Historically, I've always gambled on trips to Las Vegas, in part because I felt like I had to.Recently, I visited Sin City and decided to steer clear of casinos — and I had my best visit yet.Visiting Vegas' Eiffel Tower and taking a cooking class helped me see a new side of the city.
Out of all my previous trips to Las Vegas, I'd only not gambled once — and that was just because I'd been a teenager on vacation with my parents.
On my next three visits to Sin City, though, it seemed essential to spend at least a few hours in the casino. Gambling wasn't about winning big (and to be clear, I never did), but rather, it simply felt wrong not to do it.
Vegas and gambling go hand-in-hand, and even though I always ended up regretting the time and money I'd spent on the floor, I still found my way there every time.
Heading into my most recent trip to Vegas this summer, I decided to do things differently.
Instead of watching my cash inevitably disappear in the casino, I chose to spend the three days ignoring the machines and filling my Vegas itinerary with activities that had nothing to do with gambling.
The result was my best Las Vegas experience yet. I felt like I experienced the city in an all-new way, and made the very most of my short time there.
I'm certainly not ruling out gambling completely on any future Vegas excursions, but this trip showed me how fun and satisfying the Strip can be without heading to the casino.
I saw a fantastic show.
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Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Live Nation Las Vegas
There's no shortage of shows in Vegas, from Cirque du Soleil to big-name residencies.
As a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, though, I knew I couldn't miss out on her residency at Caesars Palace, so I made sure to snag those tickets as early as possible.
I've seen the singer multiple times before, but she's never been better than during Studio Sessions. Alongside thousands of others, I sang and danced my heart out to songs like "Since U Been Gone" and "Mine" as Clarkson hit every high note on the stunning Colosseum stage.
We spent a day cooling off at a nearby pool.
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Rachel Simon
Vegas in July was hot, with daily temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It was necessary to spend some time cooling off in the water.
Luckily, the adults-only Go Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas — which was just down the Strip from where we were staying, and free to visit — had just reopened after a big renovation.
During my several hours there, I had a great time drinking Mai Tais and splashing around while the DJ's upbeat playlists kept my spirits high.
Needless to say, the ambiance of sipping cocktails outdoors in the sun was so much nicer than if I'd been drinking inside a dark casino.
A group cooking class helped me experience Vegas' food scene in a whole new way.
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Rachel Simon
I already knew Vegas had an incredible food scene, but during this trip, I got to be a part of it in an all-new way.
One of my favorite experiences was the cooking class I took at The Bedford by Martha Stewart, during which I learned how to make (and eat) delicious pierogies.
My classmates and I all left the experience with full stomachs, complimentary aprons, and included reservations at the restaurant that evening.
I climbed the Eiffel Tower replica at a Paris-themed resort.
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Rachel Simon
The Paris Las Vegas Hotel is home to the Eiffel Tower Experience, a half-scale replica of the famous Paris landmark.
For the first time ever, I actually went up the 46-story attraction instead of gazing at it from afar.
The view of the Las Vegas Strip was incredible from the top, especially when the iconic Bellagio fountain show began and the Sphere changed visuals.
Instead of spending my money at the casino, I treated myself to a blowout.
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Rachel Simon
Ahead of the Kelly Clarkson show, I went to the Hairdreams Salon inside Caesars Palace to get a blowout.
In addition to hair treatments, the salon offers manicures, makeup services, and more.
I'd recommend that anyone splurge on this before a night out — treating myself to a salon day made my trip feel all the more special and glamorous, and also gave me a moment to relax amid lots of activity.
Of course, I ate everything I possibly could.
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Rachel Simon
If you're a foodie like me, you can't leave Vegas without trying a bit of everything.
From sushi at Nobu to oysters at The Bedford to chicken parm at Amalfi by Bobby Flay, all the food I consumed on this trip was uniformly excellent.
That's not even mentioning dessert — it's been over a month, and I'm still thinking about the phenomenal slice of peanut-butter chocolate cake I had at Stanton Social Prime.
Best of all, I had plenty of time to enjoy everything I ate, since I wasn't spending my days and nights inside the casino.
I was able to beat crowds by making reservations earlier in the evening and eat more leisurely than I would've if I'd wanted to factor in casino time. A win-win all around!
