The holiday season in Vegas – away from the Strip

When people conjure up an image of Las Vegas it tends to be all about bright lights and big names on the Strip. That’s because this is the main tourist corridor and so the area that everyone seems to know. The reality is that there is so much more to Las Vegas and if you’re looking to have a great time while on a budget, you’ll be pleased that’s the case. Let´s take a look at some options for an Off-Strip Vegas holiday.

You see, tourists that make the move and wander away from the Strip, discover a whole new world of attractions. They also discover a whole new world of pricing with money saved on hotel rooms, food and practically everything else. This whole new world is actually the old one with Downtown Las Vegas also known as old Vegas.

Old Vegas can be reached within 5 minutes in a car although some parts may take you up to half an hour to reach. The journey is certainly worth it and you’ll find some of the nicest casinos going on in the Henderson and Summerlin areas.

Downtown Vegas is popular with locals but it’s increasingly popular with tourists too. It offers a great alternative to the Strip when it comes to celebrating the holiday season. 

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Off-strip Vegas Holiday

A look at Off-Strip Vegas holiday attractions 

To be fair, holiday celebrations have traditionally taken place away from the Strip. It’s only in recent years that the Strip has realized that it could cash in by making an effort but old Vegas has long provided a great experience for tourists and locals alike. 

Let’s take a look at some of the great things that are there to entertain as the holiday season truly gets underway.

M Resort – Snow Carnival

This is an event that everyone is talking about. M Resort itself has said that this is a one-of-a-kind attraction that comes with a dazzling winter wonderland theme. What really does make this a one-of-a-kind is the fact that it’s actually taking place inside a casino.

For those who can’t get enough of the white stuff, the M Resort has you covered. There’s set to be some 350 tons of real snow falling before your eyes before it settles on the ground. With targets to throw snowballs at, there’s also the opportunity to enjoy making snowmen and snow angels should the urge take.

When guests have had their fill of the snow, it’s time to move on. This is when they get to enjoy a walk through the magical Candy Cane forest and get the opportunity to enjoy some pretty awesome rides. 

The experience here is truly unique and well worth wandering away from the Strip for during the holidays this year. 

Sam’s Town – Mystic Falls

This is a tradition that started back in 1994 and when you’ve experienced it, you can fully appreciate why it’s lasted for quite so long. This is a splendid winter wonderland display that’s accompanied by a spectacular laser light show. 

As you venture indoors, you’ll notice that the place is beautifully decorated. You also can’t help but notice the centrepiece: a 19-foot Christmas tree. This all adds to the feel of the holiday season but it’s the laser show that really tops things off. Lasting for nine minutes, there’s a show every hour and it sees stunning light accompanied by some truly wonderful holiday music. 

Reaching Sam’s Town is easy. It’s on Boulder highway and is just 20 minutes away from the Vegas Strip. 

Off-Strip Vegas holiday – Looking for more to do in Downtown Vegas?

If what we’ve looked at isn’t quite enough to get you heading to old Vegas for the holiday season, we thought that you might like to know that there’s a whole host of other bits going on too. These include:

  • Enchant Las Vegas – This year, the event again returns to Las Vegas Ballpark which is just across the street from Red Rock Casino. Taking place in the Summerlin area, you’ll find that this event is very similar to Enchant which takes place at Resorts World on the Vegas Strip
  • Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden – It’s great to see this event return. This is Nevada’s largest botanical cactus garden and, fortunately, it’s situated at a chocolate shop. Take a wander around the outside cactus garden and you’ll get to take in over one million Christmas lights and some there truly stunning decorations
  • Area 15 – This one is only just off the Vegas Strip. Being a unique space, it celebrates the holiday season with screenings of Tim Burton’s ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’
  • Glittering Lights – You’re going to need a car for this one and you may be shocked to find that it’s nowhere near a casino. Jump in your ride and head to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Here, you get to enjoy a 2.5-mile ride as you take in over 600 animated displays. You’ll need to pay $25 to enjoy this experience, but with over five million lights as part of the show, we think that it’s well worth it!

New Year’s Eve Party 

If you’ve ever experienced New Year’s Eve on the Strip, then you’ll soon realise that the old Vegas way is very different. With this year’s party taking place at the Fremont Street Experience, it has the theme ‘Time of Your Life’.

Tickets will set you back $50 and this is the only time that every casino on the mall sees their doors locked to the public. Besides casino games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat there is plenty of other entertainment in store. If you want to enjoy all that this party has to offer then you’ll need to be at least 21 and then you can expect to see acts such as:

  • Bush
  • Tag Team
  • Sugar Ray
  • All-4-One
  • Sugarhill Gang

With the part hosted by the mayor of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, the event reaches a climax with its fireworks display. The digital display will take place on screens in Fremont Street while a live show can be enjoyed just outside of the canopy on Main Street.

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Enchant Las Vegas