Like an elaborate production show, the Las Vegas Strip is theater in its own right, a 24-hour tourism marvel that relies on the cooks, crews and aquarists working backstage. Most visitors never pull back the curtain, but there are plenty of ways to glimpse the inner workings of Las Vegas, if you know where to look.
1. Backstage Bellagio Fountain Show
Few Vegas scenes are more iconic than the Bellagio fountains, erupting 460 feet high to the tune of Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. Platinum M Life members can see the mechanics behind the spectacle with a back-of-house tour that culminates in selecting a song and watching the waters dance. But that exclusive view comes at a price: $3,500. Bellagio, 866.906.7171
2. Private Cooking Class, Guy Savoy
Dining at Guy Savoy’s Michelin two-star restaurant is a wonderful treat. Cooking there? Even better. Step inside the kitchen for a private lesson with executive chef Julien Asseo where you’ll learn to prepare a signature appetizer and entrée, then sit down to savor the fruits of your labor. Caesars Palace, 702.731.7286
3. Sea Turtle Feed, Shark Reef Aquarium
The shipwreck exhibit inside Mandalay Bay’s aquarium holds sharks, sea turtles and numerous fish. Why don’t the toothier residents chow on their neighbors? Because everyone gets fed. This Animal Encounter starts with a behind-the-scenes tour before you serve a salad lunch (no dressing) to the 300-pound endangered sea turtles. Mandalay Bay, 702.632.4555
4. Wine Cellar & Tasting Room, Rio
With a $10 million collection of more than 10,000 bottles, this wine cellar feels like a secret thanks to its subterranean location. Though some bottles are strictly off limits—like the 1800 Madeira from Thomas Jefferson’s personal cellar—the space is open to the public, so order a glass and sip on something special. Rio, 702.777.7962
5. Bean-to-Bar Tasting and Education Hexx Chocolate & Confexxions
The ingredients in Hexx’s artisanal chocolate are relatively simple. The process of turning them into silky cocoa goodness? Not so much. This $22 class walks you through the steps between bean and bar with plenty of tasting to round out your chocolate education. Paris, 702.331.5551
6. Backstage Tour + Meet & Greet, Britney Spears: Piece of Me
For the ultimate Britney fan, the ultimate add-on experience: Go backstage to check out Piece of Me’s intricate sets, see the sparkling costumes, then grab a photo with the pop princess herself. Planet Hollywood Resort, 702.777.2782
7. Open House, KÀ
Equal parts engineering and artistry, KÀ is Cirque du Soleil at its breathtaking best. Want to see how the Canadian troupe makes its magic? Join them Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at noon for a free open house where you’ll get a crash course on the show and its rotating stage. MGM Grand, 702.531.3826
8. Chef’s Table, Delmonico Steakhouse
At the chef’s table inside Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans-inspired steakhouse your dry-aged ribeye comes with a front row seat for the action in the kitchen. Watch chef de cuisine Ronnie Rainwater and company turn out fresh, seasonal fare bold enough to merit the word “Bam!” The Venetian, 702.414.3737
9. Behind the Blue Backstage Tour, Blue Man Group
It’s been more than 25 years since the Blue Men arrived with bright cobalt skin, an innate sense of rhythm and an endless supply of mock turtlenecks. Check out their colorful universe on this 75-minute backstage tour where you’ll get to see the blue crew’s instruments up close and witness sound check for the next performance. Luxor, 800.557.7428
