Ask anybody who lives in Las Vegas and I’m sure they’ll tell you about all the things they wish they have done but never did. There’s so much happening off the strip that it actually makes going to the strip a hassle. So on a weekend when my best friend was in town, I took her out and about to areas a tourist would not venture.
Our day got off to a slow start. We finally got moving around noon which was perfect timing for some lunch. Ever since Fremont East and Tony Hseih’s plans to improve downtown took off more and more restaurants and “locals” places have moved in. My friend had never had Thai food before– but I knew of the perfect place: Le Thai. 
Le Thai is a small restaurant with a decent size patio. If you blink, you’ll miss it. Walking in you would think you are in some other city than being smack-dab in the middle of the desert. The atmosphere is fun and inviting. The waiters and waitresses walk around and take your order via an iPod Touch. Whatever you order is amazing. It’s very reasonably priced and a place I don’t mind bringing people to. Le Thai is on Fremont street next to “Don’t Tell Mamma” Piano Bar. One word of caution though– if you don’t like spicy food make sure to tell your server that. Even “mild” spice can be overwhelming for some.
Following lunch, we walked from Fremont East through the Fremont Street Experience to the new Mob Museum. Fremont Street is… different. The people watching is incredible. If you’ve never made it a point to go downtown then you are really missing out on the “Vegas Experience.”
Finally we were walking up to the old Las Vegas Post Office in Downtown. It’s about a block and a half off Fremont but will eventually be in the center of everything. The former Lady Luck is being renovated into a new resort called “The Downtown Grand,” and the building across the street from the museum will be Zappos.com corporate headquarters in 2013.
I had seen several stories about the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement thanks to my day job. But I didn’t really know what to expect. First- allow a full three hours for the tour. Second, don’t bring people who are sensitive to gruesome photos. And third you get a discount for being a Nevadan! The tour starts on the top floor of the renovated post office and works through the beginning of organized crime, gambling, Las Vegas and prohibition all the way to the modern day “Mob.” You see how mobs were formed, learn the alliances and see how organized crime as we know it was flushed out of society- though there is still argument about whether it truly exists today.
To cap off a busy night, my best friend and I met up with some friends for some baseball at the Las Vegas 51s. The team is the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. People don’t often give the 51s credit but it’s cheap entertainment. Tickets for the games start at $10 and there are no bad seats. The stadium is relatively small and relatively old but that’s what great about minor league baseball. And again for $10, you can’t beat three hours of entertainment.
Sunday came and there was still one thing left on my “locals tour.” For those who are fans of pinball machines from the originals to the high-tech ones then there is a place you NEED to see. 
It’s called the Pinball Hall of Fame. Yep, Las Vegas is home to the official pinball hall of fame. Stepping inside this nonchalant building you are immediately taken back to your childhood. It’s a place where adults (and kids) can be kids again. Almost all machines are working and date back to the 1930s. In addition to the pinball machines there are also the arcade games we all grew up with. 
Games cost between $.50 and $1.00 to play and it’s totally worth it. The Pinball Hall of Fame is located on Tropicana just west of Pecos.
I hope this will give you some ideas of what to see the next time you are in Las Vegas. All-in-all there are so many things to do away from the strip that will make you want to come back more often.
The Traveling Bearkat 