Sin City is sizzling in the summer, but there are plenty of opportunities to keep cool that don’t involve casino hopping. Typically cheaper to visit in the hotter months when temperatures reach the triple digits, don’t let the heat deter you from booking a Las Vegas vacation. With so many ways to save and even more ways to keep cool, Las Vegas has a lot to offer summer travelers. And even in July or August, a trip to Las Vegas doesn’t have to be confined to climate-controlled casinos alone.
In a city known for spectacular shows, glittering lights and a party atmosphere 24/7, it’s no surprise there are plenty of unique ways to beat the heat during summer. Looking for one-of-a-kind options that are quintessentially Vegas kitsch? Swim-up gaming, snow-covered spas and a high-tech waterslide are only a few of the unique attractions that beckon travelers to Las Vegas this summer.
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Cool off in a cabana
When it gets hot, hot, hot on the Strip, head to the Palms Casino Resort Pool & Dayclub’s party cabanas, which feature 50-inch flat screen televisions equipped with DIRECTV and gaming console options and plush daybeds. As an added bonus, check-in to the cabanas during Ditch Fridays, a weekly adult pool party where you can dance and drink signature cocktails like the Pineapple Express made with Cruzan Vanilla, triple sec, pineapple juice and basil or the Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade made with Bulleit Bourbon, Tuaca, blackberries, lemon juice, simple syrup and a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Play Blackjack in the pool
Swim-up to the Poolside Palapa at Nirvana at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas for some Blackjack at the water’s edge. Get a tan while you gamble – it doesn’t get much better than this – unless you win, of course! But don’t forget to load up on the SPF. “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” doesn’t apply to a sunburn.
Eat Taiwanese shaved ice
Las Vegas might not seem like the place to tuck into Taiwanese food, but celebrated chef José Andrés has transported one of Taiwan’s signature summertime treats – shaved ice – to Ku Noodle at SLS Las Vegas. Andrés adds his own twist to the delicate, fluffy ice dessert by adding new flavors and unexpected ingredient combinations. Special flavors include the Cereal Bowl (milk ice, crispy rice, strawberries, blueberries and condensed milk), the TGB (coffee ice, peanuts, bacon and caramel sauce) and Zhulong (strawberry ice, mocha, toasted coconut and coconut sauce).
Try Slideboarding
Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas is the first water park in the world to feature Slideboarding technology. It’s part waterslide, part interactive, high-tech gaming experience that lets riders compete against each other in a multi-player game while they slide. This water park attraction with a competitive edge makes keeping cool in Vegas an easy and exciting endeavor.
Rock out at a poolside concert
When the sun goes down, grab a cocktail from pool bar Foxtail Pool Club at SLS Las Vegas while enjoying live hip-hop, rock, reggae and EDM concerts as part of a new Summer Live Concert Series featuring performances by Sir Mix-a-Lot, Hoobastank and the Plain White T’s.
Catch a double feature at the dive-in
Dive into double features during Dive-In Movies at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Each Monday, the marquee at the Boulevard Pool is transformed into a giant movie screen for classic and blockbuster films.
Put your day on ice
You can cool off quick at minus5° Ice Bar at Mandalay Bay, where the entire venue – bricks, walls, seats and cocktail glasses – is made from 100 percent pure Canadian ice. With a constant temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit, guests are given parkas, gloves and other cold-weather gear to weather the temperature.
Eat exotic ice cream
Childhood favorites and cutting-edge flavors come together at BLVD Creamery ice cream shop in the Monte Carlo which serves organic ice creams, sorbets and cereal-flavored milks. Sample flavors like watermelon-jalapeño, avocado and pinot noir.
Hydrate – with a facial
It’s easy to get dehydrated in the desert heat, so hydrate with an Advanced Hydrafacial at The Spa at ARIA. The hydrating facial is said to give instant surface refinement through crystal-free diamond-tip microdermabrasion, a series of liquid exfoliants and protective antioxidants. The treatment concentrates on perfecting pore size, minimizing fine lines and infusing hydration and moisture.
Relax in the snow
It might be blazing hot outside, but inside the Arctic Ice Room at Qua Baths and Spa at Caesar’s Palace it is snowing. The Arctic Ice Room is the only one of its kind in the world. It’s a highlight of the spa, which also boasts three Roman baths and a variety of spa treatments.
Visit Elvis
Get off the hot streets and step back in time at the first-ever permanent Elvis Presley exhibition outside of Memphis at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition – The Show – The Experience features hundreds of rare artifacts from the Presley family’s Graceland Archives like a handwritten note to Johnny Cash, iconic performance suits, his 1957 Harley Davidson and Lisa Marie Presley’s baby shoes.
Hit the beach
Yes, the beach. Las Vegas’ only beach, Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay, features crashing waves, 2,700 tons of real sand from California and a beachside casino. Take a break from gambling and float down the lazy river or listen to live music during the summer concert series.
Play underwater chess
The South Beach-inspired Delano Beach Club has a whimsical oversized chessboard submerged in the water that is a big draw for those seeking fun in the sun. In between matches, relax on chaise lounges or private cabanas while snacking on complimentary treats like frozen grapes and cucumber slices and sipping drinks like mango-infused sparkling water and watermelon and orange juice shooters.
Sip boozy milkshakes
Sip sublime boozy milkshakes at B&B Burger & Beer inside The Palazzo. Try fun flavors spiked with alcohol like Nutella (vanilla gelato, Nutella and candied hazelnuts), Bourbon Cherry (vanilla gelato, Bourbon and Amarena cherry) and Caramel Swirl (vanilla gelato, Averna caramel and ginger snap).
Get an adrenaline rush
Head to Circus Circus’ Adventuredome, a climate-controlled amusement park offering 25 rides and attractions, including the newest roller coaster El Loco that features G-force drops, gravity-defying turns and over-the-edge twists.
(Main image: Palms Casino Resort)
