Besides the gambling, I mean? (I'm not big on gambling, but I'm sure I'll do a little bit.)

I was considering a trip out to Area 51, maybe see if a comedian I like is playing one of the clubs. What else?

Partake of the local prostitution?

leave as quickly as possible

do the stupid theme park crap: watch the pirates show by the fountain, go see some lame hasbeen singer so you have a good story to tell, go to late night diners and play the slot machines in the lobby for two hours but don't eat or talk to the staff when approached, and of course peoplewatch.

also, is there a zoo? go there. kicks galore. random zoos are sad and awesome.

I'll actually be going in a few months too, my mom lives there now and I have yet to visit. I'll probably eat, a lot, because I'm a buffet-junkie. I also like watching large crowds and doing campy bullcrap I always feel disappointed in later (I'm looking at you Winchester Mystery House in CA!)

The one time I was there I stayed for 17 hours, no hotel, got married by fat Elvis, went to the Bellagio buffet, ate a ton because it cost a lot, puked it out all over their bathroom, went to Dennys later, slept on a bus bench for 10 min., went home. All in 17 hours.

Game Works (next to MGM) is a huge-ish arcade that is loads of fun if you get an all-day pass.

a month ago while there. i went to the shooting range called the gun store. that was pretty cool im not a gun guy. but i do like1st person shooters games (COD4)and it was cool shooting an ak47, m16 and a saw machine gun.

yeah, Nevada is one of the only places on the planet that you can still own and shoot fully automatic weapons. It's pretty cool to shoot guns just like you see in the movies, but i'm sure as newera discovered, real 30 round clips don't last nearly as long as the movie versions...lol. plus shooting 30 rounds in a second makes for an expensive and very short visit to the gun range.

Vegas sucks. I fucking hate it. I go maybe once a year for some fucking bachelor party or wedding or corporate event and it just sucks. I hate losing money at the tables and/or strip bars. It's a fucking cesspool of humanity.

Then don't go to the tables or strip bars?

I like it when co-workers go to Vegas cause they do all the lame cliche stuff and come back with pictures. The pictures on myspace and facebook give me jokes for MONTHS! I'll post some with blurred faces, totally worth it, wait till I get home!

HAHA i was about to post the same thing, but you beat me to it.

Really, pretty simple solution to that "dilemma".

Roger, I only got to be in Vegas for 45 minutes once on a layover, but I imagine you could just take your camera & capture all the craziness. I'm also certain that I'd love it for the crappy amusements! Do you have to go for work?

yes, i know. going to some of the shows is fun, but when with friends / family who want to do the above, it's hard...

I'm going to be there for a roller derby convention. I built in days before and after the con, as well as a car rental, so I'll be pretty flexible.

The Gun Store looks like tons of fun. That's going to be at the top of my list.

You could go to Valley of Fire National Park, that's pretty cool..and Zion National Park is only a couple hours away.....that is if you are into hiking and shit.

UNDFTD, thats where all my money goes. i hate gambling

There's always that Dam Tour

Here are some things to do that don't involve casinos/gambling or strip clubs:

The Gun Store (as previously mentioned)
http://www.thegunstorelasvegas.com/

Red Rock Canyon (National Conservation Area)
http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Springs Preserve
http://www.springspreserve.org

Mt. Charleston
http://www.mtcharlestonlodge.com/index.html

Hoover Dam (Lake Mead park is right there too)
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

Fremont Street Experience (ok, so it is the "old" strip with casinos and stuff, but its kitschy and kind of fun)
http://www.vegasexperience.com/

Callaway Golf Center (night golf is pretty fun if you're into that)
http://www.cgclv.com/

Go EAT! Vegas has branches of some of the world's best restaurants without the lines & attitude.

my architecture firm has a new visitor center project being built at red rock canyon. after travelling there the past few years for work, the place always amazes me (+ it's nice to get out of the city).

Steal a cop car, marry a stripper, steal Mike Tyson's tiger, etc.

If there's enough time, see if you can schedule a tour of the Nevada Test Site (security check required) - it's where they did all the above ground testing in the 50's and a lot of the stuff you see in vintage file-footage of buildings and pre-fab towns getting blown to bits is still there (or least what's left of it after taking a direct hit from an A-bomb).

There's also an Atomic Testing Museum on Flamingo, east of the strip that sells vintage fall out shelter signs as well as "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" key chains, among other things.

There's a pinball museum on Tropicana, east of the strip, worth checking out.

Food and drink: In-n-Out Burger, Fat Burger, the Peppermill (24 hour diner across from Circus Circus - check out the flame-pit lounge), Frankie's Tiki Room (on Charleston a few blocks west of the strip - open 24/7 'natch!).

Several years ago there used to be, believe it or not, a vintage kaiju dealer in town. The guy lived in Hawaii for a while and had a very nice collection of stuff - I scored some nice pieces from him including the 2 giant Bullmark MAT figures with the guns.

Have fun!

..get a whole bunch of merch made from your marriage with a stripper, put your friend on the roof, put a naked asian man in the back of your trunk, get roofies, make a wolf pack, pull out your own tooth..

That's rad, I try to make it to Red Rock at least every other week or so, always something new to see on the trails, or just driving the loop.

Some off the strip dining recommendations:

Firefly (on Paradise) - Tapas Restaurant
3900 Paradise Road, 89169
http://www.fireflylv.com

Hofbrauhaus – German Restaurant (food is decent at best, but liters of beer is why you go, go in the evening for live polka and drunken tourists)
4510 Paradise Road, 89169
http://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com

Hash House a Go Go – Breakfast or Lunch - Hugemongous pancakes, all the breakfast food is top notch - I bring all my guests here at least once
6800 W Sahara Avenue, 89146
http://www.hashhouseagogo.com

Hue Thai Restaurant – Vietnamese Sandwiches, Pho, etc (good stuff)
5155 Spring Mountain Road, 89146 (in China Town)
http://www.huethai.com

Town Square (outdoor mall type thing with movie theater and restaurants) - 6605 Las Vegas Blvd S, 89119 (just south of Mandalay Bay)
http://www.townsquarelasvegas.com
Yard House - Slightly higher end "bar" food with 120 beers on tap - Happy hour 3-6
Blue Martini - Upscale vibe - Get the lobster tacos and a martini with blue cheese stuffed olives - Happy Hour 6-8
Lots of other places in town square too

totally, nature and shit is great!

i drove through vegas with a buddy several years ago, intending to stop, but could only really get excited about leaving. nearly everyone i know who has gotten out of the car or plane found a good time, though.

Do the same thing Hunter S. Thompson did back in the day. Make sure you don't forget the Thorazine. Or, put someones head in a vice and turn the handle till their eye ball pops out ala Scorsese?