Things to do in Las Vegas after the Super Bowl
The biggest event of the year for football fans just wrapped up: the NFL’s Super Bowl took place Sunday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. Whether you’re a disappointed supporter of the San Francisco 49ers, a still-reveling Kansas City Chiefs fan, a Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift stan, or none of the above, the crowds that came for the most exciting game of the NFL season are now beginning to dissipate. That doesn’t mean Vegas is anything like boring: whether it’s Super Bowl Sunday or any other Monday, one of the most energetic cities in the United States has plenty to offer every type of Vegas visitor. That’s why the experts here at Daytrip have prepared some tips to help you get the most out of your trip to Sin City.
For Instagram addicts: Snap some pics at the World’s Tallest Thermometer, Seven Magic Mountains, or the Las Vegas sign (they’re free!)
One of the most iconic drives in the United States is the desert route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. It’s also one of the most popular ways to get to the gambling capital of the world, with an estimated 26% of Vegas visitors coming from Southern California. While the rugged beauty on either side of I-15 is well suited to cranking up “Hotel California” or reminiscing about Hunter S. Thompson, there are also plenty of cool, kitschy bits of Americana worth a stop along the way.
At 134 feet (40.8 m), the World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker, California, lives up to its title. Commissioned by local businessman Willis Herron in 1991, this icon was constructed to honor the 134°F (56.6°C) record-high temperature set in Death Valley on July 10, 1913...and to draw customers to his Bun Boy restaurant, of course. While the Bun Boy has since gone out of business and the thermometer is on its third iteration (the first two were damaged by strong winds), it’s still a staple sight on the road from LA to Vegas. Supplementing the temperature reading are fun exhibits, like how hot it actually has to be to fry an egg on the sidewalk and the history of the site, as well as a gift shop.
Closer to Las Vegas itself, Seven Magic Mountains is a public art installation created by renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone in cooperation with the Nevada Museum of Art and Art Production Fund. These seven stone totems aren’t just 30 feet (9.1 m) tall: they’re also painted in blinding neon colors and backed by the natural beauty of Nevada’s mountains, desert, and Jean Dry Lake—all in a representation of the intersection of nature, the artificiality of Las Vegas, and the cars zooming down the desert highway. Though Seven Magic Mountains was originally meant to be taken down in 2018, its permit has been extended until 2027, meaning there’s still plenty of time to take some photos, take an audio tour of the installation, or read the interpretive signs.
Yet by far the ‘gram-worthy sight of any Vegas vacation is the city’s welcome sign. Reading “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” and standing 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, the Las Vegas sign has been a symbol of the city since its installation in 1959 and, for many, marks the official start of the Las Vegas Strip. It’s one of the city’s most popular selfie spots that no visitor should pass up.
For collectors of iconic experiences: Watch the Fountains of Bellagio
The Bellagio is one of the most famous hotels on the Strip, largely thanks to the vast fountains that welcome hotel guests, passersby, and, occasionally, the stars of Ocean’s Eleven. But like most things in Las Vegas, these fountains are far from ordinary: every half hour, the fountains erupt in a coordinated show of water, light, and music. With jets reaching as high as 460 feet (140.2 m), the entire production aims to evoke the romantic spirit of classic fountains of Rome and Paris—but on a far grander scale. If you plan to take in these second-largest fountains in the world, be sure to check the weather report, as shows are canceled when wind speeds are over 25 miles (40.2 km) per hour.
For Europhiles: Visit The Venetian
Replicas of St. Mark’s Campanile and the Doge’s Palace—both iconic buildings in the original Venice—welcome visitors to The Venetian.
While nothing is as American as Super Bowl Sunday, Vegas itself might be a close second. But for those needing a detox from pigskin and Buffalo wings, The Venetian still offers a refreshing change of pace. In addition to the hotel and gaming facilities that characterize the Strip, The Venetian Las Vegas hosts a luxurious and detailed recreation of Venice, Italy, that truly makes you feel like you’re a continent away. From the chance to take a famous gondola ride down the canals of Venice to admiring beautiful “Italian” skies (painted on the ceiling) to a host of authentic dining options at a variety of price points, a trip to the Venetian feels like a real trip to Italy, even if just for an hour or two.
For shopaholics: Take Prizm Outlets by storm
Your vacation doesn’t have to come to an end just because the big game is over: there’s still the return trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles—and with it plenty of side trips that you might have passed the first time. While designer brands inside the resorts on the Strip might get all the attention, real deal-seekers will get much more mileage in the Prizm Outlets. Located on the Nevada side of the California/Nevada border near the Primm Valley Casino Resorts, this sprawling indoor mall offers shoppers hundreds of name-brand stores throughout 371,000 square feet (29,450 sq. m) of retail space. Both staples like Levis, Old Navy, and Nike and more upscale brands like Coach and Michael Kors make their goods available at up to 75% of suggested retail prices, so there’s plenty to keep shoppers happy. There are also numerous restaurants to choose from if you work up an appetite throughout your shopping spree. Along with eye-catching deals, the Prizm Outlets (formerly known as the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas) are also filled with eye-catching murals and paintings from local artists.
For Old West romantics: Stroll through the Calico Ghost Town
This creaky schoolhouse is just one of many spooky old buildings in Calico, California (image courtesy of Ilse Orsel/@lgtts via Unsplash)
From the 1880s to the 1890s, Calico, a desert community outside of today’s Barstow, California, was a booming silver mining town that produced over $200 million in silver ore during its short 12-year lifespan. But after the veins were bled dry, the town was left abandoned until the 1950s when it was bought and restored by Walter Knott. Today, the Calico Ghost Town is something like a 19th-century theme park: the buildings look just like they did in the 1880s, the sheriff patrols the streets, and the occasional (mock) gunfight breaks out. There’s also a train you can ride for a tour of the town, and many of the buildings have been converted into shops, including a pet store (in a house made of glass bottles!) and, yes, even a Starbucks. For an additional $2, you can go down in the mine to see for yourself how miners lived, worked, and slept underground.
For history buffs: Cruise the California Route 66 Museum
As you close in on Los Angeles once again, one last iconic stop awaits you in Victorville near San Bernardino. Housed in the old Red Rooster Café (where Neil Diamond filmed The Jazz Singer), the California Route 66 Museum explores the evolution and cultural impact of the US’s most famous highway through constantly changing exhibitions. The 4,500 square feet (418 sq. m) of space is filled with artifacts ranging from a 1917 Ford Model T, a classic 1950s diner booth, a VW bus, and all sorts of wigs and sunglasses to use in your photoshoot. Of course, there’s also plenty of historical photos and documents to learn more about the development of Route 66, from early pioneers to the railroad to the “Main Street of America”.
How to get to Las Vegas from Los Angeles
If you are arriving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, using your own car makes for a classic road trip. Keep in mind, though, that even once the Super Bowl circus has cleared out, parking in Las Vegas is still at a premium—fighting for a parking space and paying exorbitant fees definitely doesn’t add any fun to a vacation. Bus lines such as Greyhound offer an alternative way to get to Vegas—though not a particularly luxurious one—as does Amtrak’s Southwest Chief—while a nice trip, this requires navigating Amtrak’s notoriously spotty scheduling and skipping some fantastic desert sights. Some might also decide to fly into the always busy Harry Reid International Airport. Our pick is to take a door-to-door car transfer service: you get to enjoy the peace of the American Southwest, a stress-free time in Las Vegas, and unforgettable sightseeing along the way, all while your private driver takes care of all the hard parts.
