Waking Up in Vegas: 9 Activities You Can Do Before 9am

Is it really that late/early? Yup. That’s the sun coming up. Who knows how that happened, or where the time went, but this is where you’re at. You’re out, you’re up, and sleep isn’t really an option right now. They say Vegas is a 24-hour town, but what exactly is there to do to right now—before, you know, all the regular stuff opens?

Glad you asked.

GET COFFEE

Might as well get the obvious out of the way. But how about skipping the green mermaid and checking out Sunrise Coffee near the airport? It opens at 6am every day. Family-owned, they serve fair-trade coffee from single-origin farms—that they roast themselves at sister biz Mothership Coffee—along with a good tea selection and a mostly organic food menu with lots of veggie, vegan and gluten-free treats and breakfast items. Plus, they offer outlets, wi-fi, books and comfy chairs.

PLAY BINGO

Yes, you can place a bet, or play a machine, around the clock almost anywhere. But for a more relaxed gaming experience, get a couple of cards and a dauber and try your luck at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, currently the only Vegas casino with a 24-hour bingo parlor. Sessions start on the odd hours, and we can only imagine the people-watching at the 5am and 7am seatings. Make some memories—and maybe some cash, too. Free play prizes range $500–1,000, and progressive jackpots add another zero onto the end.

GO BIRDWATCHING

No, seriously. The Nature Preserve at Clark County Wetlands Park opens at dawn and is home to 212 species of birds and more than 70 species of mammals and reptiles. You won’t believe this sprawling oasis is in the middle of the desert. Talk about a trip.

STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS

Also hard to believe but not entirely natural, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is free—though the property now charges for parking—and is open 24 hours. It features 14,000 square feet of seasonally changing, themed floral design, sometimes including giant topiary, flowing water, and even butterfly houses. You never know. It’s definitely a cool place to chill out on the Strip.

EAT SOMETHING

There’s a load of 24-hour places on (and even off) the Strip. But let’s save you some time and reflux. If you do go to Bellagio, you might want to hit the Bellagio Café, overlooking the Conservatory; it opens at 6am and offers solid, hotel-style food. Elsewhere on the Strip, the classic Peppermill is a sure thing for huge omelets and people-watching. Mon Ami Gabi, the French bistro across the Strip, opens at 7am for proper petit dejeuner at a decent price. And if that’s not early enough, head to the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand, which serves until 6am, then opens again at 11.

SCOOTERCAR THROUGH RED ROCK

Wha? Okay, you’re probably not going to do this. Or maybe you are; it’s pretty cool. Scootcity Tours rents these kooky little two-seater scooter cars that you can drive through the Red Rock Canyon, open-air, close to the ground—a much more connected experience than driving through in a car. They will pick you up from the Strip or Fremont Street at 7:30am, and in half an hour, you’ll be scooting your way through the beautiful terrain of Red Rock.

SUN SALUTATION

What better way to greet the morning? Take a yoga class at Bikram Yoga Las Vegas, where classes start as early as 5:30am and no later than 8am daily.

GO FISH

Again, not kidding (you should know this by now). On the far north side of Las Vegas, maybe 20 minutes from the Strip, you’ll find Floyd Lamb Park (part of Tule Springs, which also has some incredible Ice Age fossils). Inside Floyd Lamb Park, just adjacent to the historic Tule Springs Ranch horse stables, is a bucolic pond that’s regularly stocked with rainbow trout (winter/spring) and catfish (summer/fall) and is also home to some sunfish and bass. Bring your own rod. You’re allowed to take three fish—or you can always throw them back.

SWEAT IT OUT

Not too far from the Strip, Imperial Health Spa is a large, Korean-style, full-service spa with a bunch of cool options you don’t usually see in Western spas. There are gender-specific areas with lockers, communal showers, hot and cold plunges, a big sauna, and steam rooms. The co-ed floor (where you’re required to wear provided covering) offers heated red-clay ball pits (trust us: awesome), infrared beds, a yoga room, massage chairs, a frost room, and even a full-service café. They open at 8:30am. Pro tip: Find them on Groupon.