boat with the family or some friends and spend the afternoon exploring the water—it’s the largest reservoir in the country when full, so there’s a lot of it to gawk at—and fishing. Expect to pull bass, crappie and catfish from the water.

Make it more fun: Strap on your Swiftwater Clogs because we’re about to get a little more hard-core. It may be more work, but skip the motorboat and try a kayak instead. Paddling solo gives you a huge amount of freedom to maneuver and explore the lake; paddling in tandem might be the most romantic adventure you have all summer. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Wet'n'Wild

Splash into Wet’n’Wild Water Park

Want to slide at 20 feet per second on a 360-foot water raceway? Want to spin through a slippery tornado? You can do that and more at the Vegas Wet’n’Wild (7055 S Fort Apache Rd, 702-979-1600). After a day of dropping and spinning and racing, chill out in the Red Rock Canyon wave pool and catch a Dive-In Movie.

Make it more fun: Set you and your friends a challenge: Who can clock the most rides for your day at the park? Stay safe, though: A pair of Swiftwater Clogs ensures you can navigate poolside areas with safety and speed. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Friday Night Live/Patrick Gray

Catch a poolside show at the Hard Rock

Friday Night Live at the Pool at the Hard Rock (4455 Paradise Rd, 702-693-5000) is one of the biggest and buzziest parties in Vegas—and that’s saying something. The Friday Night Live lineup at the pool this year includes Ozomatli, Mayer Hawthorne and Eagles of Death Metal. (Don’t forget to grab a snow cone—it’s great dancing fuel).

Make it more fun: Step into a fierce pair of Leigh Graphic Wedges, and channel your own inner rock star at the karaoke institution Dino’s (1516 S Las Vegas Blvd, 702-382-3894). Take a deep breath…and belt out your most sensational “My Way.” Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Qua

Get North Pole vibes at the Arctic Ice Room

Caesars Palace’s Qua Baths and Spa (3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, 702-731-7822) is home to Vegas’s only “Arctic Ice room,” which may sound shivery but is actually a wintry blast of bliss: Snow falls from the domed ceiling as you exfoliate and refresh with large ice chips. It’s the perfect room in which to chill out after a heated treatment or spell in the steam room.

Make it more fun: Cooled down? Good—now let’s get cooler. Put on your Isabella Sandals and walk over to Serendipity 3 (Caesars Palace, 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd), which is just beyond the resort and overlooks the strip. Grab a patio table, order one of its famous frozen hot chocolates, and bliss out even more. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/wildlasvegas

Frolic in an urban oasis at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve (333 S Valley View Blvd, 702-822-7700) is just three miles from the Strip and stands as something of a miracle considering the rapid rate of development in the city. There are more than 180 acres of native plants and trees and some three-and-a-half miles of walking tracks to explore and enjoy.

Make it more fun: Time your visit to coincide with an outdoor summer concert, and bring a pair of Isabella Sandals (or comfy, dance-ready Yukon Mesa Clogs for the men) to boogie the night away. Or time it to coincide with something for the kids: a bug show! Here you’ll get to see and hear about all the creepy crawlies—including the black scorpion—that are so vital to the desert ecosystem. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy KISS by Monster Mini Golf/Erik Kabik

Rock out at a KISS-themed minigolf course

Yes, you read that right: 18 holes of KISS-themed obstacles plus a KISS memorabilia museum and lots and lots of get-your-tongue-out KISS tunes. The original location of KISS by Monster Mini Golf (4503 Paradise Rd, 702-558-6256) opened in 2012 but closed in February of this year so that the attraction could be moved to a much bigger home at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The new glow-in-the-dark course will, as of May, be spread across 13,000 square feet and feature state-of-the-art video and animatronics.

Make it more fun: Put a new spin on your minigolf handicap. At the beginning of your game, line your team up for a head-banging and tongue-showing competition: Allocate nice game-helping handicaps to the team members who bang the hardest and stretch their tongues out the longest. Pro tip: Get the kids to put on a pair of CrocsLight Fire Dragon Clogs so they can really stomp out during the head-banging comp—as Gene would tell you, glam rock is all in the feet. Shop now

Photograph: Courtesy Neon Museum

Shine a light on history at the Neon Museum

Vegas has a reputation for rigging its iconic buildings with explosives and sending them into clouds of dust. However, the neon of Vegas past has escaped that fate thanks to this downtown museum (770 N Las Vegas Blvd, 702-387-6366) and its fantastic Boneyard full of vintage signs. Book a guided tour in advance, and learn about the town’s legendary haunts and odd characters through the signs they left behind. Pro tip: Opt for an evening visit when you can see some of the refurbished signs illuminated to their former glory.

Make it more fun: What’s the only thing brighter than the signs of the Las Vegas strip? The brilliantly blinking lights of the Vegas night sky. Check out the Neon Museum’s website to time your visit with a special Sidewalk Astronomy session, during which staff from the Las Vegas Astronomical Society instructs families for a night of stargazing with professional telescopes. Put the kids in their CrocsLight Fire Dragon Clog so they can have a blast during the scavenger hunt. Shop now

Photograph: Shutterstock

Get up close to rare animals at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge

This park (16001 Corn Creek Rd, 702-879-6110) is the largest wildlife refuge in the country outside of Alaska, stretching across 1.6 million acres of the Mojave Desert, and is full of wonderful American beasts like the Desert Horn Big sheep (10 points to the buddy who spots one—they’re hard to find). Start at Corn Creek, check out the visitor center, and then hike one of five trails (three are accessible for those with physical disabilities).

Make it more fun: Okay, Instagrammers, it’s time to clock in some serious likes. Desert NWF is one of the best places in the country for wildlife viewing and photography—there are 320 species of birds, 51 species of mammals and 32 species of amphibians at which to aim your lens. Put on your Swiftwater Clogs, fire-up your filters, and get shooting. Certainly beats another photo of a pancake stack! Shop now

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