The Best Active Vacations in Las Vegas
- Best Swimming Pools: There are acres of water park fun at Mandalay Bay including a wave pool, lazy river, beach, regular swimming pools, even its own open-air casino. Meanwhile, the lush landscaping, fountains, and water slides at The Mirage will make you feel like you're in a tropical paradise.
- Best Spas/Health Clubs: We only wish our own gym were as handsomely equipped as the one at the Canyon Ranch Spa in The Venetian, which also has a number of other high-priced treatments on which you can blow your blackjack winnings. We are also partial to the full complement of machines at the health club at Bellagio, probably the best-equipped club of all. For a straight spa experience, the Spa at Encore, is a 70,000-square-foot oasis for the mind, body, and spirit, from its gorgeous Moroccan-infused design themes to its full menu of pampering delights.
- Best Golf Courses: The greens fees are outrageously high but the course at Wynn Las Vegas is one of the most lush in town. "Real" golfers head to TPC at the Canyons for its challenging holes, gorgeous scenery, and occasional Justin Timberlake sightings.
- Best Bowling: If you need to work out a few frustrations, try knocking down things with heavy balls at the Strike Zone at Sunset Station. Not only do they have 72 lanes, but they are open 24 hours in case you need to get in a few frames at 4am.
- Best Drive: The 13-mile Red Rock Scenic Loop provides a way to enjoy the colorful rocks and canyons without leaving the air-conditioned comfort of your car. On the other hand, you could get a good breeze going at about 140 mph in one of the race cars you can drive yourself at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- Best Getaway: If you need a respite from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, head north to Mount Charleston for a relaxed mountain retreat or to work up a sweat while hiking or snowboarding.
- Best Man-Made Wonder: One of the greatest engineering feats in history is the 726-foot-tall Hoover Dam. You can take tours of the mighty facility and learn how it made Las Vegas (and much of the American Southwest) possible.