Las Vegas is a city that glitters and glows all year long, and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate Vegas-style this winter.
You’re sure to find the usual slot machines, cactuses and neon lights, but if you know where to look, there are sledding hills, ice skating rinks and pine trees trimmed with tinsel here, too. Here are a few of our favorite activities to bring the season’s temperature down while the thermometer outside is rising.
If it’s snow you’re after, then Las Vegas is the right place! Surprised? Well, it’s true. In 2021, the Las Vegas Valley saw a significant dusting of snow. Though the National Weather Service reports an annual average of only 0.3 inches per year, surprise storms make for occasional winter miracles. No matter the forecast, you can rely on the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden to transport you to a winter wonderland through seasonal displays. The twinkling desert plants will make you swear you’re in some sort of alternate-reality North Pole.
If you’d rather play where snow really piles up, head to nearby Lee Canyon Ski & Snowboard Resort for rentals, lessons and all of your downhill skiing adventure needs. And the surrounding Spring Mountains National Recreation Area — more commonly known as Mount Charleston — offers lots of options for family fun when the snow flies. Check the current weather before heading out in search of snowy good times.
What’s even cooler than Las Vegas snow? Vegas ice! Watch the 2023 Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, take on their opponents in the fastest game on ice. Or, rather than watching the pros, lace up your own pair of skates for a tour above the Las Vegas Strip as The Ice Rink takes over The Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool. If you’re all stripped-out, reserve some skating time at The Rock Rink in downtown Summerlin, where you'll find 8,000 square feet of real ice, a festive 40-foot holiday tree and skate rentals included with your ticket.
Ice not your style? The Crystal Palace offers good ol’ fashioned roller skating, too. You can still have stride-and-glide fun, but you can do it while wearing wheels instead of blades.
Also known as the “Neon Capital of the World,” Las Vegas knows a thing or two about twinkling lights. Aside from the glitz and glam of the Las Vegas Strip, there are a few noteworthy attractions that are sure to light up your season.
For those who want to drive, rev up your engines at Glittering Lights, located at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For those who want to walk, explore the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. And for those who looking to get a few more laps in, there’s an ice-skating trail and walking paths to explore at Enchant at the Las Vegas Ballpark. All three of these festive light displays are sure to dazzle and inspire as you meander through the magical villages, mazes and activities galore.
If you can’t decide whether to see the attractions, play in the chilly temps or bask in the crisp wintry air, you can combine it all with an unforgettable immersive adventure at Flyover! Find a snowcapped alpine journey aboard Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies. Or opt for Legendary Iceland to discover glaciers, mountains and otherworldly winter landscapes. You’ll even spot some snow-blanketed scenery closer by when you experience Wonders of the American West. Best of all, you can combine any of two adventures and save with a Double Ride.
For more information on this season’s installations and shows, check out this list and get to Vegas before the winter winds blow away.
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