Las Vegas is a party town, and there's no bigger party than New Year's Eve. Despite the temptation to gamble or drink your way into the new year, Vegas offers plenty of healthy alternatives to celebrate the holiday. This means you can pamper yourself and start the new year right.
Dancing in the Streets
Get the blood pumping as you dance the night away all over Las Vegas. You can enjoy some of the hipper clubs available at the Strip hotels or stay on the move at downtown's Fremont Street Experience. An annual "TributePalooza" began in 2008, and features street entertainment from tribute bands on three stages along five blocks under a canopy of lights for a $20 ticket in 2010.
Out of this World
If you have a big budget, don't blow it all sitting at the tables when you can experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of zero gravity. Zero G's five-hour experience costs $4,950 per person as of June 2010, and goes through seven different stages, including a light meal. You'll ultimately board G-FORCE ONE, a modified Boeing 727. At an altitude of 24,000 feet, the plane goes through several aerobic maneuvers called parabolas. During these maneuvers, passengers experience varying degrees of weightlessness.
Relax and Rejuvenate
Hotels up and down the Strip offer premium spa experiences right on the property, so allow the stress of the past year to slip away as you are massaged and pampered and prepared for the year to come. Spas that are inspired by Roman baths are available to provide healing treatment to undo the damage of the indulgent holiday season. Everything from skin treatment to workout rooms are offered, and generally you can negotiate this as part of your package when you book your room.
Dine in Style
Skip the all-you-can-eat buffets and instead explore the different ethnic cuisines offered all over the city. Las Vegas is rich with opportunities for prime dining, and the discerning diner has plenty of options from celebrity chefs to foods like vegetarian Indian and Mediterranean. Also available are restaurants that cater to health-focused clientele, such as organic, vegan and raw dining like Go Raw Cafe. It was awarded Best in Las Vegas in 2004 by a Las Vegas Review Journal poll, and even offers products and material to learn more about the vegan raw movement.
America's Great Party
To conclude the party, head down to Las Vegas Boulevard for an exciting fireworks show. The Strip closes to traffic at 6 p.m., so revelers can hoof the long stretch of free entertainment along the street, including volcanoes and dancing fountains. Closer to midnight, head to the top of the Eiffel Tower or the Stratosphere to catch the biggest show of the year. Launched from several different hotels along Las Vegas Boulevard, this half a million dollar display can be seen all along the Strip.
Considerations
Since Las Vegas is a popular place to party for holidays like New Year's Eve, book your accommodations early and make sure to secure reservations for any desired activities. Prepare for large crowds and take appropriate personal security measures.
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