4 Days in Las Vegas
“Viva Las Vegas, with your neon flashin’…”
Elvis Presley
In May 2019, two of my best friends got married and chose to have a destination wedding in America’s party capital: Las Vegas, Nevada! We spent 4 days in Las Vegas and had a blast in this playground of a city.
Everyone who attended had a great time. It was a long weekend of reuniting with friends, going out on The Strip, and exploring what Vegas has to offer. Before this trip, I’d only spent one night in Vegas when I was in high school on a family vacation. Being only 16 at the time, I have to admit that I didn’t really get the appeal of Vegas. But after going back as an adult and for several days this time, I can say that my opinion has changed. Vegas is fun!
So, here’s how we spent 4 days in Las Vegas.
Day 1 – Valley of Fire State Park
We left Seattle early Friday morning and arrived in Vegas at around 11 am in order to get the most out of our day. After we arrived, we took a shuttle to the airport car rental center to pick up our rental car for the day. Then we swung by our hotel to drop off our stuff and check into our room. By then it was past noon and we were hungry, so we grabbed some fast food and set out on our drive.
Around 1 pm, we were finally on our way to our destination: Valley of Fire State Park.
This park isn’t technically in Las Vegas, but it was one thing that I really wanted to do while we were there. I love to get outside and hike, and the desert is one environment that I haven’t explored very much. While researching this trip, I read about both this park and Red Rock Canyon being great outdoor experiences for those who want to escape the city.
Red Rock Canyon is another desert park only about 30 minutes outside of town that features a 13-mile, one-way scenic drive as well as camping and hiking. For those of you who have less time or don’t care to hike, this may be a better option.
Ultimately though, I decided on Valley of Fire after reading reviews and recommendations from other visitors. And I’m so glad I did! This was probably my favorite thing we did the whole trip, and has definitely made my list of favorite parks I’ve been to. The sandstone formations were breathtaking, the colors of the rocks were so vivid, there were petroglyphs all over the cliff sides, and the geological formations were spectacular.
To get there: head North on I-15 for about 30 miles, take exit 75 toward Valley of Fire E/Lake Mead and merge onto Valley of Fire Hwy, continue for about 18 miles and you’ll come to the entrance sign. The visitor’s center is down the road through the valley.
For more information on what to do and see when you get there, check out my post on how to spend a day in Valley of Fire State Park!
Night 1 – LINQ Promenade and Zipline
After spending all afternoon trekking around the park and getting sandy, we headed back to the city. Watching the sun set over the desert highway was a really beautiful sight, and one I hope to experience again.
We returned our rental car and then took an Uber to LINQ Las Vegas to meet up with our friends. While they rode the High Roller (the world’s tallest Ferris wheel) Benton and I stopped by In-N-Out for the first time for a burger. It was delicious, as popular legend promises.
After dinner, we wandered around the LINQ promenade checking out some of the other shops and restaurants. This area is great for finding restaurants, bars, shopping, gambling, and activities all in one concentrated area. Then we met back up with our friends and headed to the FLY LINQ zipline! This brand-new zip line sends you flying all the way down the promenade about 12 stories high, and was a fun thrill. There are several other zip lines to choose from in Vegas, the most extreme probably being the Rio, which is over 400 feet high.
After zipping through the air at 35 mph, we were pretty worn out and ready to wash off the sand from the day, so we headed back to the hotel around 11:30 pm and called it a night.
Day Two – Relaxing at Mandalay Bay
Not every minute of the day has to be spent on the go when you’re vacationing. Mandalay Bay Resort offers tons of amenities for guests so that you never even have to leave the resort. So Saturday morning we slept in, explored the hotel a bit and got lunch at one of the many restaurants inside, and then headed to the Beach.
Mandalay Bay has 11 acres of man-made beach and pools. There’s a wave pool, lazy river, 3 swimming pools, and a couple of adults-only pool clubs. You can rent out cabanas for your group to lounge in style, or stake out one of the many regular poolside chairs. Since it was Memorial Day weekend when we were here, it was crowded. But soaking up some sun and enjoying swimming for the first time in the season was great. If you aren’t staying at Mandalay Bay but want to visit the Beach, you can buy admission for $20 per person (with the exception of some dates).
After an afternoon of sand and sunshine, we got ready for dinner at the Border Grill in the hotel. This was a modern and casual Mexican/Southwestern restaurant overlooking the Lazy River, and our favorite of the Mandalay Bay restaurants we visited.
Night 2 – Out on The Strip
After dinner we met up with our friends and headed out for a night out. Since Mandalay Bay is kind of far from the main drag, we split a couple of Uber XLs to get to Fremont Street for some gambling action. This is Old Vegas, made famous by the classic casinos and flashing lights featured in countless films. Here the buy-ins for various games are a little lower for those who may not be serious about gambling but want a genuine Vegas casino experience.
Honestly, I’m not much of a gambler. Like, at all. I get stressed out at the prospect of spending more than $20 and I don’t really know how to play any of the games (I sorta kinda know how to play Blackjack??). So for me, this was more about the experience and going along for the ride (and hey, some places will give you free drinks!). I enjoyed a few rounds of Blackjack and a couple of pulls on a slot machine. I came out on top with about $10, and cashed out at one of the retro cashier’s cages.
Fremont Street has a lot to offer, like free live music, a zipline that takes you flying several stories above the street, the neon museum, and even a hidden speakeasy or two. We mainly stuck to roaming a few casinos, but if I’m ever back in Vegas, I think the neon museum and a speakeasy will be on my list!
Day Three – More Exploration
Since we were in town for our friends’ wedding, Sunday was spent with wedding festivities and friends. However, if you’re not going to a wedding, here are some other activities that I think would be great:
- Seven Magic Mountains: This modern art installation 10 miles south of The Strip has become iconic in recent years thanks to its inherent Instagrammability. Made up of seven (obviously) giant brightly-colored rock stacks, this installation was originally only meant to stand for two years. However, due to its immense popularity, its timeline has been extended through 2021. I really wanted to stop by here, but it’s a bit out of the way if you don’t have a car, and the Uber ride can be pricey.
- See a show: Vegas is renowned for its variety of world-class acts and shows! See a comedian, concert, or acrobatics performance; you’ve got tons to choose from! We didn’t have time to make it to any shows, but I’d love to next time!
- Hit the spa: Mandalay Bay, like most of the resorts, has a world-class spa with day-passes available. Treat yourself to something you wouldn’t normally, like a massage or soak in the whirlpool. A real spa day is on my someday list!
Night 3 – Cruising Down The Strip
No trip to Vegas is complete without a visit to the iconic neon sign! We stopped by right after sunset and snapped a few pictures with it lit up. Then we headed downtown to The Strip!
As recently-graduated Millennials, we have a soft spot in our hearts for Taco Bell. After all, its legendarily cheap yet delicious food has been there for us on many a late night. So we had to make a stop at the Taco Bell Cantina! The Cantina has the entire regular Taco Bell menu but also serves alcoholic slushies in gigantic twisty tubes. I couldn’t pass up a Baja Blast with vodka while we hung out in the lounge listening to the live DJ.
After we finished our drinks (no easy feat!) we headed out again to walk The Strip. It makes for great people-watching, and it’s fun to explore!
Day Four – Fountain Show at the Bellagio & Welcome to Vegas Sign
We slept in and then checked out of the hotel (but were able to stow our luggage) and then stopped back by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign to see it in the daylight.
These made for better photos, though I’d recommend going early if you want to avoid the long line. The benefit of waiting in line is that no one else will be in your photo and there are usually volunteers taking photos for you in the best spot. Or, you can do like we did and just walk up and stay off to the side to snap some quick pictures, as long as you don’t mind having other people in the background.
Just remember to be conscious and courteous of other visitors–try to be quick and not take a ton of time striking 15 different poses or getting in the way of someone else. Everyone wants their chance to get a nice photo!
After the sign, we took an Uber down to the Bellagio to see the famous fountain show. Every half hour, the fountains put on a show synchronized to music and lights (although the lights are only visible at night). Each show is supposed to be different and the fountains jet water nearly 500 feet high. It’s a fun spectacle to see for free and afterward, you can explore the lobby of the beautiful Bellagio hotel.
This one happens to be my favorite because of its beautiful Italian-inspired architecture. Inside the lobby, you can look up and be treated to one of Dale Chihuly’s famous blown glass installations. When we visited, the courtyard had a special installation inspired by springtime in Japan featuring giant moving cranes, fountains, birdcages of finches, a to-scale temple, and lifelike cherry trees.
After the Bellagio, we walked back towards Mandalay Bay along the Strip, stopping for lunch along the way and snapping photos of other iconic Vegas hotels. The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas is the largest replica of the real thing in the world. It offers tours to the top as well as a restaurant. The New York New York looks like a miniature Manhattan, complete with a replica Statue of Liberty and a rollercoaster that winds through the skyscrapers. Excalibur Hotel looks like a giant medieval castle, boasting brightly colored towers. The Venetian is extravagantly decorated and even has real gondola rides through Venice-inspired canals within and outside the hotel.
While these different themed hotels could be seen as tacky, I think a lot of them are done really well and make Vegas even more fun and unique. Just walking through the lobbies to explore is a fun and free activity of its own!
At last, it came time for our Vegas adventure to end. In late afternoon, Benton and I made our way back to the airport and headed back to Seattle.
Last few tips
- Be sure that you wear comfortable footwear because Vegas is not a walking-friendly city. Sidewalks wind you up and around and over sidestreets, shops, and restaurants, never taking a direct route. Something may seem close because of how flat the city is, but in reality, it could be a mile away. Be prepared to do a lot of walking or shell out money for taxis/Ubers/Lyfts.
- Hotels on The Strip can be pricey, especially over weekends and holidays (we were there for Memorial Day weekend), but rates can drop dramatically if you stay in the middle of the week. So if you have the flexibility, I’d recommend trying to do that. And since it’s Las Vegas, every night feels like Friday night. Some of the hotels farther away are more affordable but expect to spend some money on transportation to and from the major attractions.
- Flights to Vegas are actually some of the most affordable in the country. It’s a popular destination!
- There are lots of activities and things to do for free or cheap. Many hotels have free shows for anyone to watch (even if you’re not a guest there), happy hours offer deals on food and drinks, multi-attraction passes can help you do more for less, and there’s lots to see just by walking around the different resorts.
- Vegas isn’t only Sin City. There is plenty of fun to be had without gambling, drinking, or indulging in other vices. There are cool rides, spectacular shows, themed restaurants, arcades, museums, unique experiences, and more to be enjoyed by anyone.
I hope this post helps to give you some ideas for your own Vegas trip! I personally felt that 4 days in Las Vegas is just about right, giving us plenty of time to experience the city without totally breaking the bank. Let me know your favorite thing about Vegas in the comments!
