The best Las Vegas attractions

The Bellagio’s lake throws up entrancing fountain displays choreographed to music from Michael Jackson to Gene Kelly (and, less appealingly, Lee Greenwood). The 1,200 water cannons, arranged in lines and circles, shoot water that dances and sways to the music, reaching as high as 460 feet. Grab a seat in one of the Bellagio restaurants overlooking the water, or take in the view from the sidewalk out front. Watching live, this mandatory Vegas attraction is just like you’ve seen in the movies—only better.

If you’re afraid of heights, stay away from the 1,150-foot (350m) Stratosphere Tower. And even if you don’t suffer from vertigo, you might want to steer clear of the resort’s thrill rides. The Big Shot will rocket you 160 feet (49m) up the tower’s spindle under a force of four Gs; at the top, you’ll experience a moment of weightlessness before free-falling back to the launch pad. X Scream will propel you 27 feet over the edge of the Tower and then leave you there to dangle. And during Insanity, an arm extends over 900ft of air and spins you around at a terrifying rate. True daredevils can take it one step further with the SkyJump, a controlled, 829-foot leap from the tower that has you reaching speeds of 40mph on the way down. Best save dinner for later.

Purchase your tickets (starting at $21 per person) at St Mark’s Square, then take a ride along the aquamarine canals that weave through replica Venetian architecture. The wooden boats are authentic and the singing gondoliers are tuneful. However, despite the number of newly married couples that take the ride, the backdrop of gawking tourists will dampen any hopes of a romantic moment.

If you’re fascinated by folks like Al Capone and the underworld dealings of gangsters past and present, Downtown’s the Mob Museum, housed in a former courthouse that hosted part of the Kefauver hearings, is a must. The museum’s exhibits and artifacts (including the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall) detail the Mafia’s impact on Las Vegas and the rest of the country, as well as the steps law enforcement took to bring the dons down. Check the museum calendar for special speaker events, author talks and Mob-related parties.

Just 17 miles west of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conversation Area is a world apart, a striking geological destination that draws more than 2 million people each year to hike, climb, bike and explore. The 13-mile scenic drive makes stops at trailheads where short hikes reward visitors with glimpses of petroglyphs, fossils and the ruddy Aztec sandstone that gives the park its name. Active types can easily spend a day (or more) absorbing Red Rock’s charms, while less outdoorsy folks will find it a pleasant detour from the flashing lights and incessant soundtrack of the casinos.

Vegas has a reputation for rigging its history with explosives and sending it into a cloud of dust. However the neon of Vegas past has escaped that fate thanks to this Downtown museum 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.

To most people, a pinball machine is just a pinball machine. To some folks, though, it’s a kinetic monument to a simpler time when mindless entertainment didn’t necessarily involve sex, hyper-violence or the pixelated undead, a perfectly designed blend of challenge, workmanship and skill. In Tim Arnold’s world, it’s all these things and more. How else to explain his Pinball Hall of Fame, an interactive museum of sorts where more than 100 operational pinball machines spanning seven decades are on display and ready for your quarters? The Pinball Hall of Fame is a true mecca in a city of replicated ones.

The first US incarnation of London’s all-conquering attraction contains more than 100 wax celebs in various settings and rendered with various degrees of accuracy (Nicki Minaj good, Will Smith less impressive). The comparatively small attraction tones down the British history in favor of celebrity and pop culture “encounters”: an opportunity to join the “wolf pack” from The Hangover, for example, or a chance to pose with Miley Cyrus and her wrecking ball. Hokey but fun.