Want to escape to a new world? Let these Las Vegas environments transport you

Immersive. You see that word a lot, don’t you? It’s hard not to with new sound, lighting and augmented reality technology making it easier than ever to create experiences in which, without even leaving the city, you can drop into exotic locations and alternate realities.

Despite the recent boom in these trendy trips, Las Vegas has long been a city ripe with enveloping environments, making each property entrance a portal to a new world. So, let’s take a journey, not just through ticketed attractions, but also to some of the city’s incredibly detailed re-creations of distant locales and even some fantasy lands that you’ll want to spend a lifetime exploring.

Providing one of the most enchanting stops for tourists and locals alike, Excalibur opened in 1990, bringing a fully realized medieval castle to the Strip, completed with exacting attention to detail throughout the entire property with touches like intricate stained glass accents and faux brickwork. Frolicking around the castle grounds alone is fun enough, but the real magic comes from Excalibur’s long-standing resident show, Tournament of Kings.

“I think one of the biggest keys to this whole entire show is the audience participation,” director of Royal Productions Philip Shelburne said. “Right now, immersive entertainment is this big-buy word, but that’s what this is, and it’s always been that way. The audience is a character in the show.”

The dinner show invites guests to suspend reality for a brief moment as they become part of a Middle Ages world where toasting your tankards, pounding on tables and eating without utensils is welcome and encouraged as knights in shining armor battle in front of them.

If medieval merriment isn’t quite your style, perhaps you’d prefer a stroll along the Grand Canal or, better yet, a gondola ride. At The Venetian, be transported to an indoor Italy, featuring re-creations of Venice’s iconic landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Campanile and, of course, the Grand Canal.

The waterway serves as a centerpiece to the Grand Canal Shoppes, which provides a delightful place to shop, dine and imbibe, with sky-painted ceilings and detailed storefronts and walkways. Even more exciting, you can round out your trip to Venice with a gondola ride through the resort. And yes; you’ll get to hear the sweet serenades of your gondolier as you float by.

For animal lovers, the Strip houses a sinking ancient temple filled to the brim with captivating critters that you can peruse. At Mandalay Bay (a resort with its own South Seas theme), you’ll find Shark Reef Aquarium, which houses sea life and reptiles that are exciting enough on their own—but the attentively decorated environment puts visitors right into an alternate universe. As you walk through the stone corridors looking at the exhibit’s Komodo dragon, snakes and piranhas, remember to pause and take in your surroundings. Plush greenery fills the animal-less areas while the temple statue emits a peaceful power.

As you make your way toward the sea life portion, you’ll find yourself in an underwater shipwreck. The tan stonework transforms into the dark wood of the ship and the golden lighting turns cold and blue as you become submerged in the attraction. The creators have even gone so far as to include parts of the shipwreck as decor in the largest shark tank in the attraction, which engulfs the ship, even providing room for sharks to swim above and below visitors.

Not far from the Strip, travelers can enter a surreal realm. AREA15, a psychedelic megaplex of its own, features Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, a nonsensical, otherworldly supermarket where shoppers are known to stumble upon strange passageways and mythical creatures. The attraction also has a mystery to solve, with various hidden clues all over to help explorers uncover what’s really going on at Dram Corp.

“I like the freedom of choice guests have for how they want to experience Omega Mart,” senior creative director Spencer Olsen said. “I like the emotionally vibrant story of an unconventional family who have found themselves in a strange situation. I like the new perspective you get when you leave and the feeling that anything is possible.”

Not only does Omega Mart provide a new perspective, but you’ll honestly feel like you’ve entered a new reality. Nothing is as it seems here, and you could spend your whole day finding new surprises with every turn. If you find yourself parched mid-trip, you can even enjoy a refreshing Happle Juice, served in a strangely squishy cup, at this location’s speakeasy Datamosh—that is, if you can find it.

Touch back down to Earth at New York-New York, where you can walk the streets of Times Square and really get a sense of the Big Apple. The resort, which features re-creations of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, opened in 1996 and accomplishes a very metropolitan feel with art deco-style accents and a mini Greenwich Village.

Naturally, it’s a touch warmer in Las Vegas than it is in the real Empire City, but that just means the weather’s perfect for a stroll along New York-New York’s replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, which sits along Las Vegas Boulevard and provides the perfect backdrop for a meal at one of the property’s bustling eateries.

The list just keeps going, too. While you’re in Sin City, you could visit the pyramids of Egypt or the Roman Empire. You could even immerse yourself in your favorite animated movies or the art of Vincent Van Gogh. The options are aplenty, so what are you doing still reading this? Get exploring!

Quick tip: Walk the streets of Paris, past the Arc de Triomphe, all the way to the Strip’s very own Eiffel Tower, where you can enjoy a premium view of the valley.

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