A Halal Exploration of Vegas

Las Vegas is famous for its neon lights and casinos, but as Mehran and I discovered in May 2019, the true magic often lies just beyond the city limits. After landing from New Jersey and battling a massive “punch in the face” from jet lag, we spent three incredible days exploring everything from gold mines to the Grand Canyon.

If you are planning a trip, here is our refined 3-day itinerary to help you make the most of your Vegas adventure.

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Getting Around Las Vegas

Here are some things that helped us during our stay in Las Vegas.

• Public Transport: We used Uber to go around the city.
• Stay Connected: Don’t get lost without data. [Insert Affiliate Link for eSIM]
• Where to Stay: [Insert Affiliate Link for Las Vegas Hotels]

Day 1: Desert Dust and Superhero Dreams

We woke up at 4 am due to jet lag, which actually gave us a head start on our first big adventure.

Eldorado Canyon UTV and Gold Mine Tour

We booked a 7 hour tour to Eldorado Canyon that included round-trip transport from Las Vegas. While it cost close to $400 for two people, the experience was worth every penny. We chose a UTV over an ATV for a more intimate, side-by-side experience.

The ride through the canyon was thrilling and breathtaking. Our guide shared fascinating insights about the local cacti and succulents during our stops. After the ride, we enjoyed a complimentary lunch followed by a 30 minute guided tour of an authentic gold mine.

Traveler Tip: Book your adventure tours in advance to secure your spot. [Check prices and availability for Eldorado Canyon Tours here]

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Back in the city, we headed to Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. As massive Marvel fans, we had a blast exploring the exhibition. While this specific location has recently closed, Las Vegas constantly rotates high-end immersive experiences.

Day 2: The Big Three: Hoover Dam, Route 66, and Grand Canyon

For our second day, we booked a full-day guided tour covering three iconic American landmarks. The tour was approximately $400 for two people and included lunch and hotel transfers.

Book your tour here [Add affiliate link for tour]

Hoover Dam

Our first stop was the stunning Hoover Dam. It is an engineering marvel, and our guide filled the time with incredible facts about its construction and the surrounding landmarks.

Route 66

By lunch, we reached the historic Route 66. We spent an hour exploring the vintage decorated cars and stopped at a local bakery for a massive slice of delicious carrot cake. It was a classic “only in America” portion size! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture before devouring it.

The Grand Canyon

The highlight of the day was the Grand Canyon. We had three hours to explore, including a visit to the museum which explains the scientific formation of the canyon. Standing on the rim was a spiritual experience. It is easily one of the most impressive natural attractions I have ever seen. We returned to the bus with our hearts full, arriving back in Vegas late that night.

Day 3: Pop Culture, Aquariums, and the Iconic Sign

On our final day, we stayed closer to the heart of the city to soak in the atmosphere of the Strip.

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition

As a huge fan of the franchise, I had to visit this exhibition at MGM Grand. It featured original props and an interactive virtual archery range. It took about an hour and was a fantastic way to start the morning.

Walking the Strip

We spent the afternoon walking the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. We stopped at the M&M Store and walked past giants like the Luxor, Trump Tower, and Mandalay Bay.

Shark Reef Aquarium

Located at Mandalay Bay, we visited the Shark Reef Aquarium. Tickets were $29 each. While it was a nice 30 minute walk, it felt a bit underwhelming compared to other world-class aquariums we have visited. We did, however, leave with a fun fake jellyfish from the gift shop. Regardless, this was our first time seeing a Komodo dragon in person, so it still offered us a brand new and memorable experience.

[Get your ticket to the Aquarium here: Insert Affiliate link]

The “Welcome to Las Vegas” Sign

Before heading to the airport, we made one last stop at the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. To be honest, after a long day of walking in the heat, I wanted to skip this. But Mehran wasn’t ready to leave Las Vegas without taking a look at the sign and he still hears about how unimpressive the whole experience was. It felt like a very small landmark for such a massive reputation!

Final Remarks

Our three days in and around Las Vegas were truly magical. While the city has plenty of glitz, the two absolute highlights were the Grand Canyon and the UTV experience at Eldorado Canyon. We highly recommend these to anyone looking for a mix of adrenaline and natural beauty.

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