Cruising down the main of the Las Vegas Strip with Route 66 Tours, the bright neon signs, high-rise buildings, bustling streets and sheer glamour of this crazy city can make it easy to forget that Vegas is situated in the middle of the Mojave desert.
However, there is more to Las Vegas than spending all your money in the casinos and admiring the replica Eiffel Tower. Here are three less well-known locations that you need to see when hanging out in Las Vegas.
Neon Museum (Neon Boneyard)
Have you ever wondered where all the old Las Vegas neon signs go when they are no longer required? Whether you have or haven't, it's well worth visiting the Neon Museum, also known as Neon Boneyard.
Founded in 1996, the museum has signs dating back to the 1930s – showcasing the various personalities and unique history of Las Vegas over the years. If you want to see these signs in all their glory, it's best to go on a night tour when the museum illuminates the whole collection. Remember to bring your camera – the boneyard will light up the darkest desert night!
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
The concrete jungle that is Las Vegas only grew to existence after 1931 when the state of Nevada legalised gambling. Before this point, it was frequented by a different sort of patrons – prehistoric animals.
Around 20,000 years ago, the Mojave desert was lush with vegetation and had freshwater lakes that could support everything from North American lions and ground sloths to the impressive Columbian mammoths. As the environment changed and these animals died off, these fossils were forever locked in locations such as Tule Springs. The area is free to visit and those with a keen eye can spot some fossils from the past!
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
It's now more than a century since the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the 1990s hit movie, today's generation are just as, if not more, fascinated by the tragic story of the Titanic than previous generations.
If this is you, you need to get to the Luxor during your time in Las Vegas. Covering more than 25,000 square feet, the exhibit is a treasure trove of actual items from the Titanic including luggage, whistles, floor tiles and a bottle of champagne. Authentic first- and third-class rooms have also been re-created to add to the feel of this unique exhibition.
Keen to see the rest of Las Vegas, book with Route 66 Tours today!
