Ask any young adult under 21 what there is to do at night in their town and they will probably tell you absolutely nothing. Not so in Las Vegas. Unlike other metropolitan areas that roll up the sidewalks at night, this 24-hour town has numerous options for underage fun both indoors, for those who like their air conditioning, and outdoors for all the desert rats who love the luscious desert air that cools off at night to just the right temperature.

Mini Gran Prix  
1401 N. Rainbow Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89108
(702) 259-7000
www.lvmgp.com

Price: 1 to 4 tickets $7.00 each, 5 or more $6.50, 1-hour wristband $20.00, 1 1/2-hour wristband $30.00, 2-hour wristband $40.00. The Kiddie Karts cost 1 ticket and all other race takes require 1 ticket.

This family owned business built on seven acres is fun with a capital “F.” There are four race tracks (Go Kart Road Course, Sprint Kart Speedway, a driver’s-license-required Adult Gran Prix, and Kiddie Karts), four amusement rides (Dragon Roller Coaster, Tornado Twister, Dive Bomber, Super Fun Slide) and a 15,000-square-foot building that houses 60 arcade games. Open until 11 p.m. on the weekends, this Gran Prix is the perfect place to goof-around with friends and re-live the funnest parts of your childhood. The restaurant has a menu designed by an owner who takes pride in the food he serves. The ribs fall off the bone and could just be the best you’ve ever eaten and the thin, crispy pizza will put a smile on any pizza lover’s face.

Pinball Hall of Fame
1610 E. Tropicana Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 597-2627
www.pinballmuseum.org

Price:  $.25 – $1.00 per machine

The Pinball Hall of Fame is a “pinheads” paradise. Located just 2 1/2 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip, the cool, cavernous building houses 250 old and new machines, 30 of which are video games, lined up row after row. Operated and maintained by the Las Vegas Pinball Collector’s Club, this popular arcade that is a destination for pinball lovers from around the world provides a tactile experience that a video computer game just doesn’t have. While flippers and balls fly, the machines can be jostled about, just like pinball machines are meant to be, to help guide the ball. The club has 1,000 machines in their collection that are rotated when the mood strikes. Not only are you guaranteed to have a good time, you can feel good that after operating costs have been paid, the non-profit arcade which is staffed solely by volunteers donates all money taken in to charity. Last year, they donated $500,000 to the Salvation Army and other charities in town.

Mickey’s Cues & Brews 
7380 S. Eastern
Las Vegas, NV 89123
702) 361-2060
www.mickeyscues.com

Price: Diamond Regulation $6.00 per person per hour, Brunswick Gold Crown $5.00 per person per hour, Diamond Bar $4.00 per person per hour.

This pool hall has 24 tables, including 5 9’ Diamond tables with Pro Cut pockets, Pacman and Golden Tee Live video games and foosball. A popular place for both adult and junior leagues, the expansive pool hall is dark and cool. If you smoke, this is your lucky day, because smoking is allowed. If you’re looking for something to do late into the night, this place is open 24 hours. Come in and play a round of pool at midnight or 1 am instead of aimlessly wandering the Strip which is far from under-21 friendly.

Cosmic Bowling at Wildfire Lanes
4451 E. Sunset Rd.
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 736-2695
www.wildfiregaming.com

Price: Thurs – $3.00, Fri to Sat – $4.00

Every Thursday through Saturday, the bowling alley at Wildfire Casino & Lanes turns the lights down and the volume up for Cosmic Bowling. Colored lights spin through the air and bounce off the floors and walls, and black lights make bowling pins, lines down the alley, even your shoelaces shimmer and shine. Come in until midnight on weekdays and 2:30 a.m on Friday and Saturday to enjoy some bowling late in the night and into the next day. You can pick your own music from the jukebox and order burgers and dogs from the Wild Burger that will be delivered to your lane. If you’re in the mood for dessert, try the Made From Scratch Ding Dongs or the Deep Fried Twinkies.

Soundwaves at the Hard Rock
4455 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 693-4440
www.hardrockhotel.com

There actually is underage fun to be had in the casinos/hotels in Las Vegas. Eighteen to 20-year-olds can get their groove on at the infamous Hard Rock pool at their outdoor summer-concert series. You can get as close as three feet from the stage or hang back poolside to avoid the crowd. There’s plenty of room to dance in the cool nighttime desert air and cabanas are available for those who want to kick back in style. The atmosphere is seductive: the pool, the cabanas, the palms trees, towered over by the high-rise rooms of one of the hippest hotels in Las Vegas. Tickets can be purchased at the Hard Rock box office or online at Ticketmaster.

Related:  Best Hipster Hangout Spots in Las Vegas

Improv at Harrah’s
3475 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 492-3960
(866) 80-SHOWS
www.harrahslasvegas.com

Vegas is famous for its performers and Improv at Harrah’s is no exception. The 18+ crowd is welcome at this intimate comedy club which boasts welcoming famous comedians like Kevin Nealon, Damien Wayans and Todd Glass on their stage.  While slightly pricy, live comedy is always a fun and hilarious treat, and worth the extra bucks every once in a while. Shows run Tuesday – Friday at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and audiences get a warm-up act and a full 60-minute set from the rotating group of headliners. Take a break from the desert heat and pounding bass of the clubs to enjoy some laughs with friends at Improv at Harrah’s.

DK Howe lives in Las Vegas. She writes about the Strip, yoga and blue-water cruising for Examiner.com. She is also a contributing editor for American Fitness magazine. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.