The best Vegas bachelor party ideas for a guaranteed good time

Live out your Top Gun: Maverick fantasy (aviators not included). Sky Combat Ace is the closest most of us will ever come to feeling the rush of a fighter pilot dancing through the skies. Book the Top Gun package and hop aboard one of the aircraft (read: legit stunt planes) with an expert instructor as you zip through the air and perform epic stunts. Adrenaline junkies can also select add-ons like simulated aerial dogfights and low-level bombing runs. The fun doesn’t stop there, though: The company also offers three other experiences, including the Sky Combat, Operation Recon, and The Afterburner.

Nightclubs don’t come more epic than those on the Vegas Strip, and Omnia, a 75,000-square-foot behemoth from Tao Group, is easily among the best. The multi-level venue hosts top-tier musical talent like Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, and Kaskade. Hit the main room dancefloor to bounce with the masses or splurge on a table and lay back in the cut while scantily clad servers ply you with drinks. When you need to catch your breath, step outside onto a terrace overlooking the Strip or slip into Heart of Omnia, a sexy lounge where the intimacy—and the good vibes—are palpable.

Seeing a Golden Knights game at the T-Mobile Arena isn’t just another hour of skating and sticking. It’s hockey a la Las Vegas, complete with celebs on the Jumbotron, “Viva Las Vegas,” and a little extra glitz thrown in the mix. Plus, when the puck stops spinning, you’re still on the Strip—which might make a Golden Knights match the best pregame in town.

Cirque du Soleil’s enchanting spectacles have long been the dominant entertainment force on the Strip, but they’ve helped give birth to something a bit more… naughty. Absinthe is one part circus, one part pelvic-thrusting comedy show, performed inside an intimate Spiegeltent, where the acrobats are often teetering above your head. While the ringleader’s explicit jokes set the tone, it’s the performers—with their killer dance moves, high-wire daring, and other acts that are equal parts astounding, arousing, and just plain strange—that truly steal the show. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you’ll uncontrollably blush. TL;DR: This ain’t your mama’s Vegas show.

Solid ground is for suckers, especially when you have neighbors like the Grand Canyon, which stretches 277 miles long and plummets up to a mile deep in nearby Arizona. Seeing the natural wonder from the air is an unforgettable experience, but landing at the canyon edge for a champagne toast and picnic snack is the icing on the proverbial cake. Hop a bird with Maverick Helicopters and cruise over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on your way to the canyon, then be back on the Strip in time for happy hour.

Las Vegas was a bit late to the craft beer revolution, but now that the movement has arrived, it’s going gangbusters. Taste what the locals are cooking by embarking on a beer crawl. Your journey begins at the Arts District’s Hop Nuts Brewing, where the taproom pours 20 beers at a time, including house creations like Catharina Sour and 18b Pale Ale. Then, mosey over to CraftHaus for a fabulous collection of staples and seasonals. Finally, stumble over to local staple Tenaya Creek, where the taps attract locals and travelers alike.

If you can drag everyone away from the glittering Strip, prepare to be delighted by all the action-packed outdoor adventures that Las Vegas has to offer. Head north to Mount Charleston to escape the heat with some elevation among the ancient bristlecone pines or west to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, where desert scrambles and dozens of trails beckon. For a more unique experience, consider Gold Strike Canyon near Lake Mead, a five-mile roundtrip trek that includes climbing over boulders using fixed ropes and ladders on your way to natural hot springs and a refreshing dip in the Colorado River. Bring lots of water, and remember that the trail is closed during the summers since temps can get deadly hot.

Think of the Bellagio as the grand dame of Strip resorts, where novices and legends come for serious and casual games while enjoying complimentary beverage service. The sans-smoking poker lounge has 40 tables and is open 24/7, with tableside dining and plenty of action depending on when you show up. Grab your crew for entry-level games starting from 4-8 Limit Hold'Em and 1-3 No Limit Hold'Em. Alternatively, do your best high-roller impression inside the uber-exclusive Bobby’s Room, where minimum buy-ins can start around the cost of a year’s college tuition.

At the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, home of several NASCAR races each year, you can spend the day behind the wheel of vehicles straight out of a Hollywood action flick: Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches, all gassed up and ready to go. Book a session with Dream Racing, who will put you in a simulator before you saddle up and buckle your safety belt. Then, hit the track and hold on tight. With an instructor riding shotgun, you’ll satisfy your adrenaline addiction but never feel out of control.

More into beers than bottle service and powerboats than pool parties? Grab your bros and book a pontoon or jet skis for a day on Lake Mead. The artificial reservoir surrounded by rough desert is a welcome break from the Strip’s piped-in scents and round-the-clock slots. Bring some snacks and a few six-packs, and spend the day cruising the lake, exploring hidden coves, and having lunch on the beach. Just don’t forget some SPF.

After partying into the wee hours, treat yourself—and your pals—to a restorative massage at one of Las Vegas’ best spas. First, scarf down a hearty brunch (hey, you need to refuel after one too many vodka Redbulls, right?), then head straight to the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. The uber-luxe property boasts luxurious enclaves where the casino clamor gives way to calming sounds and soothing treatments. So, hit the spa and surrender to some man pampering—a massage and maybe a straight razor shave—then return to the action feeling a little more awesome thanks to some good ol’ R&R.

Reaching speeds over 40 miles per hour from 829 feet over the Strip, SkyJump Las Vegas holds the Guinness World Record for the highest commercial decelerator descent (which is Guinness speak for “absolutely terrifying”). Thrill-seekers will especially appreciate this controlled free fall from the top of The Strat, which is less violent than a bungee jump, albeit just as exhilarating. For an additional $35, the groom can take home photos and wrist cam footage from his trip back to Earth, so everyone can hear what he sounds like shrieking in utter terror. (Perhaps you can play it at the wedding reception for old times’ sake…)

Zip through the heart of downtown Las Vegas (quite literally) as you admire all the sparking neon signs that adorn Sin City streets. At 850 feet long and 77 feet high, the zipline at Slotzilla is a favorite amongst adrenaline enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. Plus, the entire experience – check-in to dismount – is about 20 minutes, so it won’t take too much time away from the pool, club, or casino. Meanwhile, Fly LINQ Zipline is known as the only zipline on the Strip, where riders zip 1,121 feet from Las Vegas Boulevard at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, so prepare to scream.

Channel your inner lumberjack at Axe Monkeys, a range dedicated to the old-school art of chucking low-tech weapons at the wood. Reserve a lane or two, absorb a quick safety briefing, then grab an axe, step to the line, and throw. Not only is pitching an axe a pretty good adrenaline rush—not to mention a massive stress reliever—but the learning curve isn’t too steep, which means you’ll be nailing your attempts in no time. When you’re ready to take it to the next level, upgrade to ninja stars, throw knives, or even metal player cards. You’re just one martini and a good suit away from 007 status.

What Las Vegas lacks in coastline, it makes up for in poolscapes and over-the-top aquatic playgrounds where you can dance to an A-list DJ, lounge on a semi-submerged lily pad, hang at the blackjack table, or even dig your toes into the sand. Hit up Daylight Beach Club for a barely dressed, booze-infused splash bash (plus live entertainment!), or head to Moorea Beach Club, a 21+ pool area boasting beach views and cushioned chaise loungers. Private cabanas, bungalows, and plush daybeds are also available for rent. Alternatively, keep it casual—and more PG—over at Mandalay Bay Beach, where guests can float down the lazy river.

Calories don’t count in Vegas, where over-the-top buffet options are seemingly endless. For a truly memorable feast, head to Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan, which is among Sin City’s best. Instead of tubs of tortellini and vats of limp vegetables, Wicked Spoon offers fresh fare plated individually and often cooked to order, including spicy mac and cheese, pork tacos, and even bone marrow. Wash it all down with bottomless beverage options.

Sin City is famous for its strip clubs, where beautiful women take the stage and welcome bachelors to the back room for private attention. From casual dives to mega clubs and everything in between, the city is a buffet of barely dressed women who shower grooms-to-be with affection. Hit the venerable Spearmint Rhino for a high-end time or spend a day at the Sapphire Pool & Dayclub, where strippers mingle with guests poolside, and you won’t have to ask your buddy to rub sunscreen on your shoulders.

Ditch the strip (if only for a few hours) to explore the surrounding desert on an epic ATV excursion. Las Vegas ATV Tours is one of several companies that offer these thrilling tours. With the help of an expert guide, guests can trek through miles of mountain terrains and awe-inspiring sand dunes. Best of all, Las Vegas ATV Tours offers complimentary pickup and dropoff to and from your hotel, so there’s no need to worry about calling an (extremely overpriced) Uber for your group.

While smoking is prohibited in most public places in Las Vegas, you will find a slew of cigar lounges where you can huff and puff away on a celebratory cigar with your best buds. Caesars Palace is home to the Montecristo Cigar Bar, which features a 400-square-foot, climate-controlled humidor that can hold up to 1,000 cigars. Alternatively, guests also have the option to bring their own cigars, so pair yours with one of the innovative cocktails and bar bites (think: meat and cheese boards, mixed nuts, and chips). The swanky space is outfitted with comfy leather couches and oversized armchairs – not to mention a 208-inch video wall – making it the perfect space to unwind.