If you actually live in Las Vegas and don’t just viva Las Vegas for the weekend, then you know that summer in the city isn’t for rookies. Despite the urban surroundings, Las Vegans live in a desert, and that comes with its attendant annoyances: 100-degree weather and sunburns. But! You’re not a complainer. First of all, as any other Las Vegan will remind you, “it’s a dry heat.” Furthermore, you truly can’t complain about 294 days of sunshine a year, 24-hour everything, and endless opportunities to relax and cool off. There’s so much to explore, and none of it is much more than a short drive away.
In partnership with Crocs, we’ve created a summer guide to Las Vegas that (mostly) skips the Strip and taps into what true locals know and love. Here are some of the best outdoor eats, music venues, and views that the city has to offer this summer.
Best Outdoor Dining
Marché Bacchus
Marché Bacchus is an upscale French bistro and wine shop located in the residential community of Summerlin, about a 20-minute drive off the Strip. It boasts a killer (and well-priced) wine list, attentive service, and a beautiful patio situated along a manmade lake.
Olives at the Bellagio Hotel
Sure, Olives is on the Strip, but Todd English’s Las Vegas outpost of is worth a visit for the patio alone. Rather than gawking at tourists walking down Las Vegas Boulevard, you can eat a meal while watching the famous Bellagio Fountains. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s hard not to be impressed.
Best Outdoor Performance Venues
Beauty Bar Las Vegas
We could recommend a host of raucous multi-story dance clubs, but you know about those already. If you’re not the clubbin’ type and you’re looking for local bands in a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, Beauty Bar Las Vegas is your spot.
Mandalay Bay Beach Concert Series
The Mandalay Bay Beach Concert Series attracts a mix of country artists, familiar alt-rock names of the 1990s (like 311), and reggae acts. Come for the manmade beach; stay for the people-watching.
Best Place To Have Fun By Foot
Container Park
Located in Downtown Las Vegas, this outdoor shopping center, park, and all-around anomaly is made out of recycled shipping containers. In the summer, you can enjoy free movie nights and entertainment. (Note: Container Park is 21-plus after dark.)
Best Outdoor Nightlife
Ghostbar at the Palms Casino Resort
Ghostbar is a sleek cocktail bar with a glass-bottomed patio and a nearly 360-degree view of Vegas. It’s the definition of trendy, but you can’t beat the view.
Best Outdoor Festival
Big Dog's Beer Festival
For the EDM-loving types, there's the super-popular Electric Daisy Carnival; for more laid-back folks, there’s the Big Dog's Beer Festival. Big Dog’s Brewing Company is a microbrewery with a Wisconsin-themed menu and friendly staff. The July 19 summer beer fest and reggae party highlights a mix of Big Dog’s brews, Nevada craft brewers like Great Basin and Joseph James, and “guest taps” from further afield.
Best Places To Cool Off
Lake Mead
A veritable oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert, Lake Mead is great if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re into water sports, you can rent boats, jet skis, tubes and kayaks. Stay for the sunset – it’s Vegas’ natural light show.
The Tank At Golden Nugget
Located downtown and open to the public for a $25 fee, The Tank at Golden Nugget is family-friendly and features a waterslide that runs through a 200,000-gallon shark tank.
Best View
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Another peaceful escape from Vegas, Red Rock Canyon features awesome views. Explore by car via a 13-mile scenic route or take a rugged hike. Watch the sun set at High Point Overlook, which provides stunning views of the canyon. The entrance fee is $7, but an annual pass will only cost you $30.
This post is sponsored by Crocs.
