Las Vegas: There is more to the Strip than meets the eye

Did you know: Fremont Street was the first paved street in Las Vegas in 1925 and received the city's first traffic light in 1931.

If you’re looking for family friendly activities look no further than the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Its main tank is 1,300,000 US gallons which is one of the largest in North America and home to over 2,000 animals including giant rays, endangered green sea turtles piranha and a Komodo dragon.

We decided to beat the heat and spend some time petting sting rays, checking out exotic reptiles and even a 3D penguin exhibit. Prices range from $19-$25 and you can even pay a little more and dive with sharks, but we decided not to opt in for that and venture to grab a bite to eat after our underwater adventure.

We decided to check out Beer Park at Paris Hotel & Casino for a quick bite to eat. Beer Park is an outdoor restaurant and bar that sits on the Strip, across the street from The Bellagio. It’s a great place to grab some appetizers and a cold craft beer. They have fun picnic table type seating and lots of fun group games around like Jenga, pool and darts. Its laid back vibe make it a fun, casual dining experience and perfect at night before or after checking out the Bellagio Fountain show.

Speaking of the Bellagio Fountains, they are a must see when in town and there is nothing like them on the Strip. They are one of the most popular attractions in Vegas, and for good reason, the free shows are choreographed to more than 30 different songs you may not have on your iPod but you’ll probably want to download later. The crowds gather all around the man-made 8.5-acre lake which has 1,214 jets that rocket streams of water 460 feet into the air. If you happen to catch a show mid-way through, stick around and you can usually see another one, with a completely different song/choreography in: 15-:30 minutes.

One last activity you must take in is visiting The LINQ Promenade. This outdoor plaza offers shopping, dining & entertainment, including an observation wheel & zip lines. This area is also home to the world's tallest observation wheel, the High Roller. Topping out at 550 feet, the High Roller eclipses both the London Eye and Singapore Flyer. You can buy a ticket and take a ride around to get breathtaking views of the entire strip. The ride takes about 30 minutes to go around, giving you enough time to take in a bird’s eye view of the Bellagio Fountain show. While walking around under the clear, Vegas night sky you can also stop by for a cupcake from the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM or grab a burger from the infamous In & Out Burger located near the fountains. When you are ready to head back to the strip, cut through the Flamingo casino and ask a staff member to ask to point you in the direction of the Flamingos. They have a tropical oasis inside the casino where there are dozens of these beautiful birds you can visit.

When it comes to a great place to stay while in town, I have to say I really loved The Grandview at Las Vegas (#6923). It is your very own oasis in the desert and the perfect place to stay and play. Guests can lounge out on the large sundeck by one of the four pools, exercise in the fitness room or play some games in the video arcade. The Grandview is a family-orientated resort adjacent to the South Point Casino which has several restaurants, movie theatres and a bowling alley. The resort also offers a free shuttle service to the grocery store so you can stock up your fridge in case you want to make meals during your stay in your full kitchen. I really enjoyed having a place to come back to every night that was a bit more quiet and off the Strip so I could get a good night’s rest which his hard to come by in Sin City.