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This hot honeymoon destination is upping the ante with new off-the-Strip amenities, activities and attractions.

Vegas is known for unabashed excess, so much so that Sin City has its own Fight Club rule. But Vegas, baby, is now offering much more than quickie weddings to the tune of Elvis and the merry sound of the slots. There are sexy cocktail lounges, some of the best shopping in the nation, gourmet restaurants and superstar chefs—not to mention thrilling activities like helicopter rides over the Strip. There’s also plenty of romance to be found, from couples’ spa treatments to dreamy hotel suites. Whatever tickles your fancy, you can bet you’ll hit the jackpot in Vegas.

From left: A grand poolside view; one of Vegas' many hip watering holes. Photography: Station Casinos Inc.; courtesy of MGM Mirage.

Bar None

One of the hippest of the hip watering holes here is Mix Lounge, a sultry indoor/outdoor bar adjacent to Mix restaurant in the Hotel at Mandalay Bay. This glam spot, set atop the building, has stunning views of Las Vegas Boulevard (aka the Strip). Arrive early and nab one of the patio tables—the sunsets are the best in town. And take in the evening spectacular as you sip a specialty cocktail, like the Halo, made with sweet peach vodka, delicious peach puree and a splash of wine, and the Mixpolitan, a blend of Grand Marnier, citrus vodka and fresh fruit juice (mandalaybay.com).

From left: The Hotel at Mandalay Bay's hot spot, Mix Lounge; nighttime twinkles at Mix Lounge. Photography: Courtesy of MGM Mirage.

From Russia with Love

If you like vodka, be sure to stop by Mandalay Bay’s Red Square, a Russian-style bar with red velvet booths, large chandeliers and a menu of more than 200 varieties and infusions. Order the Red Square martini, made with blue cheese-stuffed olives, get some caviar and crackers and take a seat in the ice vault, a cool—OK, very cool—spot; the temperature is 10 degrees. (Faux-mink coats and hats are provided.) After that genuine Russian experience, ask for a table in the restaurant, and choose from Russian-influenced signature dishes like Siberian Nachos, Roquefort Filet Mignon and Strozapretti Stroganoff (mandalaybay.com).

Shop Till You Drop

If you get lucky at the gaming tables, you’ll have an even better time at Vegas’ glitzy shopping arcades. Joining established high-end spots like Caesar’s Forum Shops and Bellagio’s Via Bellagio are the Shops at Wynn Las Vegas. Here you’ll find celebrated brand names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Manolo Blahnik. Stroll through the area and marvel at the ornate window displays (there’s even a Ferrari dealership). If you’re feeling lazy, sip a cocktail by the pool and have a personal shopper do the legwork (wynnlasvegas.com).

For Art’s Sake

Splurge for a dinner at Picasso in the Bellagio and you’ll be treated to an unparalleled view of original works by one of the world’s greatest artists. The restaurant’s two tasting menus feature sophisticated Mediterranean fusion cuisine with impeccable wine pairings. Between courses, feast your eyes on the magnificent paintings, ceramics and sculptures that surround you. You can even request the table where George Clooney and Julia Roberts sat during a scene in the hit moive Oceans 11 (bellagio.com).

Foodie Heaven

Gourmets were all abuzz when legendary French chef Joël Robuchon opened his eponymous haute cuisine restaurant in Las Vegas. This jewel-box space in the opulent MGM Grand offers exceptional fine dining, including a six-course tasting menu of dishes like nutmeg-flavored lobster ravioli and roasted lamb with lemon confit paired with exquisite wines. And wait until you get a whiff of the freshly baked bread (try the gruyère brioche). Needless to say, the service is stellar (mgmgrand.com).

From left: The posh Joël robuchon restaurant at MGM Grand; cuisine is a work of art at Joël Robuchon. Photography: Courtesy of MGM Mirage.

Flight Plan

Ready to soar? Before you sweep over the Strip on an evening helicopter tour with Heli USA Airways, you’ll be treated to a glass of champagne. Then it’s up, up and away, for dazzling views of Vegas and its gazillion neon lights. You’ll spot the faux skyscrapers at New York-New York, the “Eiffel Tower” at Paris and the pyramid-shaped Luxor with its distinctive space beam illuminating the desert night (heliusa.com).

A view from above. There's something for everyone in Vegas. Photography: Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau.

Back to Nature

Sure, there’s always action on the Strip, but when you need a break from the bells and whistles (literally), head to Red Rock Canyon, a natural conservation area that’s just 30 minutes from Vegas. The nearly 200,000-acre park boasts stunning geological features like gorges and canyons as well as plenty of desert flora and fauna. Hikers can choose from dozens of trails with pleasant picnic spots along the way, while the less adventurous can drive along the 13-mile scenic road (blm.gov).

Leap of Faith

Do the two of you share a daredevil streak? Try a tandem sky dive with the experts at Skydive Las Vegas. After a quick safety session, you’ll fly three miles up into the air in a Cessna. Once you’re strapped into a chute, you’ll jump and free-fall for a full minute. Then you’ll pull the cord and gracefully float down to your landing spot—all the while taking in amazing views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and, of course, the Strip (skydivelasvegas.com).

Spaaaah

Vegas is definitely upping the ante on this experience. One of the most impressive spas here is the Spa Bellagio, which recently doubled its size to a mind-boggling 56 treatment rooms. The peaceful space offers visitors an array of services, ranging from water therapies and Thai Yoga massages to glow-getting facials and detoxifying body wraps. Try the popular Deep Coconut Surrender and enjoy a 70-minute treatment that utilizes heated stones, towels and coconut milk for the ultimate relaxation. Book a his-and-her massage in a suite or a private poolside cabana, or have a romantic in-room experience (bellagio.com).

The Spa Bellagio's hot tub whirlpools. Photography: Courtesy of MGM Mirage.

Good Clean Fun

The Signature is a new nongaming, nonsmoking, three-tower hotel annexed to the MGM Grand. Each guest room has an enormous king-size bed fitted with luxe linens, an oversize marble and granite bathroom with deep soaking whirlpool tubs and flat screen TVs and mod kitchenettes with Subzero fridges. Some have private balconies with views of the Strip and surrounding mountains. The three towers each have their own distinctive décor in the lobbies, as well as pool complexes with private cabanas and alfresco bars. Guests may also choose among all the amenities at the MGM Grand, including the spa and 11 restaurants (signaturemgmgrand.com).

Love Is All You Need

Move over showgirls, there’s a new gig in town. Love, the new Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage, is utterly awe-inspiring. To a medley of Beatles classics, like “Hey, Jude,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Yesterday,” performers on trapeze fly through the air, and dancers on stilts strut and swing. This unique troupe will keep you enthralled from start to finish (cirquedusoleil.com).

The Cirque du Soleil performs Love. Photography: Richard Termine.

Height of Luxury

One of the most spectacular places to stay in all of Vegas is SkyLofts, an ultramod hotel within a hotel located on the top two floors of the MGM Grand. The enormous bilevel suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, with jaw-dropping views of the Strip and the mountains beyond, an infinity spa tub and all the high-tech gadgets you could ever imagine. (You can control room temperature, the drapes, television and radio via remote.) The bathrooms contain steam rooms, HDTVs and an “immersion chamber”—a shower in the round. All guests have private butler service and exclusive access to reservations at the MGM Grand’s restaurants (skyloftsmgmgrand.com).

Inside the MGM Grand's new SkyLofts. Photography: Courtesy of MGM Mirage.

Bikini Beach

Las Vegas may be in the middle of the desert, but there’s a “beach” at Mandalay Bay. (Only in Vegas!) The large area features imported sand, waterfalls and a wave pool. For the ultimate indulgence, rent one of the brand-new cabanas. They come equipped with sexy daybeds, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms and a dedicated wait staff (mandalaybay.com).

Wine and Roses

Take a day trip to the Pahrump Valley Winery, located an hour from the Strip, and enjoy award-winning vintages in the tasting room. On a tour of the property, you’ll learn the history of the small desert town and its relationship to wine making. There’s also a rose garden and gazebo and an outdoor stage. The property’s casual restaurant overlooks it all (tours are free; pahrumpwinery.com).

Oldies but Goodies

There are always new and exciting things to do in Las Vegas. But don’t miss the tried-and-true.

• At the Fountains at the Bellagio, you’ll be treated to the spectacular sight of more than 1,000 water spouts “dancing” to the music of Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli and others. Performances take place every 15 minutes starting at 8 p.m.
• Step into a gondola at The Venetian Resort & Hotel and float down the Grand Canal—you may feel you’ve been magically transported to Italy. Your gondolier serenades you as the boat passes by frescoed ceilings and piazzas. Now, that’s amore! (venetian.com).
• Take a day trip with the Hoover Dam Tour Company (according to the pamphlet it’s “the best dam tour in town”). Built in 1935, the dam is an enduring marvel of engineering (hooverdamtourcompany.com).
• Check out downtown Las Vegas, heart of the city of yore, and catch the Fremont Street Experience Light & Sound Show. The raucous laser light show is set to music and takes place in a covered pedestrian street. Shows are staged every hour beginning at dusk (vegasexperience.com).