LAS VEGAS AFTER DARK: Move seamlessly from auction action to neon nights
September 3, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
The Neon Museum is a Las Vegas historical institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of some of the city’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.
New York isn’t the only city that never sleeps. Remember where you are when that final gavel of the evening falls in the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction arena. Whether you’ve only got a couple of hours left in you or you have enough energy to last until the wee hours of the morning, Las Vegas is worth exploring after the sun goes down beyond the ubiquitous slot machines and blackjack tables.
Perhaps the thing most associated with the City of Lights is … well … the lights. You can find out more about those famous neon signs by taking a night tour of the Neon Museum (www.neonmuseum.org), which is dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs. Each of the nearly 150 signs in the museum’s collection offers a unique story about the personalities who created it, what inspired it, where and when it was made, and the role it played in the city’s distinctive history. There are hour-long guided tours, which include the unusual outdoor Neon Boneyard, throughout the day and evening; the last one begins at 8:30 pm.
The High Roller, which opened in 2014, is the tallest observation wheel in the world.
If you want a bird’s eye view – or perhaps we should say night owl’s view – of the famous Strip and its neon lights at night, a must-visit is the High Roller (www.caesars.com/linq/high-roller). Opened in 2014, the High Roller is the tallest observation wheel in the world at an impressive 550 feet tall. Located at The LINQ Promenade across from Caesar’s Palace in the middle of the Strip, the High Roller takes 30 minutes to complete one full revolution and features 28 glass-enclosed cabins holding as many as 40 people each, providing incomparable views of the famed resort city. Grab a drink at the wheelhouse, get in your cabin, and enjoy a relaxed spin above the city – the High Roller is open until 2:00 a.m.
X-Scream ride at Stratosphere Hotel provides great views – if you can keep your eyes open!
If you want a more thrilling perspective (provided you can keep your eyes open), head to the Stratosphere (www.stratosphere.com/Activities), whose Tower has four of the world’s highest rides, 100 stories above the ground. “SkyJump” provides a “controlled free-fall” in which participants plummet 855 feet at a speed of up to 40 miles per hour. “X-Scream” teeters riders over the edge of the tower 900 feet above the ground, 30 feet over the edge of the building, at 33 miles per hour. “Big Shot” is a thrill ride that shoots adrenaline-seekers 160 feet into the air at a force of 4Gs before letting them free-fall back to the launching pad. “Insanity” is an appropriately named, dizzying, spinning ride that dangles passengers over the edge of the tower before whiling them around at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour. If you’re not so sure about the rides, there is an observation level for optimum views of the Strip.
We understand you might not be into the thrill ride viewing. If that’s the case, consider a Las Vegas Night Helicopter Tour (www.viator.com/las-vegas-helicopter) Flights depart from 6 to 11 p.m. and range from a quick 7-miute flight over the city to a swankier 15-minute flight in opulent A-Star helicopters offering 180-degree panoramic views.
From the incredible light show to zip lining and people-watching, The Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas is not to be missed.
The Fremont Street Experience (www.vegasexperience.com) offers a number of great late-night experiences of Las Vegas. Historically, this street hosted Las Vegas’ first hotel, first telephone, first paved street and first Nevada gaming license. Although much of the attention has shifted to the Strip, Fremont Street has been reinvigorated and is now a prime attraction to any Vegas visit. Every six minutes, until midnight, the Viva Vision Light Show provides dazzling, high-resolution light shows with concert-quality sound, while SlotZilla – a 12-story, slot machine-inspired zip line attraction provides a great perspective of the “party that never ends” on Fremont Street.
If zip lining is your thing, you might also want to check out VooDoo ZipLine (www.voodoozipline.com) at The Rio (open until midnight), which puts riders 490 feet above the Strip, sending them between the Rio towers at 33 mph on a secure line.
Those looking for a more laid-back – and romantic – late-night experience can take a Gondola Ride at The Venetian (www.venetian.com). While it may not be Venice itself, it’s a close second, taking you on a graceful glide beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies and through a vibrant Venetian streetscape as a singing gondolier sweeps you down the Grand Canal for a ride like no other.
The Fountains at Bellagio are one of Las Vegas’ most renowned attractions – and it’s free.
Of course, Las Vegas is known for its fabulous shows. Many top shows – including Michael Jackson One by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay – have late-night performance. Check www.vegas.com for schedules and tickets.
An iconic Las Vegas attraction is the Fountains at Bellagio (www.bellagio.com). Bonus: it’s free. Water, music and light are thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerize admirers. One of the most complex water features ever conceived amazes against the beautiful backdrop of the Vegas Strip. Show times run every 15 minutes until midnight.
A not-to-be-missed photo opportunity: the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.
Las Vegas is known for its superb dining and nightclub options. Check Yelp.com for countless late-night dining and drinking recommendations, but keep in mind several top-notch places like Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan (www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com), Bound at Caesars (www.caesars.com) or Hyde at Bellagio (www.sbe.com/nightlife) for impressive experiences.
If nothing else, after the last gavel of the night has fallen, head over to the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign for a perfect photo opportunity. The iconic sign, located at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South (just to the south of the Strip), was erected in 1959.