December brings in a completely different wind of joy, beauty and festivities to Las Vegas. Las Vegas in December is all lit up and exceptionally scenic throughout the month. Not just the Strip, the whole city is well decorated to welcome the upcoming year well before. With seasonal displays all around, December in Las Vegas glorifies the city to another level.
Here is our guide to Visiting Las Vegas in December!
Top 10 Places to Visit in Las Vegas in December
1. Downtown Summerlin
SourceDowntown Summerlin is the shopping hub of Vegas. Not just limited to stores, it also has amazing restaurants, a movie theatre, a baseball stadium and a separate hockey practice facility. Festive decorations can be observed all across the open-air shopping and dining area in December. From carolers entertaining the guests, street skating to experiencing an ice-skating rink playing holiday tunes, this place cheers us all. A 40-foot Christmas tree adds even more charm to this place along with a train ride circling the rink.Top Tip: It has self-parking built in an open, village-like design making it easy to park your vehicles near to any store or restaurant. Valet parking is also available here.2. Town Square
Nevada_20210310140359.jpg" alt="A sight of Town Square, Nevada, Las Vegas" width="700" height="467" />With a lot to do and see, Town Square is located at one of the corners of the Las Vegas Strip. It is an open-air shopping and dining destination. Alongside a variety of retailers and restaurants, it also has movie theatres, a children's play area and GameWorks. December makes it even more special since guests can have a good time with Santa. The pets can get clicked with Santa Claus usually on Wednesdays. This place also offers snow in the Square every weekday at 7 p.m. and weekends at 8 p.m. to keep the guests in the loop with the vibe of White Christmas.
Top Tip: Town Square is very near to the south end of the Las Vegas Strip and just beside the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.3. The LinQ Promenade
High Roller at LinQ Promenade, Las Vegas" width="700" height="467" />Home to the tallest observation wheel, the High Roller, The Promenade the coolest new places to shop and hang out in Las Vegas. It has a different wave of selected boutique-style stores here. In-N-Out Burger, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Virgil's Real Barbecue are some of the famous eateries in The Promenade. The open-air design invites you to wander and explore. During any holiday, the Linq Promenade embraces the spirit of the season with loads of decorations, entertainment and events.
Top Tip: Zipline up to 35 m.p.h is the most recent addition to this place, making it even more fun.4. Ethel M@Chocolate factory
Ethel M@Chocolate factory chocolate production facility producing truffles, cremes, cherry cordials, peanut brittle, and some other sweet treats. It is so amazing that more than 2,000 visitors per day often get to this place. You can see the confectionery delights being produced and get to pick up a free sample or a delicious hand-dipped ice cream cone. For all chocolate enthusiasts, this place also offers an outdoor chocolate tasting experience, offered for $20 per adult and $10 for children. Wine tasting is also offered for people 21+ years of age. It has the largest cactus garden in the Southwest, showcasing about 300 species of plants over three acres. During the winters, the garden is all lit up to create a wonderful holiday vibe.
Top Tip: Usually reservations are necessary to enjoy the cactus garden on holidays. In case of certain cancellations, guests are allowed to stop as walk-ins.5. The Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas comes up with an ice-skating rink from late November till early January. Even after being a deserted city, it offers its visitors the immense joy of experiencing ice skating and enjoying the fullest in the snow. Fire pits, a variety of beautiful sitting areas, a whole menu of seasonal food and hot chocolate, can all be found here. Entry into the Ice Rink area is free, but costs for ice skating are $20-$30 per day including skate rentals.
Top Tip: Advance reservations need to be made for the fire pit seating and are up to six guests only.6. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Located about 17 miles away from downtown Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is home to mesmerizing scenery. Comprising colourful rocks and gigantic cliffs, it offers the very famous (13 miles, one-way) scenic drive known as 'The Loop.' The drive also comprises various hiking trails for adventure lovers.
Top Tip: Reservations need to be made beforehand for this scenic drive, from November until May.7. Nevada State Railroad Museum
Aimed at preserving that heritage, Nevada State Railroad Museum beautifully depicts the rich history of Nevada in terms of trains. Located near Boulder City, this place offers the visitors an opportunity to explore and ride the historic trains. In case trains fascinate you enough, this is definitely the place to go for you. One of the stops at this place offers a trip out to see Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
Top Tip: Due to the worldwide pandemic, only the static displays are open at this place and visitors can only ride the tracks via open-air, pedal powered cars and not the historic trains.8. Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an annual event that is beneficial to local charities and gives visitors an amazing holiday cheer. Stretching around 2.5 miles, these lights make people stay cosy while driving their vehicles. It offers various discounts and also delivers the cocoa to your cars. The entry fee per vehicle is fixed at $25-$35 along with the facility of seasonal passes available too.
Top Tip: If you’ve been in the line to enter even at the closing time, you will still be allowed to drive through the display.9. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical garden
Bellagio was among the first ones to introduce the concept of conservatory and botanical gardens in Las Vegas. Winter holidays make this place a unique attraction for both the tourists and the local people. Gigantic polar bears, beautiful Christmas trees, toy trains and other such creations can be found here easily. You do not need to trek through the casino since the conservatory has easy access to the parking.
Top Tip: Morning (before 10 a.m.) and mid-week times are recommended for the smallest crowds.10. Mount Charleston
Locally known as Mount Charleston, The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is just 30 minutes away from downtown Las Vegas. It is a part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It covers more than 316,000 acres of immense beauty and astonishing diversity. Divided into two parts, Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon, visitors can find two lodges with restaurants and rooms in Kyle Canyon, and Lee Canyon captivates the ski resort and snow play areas. During December, skiing and snow attract most of the visitors. The ski resort offers a wide variety of winter snow sports activities.
Rare Fact: Always check the weather before going to Mt. Charleston in winter. Conditions may require snow tires or chains, so make sure you're prepared before you head out.
Weather in Las Vegas in December
Las Vegas in December is all about pleasant temperatures and the sky remains sunny generally. It opens arms to a variety of explorations that are seasonal and can be taken up in this month with more ease. Whether the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area or the scenic drive to The Loop, winter makes this time usually very crowded.
Things to Carry in Las Vegas in December
Along with the basic things that we carry to every place like toiletries, water bottles, basic clothing, necessary eateries, medications, keys, electronic gadgets like phones, laptops, etc., certain specific items are mandatory to carry along when visiting Las Vegas in December. Warm jackets, hiking poles (if you wish to go for hikes), snow boots, lots of warm layers like cardigans, coats and woolen socks, sweaters, beanies, scarves and sneakers.Tips to Remember:
- Make sure to carry enough warm clothes to prevent oneself from winters.
- Always keep an extra pair of shoes or boots ready for you.
- Make it a habit to reach the airport early to get rid of flight timing fluctuations.
- Since December in Vegas is the peak season, you need to book your tickets and reserve your accommodations well before to prevent price hikes.
