Going to Las Vegas in 2 weeks. We have 4 nights at Circus Circus. Yeah, I know it’s going to be HOT. We got a good deal.
We’re pretty familiar with the Strip- Excalibur, Mirage, etc etc. I was more curious as to what there is to do AROUND Las vegas. For example, Hoover Dam, which I hear is VERY expensive.
How about other desert spots? Death Valley? Lake Mead? I hear Area 51 is a total waste of time.
Any inside tips you can throw my way, especially ones that don’t involve the newer casinos, I’d appreciate it!
Restaurants, bars, old Vegas landmarks, anything! 
The best bar food in the world resides in a hole in the wall on the corner of Maryland and Tropicanna. It used to be called the Four Kegs, now there’s a new owner and it’s called, I believe, House of Brews. They cleaned the place up, new carpeting, etc. but the food still rocks. Best wings ever (from a guy who went to college in upstate NY, where Buffalo Wings are everywhere), cajun onion rings, cajun fries, stromboli, you name it, plus beer served ice-cold in goblets. It’s a locals hangout.
I go out to Vegas once or twice a year for business. About 10 years ago a friend who used to live down the road from Four Kegs turned me onto it and I’ve been going ever since.
Don’t know much else about outside of town, but I hear Red Rocks is awesome.
Suggest you check out some other threads on the same subject. I put one out myself, but can’t remember where it is. I think it’s in IMHO, under “Las Vegas: Where to go, What to see”.
You can do an all day bus tour to Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon for about $80 – worth it, in my opinion, since meals are included.