Are you way too hot? For anyone who feels the heat, the middle of summer can be torturous. If you can’t wait for the season to be over, think ahead to later in the year. When it starts to cool down, you’ll feel the sweet relief of a chill in the air. Start thinking about your winter escape now by planning a trip to Las Vegas. It might a great place to visit in the spring or summer. But there’s plenty to do in the middle of December too. The weather might be a little cooler. However, the casinos are still open and there are some great things to do. Try some of these fun activities for your winter vacation in Las Vegas.
Casinos
Of course, one of the first things that people do when they arrive in Vegas is head for the casinos. And December is a great time to visit them if you want to avoid the crowds. They’re much quieter as Christmas approaches. So you could find it a more enjoyable experience. But if you don’t feel like a spot of gambling, you can go and see all the other usual Vegas suspects. The Bellagio Fountains look fantastic in winter, as ever. And The Venetian puts up a 65-foot tall Christmas tree, with 50,000 LED lights.
The National Finals Rodeo
If you want to get away from the casinos and flash hotels, head to the University of Nevada. The Thomas Mack Center holds the National Finals Rodeo every year. It showcases the best of seven rodeo events. They include bull riding, bareback riding, calf roping, and more. It’s the largest prize money rodeo in the world, with over $5.5 million paid out in 2014. Get your tickets in advance from the NFR tickets leader for this ten-day event. If you want something holiday-themed, watch the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show. It will run daily at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There’s plenty of shopping too, with a free shuttle bus running between the center and the Thomas Mack Center.
Ethel M Cactus Garden Lights
It’s not Christmas without plenty of beautiful lights. Get yourself to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden to see lots of them. The garden holds three acres of cacti, with half a million lights draped over them for the festive season. Plus, there are chocolate houses and sculptures, and demonstrations of chocolate creations. Admission is free, and you can buy seasonal chocolate collections too. Plus, there are visits from Santa!
Winter PARQ
If you’re looking for a thrill, the LINQ Promenade changes into the Winter PARQ for the holidays. It includes a 30-foot hill, covered in snow that you can slide down on a tube. Plus, you’ll get to see “real” snow fall across the complex every half-hour. The snow starts making an appearance on December 8. The park also has carolers, holiday music, and Christmas decorations.
You can even spend Christmas Day in Vegas. Everything will be open, so book a Christmas dinner and explore the city in a different light.
