Las Vegas City Wire

If it’s been a while since you’ve been to downtown Las Vegas, you would be surprised at how the area has grown and flourished. There is something for everyone to do in downtown Las Vegas. We even have a free shuttle to get you around! 

See a Show

From the Fremont Street Experience to the 18B Las Vegas Arts District, there are a variety of unique shows to see downtown. If you’re walking down the Fremont Street Experience at night, odds are you’ll hear music and see the Viva Vision canopy in action. One of the greatest joys about Fremont Street is that you can see live bands and the famous canopy light show in action for free nightly.

If you want to skip the crowds on Fremont, there are plenty of other options from music to magic and more. For comedy, there’s Wiseguys Comedy or the Delirious Comedy Club. If you want to see some live music, the Sand Dollar Lounge in the Plaza Hotel is an option or you can catch a concert at Backstage Bar and Billiards.

If theatre is your thing, a night out at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts is always a good time, or there are a number of local theatres including Majestic Repertory Theatre or Vegas Theatre Company.

Go Shopping

Downtown Las Vegas is home to an abundance of unique thrift, vintage and antique stores that are worth checking out. If you walk down Main Street in the Arts District between Charleston Boulevard and Wyoming Avenue, you can practically go door-to-door shopping for clothes, accessories, furniture and other random novelties. There are even spots where you can go to shop for art and handmade goods. If you’re around on the third Sunday of the month, there is the Market in the Alley, an artisan market that takes over the streets at Main and Imperial Avenue. Who knows… you might end up finding your new statement piece for your home or your wardrobe.

In the Fremont East Entertainment District, Fergusons Downtown and the Downtown Container Park are two unique locations teeming with local shops. These shopping centers are unique because Fergusons is a converted old motel and Container Park is made from repurposed shipping containers. Even if you’re just window shopping, these spots are worth the trip.

Explore a Museum

There is a museum in downtown Las Vegas for just about everyone, no matter what you’re interested in.

For all the classic history buffs, there is the Natural History Museum. This museum features interactive exhibits focusing on wildlife and prehistoric life.

For those interested in Las Vegas history, you can walk through Las Vegas’ past at the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum. From Al Capone to Frank Costello to every mobster in between, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or Mob Museum, is right in the heart of downtown. At the Neon Museum, you will walk through the Neon Boneyard. It is quite literally a journey through history where old, iconic Las Vegas signs are on display at ground level. The museum preserves these neon works of art to display as pieces of Vegas history.

This next museum is not for the faint of heart. Voted best of Las Vegas four years in a row, Zak Bagan’s The Haunted Museum houses a collection of haunted objects from around the world. Winding through dark hallways, you’ll visit more than 30 rooms of different haunts… if you can make it through them all.

On the other side of the spectrum, a museum that every kid will love is the Discovery Children’s Museum. Focusing on learning through interaction and play, this museum is an educational experience like no other that the kids will enjoy. The Natural History Museum is another top pick for children and families with popular exhibits including the Prehistoric Life Gallery and the Treasures of Egypt.

Enjoy Cuisine from Around the World

No matter the time of day, downtown Las Vegas is home to restaurants of many different cultures, whether you’re looking for casual or more upscale dining.

If steak is what you’re looking for, Top of Binion’s Steakhouse is a historically iconic spot. Other notable steakhouses are Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse in the Golden Nugget and Barry’s Downtown Prime in Circa.

If you’re looking for a date night spot, Hugo’s Cellar is known for being one of the most romantic restaurants in Las Vegas, or you can try some handmade pasta at Esther’s Kitchen.

Some local favorites for casual dining in the Fremont area are Triple 7 in Main Street Station, Le Thai, and Pinches Tacos inside Container Park. As for the Arts District, Markers and Finders, Good Pie, and Cornish Pasty are some choices.

For vegan cuisine, Tacotarian in the Arts District and Vegenation on Carson Avenue are options.

And, of course, for those late-night cravings before you go home and to bed, one may head to American Coney Island on Fremont Street, Evel Pie in the Fremont East Entertainment District or Berlin Bar in the Arts District.

Try a Locally Brewed Beer

Grab some bar food and enjoy a cold pint of locally brewed beer at one of the many breweries in downtown Las Vegas. As the movement of craft and locally brewed beer gained a cult following, breweries began sprouting up and down the area, thus leading the city to designate the area as “Brewery Row.”

With several local favorites situated on Main Street right in the heart of the arts district, there is no excuse not to enjoy a local brew. There’s Hudl, famous for their Nitro Vanilla Oak Cream Ale. Able Baker has flights, and you can learn about the legend of the “atomic duck” and take home a little rubber duck. Want to drink for a cause? Nevada Brew Works has the Ariana Rye-P-A where a portion of the proceeds from this local beer go to helping families in need of medical equipment for their children with disabilities.

No matter what you like to do, there is something for everyone downtown. For more options on places to go, visit downtown.vegas to view a comprehensive list of activities and businesses.

Original source can be found here.