Famed for its pioneering gaming industry, Las Vegas, Nevada also boasts some of the most extreme leisure attractions anywhere. And when we say extreme, we mean ‘fun beyond imagination'.
If you've ever been jealous of superheroes who effortlessly zoom through the sky, then step right up to the Slotzilla Zip Line and literally soar over the city! Located above the popular Fremont Street walking avenue and fashioned to resemble a giant slot machine, this utterly unique and supremely thrilling attraction lets guests take a 260-metre long, 5-story high conventional sit-down ride, or "fly" along for more than half-kilometre in a laying-down position (just like Superman!)… 11 stories up! (THB 650-1,900)
Follow in the footsteps of Goose, Iceman and Maverick and satisfy that need… for speed at the controls of a real aircraft! At Top Gun and Air Combat Experience, you'll strap in (See? We told you!) to a high-performance single-engine turboprop trainer with your "flight mentor" sitting right behind you. As the actual pilot oversees the plane's dual controls, guest pilots take the stick and perform classic flying manoeuvres and missions. Yes, you read that right--you're flying the plane! There's even a dogfight package that lets you try and "shoot down" a target plane using laser-track technology, so get him in your sights and give ‘em the guns! (THB 11,000-66,000)
Meanwhile, speed junkies of the chequered flag variety can get behind the wheel of a powerful racing car at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Climb aboard your NASCAR-style racer (again with the strapping in--nailed it!) and feel the rumble of its massive 358 cubic-inch (5.8 litre), 600-hp V8 engine beneath your foot as you power around the 2.4-km. Las Vegas Motor Speedway circuit at speeds of up to... as fast as you can handle! And in case a mod'd-stock NASCAR racer isn't your style, there's also a selection of top-tier supercars to choose from like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Shelby and Corvette. (THB 6,700-71,000)
Operation Zombie Apocalypse is the ultimate 1st-person shooter game that happens in real-time and real life. Armed with authentic looking but non-lethal Airsoft or paintball weapons, you'll join a squad of fellow zombie killers tasked with engaging and eliminating the creepy ghouls (played by disturbingly talented actors in makeup). Each team is led by an experienced commander who will guide you and your fellow warriors through the more than 3,500-sq.m indoor staging area as you attempt to wipe out the ghastly, lurching ‘deadies' before you become… one of them.
(THB 4,000-6,600)
Heavy Equipment Playground is a high-powered hydraulics heaven for dedicated dirt groupies. Take a seat in the cab of a fully operational bulldozer, track loader or excavator, grab the levers and get to (the ultimate in leisure-time) work! With an experienced instructor giving real-time directions and tips over your radio headset, you alone will be at the controls as you dig trenches, stack giant tires, build dirt mounds or even demolish a car! (THB 5,650-21,700)
For a good old-fashioned thrill ride adventure with a vertigo-inducing twist, look no further than the Stratosphere Tower on the Las Vegas Strip. Here you'll find some of the most mind-blowing rides ever, with one small distinguishing detail: all the action happens at least 109 floors above the city!.
Here's what you'll find at Stratosphere Tower's amusement-park-in-the-sky:
Get ready for blast-off on the Big Shot, which launches riders nearly 50 m. into the sky (again, that's on top of a 109 story tower!) as you pull some serious "Gs", legs dangling over the abyss, before a stomach-floating freefall back down to the "launch" site. For a different way to scare yourself silly, step aboard Insanity, a cluster of mechanical humongous arms that spins around over the edge of the tower, giving riders an unobstructed (make that ‘terrifying') view of the Strip--nearly 300 metres straight down! And those who dare X-Scream will be catapulted headfirst some 10 metres from tower's edge, hang weightlessly over a yawning chasm of nothingness before whipping back for another heart-stopping cycle. And if that's not enough, there's the Sky-Jump extreme bungie dive (the name says it all), while at 107 stories the Strat's observation deck is the highest in the US.
(THB 470 per ride, package-priced tickets available)
Though Las Vegas is brimming with fantastical, uncommonly opulent resorts (think: Cesar's Palace, Bellagio, MGM Grand and yes, the hospitality portion of the Stratosphere Tower mentioned above), ‘Vegas visitors need not break the bank to enjoy modern-comfy, reputable and tourist-friendly lodging.
An affordable mid-range resort with a character all its own, Sam's Town Casino & Hotel features some 600 well-appointed rooms, impressive service standards and close proximity to the city's tourist centre. The hotel's main attraction is the multi-story atrium--a massive, climate controlled space with real trees and greenery, waterfalls and artificial rock outcrops, all beneath a framed glass roof. Strolling through this tranquil atrium is like walking through a lush canyon, albeit one surrounded on three sides by a vast carpeted expanse of jingling, flashing, singing, ringing slot machines and bustling gaming tables. With plenty of free parking, an abundance of food venues, and a multi-screen movie theatre, Sam's Town is the ideal base-of-operations venue for your action-packed Las Vegas adventure. (THB 2,100-3,800/night).
Prices are based on prevailing exchange rate at time of writing.
