This is one in a series of “Off-the-Beaten-Path” reports on cities around the world. We know you’re familiar with the Vegas Strip and the big casino hotels; but these city-guides will tell you about places you might overlook, places our insiders (and long time residents) have fallen in love with. “Vegas, baby. Vegas.” To most of us, Trent’s words in Swingers conjure up images of 5am Double-Downs, $3 Surf n’ Turf buffets, endless Elvis impersonators, and…well, if it’s wild& weird, Vegas has it. But Vegas isn’t all glitz and glam; why not take a trip away from the Strip to find another Vegas: a place that will wow you with its “secrets” (and, its incredible natural beauty). Click “more” and see what you’ve been missing!

FareCompare’s Off-the-Beaten-Path:

LAS VEGAS

By Dan Johnson

Shops

• Ancient Creations is an antique shop with a twist: in keeping with the Roman Empire theme, it offers jewelry and other delights of that era, and even earlier. Books from the Dark Ages, coins from Athens…and everything is certifiably “old.” You may not be able to afford most of the things here (individual coin pendants go for $2,800!), but stopping in and taking a look is always free.
  3-store locations in Las Vegas

Online at http://www.ancientcreations.com/

The Attic claims to be “the largest vintage clothing store in the world!” The store is one vast cavern of a place where you can find it all: old sequin costumes, wild platform shoes, outrageous and one-of-a-kind items. And it’s also the place for furniture, sunglasses and wigs; a total treasure trove for visiting hipsters. You may have to pay a small cover-charge to get in the door, but it’s a welcome respite from the mega-malls of the Strip.
The Attic, 1018 South Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 8910; (702) 388-4088.

Open Monday-Saturday

Online at http://www.theatticlasvegas.com/

Museums

Museums in Las Vegas cover a lot of ground: there’s the sober-minded Liberace Museum or the wild & crazy Las Vegas Museum of Natural History (wait…could it be the other way around?) Anyway, those two are easy to find, but the very best museum in town is more of an “insiders only” spot. Lucky for you, we have the details:

• The Neon Museum stocks classic neon signage dating back to World War II. If you are a serious neon fiend, give them a call in advance to check out their 3-acre “Boneyard.” Appointments are absolutely necessary.
  Office Hours Tuesday - Friday, 11am - 5pm; call (702) 387 NEON.

Online at http://www.neonmuseum.org/

Outdoor Adventures

Most people hit the Strip or downtown, and never leave the city limits, and that’s a shame: you’ll miss all the natural wonders. The city sits on a flat desert pan in the middle of an outdoor desert playground which is far less trafficked than similar areas near other cities. Sadly, the man-made edifices keep people away from the even-more-impressive works of nature. Don’t let that happen to you. May we suggest:

• The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just 17-miles west of the city. It’s a high and dry desert, warm enough to camp in during the fall, winter, and spring. Bring a mountain bike for excellent single-track riding, hike to your heart’s content, or just take a scenic drive in March or April and goggle at all the amazing desert wildflowers.
  Campground closed June, July and August. Off State Route 159

Online information at http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

• Just 55-miles northeast of the city is the best-named state park in the US: The Valley of Fire. The park itself is a large swath of desert studded with wind-scarred rocks (check out the Mouse’s Tank and Elephant Rock, two of the most striking and popular). While you’re there, it’s worth the time to check out the Lost City Museum in Overton, a funky old-style building of sun-dried adobe bricks, dedicated to the archaeology of the Anasazi (ancestors of more modern tribes including the Pueblos).
  Camping available year-round. Take I-15 North, Exit 75

Online information at http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

Museum open most days; $3 for adult admission

Online information at http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/museums/lost/lostcity.htm

• In the winter time, the casinos are crowded, so…hit the slopes! True, the skiing at Mt. Charleston is nowhere near world-class (4-lifts, 860-vertical feet, and 120 inches of annual snowfall) but the $50-lift tickets won’t break the bank either. And it’s only 45 minutes from the city; worth the time on a sunny winter day.
  Open November to March. Take U.S. Highway 95 north, then Hwy 156

Online information at http://skilasvegas.com/.

Drinks

Yes, there are plenty of casinos where you can get a cocktail 24/7, but never forget that Las Vegas is still part of the Old West, so why not have a drink in an old-fashioned bar. You know, a place where you order, you pay, and you get into arguments with guys you’ve never met. Welcome to The Double Down Saloon; and besides getting into arguments, you can listen to rockabilly and country (yes, there’s a jukebox), and watch as cowboy wannabe’s get their cosmo orders thrown in their faces. They do serve martinis here, but no olives: the Double Down’s garnish of choice is…bacon.

Open all the time. 4640 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169 (702) 791-5775

Online information at http://www.doubledownsaloon.com/