Some Vegas love

Neon Museum is great, especially at night - they've done a wonderful job over the past few years. First time we went it was just a jumbled mess of cool old signs, now they are displayed nicely, some refurbished to working order. They only have guided tours so make sure you get reservations ahead of time....

It's nice to hear from a local who actually likes the Strip. Too many of them suffer from what I refer to as "locals disease," and brag that they NEVER go to the Strip. I guess people tend to become provincial no matter where they live, but I find it kind of pathetic.

I would also recommend the often first rate bands playing at bars and lounges on the Strip, Downtown, and at locals casinos. Tonight 9/23, for example, the really good Michael Grimm - who apparently won a lot of money on a tv show I never saw - will be performing in a small room at Sunset Station with a five piece band, plus a three-piece horn section, plus two excellent back-up singers, plus his his wife who is really good. And last time he performed there a righteous daughter, McKenna Medley, joined in. Followed by a long set by the 80's cover band Yellow Brick Road.

All for $5.00. And afterward full-pay deuces in the non-smoking section and a post-midnight $2.49 breakfast. What's not to love?

There is a Natural history museum. It's on las Vegas Blvd. north of downtown.

It is small but has the prerequisites you would expect out of a NHM. The permanent exhibits are interesting and adequate for learning the fundamentals of natural History.

The traveling exhibits have been quite good and interesting. A while back was an exhibit on paleontology and archeology focusing on dinosaur eggs. lately was an exhibit on machines of the renaissance.

You can also visit the Old Mormon Fort. That will take about ten minutes.
Then there is The Lost city Museum just north of the Valley of Fire. Not worth a separate trip from Vegas, but I'd include it in any VOF trip, if one enjoys history.

Did not know about this one. On the list for a future trip. It is air conditioned, right?

I was there in January, and am not sure. Be sure to call ahead because its manned by volunteers and if there aren't at least two, they don't open up.

Thanks guys for recommending a few museums I was unaware of as well as some I just haven't gotten around to. The "lack of culture" as some like to say is just not true.

As for locals, just like any other place, there are active people and not active people. Those people would not enjoy their surroundings wherever they lived. Locals do go to the shows and have guest, but more than not don't gamble. I just met a couple that gamble after living here 13 years. I know one person in ga. So when they mean go to the strip or casino that is what they mean. They don't go down there unless necessary. Just like New Yorkers don't go to time square unless going to a Broadway play. You aren't going to go there for a $20 glass of wine when you have hundreds of thousands of better places for $5. There are places I have meant to go to and you just don't have time. Or places you liked and would go again, but there are just so many new places to go. Staying on business here is very hard.

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Looks like a museum run in N. 'Vegas! I could walk to both and it's $8 for seniors.The MOB and NHM both.

I have read that the the Mob Museum tour should start with the 3rd floor.
If you stayed at the DTG,it would be easy to do both.
The library is across the street. Been there,too. I absolutely needed to use a keyboard! Way cool.

The Springs Preserve is only about ten minutes from downtown - great way to spend a couple outdoor hours.