8 things to put on your Las Vegas bucket list

Most people have at least one thing they’d like to experience before they die: Travel to a foreign country, witness something historic, take part in a well-known event.

We thought there were plenty of experiences in our own back yard that you should have during your lifetime, so we took the question to our Facebook fans: What should everyone in Las Vegas experience before they die?

What we found was an overlap of local and tourist culture — the things that draw people to the city from around the world are talked about for a reason, our fans said.

Here are 8 things that should be on your (near) Las Vegas bucket list:

1. Hike Red Rock Canyon

More than a million people visit Red Rock every year, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Go on a hike, go horseback riding or drive the 13-mile scenic route. And who knows — surround yourself with that much desert and you just might find something awesome.

2. Experience Fremont Street

The Fremont Street Experience is cool to see whether you’re a tourist or a local. Along with your usual shopping and dining, hang around after dusk at least once to catch the light show on the 90-foot canopy.

3. Visit Lake Mead

Kayak, fish, stroll, whatever. You have more than 700 miles of shoreline to do it in. Remember to snap some photos, too — Lake Mead National Recreation Area is home to thousands of desert plants and animals.

4. Ride one of the Stratosphere rides

The Stratosphere offers four rides at varying levels of terror (at least if you’re afraid of heights). If you’re really in the mood for a wild ride, try the SkyJump and try to keep your insides where they belong while jumping off the side of the tower and plummeting 885 feet to the landing pad.

5. Take in a UNLV game

“Sittin’ Gucci Row like they say up at UNLV. Young rebel, Young Money, nothing you could tell me.”

Drake gave UNLV a shoutout in the first single from his latest album, and the lyrics have become a favorite quote among UNLV fans on Twitter.

Gucci Row refers to prime seats at UNLV basketball games, but with the Rebels being bowl eligible this year for the first time since 2000, Rebel football just got a lot more entertaining.

6. Take a trip to the Hoover Dam

The engineering marvel is only 30 miles outside of Las Vegas. Dedicated in 1935, it had a huge impact on the Colorado River Delta and helps supply electrical power and drinking water to millions.

7. Visit the Spring Mountains

Take a trip to the Spring Mountains in the fall to catch a glimpse of foliage not normally seen in this corner of the desert. The highest peak is Mount Charleston at 11,918 feet.

8. Experience the Strip like tourists do

Locals joke about avoiding the Strip, but you can’t live in Las Vegas without having experienced it at least once, Facebook says. Take a picture at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, gorge yourself at a buffet, check out the Bellagio fountains and carry around a frozen margarita that’s taller than a 3-year-old.

What’s on your Las Vegas bucket list? Let us know on Twitter: @reviewjournal

Contact Stephanie Grimes at sgrimes@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @steph_grimes