Las Vegas for a few hours
 

I'll be in Las Vegas, NV for a few hours in December. After a conference, done at 11 AM, but my plane won't leave until 6PM. Is there anything that I need to not miss while I'm there? Or should I just go outside the hotel and see everything?

Frankly most of the attractions are just tourist traps to lure you into the casino/shopping mall associated with the hotel.

Don't get me wrong, there is some pretty cool architecture inside and out. My wife and I sent almost two days walking up and down the strip ducking in and out of the resorts... and not spending a dime. ;)

What hotel are you going to be at? We can give you a better idea of what can be seen within walking distance (you don't want to drive the strip).

Dude! Too soon!

The sharks at Mandalay bay are cool. The lions are cools tool.

Problem is you are from Santa Fe: For east coast folks I always recommend Mt. Charleston or Hoover Dam.

This may help: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=what+to+do+five+hours+in+vegas&t=ffsb&atb=v72-6__&ia=images

You could always get a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon .
I was reading something recently about a tour company from vegas .

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g45963-d11447032-Grand_Canyon_All_American_Helicopter_Tour-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

400 is more than I was reading , but includes a limo picking you up at hotel and champagne picnic on the rim ...

Helicopter seats 6 , so if you could find 5 colleagues to go with you there might be opportunity for a discount especially as you can book this far in advance ?

Do you like Thai food? One of the best Thai places in the country is there.

Which Thai place are you referring too?

I am there next weekend for my daughters soccer tournament. I also go every April for Hockey and we eat at the same Thai place every year.

Go drinking with Tabs for a few hours. Maybe get introduced to the best buffets in town...

Helo tour of the canyon
Exotic cars on the race track
Indoor skydiving
Ride the roller coaster at New York, New York.

Do

"Dig This"...

Go shoot machine guns, that's what my friends try to get me to do. Still have't done it yet. Go double your paycheck somewhere will ya?

Between 1-6, you have little time to do many of the things mentioned. Stay away from Downtown. A little ratty but I do know the half naked girls are there in the evenings, with 10 million drunks from other parts of the country jamed into that area. You wouldn't miss the location.

Hey go check out Tabby's shoes for me will ya. Me thinks he be lying bout' em'