Off the beaten track...

I'd be interested to hear about unsung places in Vegas where you go or have been - places that you don't normally hear anything about on here.

It could be a bar, restaurant, store, museum. Or maybe just some place you like to visit while you're in Sin City. One condition being that it still needs to be open, if it's now closed we can't visit!

For example, we always stop by TIABI Coffee and Waffles on Maryland. I don't just eat pancakes - Sometimes I like to diversify into waffles and we found out about the place a couple of years ago from one of Westie's reviews. They're great people and do really good food.

Another place that I've not seen mentioned is the Shelby Museum - they do free guided tours and they are very interesting. I was this close > < to bringing a supercharger home with me last time but wasn't sure I could fit it in my luggage

 

This is probably not off the beaten track, per se, but I finally made it to DuPar's and while it's not Joel Bouchon or some other fancy pants joint, it's pretty damn good basic chow at a fair price.

Right next door to the Golden Gate.

 

We like to go to Jerry"s Nugget to play a little VP and eat. In March we are staying at Suncoast for 2 nights, never been there.

 

Spring Mountain Ranch. Its a short drive from the Strip, but feels a lifetime away. Its beautiful, peaceful, and has several easy trails for leisurely walks. Its a fantastic respite from the Strip. Here are a couple pics:

 

One place that totally fascinates me, but I've never been able to see it when it's open to the public, is Dr. Hammargren's backyard. It's on Sandhill just south of Flamingo. This is an old shot. There's far more ephemera in there now.

 

Scott at Vital Vegas did a blog entry on him.

http://vitalvegas.com/las-vegas-lonnie-hammargren-hoarders/

 

Thanks.

I understand that the local HOA has been trying to get rid of that collection for years, but has been unsuccessful.

 

Two places that come to mind that don't show up here very often are the Pinball Hall of Fame on Tropicana (if you grew up playing pinball, you can spend several hours here for $20), and the Springs Preserve on Valley View (Nevada State Museum is also there). It's expensive, but worthwhile for families with kids and for adults by themselves. Lots of different stuff to do there.

 

I thought about mentioning it as well, but I feel like it is regularly mentioned on here as an alternate activity. The Preserve, though, is almost never mentioned

 

Two places that we visit every trip (and they're usually deserted) are the Henderson Bird preserve and the LV Wetlands Park. Not far from the strip but a world away in natural beauty.

 

I always have to go to the grand Canyon gift shop next to MGM.

You can buy big beers in there and right out front there is a big long cement plant surround thing that lots of people sit on. Just drink my giant beers right there and watch everyone go by. Once the beer is done then just go get another one.

 

Is there anything in the way of actual public facilities in the Wetlands Park now? Maybe 10 years ago I got a "guided tour" of the area (the rental agency gave me a Suzuki Grand Viagra 4 wheel drive jeep thing and a co-worker knew the perfect spot to get it all muddy). I've tried re-tracing the route on the Google map but have not been able to find it, and I'm sure not going to try it in real life alone. We went in somewhere by the Silver Bowl and came out somewhere by Lake Las Vegas. The "roads" were mostly ruts where others had driven and it was basically primitive swampland.

 

Excuse me, but I believe your Freudian slip is showing!

 

Yes. There is a visitor center and you can follow trails either around the small lakes in the park, or follow trails along the wash all the way down to lake Las Vegas

 

Springs Preserve. And any of the locals eateries at whatever level. Nothing wrong with the chains and the names -- the stuff you find all over -- or the buffets, but isn't a key part of travel eating locally?

 

I enjoyed the Clark County Museum. It's the one curated by the man in the straw hat on pawn stars. I think it's around two bucks to get in and full of Vegas history from the Stone Age to present.

 

Lonnie's a true Nevada legend! An extremely talented neuro-surgeon by profession, I first met Lonnie in the in late 80's when he was a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and actually, worked with him when he was Lt. Governor in his capacity as President of the State Senate. What a "character"! I haven't seen him since he left state-service, but his larger than life personality I'm sure endures. Our Governor at the time, Bob Miller, rarely left the state, as Lonnie wouldn't just be in charge figuratively, he'd try to do "stuff" and most of it was at odds with what the Governor would approve. In Nevada, the Gov and Lt. Gov don't run as a ticket and these two could NOT have be more different by any measure on any spectrum. Lonnie was a kind and engaging sole who possessed a huge ego with often "out there" views on things. A large ego wasn't uncommon in Nevada political circles, but most of his thoughts and views sure were... "uncommon." It brought a smile to my face to see his name mentioned here and I enjoyed the blog Camp Rusty shared as well. That's the Lonnie I remember.

 

I am excited to stay at the Suncoast for one night in May - I have been there on a day trip and got a handpay! it is a bonus now that DuPars is there too! Have a great time!

 

Yeah Pinball HOF isn't really unknown on this board but I sure enjoyed it. Nothing fancy, just a big warehouse type room with machines lined up in rows. You can play them all (a few are always out of order but most of them are playable). I got a kick out of playing old machines from the 50's-80's before they had electronic scoring.

 

Oh, that was very much intentional! That thing was a major macho-mobile!