Spending New Year’s in Vegas: Hits & Misses 🎉💣

1️⃣ AREA 15 It’s hard to describe — like a huge indoor playground with immersive experiences, mostly escape rooms and visual spectacles. If you really want to explore, set aside over 3 hours, not the 2–3 hours you might see online. The layout is a bit chaotic, split into two zones with no handy paper maps, so it takes time to figure things out. Fun activities often last an hour or more. ⚠️ Also, there’s no entrance fee — you just pay per attraction (prices range up to a few dozen dollars). If you’re short on time or only want specific experiences, skip the package deals (yes, I was the one who spent $100+ and barely did anything 😅). 2️⃣ Pro Gun Vegas – Outdoor Shooting Actually a great experience! The instructors were attentive and even gave us time for cool photos at the end 📸. My only regret: when booking, I only saw four set packages — but if you click “ARSENAL,” you can pick individual guns to shoot without committing to a full package. 3️⃣ Strip Closed on New Year’s Eve On Dec 31, our driver told us the Strip would be fully closed to cars from 6 PM until 1–2 AM — walking only. We had a dinner reservation, so we had to walk there and back… nearly 2 miles in the rain 🌧️😩. Next time, either book a restaurant in your own hotel or mentally prep for a long walk! 🌟 Highly Recommend: Awakening Show The stage effects are absolutely stunning, especially the water elements — so magical! 💦✨ The show blends singing, dancing, magic, acrobatics, and storytelling — way more engaging than a traditional circus. It’s 360-degree entertainment, so every seat gets a good view (no need to stress over seating — I was in Section F and loved it, though Section A might be even better!). 🤷‍♀️ Depends on You: Sphere – “Wizard of Oz” Film My first thought: “Did I just pay the stupid tax?” It felt like an old movie replay, with the only 4D-esque moment being the tornado scene 🌪️. The audience clapped at the end, though. Later, I watched clips from the original 1939 version and realized the Sphere version had major upgrades in color, sound, and immersive visuals. But since I’m not personally attached to this film, it didn’t wow me. If it were Alice in Wonderland or something I loved, I probably would’ve been obsessed! #Vegas #VegasTips #NYEinVegas #TravelExperiences 🎰🎆