Rental Car- Off strip casinos and sights to check out?

I have been to Vegas a number of times and have always spent my time on the strip or on Fremont street. I am going to be renting a car this time and want to check out some off-strip casinos and sights. What are some that I should hit? I know I want to check out M Resort, but looking for some others, maybe small/local casinos. I collect casino chips, so some could even be just walking in, looking around getting a chip and heading on to the next.

 

Sights:
Hoover Dam
Red Rock Canyon
Mt Charleston
Lake Mead
Valley Of Fire State Park

If you just want to collect chips with the shortest distance between casinos, then try Boulder Highway.

 

Since your heading to the M anyway, might as well stop at the Silverton and South Point. The M definitely has the best buffet so maybe plan that to be there the last of the 3 stops for lunch. Get a players card at the M and you might get a free buffet, although you might have to earn like 500 points for the freebie now, not sure if they changed that for new sign ups. Also, you can skip the line at the buffet as a M member. Other places to hit...

Hard Rock
Palms
Orleans
Palace Station
Green Valley Ranch
Red Rock Resort

 

would agree trying the casinos on the boulder highway----easy parking ,in and out fast:
arizona charlies boulder
Boulder Station
eastside cannery
longhorne
sams town

if you want some real local flavor may want to head north on las vegas blvd and check out:
jerrys nugget
opera house
poker palace

 

Definitely check out M resort since its nearly impossible to get to without a car(or cab I guess). I think Sams Town is worth a look as well as Red Rock.

 

I second GVR and M Resort. We love M Resort and really liked GVR, visited it for the first time our last trip. Always go to M resort whether we stay there or not.
Also, I think The Orleans is worth a trip and is not that far off the strip.

 

M Resort is my favorite casino I have ever been to, and I have been to alot from Minnesota, KC, Iowa, Nevada, etc. Love the place.

Red Rock's scenic loop is awesome, I had fun that day going around it. It is beautiful out there.

Hoover Dam is always another favorite spot of mine to go to, when I have visited it, I have walked around on average 4 hours and still never taken an interior tour. Just wandered around looking at things.

Pahrump Valley Winery is great. Tour is free, wine tasting is free, restaurant is excellent, and the wines themselves are excellent and I am not a big wine lover. I have had 5 bottles shipped to the house it is that good.

Silver and Gold Pawn Shop. I have been in there 5 times I think. I suggest driving by- if the lines way too long, go back at a different time or diff day. Last year the day after the Super Bowl the line was probably 400+ ppl long. We drove on and went back the next day and got right in.

Might be hokie, but I always go to Bonanza Gift Shop. The self proclaimed "worlds largest gift shop" Hey, I got 3 kids under 10 and I swear the thing they love the most when I walk in the door after my Vegas trips isn't good old daddy being home, it is what I have brought them home, and most of it I buy here.

If you go to Sam's Town, go inside the indoor atrium. It is very peaceful walking thru it. Well worth the trip.

Next time in Vegas, I am going to make time to go to the Clark County Museum. Its $2 to get in. Even if it isn't all that great- it's $2. What the heck.

 

There is a very small bar inside the atrium with about 6 bartop VP machines. What a great spot to play, but I don't think it opens until ~2-3 PM.

 

We love the M Resort for the buffet, steakhouse, pool, people, playing and the spa.

Also went to the Orleans for the first time a couple trips ago. Love the Mardi Gras feel and of course getting a Royal at the bar helped. So we've been back each time.

We normally drive through the China Town area looking for new resaurants and swing around to the Orleans.

When we want a nice drive (getting killed in the casino), we go to the Lake Mead park entrance near the dam, drive along the shore along the west side I think and then through the Valley of Fire Park. Takes a while but it is a good time killer when you are licking your wounds of a trip gone bad.

Have fun.

 

Thanks for all the ideas. I think I'm getting a pretty good idea of the places to check outl

 

On the way to the "M" check out the SouthPointIn the opposite direction the Alliante Station, soon to be without the Station family, is a beautiful casino/hotel.

 

I agree that the atrium at sam`s town is a nice peaceful place to relax for awhile from the hustle and bustle of the casinos and the little bar in there is really cool.

many people don`t realize how convenient the shuttle ride out there is especially from fremont.

 

Hey Now!
Eastside Cannery right next door to Sam's just added more full pay VP...