Las Vegas, home of WEC Vegas this June, is world-renowned for its variety of unique visitor activities. Within that myriad of options, it’s easy to discover some opportunities that also avoid large crowds—especially valuable at this time and as we hopefully move past the pandemic this year.
Wheee!
Groups of up to 10 can simultaneously zip along up to 12 stories above the hustle and bustle of The LINQ Promenade on the FLY LINQ zipline. The 1,121-foot-long trip can be completed in a sitting position or, for the more daring, in a lay-flat Superman pose. This urban zipline—the only one on the Las Vegas Strip—has social distancing built in, as while on the line and zooming along at up to 35 miles per hour, you’re always more than six feet away from anyone else.
Faster! Faster!
If the zipline doesn’t feed your need for speed, head over to SPEEDVEGAS’s private racetrack south of the city or go north to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for some truly quick laps in luxury vehicles. At speeds that can top 200 miles per hour, groups of all sizes can slide into a selection of souped-up cars, including Porsche Cayman 718, Lamborghini HURÁCAN, Supra GR, Ferrari 488 or Shelby GT500 and burn rubber.
Creepy. Just Creepy.
Interested in the weird, unknown and spooky? Have you been binging Ghost Adventures during the pandemic? Enter Zac Bagans’ The Haunted Museum, a collection of some of the most notorious “haunted” artifacts in the world. Even if you’re not a fan of the Travel Channel TV show (or its many spinoffs), the various items throughout the 11,000-square-foot venue are sure to creep you out.
Should you be concerned? Well, according to the museum’s website, “The building is known to contain ghosts/spirits and cursed objects,” so dress appropriately. Tours take just over an hour.
Groups of up to 20 can even do a nighttime flashlight tour among the creepy artifacts. What better way to explore “The Devil’s Rocking Chair” from the house of Ed and Lorraine Warren (the couple that inspired the Amityville and Conjuring film franchises) or a cauldron owned by Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs inspiration Ed Gein.
Pulling Gs
While racing luxury cars is an adrenaline-pumping thrill, this is Las Vegas, so there’s always a more incredible, more extreme option. For that, consider flying a fighter jet with Sky Combat Ace. You’re not a trained pilot? No problem, as their system is like drivers’ education in the air—a skilled pilot is right there along with you, with their own controls.
Sky Combat Ace offers numerous experiences, everything from flights with a couple of exciting aerial maneuvers up to “Operation Red Flag,” a dog-fight-style competition best for groups of three or more. (With advanced booking, they can accommodate 150 people per day.)
Bells and Whistles
Want some chill, retro fun? The Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame boasts more than 150 vintage pinball machines and also features more than 50 vintage non-pinball arcade games. All of the bright, flashing amusement found here is based on Tim Arnold’s collection—yes, one person’s collection. His love affair with the games started in the 1970s, so it’s safe to call Arnold a pinball wizard. Better yet, the hall of fame is a non-profit and gives all proceeds above operating costs to a variety of charities.
Ready to Roll
The world’s tallest observation wheel may also be the smoothest. The 550-foot-tall High Roller has 28 cabins, each capable of accommodating up to 40 people for the 30-minute roundtrip that avails guests some of the finest views of the Las Vegas Valley. While this is a wonderful attraction for all visitors, given the size of the cabins and the timing of a full revolution, the space also works well for genuinely outside-the-box meetings and receptions. And, of course, cocktails are available.
Higher Still
There are multiple hot-air balloon operators out of Las Vegas—an area seemingly made for floating into the air thanks to the vast, picturesque landscapes that will undoubtedly have you snapping photos the instant you lift off, if you’re not too awed to remember, that is. With hot-air balloon baskets capable of holding up to 16 people, small groups can enjoy some quiet time, 10,000 feet above any possible crowd. Of course, if you’ve got a larger group, you’ll just need more balloons. Is this the ultimate social distancing?
Goodfellas & Good Times
Head to downtown Vegas to explore the city’s organized origins at The Mob Museum. The mob-run times aren’t too far in the past—you can still encounter folks who experienced that era firsthand boasting about how well Sin City ran while under the control of the mob. As you explore the three floors of relics from this intriguing time, you should safely be socially distanced—if someone is too close to you, who knows, they might be listening in to rat you out (probably not).
