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Obviously, the Star Trek Experience would have been a good suggestion. But consider that I'm a science fiction geek, computer programmer, technologist, those kinds of things. What kind of cool stuff along those lines is there in Vegas?

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See also: Las Vegas what is good to do there? – VMAtm Sep 14 '11 at 16:31

5 Answers

up vote 10 down vote

I have a few suggestions for you:

  • Go to the BlizzCon 2011 in Anaheim, only 60 km away from LA. There you can take a look at Diablo 3 and you could use collect some fancy gifts from Blizzard.

  • Go to the Atomic Testing Museum. I was never there, but a friend of mine really recommends it. And according to the homepage it sounds quite interesting.

  • I don't know what kind of geek you are, but maybe the Erotic Heritage Museum has something for you?

  • If you're interested in technic in general, maybe the Hoover Dam is something you'd enjoy. There it is also possible to do some guided tours.

  • Something I don't know personally, but also sounds interesting: CSI: The Experience

  • Maybe DEF CON is something for you. It is a hacker conference that takes place every year in Las Vegas.

  • Always worth a visit is the Playboy Club!

  • Drive around and see if you can get a glance at Google's self-driving cars.

  • Contact the Geeks of Nevada and see if they can help you.

  • Last but not least you could do some really geeky roadtrip on the Extraterrestrial Highway and try to sneak into Area 51 ;)

I'll add more activities as soon as I can remember all the stuff ;)

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That Atomic Testing Museum looks awesome. – Chris B. Behrens Sep 14 '11 at 17:06
Atomic Testing Museum is interesting, but could be bigger or more detailed in some sections. Was quite disappointed that this was all when i reached the exit after just 2h. - otherwise it's good, but quite a walk from the strip if you don't have a car. Hoover Dam is worth a visit to, but i would consider it more a "general interest" activity. Also: "Dam' Jokes" get pretty unfunny after you hear them for the 8th time :| – iHaveacomputer Sep 14 '11 at 23:35
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How big do you think Western USA is? ;) Las Vegas. BlizzCon is not exactly that close-by - maybe 60km from LA, but that's well over 4 hours from Vegas. Even Area 51 is a good 3 hours away, although not out of the realm of possibility for a day trip, I guess. – Mark Mayo Jul 19 '12 at 22:44
@MarkMayo I thought a 4 hours drive is not to far away considering the size of USA. – RoflcoptrException♦ Jul 20 '12 at 7:56
up vote 4 down vote

Pinball Hall of Fame

You will probably have to take a cab there but it's pretty interesting to see all of the old Pinball machines from yesteryear.

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up vote 6 down vote

Speaking as someone with similar interests as yourself:

1) Best geek thing to do in Vegas: learn to count cards at blackjack, play poker, or other forms of advantage play. Very few gamblers believe there is anything to learn about gambling, and so it's possible for geeks to learn how to maximize their gambling experience. Poker is the easiest game to become good enough to win money. Play blackjack and video poker with a goal of breaking even, but generating casino play so you're offered comps. I win money at poker, lose money in the casino, but my comp value is usually ~3x my casino losses.

2) Been to the Atomic Museum twice. It's definitely worthwhile, but won't take more than a few hours even if you're extremely interested. Use Google Maps to take the bus there.

3) Actually, use Google Maps to take the bus anywhere. Cabs are hellishly expensive, the monorail doesn't go very far, but the bus network is extensive and cheapish. ($7 for an unlimited day pass as of mid-2011.) I almost always walk where I'm going, but not in Las Vegas -- the distances there are much further than they appear to be, thanks to topography and the size of the landmarks.

4) There are half-price show ticket booths scattered around town. Quite a few of the shows would be of geek interest, purely for the live special effects if nothing else.

5) There's a nightclub called "Insert Coin" near the Fremont Street experience which is apparently themed on 8-bit video games. It wasn't open yet when I was there, but the "coming soon" sign was a "Loading" bar that was progressively filled in red. Thought it was a great promo.

6) Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon has been on my list for years. Haven't done it, but it strikes me as geek double-rainbow.

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up vote 2 down vote

You can always go to CES - Consumer Electronics Showcase

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up vote 1 down vote

This geek enjoyed The Neon Museum for its history and tech aspects. Several pictures I took at the Boneyard are now in rotation as desktop backgrounds.

There are tons of non-casino things to do. For example if you like zoo-like activities, at different hotels you can see lions & tigers, flamingos, dolphins, sharks & rays (and you can touch a ray), assorted fish and birds both inside and out, and so on. And if, like some geeks, you're a foodie, then there are more places to go than you can fit into any vacation - and for less than you might expect to spend, too. I also enjoyed figuring out the tech behind the free outdoor shows like the fountains, volcano, pirate/siren battle and so on.

The bus is a good bargain. The distances are enormous - walking will fool you a few times.

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