I’m a Vegas native. I was born in Louisiana but raised in Las Vegas, starting at the age of five. For most of my formative years, I grew up in one of the hottest and brightest cities in the United States. My father was an electrician for IBEW, and what better place to settle your roots than the City of Lights? Oh, wait, that’s Paris… What better place to settle down than Sin City? – known for gambling, late-night debauchery, the strip, and intense, desert heat. Pretty much every single person that finds out I’m from Vegas immediately asks with shock in their voice, “Wow, what was it like growing up in Las Vegas?” And I’m never really sure how to answer that question. I imagine it’s like any other childhood in any other major city. It’s not like I was allowed to participate in any of the craziness Vegas is known for. If anything, it instilled a distaste for most things “Vegas.” I have zero interest in gambling, nightclubs, or paying money to swim at a hotel pool. Instead, I go off the beaten path to enjoy the lesser-known parts of Vegas, where it’s a little more quiet and a little less bright, but beautiful in its own way. Here’s a guide to celebrating the uniqueness of Las Vegas as a yogi.

YOGA

Let’s start with the obvious question – “Where can I practice?” 

• For a truly, one-of-a-kind (the worst hand in Texas Hold’em poker) experience, consider practicing on top of the High Roller observation wheel, where you can enjoy a 60-minute guided yoga class while soaring over the Las Vegas strip. 
• If you’re afraid of heights, many hotels offer a grounded yoga class, such as Reiki and Restorative or Aqua Yoga at Bellagio Hotel. 
• The Waldorf Astoria Hotel (a non-gaming and non-smoking luxury hotel right on the strip) also offers classes with wall-to-ceiling window views. 
• My personal favorite studios are slightly off the beaten path and can be found in the suburbs about 30 minutes away: Evolution Yoga (in Henderson) and 103° Hot Pilates and Yoga. Tisha Gray, Celine and Greg Go, Paul Benedict, and Jules Mitchell are some of my favorite teachers that offer many classes and teacher trainings throughout the area. 

NATURE

Now, what do you do to avoid the loud sounds of the penny slots and smoke-hazed casinos after that refreshing yoga class? Plenty! The Las Vegas desert has beauty to behold and plenty of nature hikes to get you moving and breathing in the crisp, clear air. 

• If you’ve never been to Red Rock Canyon, GO! There are plenty of tour companies that will pick you up from your hotel, or, consider renting a car, driving the 13-mile loop, and taking as long as you need to meander around the crimson red, pink, and cream sandstone formations. Lots of native wildlife can be seen here too. I saw the biggest bird of my life driving here one time; I thought it was a person crouched on the road, until it up and flew away! (Don’t ask me what type of bird it was; I’m not a birder, and, if pressed, I’d sooner admit I saw Bigfoot.) 
• Or, if you’re heading near Lake Mead/Hoover Dam/Boulder City, there are a couple more options. The first combines a hot springs and sauna cave experience with a six-mile loop hike (and a little bouldering) at Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs. This is more of a cooler-weather activity as it’s closed during summer season. Take a dip in the cool Colorado River, then dash over to the hot springs to soak your chilled bones. 
• If you’d rather avoid potential brain-eating amoebas (first off, don’t put your head under the hot springs water!), consider a visit to Hoover Dam or a trail run along Lake Mead Railroad Tunnels – the latter being where the Turkey Trot is held annually, in case you decide to forgo Thanksgiving with the family and visit Las Vegas instead. After a long day of yoga and hiking, book yourself a massage and spa treatment at your hotel. 

FUN

Okay, maybe hiking isn’t your thing, and it’s a little too far off the strip for your short weekend foray. These next recommendations are close to the strip and fun for all ages.

• My children love seeing retired lions and a sole giraffe at the Lion Habitat Ranch. Watch as the lions play and gnaw on pumpkins around the pride they’ve grown up with, lazily sleep in the shade or sun, and munch on chunks of meat. You also have the opportunity to hand-feed their giraffe or purchase one of her works of art. 
• Mandalay Bay is home to Shark Reef Aquarium and Polar Journey where you can swim with sharks if dive-certified, feed the stingrays, sharks, or turtles, or enjoy a guided tour. Plus, it’s air-conditioned, which is a hot commodity once you’ve stepped outside in the 110-degree heat. 
• “All you need is love, love is all you need…” Now that I got that song stuck in your head, book yourself tickets for The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil show. In another life, I imagine I was a Cirque performer, magically and gracefully twirling high in the sky… Instead, I’m a yogi (close enough). Be mesmerized watching talented acrobatics, contortionists, and dancers move across the stage, all orchestrated within the musical catalog of The Beatles. “Something in the way she moves…you know I believe and how.”

FOOD 

End your day with a delicious meal. Las Vegas has become a mecca of famous chefs and expensive prix menus, but you can still find healthy, affordable options.

• If you’re looking for something a little more healthy, consider visiting Vegans Baby. 
• Tacotarian is a local fave. Try the asada fries, cali burrito, baja tacos, or elote – mmm, so yummy. 
• Simply Pure at Container Park is owned by Chef Stacey and boy is it worth a visit. My favorites include the vegan lasagna, nachos, and fresh juices. Afterward, walk around the shopping center, play in the playground with a three-story treehouse and many slides, or visit the Dome.
• If you feel like splurging, é by Jose Andres at the Cosmopolitan delivers mouth (and eye!) watering food in the form of avant-garde Spanish dishes. Reservations are required as this restaurant is very tiny (and only fits eight!).  

Whatever you decide to do, there are many ways to avoid the void of slot machines, and instead fill yourself with beauty and love. Viva Las Vegas!