"Rock 'n' Roll Fremont Yeah Baby! The Strip might get all the attention, but if you want the real Vegas the only place to go is Fremont St. With its enclosed light show of a ceiling, freak show of people watching, and rock 'n' roll show of live entertainers you could be there for hours. Of course, it has casino or two should you want to make a wager, but my bet is that you'll be fully occupied just taking it all in."

"Cool Beer Garden in Downtown Vegas Park on Fremont is a everything that a gastropub and beer garden should be, with a very cool, hipster bar (featuring taxidermy—a must these days), as well as ample space to stretch out underneath cafe lights in the back. It's like a little piece of Austin , Texas right in the heart of Vegas. Plus, it's open for brunch on the weekends."

"The Beat Goes on in Vegas The Beat Coffeehouse is part dive bar, part roadhouse, part concert hall, part cafe, but somehow, this combination works. It's a great place to catch a live show, chill out over a cappuccino (or a beer), and listen to tunes (on vinyl, of course) in downtown Las Vegas . They also serve breakfast, sandwiches, and pizzas—it's a one stop, 24-hour shop."

"Go Raw in Vegas In the heart of Vegas, it can be difficult at times to find the healthiest of meals, given the penchant for fine dining (and steak) that characterizes the Strip. However, Go Raw Cafe has your back—with two locations in Vegas, Go Raw is on a mission to deliver organic, fresh ingredients in the form of vegetarian and vegan cuisine."

"Sophisticated Entertainment The Smith Center's 2012 grand opening Downtown was a huge deal for Las Vegas locals. Finally, touring musicals like Wicked and Book of Mormon had a had home in the Entertainment Capitol of the World. Both the Philharmonic and the Nevada Ballet have made the Smith Center their permanent venues, and other hits have been a jazz cabaret that features the great Clint Holmes, dramas such as War Horse , and one-off concerts or speakers like Patti LuPone and Alan Alda. Staying on the Strip? Ask about shuttle service."

"Zipping Above Fremont Street A zip line installed down Fremont Street Experience has just gotten bigger and better. Slotzilla is a two-level, 1,700-foot-long zip line that will send riders speeding over the famous downtown pedestrian mall at 35 miles per hour. Wandering along Fremont Street can make for an interesting evening out, but zip lining above it also provides a perspective that you can't get at foot-level. Go during the day for a better view of the world below you, but go at night for the chance to ride near the giant electronic Viva Vision screen, which plays light shows with music. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Driving Big Machines at Dig This How much fun can it possibly be to maneuver excavators, dig holes in dirt and carry heavy stuff around? It turns that this having your hands on the controls of heavy machinery is a lot of fun! Dig This is essentially an adult's playground (ages 14+) where you get to sit in the seat and control bulldozers, excavators and other massive construction vehicles. The Dig This experience includes a safety briefing and lots of one-on-one coaching as you learn how to handle these giants moving through the dirt in an off-Strip location. Once you have a general feel for how things work, instructors help guide you through a series of exercises so you can dig trenches, drive over huge mounds and perfect the finer details of operation by placing basketballs on top of cones. There is a lot of power at your fingertips when you participate in Dig This, and it's fun to discover just how much one of these seemingly average construction vehicles can actually do! A quick note: While it's true that lots of guys are attracted to Dig This, don't let this detract you, ladies! Plenty of women put on neon-colored vests, roll up their sleeves and dominate the exercises every day! By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"