I’ve never been the spontaneous type, but two months ago my husband and I decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Las Vegas. We flew down on a Sunday morning with a few of our friends, intending to do all the touristy Vegas type things, but ended up having a more artistic trip instead.

Here are five of the amazing places we visited:

Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio

It’s hard to describe the beauty of the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. We all know that flowers and trees have their own innate beauty, but there’s just so much more that comes from the amazing presentation at the Bellagio. The conservatory rotates exhibits seasonally, so there’s always something fresh to see. We showed up just in time for the opening of the “Summer Garden Party” exhibit. Nothing much happens at the gardens (save live musical performances every evening) but that’s really the point. It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy Strip.
Fountains of Bellagio

Alright, so we did do a couple of touristy things, but I’d be hard pressed to pass this one up. I consider the fountains to be artistic in that they are beautifully choreographed to music, and therefore count as a performance. The show is an absolute must see, don’t miss it! I recommend going at night as the combination of lights, water and music is truly spectacular.

The Gallery at Aria

When I was seventeen I went on a trip to the local art museum with my art teacher and a small group dedicated students. We were going to visit the traveling Chihuly exhibit and were all completely unaware of the beauty of his work. I was stunned by the detail, color and magnificence of his glass sculptures. I had never seen anything like it before, and I never thought I’d have a chance to see it again. When I found out that the Gallery Row in Vegas was hosting Dale Chihuly’s work, I told my husband and friends that we were going to see it and they didn’t have a choice in the matter. I cannot stress this enough, go see his sculptures in person. Photos and video don’t do them any justice. You can also see his work at the Chihuly shop in the Bellagio and while you’re there, check out his amazing chandelier piece, Fiori di Como, in the lobby.
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

If you’ve ever been to a Madam Tussauds museum or seen the insane process behind creating a wax figure, you’ll know exactly why I listed this museum as an art installation. The fact that it’s fun is just an added bonus. The figures are amazingly realistic and you’re allowed to pose with them and take as many photos as you’d like. Plus, during the Halloween season they have a “haunted house” style exhibit.

The Neon Museum

If art history is your thing, the Neon Museum is the perfect destination. The boneyard is hauntingly nostalgic and yet incredibly delightful. Unfortunately it’s not open to walk-ins, so you have to schedule a tour. That being said, the tour guides are full of fascinating facts that you just wouldn’t get otherwise.

This trip to Vegas was our second, but it was so much fun that we are definitely planning on going again soon. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll never be able to fit it all in!

Author: Gaby Lucius is a freelance travel writer for Holiday Place and an aspiring world traveler. She enjoys going on ridiculously romantic vacations with her long-suffering husband, Mike.