Las Vegas is known everywhere as the Entertainment Capital of the World. Naturally, when people hear this, they automatically think of the Strip and the many mega-resort hotels and casinos that are to be found there. But Las Vegas is more than just gambling and debauchery. There is actually a tremendous number of other things to do here besides giving your money away. Hoover Dam One landmark that is consistently ignored in favor of the Strip is actually a testament to the power of human engineering. Straddling the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam is one of the greatest pieces of ingenuity ever built. Started as a program under the New Deal and providing thousands of jobs to local Las Vegans, the Hoover Dam is still an operational power plant servicing the entire Las Vegas Valley. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hoover Dam is one sight you definitely don’t want to miss. Performances If high culture is more your spiel, you cannot find a better venue than the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Located in downtown Las Vegas, this premier concert hall is one of the best places in the world to view your favorite bands play the night away. It hosts everything from orchestras to jazz, ballet to freestyle dance, opera to choir. If you have a craving for real music outside of the Strip, this should definitely the place to be. Museums If you are more into local culture or history, Las Vegas is also host to a number of museums. Of course, you have your traditional museums, such as a natural history museum and a children’s museum. But there are several other places of keen interest you should look at. The first would be the Mob Museum, which preserves and analyzes Las Vegas’s seedy early history when the Mafia was in full control of the Strip. The second one would be the Neon Museum, which discusses the formation and evolution of neon lights that made the city so famous. There is so much to do outside of the Strip. So if you need a break from the hustle and excitement, check out these places first. Message brought to you by American Mini Storage in Las Vegas, NV. American Mini Storage 8250 South Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89123 (702) 625-9943