Blog #12: Off the Strip Adventures- Part 1

 December 3, 2020


I was talking to a friend the other day about Las Vegas and all that there is to do/eat off of the strip. She mentioned that she has been to LV more than a handful of times and this information would be of interest to her. It turned out that her boyfriend was interested too. They wanted to know what “the locals” do. In that moment, Blog #12 was born. I am going to share with you, a few of the great restaurants, off of the strip, that I love (and are totally worth the $10-15 uber ride) as well as some hikes and other points of interest for my fellow, “I’ve been to Las Vegas a lot and need something new”,friends. 


PLACES TO HIKE


Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock is about a 45 minute drive from the strip and offers over 20 different hikes, ranging from easy to advanced in difficulty level. It’s desert beauty in all its glory and there is a stunning scenic loop for those who want to appreciate nature but can no longer partake in such activities. There is a fee to get in. Reservations are needed until May, 2021.


2. Mount Charleston. Mount Charleston is also about a 45 minute drive from the strip and is always at least 25 degrees cooler than Las Vegas, so it is a huge hit with the locals in the summertime. The hikes are a bit more challenging and vary greatly in difficulty and length but it has many options for the moderate hiker. It’s also just a beautiful location to have a picnic or have a meal at the lodge and take in the surroundings. Make sure you check the weather in the winter as it does get very snowy and will close accordingly. There is no fee to enter Mt. Charleston.


3. Valley of Fire. Valley of Fire is a little further (maybe about 1 hour and 15 minutes) away but it is absolutely breathtaking and worth every mile that you will travel. Reservations are needed and there is a $10 entrance fee. 


POINTS OF INTEREST


The Mob Museum. Do you want to explore the history of organized crime (and the history of Las Vegas)? You should check this museum out, for sure. You must purchase tickets on line. 300 Stewart Ave, Downtown.


2. The Neon Museum. This is literally a boneyard for the old, retired, neon, Las Vegas signs! It’s just really cool. There are different types of tours and exhibits and you must reserve online to honor social distancing. 770 Las Vegas Blvd North. 


RESTAURANTS


Oh my god, there are so many…just SO MANY GREAT RESTAURANTS OFF THE STRIP!! And many of them are in Chinatown (Japantown/Koreatown) and downtown which is literally no more than 6-10 minutes away from Las Vegas Boulevard! For today, I will simply mention a few and you just have to trust that it will be worth your efforts and those few extra miles. 


1. Raku in Japantown, located at 5030 Spring Mountain Rd. For reference, The Wynn is on Las Vegas Blvd. and Spring Mountain. If you just keep going down Spring Mountain, you will be in Chinatown and you will have access to some of the best restaurants in the city. Raku is in my top 5 Japanese restaurants of all time.


2. 8oz Korean Steakhouse and Bar located at 4954 Spring Mountain Road. Great Korean food in an urban chic setting. 


3. Gyu Kaku Japanese BBQ located at 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. One of the best happy hours you will find with quality food and sake. This is an authentic, Japanese chain (as I have also been to the one in Japan). 


4. Esthers Kitchen is downtown, located at 1130 S. Casino Center Blvd. This is seasonal, Italian soul food located in the Arts District. Everyone I have ever introduced to this place has LOVED it. 


5. Lindo Michoacan, located at 645 Carnegie St. in Henderson. This one is a little farther than the others but the appeal of this Lindo restaurant (there are several in the city) is its expansive bar, overlooking the strip skyline in all its glory. Not to mention, the food is wonderful, authentic, Mexican cuisine. 


Be sure to call these restaurants before making plans to go as we are in an ever changing restaurant world due to the pandemic. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 


As you can see, I am calling this “Part 1” because there is just oh so much to share on this topic. I will be revisiting this theme to share more of my insights with you! Thank you to my California friends for sharing with me that this information would be of value to others! Please let me know in the comments below if you try any of these recommendations and what you think of them.


Enjoy ALL of Las Vegas! More to come….


Comments

  1. AJ BramanDecember 3, 2020 at 11:02 AM

    Gyu Kaku and Esther's Kitchen are two of my favorites! Also Lindo Michaocan is a great place to have some drinks and chill with friends. I'll have to try the 8oz Korean Steakhouse at some point...

    Thanks for sharing these great points, hikes and restaurants!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Undiscovered FoodieDecember 3, 2020 at 11:48 AM

      You’re very welcome! Thank you for your feedback- I’m glad you’ve also enjoyed some of my favorites. :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  Blog Post #2: Introduction And so it begins. This is not my typical journalling. This is the start of my 100 days of blogging. Even if I am not posting every single day, I am writing everyday. My good friend sent me a link to check out Seth Godin who encourages this pracitce in writing and something about it just really resonates with me. He says (regarding blogging everyday), “You will seek to notice something interesting and to say something creative about it…isn’t that all we’re looking for? The best practice of generously sharing what you notice with the world is exactly the antidote for your fear…outlining what you believe and explaining why.” YES. Yes, yes, yes.  Why, as humans, are we so afraid of judgement? There is absoultely no way that everyone will agree with, support or applaude what you do, so, why aim for that acceptance and recognition? Why not just share what you think and what you know? I’ve often fallen into the trap of thinking that I have nothing of value to
Read more

Blog #24: What Would Dylan Do?

Image
  When I moved to NYC, I was only 17, filled with the biggest of dreams and hopes. I was living in what remains to  be my all time favorite neighborhood in the city, Greenwich Village. I loved nothing more than sitting in a cafe with a good coffee and writing in my  journal. 25 years later, this is still an activity I adore. Living on 5th Ave and 10th St, just a stones throw away from Washington Square Park, put me in an ideal location for my coffee sipping, people watching, unloading by pen ways. I soon came to find out that MacDougal Street, just on the other side of the park, was once a beatnik haven, teaming with all of the best. Apparently, Bob Dylan had made this neighborhood his home and was known for frequenting the places I am about to share with you. In fact, I recall Bleeker and MacDougal streets being called “The 4 Corners”, housing four of the most famous cafes, frequented by well known artists, musicians and writers from all backgrounds. I’d like to share three (plus a
Read more

Blog #13: Fresh out of Water

Image
  I woke up this morning, missing traveling in an aching way. When travel is a part of your work, you don’t consider it a “luxury”. It simply becomes your norm. Not to say that that takes away from the magic of stepping foot on new soil or tasting your first bite of a new culture…just to say that, it’s a part of life, not the one week of life that you work for all year. Sometimes, the first thoughts when I wake up are memories of faraway lands and images of other worlds. This morning, I was thinking of Kerala, India and one of the freshest meals I’ve ever eaten, straight out of the backwaters.   My father is from Thiruvananthapuram (try saying that, three times, fast!), Kerala and although I had visited there 4 times, it wasn’t until the 5th time that we all decided to take a house boat tour through the backwaters. The name “backwaters” doesn't really give you the full picture of the stunning beauty of this maze of rivers and lagoons, lined with palm trees, colorful homes and qua
Read more