Leadership / 10.18.23
INTIX 2024: Las Vegas Beyond the Strip
Christine Payne
In January 2024, more than 1,000 ticketing and live event professionals will descend on Las Vegas for the 45th Annual INTIX Conference & Exhibition. We can’t wait to see everyone!
When you think of Las Vegas, the first things that come to mind are often world-class entertainment, the Strip, countless casinos, the city’s vibrant nightlife and non-stop excitement. It is indeed all this and more. But there is another side to Las Vegas, too.
Outside of conference hours, some INTIX attendees are looking for other adventures beyond the glitz, glamour and neon lights. Fortunately, Las Vegas also offers a magnificent world of desert serenity, natural wonders and experiences that are quite unlike the hustle and bustle of the Strip.
Whether you have already registered or still need a little convincing, here are 13 attractions, places to visit and day trips to help round out your INTIX 2024 conference journey. Come join us and stay a few extra days to experience all Las Vegas has to offer!
The Beautiful Outdoors
The scenery around Las Vegas goes well beyond the typical desert landscape. Countless breathtaking vistas await you just a short drive from the Strip. Here are several options to consider. Be sure to check current operating hours before you head out.
Goodsprings Ghost Town — Just 45 minutes from the Strip by car, you can catch a ghostly glimpse into the Old West’s past. This once-thriving mining town is home to the Pioneer Saloon, where you can pull up a stool and enjoy a drink or the Food Network-famous Ghost Burger. Be sure to ask the bartender about the bullet holes in the walls. A walking tour explores other historic buildings, and off-road tours depart near the Pioneer Saloon. Oh, and perhaps a bit of paranormal activity for those who believe.
Lake Mead — There is so much to see and do at Lake Mead. America’s first and largest national recreation area, it is home to the junction of three desert ecosystems (the Mojave, Great Basin and Sonoran deserts). Lake Mead offers year-round recreation activities and features striking landscapes, Joshua trees, slot canyons, teal blue waters, black lava rocks and more.
Lake Mead video.
Red Rock Canyon — Located approximately 30 minutes by car from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon is simply spectacular, with majestic red sandstone formations and ancient trees. Bring your camera and a good pair of walking shoes. The park features a one-way, 13-mile drive with multiple turnouts where you can stop, take photos and hike trails of varying lengths.
Seven Magic Mountains — In the Nevada desert, about 30 minutes by car from the Strip, sits the Seven Magic Mountains art installation. It consists of seven towering stacks of brightly colored boulders in striking contrast to the desert landscape. The temporary installation was initially scheduled to be displayed for two years but has been extended multiple times due to its popularity with visitors from around the world.
Spring Mountain Ranch — Renowned as a historic working ranch and for its colorful past owners, including German actress Vera Krupp and millionaire Howard Hughes, this state park is immediately adjacent to Red Rock Canyon. Here, you can explore some of Nevada’s oldest buildings, a blacksmith shop from the 1860s, the home of the founding family and more. Learn about the April 1959 diamond heist, visit hiking trails, and see wild burrows roaming the property. I saw dozens when I was there in June!
Valley of Fire State Park — Another beautiful natural wonderland to explore is just over an hour’s drive from Caesars Palace, the INTIX 2024 conference host hotel. Nevada’s oldest state park, Valley of Fire, is home to vibrant red sandstone formations, intricate petroglyphs dating back over 2,000 years and beautiful landscapes. Many scenes from the 1963 movie “Viva Las Vegas” starring Elvis Presley were filmed at this park.
Nearby Off-Strip Attractions
Area15 — Billed as “a wanderland of art, music and amusement,” Area15 has something for everyone. Think attractions, live music, experiences, rides, wellness activities, restaurants and bars, and shopping all in one place. You can throw an axe, improve your swing, hunt down zombies, fly up or around, alter your perception, dance the night away, tempt your tastebuds, enter immersive worlds and more. Area15 is occasionally closed to the public for private events, so be sure to check the website before you go.
Atomic Testing Museum — History and science buffs will love this educational institution, which tells the story of the U.S.’s nuclear weapons testing program at the Nevada Test Site and highlights 70 years of nuclear testing. Items on display include a large nuclear reactor used in developing the nuclear rocket and the first air-to-air missile, personal atomic weapons and a piece of the Berlin Wall painted with celebratory graffiti as the wall came down at the end of the Cold War. Two pieces of the World Trade Center are also on display to signify the beginning of the Global War on Terror and the museum’s role in training today’s first responders who come from across the U.S. to learn about nuclear materials.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Want to get your adrenaline pumping? Here’s an opportunity to slide behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car on the track that hosts racing series such as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NHRA Camping World Series. There is a ride-along option for those who prefer to leave the driving to someone else. You can also drive a full-size, Indy-style race car with The Mario Andretti Racing Experience or take a track tour. Free shuttles to the speedway are available from the Westgate Hotel and Casino, which is accessible via the Las Vegas Monorail.
Mob Museum — It’s no secret that organized crime played a huge role in shaping Las Vegas. And it’s easy to spend hours here learning about the history that textbooks don’t dare to teach. With displays and interactive exhibits across four floors, you can listen to real wiretaps, train in a police simulator, learn about famous gangsters like Al Capone, see a section of the brick wall that the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre victims stood against, and more.
Neon Museum — If you love the neon lights and history of Las Vegas, you won’t want to miss this vast collection of rescued iconic signs. While the experience differs depending on when you visit and the experience you choose, it is fabulous by day, at dusk and night. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance because many nights sell out.
Day Trips
Grand Canyon — The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders. You will want a full day if you travel by car, or you can take a helicopter tour from Las Vegas. The South Rim of the park is open 365 days a year. Travel along the scenic Desert View Drive in your vehicle, go hiking, walk the 1.2-mile Trail of Time, go on a guided learning adventure by foot, bike or bus, take a mule trip, and more.
Hoover Dam — The Hoover Dam is a legendary marvel of engineering. Witnessing its grandeur firsthand gives visitors a view of its vital role in harnessing the mighty Colorado River, which supplies water and electricity to a significant portion of the American Southwest. Tickets for the guided dam tour are only available on-site and they routinely sell out, so arriving early is recommended. Tickets for the guided power plant and self-guided visitor center tours are available online.
Zion National Park — Located in southern Utah, about a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, Zion National Park is a nature preserve with 229 square miles of red rock landscape, 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs, a 1.1-mile-long tunnel with views of the Zion Canyon and one of the largest freestanding arches in the world. There are many ways to experience the park, including hiking trails, by bike and through ranger-guided programs. If you go, stop by the Under the Eaves Inn in Springdale, the gateway to Zion National Park. The historic and beautiful inn is owned and run by former INTIX member, board member and award-winning ticketing pro, Mark Chambers and his partner Joe Pitti. Tell Mark that INTIX sent you!
Zion National Park video.
On your drive to Zion National Park, you will pass through the beautifully scenic Virgin River Gorge with its breathtaking high canyon walls and the town of St. George, Utah, which is known for its vibrant arts community.
Come to Las Vegas early or stay after the conference — you don’t want to miss all the wonderful leisure opportunities that this great city has to offer! If you are not already registered, what are you waiting for? Visit INTIX.org to register today.
Stay tuned for future Access stories about entertainment options on the Strip, our highly anticipated INTIX venue tours, 2024 conference sessions and more!
You May Also Like
Want news like this delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to the Access Weekly newsletter, your ticket to industry excellence.
Tags: Leadership , INTIX 2024