The Official Nancy Drew’s Guide to Outings and Adventures: Las Vegas, Nevada

My Vegas itinerary for the person who loves camp, budget, and treats as much as me

Vegas itinerary, Vegas itinerary, Vegas itinerary. Say this three times and an every bride to-be will show you a 30 second Tiktok about the Instagram restaurants and pools on the strip. The itineraries are endless. Will mine showcase a new lens into the quirky campy and unseen side of Vegas? No probably not lol. But it’s “myyyy guide” (I say in my toddler’s voice)!

I’m excited to start this series because I am surprised I never did these before. I love planning trips, not even just trips but little weekends away, day trips, etc. To some people, I travel a lot and I’m “always gone!” Lol. For some, I might not. Not sure where I would categorize myself. I’m not one to ever sit still, so for me it feels normal. I’m not a homebody, except when it’s the dead of winter… for about 2 weeks lol.

My series will cover mostly recent and current travel, but I might reflect on the past a bit… or places I frequent (y’all definitely got an Orlando and New Orleans one coming). I don’t even consider myself to travel on a budget, because my life is just on a budget, but this will definitely be a “budget travel series”.

Where to Stay: (only linking ‘less heard of’ places below)

Luxor: this is where we stayed on our most recent trip to Vegas, I wanted to stay in one of the older resorts on the strip. I couldn’t decide between Excalibur and this one, but I decided the pyramid aesthetic was what I wanted.

The Flamingo: my first time visiting Vegas I stayed here, I loved how old it was, because I wanted that old Vegas vibe, but also on the strip.

El Cortez: this is the oldest hotel in Vegas, I am 99% sure, and I believe it’s recently been redone. They don’t have any resort fees, and this is near Fremont Street. I love anything with a lot of history.

Off The Strip: I stayed once at the Gold Coast, which is away from old Vegas and the strip. I have almost made at Airbnb, but I would only do these if you are renting a car. Or if you were willing to pay for multiple Ubers. I would say staying in the arts district would be really fun, but it really just depends on what you’re doing.

Where to Eat:

Cornish Pasty Co: Did you think I’d be listing a British restaurant on my Vegas list?! Lol, yep and it’s the first one. They serve pasties, aka little savory pies, and have a whole list of vegan/veggie ones. Go here when you visit the Art’s District and Fremont Street. It feels like more of a bar than restaurant, but I came here strictly for the pasties!

Sadelle’s: Well, this is not budget, nothing is in Vegas really, I wanted to go here because I would always see the cutest Instagram photos. Lol yes this was an Instagram spot. But actually, the food wasn’t such large portions that we didn’t even finish half of our brunch. I got the salmon omelette, and it came with hashbrowns and a bagel. I would also recommend their bloody Mary, but do not get it with tequila.

Peppermill: this is my favorite restaurant on the strip, and maybe an all of Vegas? The interior looks like a 70s porno, alternatively somewhere that you would injure night but never think about throwing up in because it’s so beautiful. Do not order the nachos on the appetizer menu, they are literally the biggest thing I have ever seen, and we had to throw the rest away.

Evel Pie: This is close to Fremont Street, and this is actually a cheap option for you. They serve pizza by the slice, as well as a whole pizza, but I love that they have vegan options. They also have a wide selection of beer and a patio that you can sit outside.

Where to Drink:

Atomic Liquors: This dive is one of the oldest in the city, with a very picturesque neon sign outside. Go here after $10 tattoos before you go to Evel Pie for a slice of pizza. They have a huge patio, good priced cocktails, and even some food if you need a snack.

Velveteen Rabbit: Cocktails are amazing, cutest patio, REAL FILM PHOTOBOOTH. Let me say that again REAL FILM PHOTOBOOTH. That’s really all you need to know.

Ghost Donkey: PINK BAR! Adorable bar inside the Cosmopolitan. It’s modeled like a speakeasy inside the hotel, it’s very small so you might be waiting! Definitely worth the price of the cocktails because of the atmosphere.

Gäbi Coffee & Bakery: If you’re willing to Uber or are renting a car, this coffee shop is a must go-to when you’re in Vegas. It’s like of cozy video game Tiktok made a coffee shop. Prices are high, but spoil yourself. It’s the Disney of cute coffee shops.

Hello Kitty Cafe at The Park MGM: Are the lattes and pastries the best I have ever had?! No, lol, no definitely not. Is it cute?! Yes! I love when the Hello Kitty Food Truck comes through my city, so of course when I am in Vegas I like to go to the cafe. They have rotating merch and varying treats/drinks seasonally. You can sit outside while taking pics of your purchases…. And eating/drinking them of course lol.

What to Do:

Koolsville $10 Tattoos: When in Vegas, right? I love getting silly tattoos in general, but now my husband and I have a thing that whenever we go to Vegas, we will get these $10 tattoos. They also have a selection of tattoos that range up to $80, it’s only, and usually there is a line. It’s just fun and silly, and they have multiple locations to choose from. I would recommend doing this before or after walking around Fremont Street.

Old Vegas: Old Vegas, or Fremont Street, is chaotic, dirty, and perfect. While I typically don’t stay here when I’m in Vegas, I always go to it. I love all of the old resorts and casinos, the cheap souvenirs, and the liveliness. It’s like the dirty version of the strip, even though the strip is already extremely dirty. I honestly prefer this area, the restaurants and food is definitely lacking, but it’s a lot cheaper and it feels much more vintage Vegas.

The Writer’s Block Bookstore: Located near Fremont Street, this bookstore has large selection for anyone who always likes to explore bookstores on your trips. They also have pet bunnies?!

Walk Around and Hit Up the Tourist Shops: This is obvious, but just walk around lol. If you’re staying on the strip, like I normally do, I just walk around the strip and go into whatever place looks fun - the gift shops, the old casino lobbies, anywhere with a neon sign, etc.. I am someone that would much prefer to walk instead of Uber anywhere, so usually I walk many miles when I’m in Vegas, or traveling in general without a car. If you’re staying near Fremont Street or old Vegas, it’s a much smaller area, but then you can walk to the arts district and a few more more spots. Vegas has a ton of interesting history in general, so I love to just stumble across something that looks interesting or old, then go inside.