How to Have a Chill Las Vegas Trip

I have been visiting Las Vegas on a yearly basis since 2018 and I think this 2024 trip takes the cake in terms of experiences and overall fun! From 2019-2022, I was known to hit the clubs and bars and party my way through Vegas. In my older age I am starting to enjoy more relaxed adventures and truly exploring the city and what it has to offer outside of nightlife. I will say I missed the clubbing scene a bit but not enough to feel like my experience was negatively affected because of it. Instead I spent my time enjoying the restaurants, sporting events and performances!

Attend a Penn and Teller Show

In all my time in Vegas I have not attended any magic shows until now! One of my travel companions was a big Penn and Teller fan and we went as a group to see their show! We went on a Sunday night at 6 pm and there was a great deal of people in attendance I was pleasantly surprised. Located inside of the Rio hotel which is actually off the strip, this venue was dedicated solely to Penn and Teller and it was pretty cool overall! Expect over an hour of comedy and magic and if you sit on the first level there is a good chance you are going to participate in the magic itself. My group and I sat in the back so we were not chosen for anything but it was nice to observe and enjoy the experience.

I will say this is a bit of a family friendly adventure and was a little bit hokey for a group of 20-somethings. Perhaps grab some drinks or gummies to fully immerse yourself into the experience. It wasn’t the best show I’ve ever seen in Vegas but it was definitely different and a lot more mellow than clubbing and getting trashed.

Visit the Mandalay Bay Aquarium

My best friend Megan and I in the aquarium! Get my fit here.

Another activity we did on this trip that I have never done in Vegas is going through the aquarium inside of Mandalay Bay. I’m noticing a lot of my recommendations are on the outskirts of the main strip but these are excellent choices if you are not staying in the heart of Las Vegas. Heading to the aquarium we were able to take a tram from the Excalibur that saved us a lot of time and energy. Fortunately most of Vegas is walkable but I don’t believe it is super accessible with many of the elevators and escalators closed from my observations.

The aquarium itself I found to be rather enjoyable even if you don’t have young children. Of course this leans more toward a family activity but I hadn’t been to an aquarium in quite some time so this was a nice experience. While we were there we saw a ton of cool marine life and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I even was able to pet a stingray which was cool!

Aquarium bonus

After you go through the actual aquarium, the tickets you purchase also provide access to a VR simulation outside of the main attraction. I do not recommend doing this hungover because you will be jostled around a lot. In this experience you go snorkeling with sharks and wear VR headgear to fully immerse yourself. It reminded me a bit of the bugs life experience in Disneyland but this is far more high tech and different from anything I have ever done before. One thing Vegas always does right is push you out of your comfort zone and provide unique experiences that are hard to replicate elsewhere.

Grab a Late Night Shake Shack Treat

Me 🤝🏻 Cookies and Cream Shake Shack Shake! Shop the fit here.

Something my group and I did a lot was go to casinos late into the evening and with this later call time came a need for a dessert! One of the few places on the strip that stayed open late (much to my surprise a lot of places closed at 10) was Shake Shack! I had been once before during an early trip to Vegas and this time it hit differently. I got the best cookies and cream milkshake and got to hang with my friends before we went back to the AirBnB for the night. If you end up going out and you need a pitstop before 2 am, Shake Shack should be your place.

Pro Tip: If you’re able to stay at the Park MGM or MGM grand, do so!! There was so much to do at those hotels as well as New York New York. I had the best gambling experience at the latter and everything was easily walkable as opposed to some of the other locations on the strip. When planning your trip always opt for practicality. You’re welcome in advance!

Play a Game of Topgolf

Classic Topgolf Bathroom Selfie! Get my outfit here.

This time around I did not get a picture at the actual Topgolf green but I did get a cute bathroom selfie! For me Topgolf has been a Las Vegas staple and was super fun with my guy friends who knew how to play the game. With their expertise I was able to improve my swing and we experimented with the games which was a hoot! If you aren’t the strongest golfer like me, I recommend the new block game because you get points regardless of if you hit a target zone or not.

Pro Tip: If you are a silly goose like me and lose your phone at Topgolf, do not panic! Just go to their front desk and wait for loss prevention. It will take them a bit because they have some paperwork for you however I safely received my phone back and did not cry. Ideally you should take care of your belongings but hey it’s Vegas things happen!

Safe Travels to Vegas

I hope this version of Vegas was appealing enough! We also were able to hit an arcade inside the Parisian hotel the first night and spent a ton of time watching Gonzaga basketball both in person and at a sports bar. When you get to Vegas, I recommend having a list of activities but don’t be afraid to see where the day takes you. This was a much more relaxed visit for me with a few scheduled events and it was just right! To see more Vegas content and get the fashion posts be sure to visit my Instagram and TIkTok.

Until next time,

Lauren

Las Vegas Travel Diaries That Don't Include Clubbing!