9 Ways to Stay Cool in Las Vegas During Summer

Explore the coolest ways to stay chill during the hottest months of summer

In “Super Mario Bros. 3,” there is a level with an Angry Sun attacking Mario, the main character of the game. There’s arguably no better metaphor for the aggressive sunshine in Las Vegas, especially during July and August. Unlike Mario, we cannot defeat the heat with hammers or shells. Instead, we must either hide in places with air conditioners, eat frozen treats or lounge around in a brisk pool. 

Here are nine ways to escape the Angry Sun in Las Vegas in no particular order.

Tame the Heat with Frozen Treats

1. Cool Down with Creamy Desserts

Do you know how much ice cream the average American eats? The International Dairy Foods Association says it’s “roughly 20 pounds of ice cream per year, or about 4 gallons.” If you haven’t already hit this mark, summer is here and now is the time to make it count.

While exploring the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, visit the Cream Me Ice Creamery. Cream Me Ice Creamery, like a time machine, transports guests back in time to the 1950s with its ice cream parlor decor. Amy Ortiz, the owner, also runs the pinup clothing store, Rockin’ Bettie, which is likely why the shop’s look mirrors the nifty fifties. From the Wurlitzer jukebox to the bubblegum pink walls, these vintage vibes pair magically with its homemade and Thrifty ice cream flavors. It’s an Instagram-worthy spot in town, so make sure to snap some photos. 

Don’t forget to try their secret sweet sauce, “Cream Me.” The menu selection offers a variety of desserts including Mexican sweet bread, concha, offering chocolate and vanilla flavors. They are similar to donuts. Looking for vegan ice cream? The creamery also serves options for visitors seeking  a sweet snack that is free of animal byproducts.

2. Sip Frozen Cocktails

Another way to cool down during a heatwave is by slurping on frozen cocktails. Las Vegas locals avoiding the summer time madness on the Strip might want to venture to a local bar or lounge. Sit back and relax as the bartender at The Golden Tiki conjures icy alcoholic potions for you. 

The Golden Tiki is an eccentric hangout with tiki lamps, animatronic hula girls and two cantankerous robot parrots. Besides the kooky atmosphere, the local joint is also known for its boozy Dole Whip cocktails. Order their signature Classic Dole Whip drink to chill out this sunny season. Dole Whip may be known as a Disney delicacy, but this tiki spot lives up to that hype and has its own unique ties to the Magic Kingdom. The bar offers a refreshing selection of drinks and is even rumored to be haunted.

Photo Credit Dave Canela

Want an alcohol-free slush alternative? Aside from Sonic and 7-Eleven, Brew Tea Bar offers over 10 different slushie drinks. Taro Slush and Oreo Slush are among their most popular sells. For a unique milkshake, visit The Cereal Killerz Kitchen. They are the first and only cereal bar in town that serves cereal milkshakes. With over 100 different cereal toppings available, the amount of possible combinations goes beyond the average shake shop.

Stay Chill with Cool Activities

3. Visit a Water Park

Fit for a family outing, plan a visit to Cowabunga Bay, a kid-friendly water park in Las Vegas.

Cowabunga Bay

In Henderson, Cowabunga Bay features nine water slides, four surf and swimming pools, lazy rivers and the biggest man-made wave pool with a record standing at 72 feet. The water park has an area designated just for the little ones — Kid’s Cove. Guests seeking a more private experience may book a VIP cabana. ​​The water park also serves food and beverages, which is convenient for visitors who work up an appetite.

If Cowabunga Bay isn’t close to home, the water park’s sibling, Cowabunga Canyon (previously Wet ‘n’ Wild), is located in Summerlin.

The Aqua Park at Lake Las Vegas

For water sports, consider booking an experience with Las Vegas Water Sports, which is part of The Aqua Park at Lake Las Vegas. From yachts to paddle boards, this water park is equipped for multiple types of aquatic adventures. This summer haven is located at 20 Costa Di Lago Street, Henderson, Nevada.

The Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility

Looking for a local low-cost summer activity? The Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility is the ultimate summer destination while on a budget. During the summer time, the facility offers both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool experience. The outdoor pool features two water slides for kids while the indoor pool mostly caters to training.

However, guests may also utilize the indoor pool on designated days for recreational swimming. Entry for adults is only $3 and entry for children ages 3-17 is only $2. The Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility is about 15 minutes away from Chinatown, situated on 8275 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89117.

4. Lounge Around in Epic Off-Strip Vegas Pools

As for epic pools that aren’t on the Strip, Stadium Swim at Circa plus the Tank and HideOut Pool Complex at Golden Nugget, both offer memorable experiences.

Stadium Swim

Sports fans may watch games on Stadium Swim’s 40-foot tall high-definition screen with 14 million pixels. The venue features six pools and swim-up bars. Visit the picturesque scene camera ready because there are selfie walls, too.

From the cabanas to the water couches, Stadium Swim is unlike any other swimming pool in town. They also host events like the 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Party and Rosè Sundays, which is running until August 2022. Rosè Sundays boasts bottomless rosè, games and contests. Keep in mind that this is an adults-only pool for guests ages 21-and-older.

You might also like: 2023’s Best Pools in Las Vegas

Courtesy of Circa Resort

Tank and HideOut Pool Complex

Another downtown pool scene worth the hype is at The Golden Nugget. This resort provides guests with the best of both worlds. Both family-friendly and adult-only pool options are available, the Tank is fit for everyone while the HideOut Pool Complex is an adults-only experience.

This popular attraction is known as “Las Vegas’ $30 million award-winning pool” experience. What draws tourists and locals alike to this extraordinary swimming venue is its Tank Pool, which features a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium. Bring the youngsters because the Tank is for all ages. It’s not everyday one gets to splash and doggie paddle alongside a marine museum.

However, Adults 21-years-old and up seeking a kid-free experience may lounge at the HideOut Pool Complex, which includes 17 cabanas extending over three individual floors. Adult guests may indulge in finger food and libations from the H20 Bar.

The H20 menu also lists #Celeb-agave mixed drink combos, which prompts visitors to choose a cocktail and then pick their favorite superstar’s liquor. Currently, the celeb options are Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila,  Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s Dos Hombre Mezcal, Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson’s Teremana Tequila, The Chainsmokers’ Jaja Tequila plus Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo’s Calirosa Tequila. They say tequila is just like duct tape, it fixes everything.

5. Go Ice Skating

Is there ice skating in the desert? Yes. To retreat from the heat, take a trip to one of Las Vegas’ year round ice rinks: Fiesta Rancho Ice Arena, Las Vegas Ice Center and The City National Arena.

Fiesta Rancho Ice Arena

The Fiesta Rancho Ice Arena offers designated public skating hours, hosts birthday parties and a place to practice for hockey leagues. Lace up a pair of skates and glide on the ice on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Admission is only $8 and skate rentals are $4. (Station Casinos recently announced that Fiesta Rancho Hotel and Casino will be demolished. However, the ice rink will stay open.)

Las Vegas Ice Center

From public skating to figure skating lessons, the Las Vegas Ice Center is another ice rink where locals may escape the summer heat. On their website, it says that guests may reserve a date and time to go ice skating. To skate at the Ice Center, passes start at $20 per person. Interested in taking up a new hobby? Guests may get involved by participating in their classes, like their Adult Coffee Club Sessions or Intro To Theatre On Ice. Sign-ups are available online.

The City National Arena

The third ice rink open year round is The City National Arena, which is known as the home of the Vegas Golden Knights. The venue offers both open skating and skating lessons. Their website suggests that guests dress appropriately for the cold arena, stating that skaters should wear a heavy coat or jacket and gloves. Helmets and skate rentals are available. Wear long pants and socks that reach above the ankle to stay warm.

6. Visit Mt. Charleston

Mt. Charleston is only about 45 minutes away from Las Vegas. Covered in lush trees, there is plenty of shade up in the mountains, where temperatures are much cooler than in the city. On average, Mt. Charleston is usually about 20 degrees cooler than Vegas.

Visitors may also bring their furry friends along for a hike, but keep an eye out for the wildlife. The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a home to squirrels, jackrabbits, hummingbirds, mountain lions, horses and other native animals. The mountain features many places to have a wonderful picnic or go hiking in a refreshing environment. Plus, it’s free to wander around most of the trails at Mt. Charleston.

Did You Know? Harvard Health reported that spending 20 minutes in nature reduces stress.

Hideout in Air Conditioned Hangouts

7. Go to the Cinema

Luxury movie theaters are another cool way to hideout during the summer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, we can thank Willis Carrier, the inventor of the modern air conditioner, for persuading Paramount Pictures to add air conditioners to their film houses in 1925.

Movie theaters also don’t have any windows, which means the aggressive sunshine stays away. In fact, one reason they set cinemas to colder temperatures is to keep moviegoers awake. The high ceilings also help the hot air rise away from the audience. Indulge in buttery popcorn, watch a flick and escape the wrath of the Mojave Desert’s sun.

Some notable local luxury movie theaters include Art Houz in downtown Las Vegas, Regal Cinebarre at Palace Station, Regal Summerlin Luxury, Galaxy Green Valley Luxury+, among others.

8. Visit an Art Gallery or Museum

Artworks are sensitive to temperatures and sunlight, which means keeping the museums cool is crucial for conservation and preservation. The canvases and materials used to create the artistic productions must be protected. It is important that humidity does not sneak any moisture inside where it may damage the pieces. Leave the hot weather behind you while taking in a unique exhibition in town.

Jerry Saltz, an American art critic once said, “Museums are wormholes into other worlds. They are ecstasy machines. Follow your eyes wherever they lead you…and the world should began to change for you.”

Some notable off-Strip museums include: The Mob Museum, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Neon Museum and Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum.

9. Have a Spa Day

Inside Caesars Palace, Qua Baths and Spa is the only place with an Artic Ice Room. The wintry space is a refreshing contrast to the 100 degree plus weather outside. The unique spa room also includes artificial snowfall (a foam like substance) experience. They keep this specialty spa room cooled to 55 degrees, which makes it one of the coldest indoor places to visit during the summer.

A 3-hour pass to the spa facility, which includes access to the Arctic Ice Room, is $90 dollars for non-hotel guests on Monday through Thursday. Weekend passes cost $110 for non-hotel guests. Hotel guests receive a discounted rate.

Bonus: Have a Drink at an Ice Bar

Minus5°Ice Experience

Although this is a place on the Strip, it would be a disservice to list ways to keep cool in Las Vegas without mentioning the Minus5° Experience. There is no cooler bar in Las Vegas, literally. Minus5° is a bar made entirely of ice, including ice sculptures, ice glasses, ice seats and ice walls. Guests are given a parka or coat and gloves to wear while chilling—pun intended—in the ultra-cold venue.

According to their website, the arctic lounge also features LED light shows accompanied by energetic music. The ice attraction has been featured on the show “Tanked” and several TV news stations. Minus5° ICEBAR is located on the Strip inside the LINQ Promenade, Venetian and Mandalay Bay.

Courtesy of Vox Agency

How are you defeating the Angry Sun this summer? Tag @offthestrip on Instagram to show us which cool activity is saving you from the Las Vegas heat.


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