Although Las Vegas has always been popular for its hotels, clubs, and casinos on the Blvd best known as "The Strip" my opportunity of living there for a few years gave me insight into what else the city had to offer. Especially during my final year with no more didactic exams left I had a bit of freedom to explore.
Taking my camera, my car, and my love for photoshoots I actually made it one of my summer goals to visit as many off-the-strip areas as I could before leaving. If you follow me on Instagram you're already hip to the #hotgirlsendoff I coined. Visit all the hidden gems that was the mission.
So here's my share of what I got into...
Downtown Arts District
Location: Downtown Las Vegas
Like I mentioned, a lot of my hospital rotations ended up downtown and of course with my morning commute my eyes would open while passing this portion of DTLV. A hub of some super colorful street art/murals created by local artists around town. New artwork is always being created what you saw today could be gone tomorrow... Always a new backdrop for a good and quick photoshoot. As most town "art districts"; forever beautiful and often thought-provoking.
Yellow the Photo Booth
Location: Downtown Las Vegas
I knew about this photo studio for some time, maybe the entire 3 year span I stayed in Vegas but never had the opportunity to visit until the very week I left. Now all I look back on are the many, MANY, pictures I took. You pay for an hour (or 2) of chilling and taking pictures with music playing from any playlist you own. That's all. That's actually heaven to me if you ask.
Fremont Street
Location: Fremont St, Las Vegas
It may be seen as part of the strip when it comes to tourists. Everyone says they have to hit Fremont before their trip is done. When you walk down it's nothing but lights and entertainment. Restaurants, bars, casinos, zip lining, live music outside the list goes on... They call it the Fremont Street Experience for a reason!
Gold Spike
Location: Downtown Las Vegas
Gold Spike is just one big indoor/outdoor playground for everyone downtown on the weekends. First Fridays are by far the best nights. I'd consider it a casual, local hangout spot. The usual drinks, music, dancing, with OUTDOOR GAMES as a bonus. Giant Jenga, beer pong, imagine the fun I had playing four square with a bunch of strangers one night. It's a ton of space and a lot of fun, period. With restaurants inside as well.
Little Coffee Shops
Location: Spring Valley, Summerlin areas
They speak for themselves. Not your run of the mill Starbucks, the aesthetic of some of these cuties
Cafe Lola -
Baby Birds Cafe -
Gäbi Coffee and Bakery -
The Orleans Hotel
Location: W Tropicana Avenue
Sure it's still a hotel and casino but it's not on the strip and the outside is just beautiful.
The Neon Museum
Location: North Las Vegas
The Neon Museum, graveyard to old neon signs, was actually some place I never got the opportunity to go. The amount of Las Vegas "instagram bloggers" inspiring me through their own photoshoots made me so desperate but the time for it never came. This is still on my Vegas bucket-list but there's no harm in sharing it now. Looks interesting.
Seven Magic Mountains
Location: S Las Vegas Blvd, toward Sloan & Jean
The Seven Magic Mountains exhibit is so far off-the-strip you may as well be on your way to California. This is an art exhibit, outside, basically in the middle of the desert, displaying 7- colorfully painted towers over 30 ft in stone. It's a sight to see. And of course means for a great photo op.
Lake Las Vegas
Location: Lake Las Vegas Pkwy
So I absolutely love when I had the chance to visit this side and just walk around. The atmosphere and everything makes you feel like you're walking around through a whole new town. You can still be in Las Vegas, says it in the name, but the vibe is just different.
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