There are several reasons Las Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world, and emergency physicians at ACEP16 will get a chance to discover a few of them.

On Oct. 15–18, ACEP will hold its Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. While the conference will offer dynamic courses and skill labs, the city will offer thrilling adventure and the chance to see record-setting architecture.

Don’t let the old adage, “all work and no play,” apply to you. “The emergency medical professionals who attend [ACEP16] have very demanding jobs, and Las Vegas offers many ways to help reduce stress and aid in one’s overall well-being,” said Cheryl Smith, the medical and wellness tourism manager of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Eating and Sightseeing on the Strip

Home to six of the 10 largest hotels in the world, Las Vegas has no shortage of luxurious resorts. Visit renowned locations on the Las Vegas Strip like The Venetian, MGM Grand, or ACEP’s official resort, Mandalay Bay, which is currently undergoing a $100 million remodel that should be completed by spring 2016. Or maybe the 300-room Silverton, with its 117,000-gallon aquarium, considered Las Vegas’ best free attraction, is the sight for you.

No matter where you visit, you’re sure to see the Stratosphere defining the Las Vegas skyline. At 1,149 feet, it is the tallest observation tower in the United States. Still, there are other ways to observe the city from above. One of the newest additions to the Strip, the 550-foot High Roller, the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, is one of them.

At the base of the High Roller is The LINQ Promenade, an open-air attraction featuring fine dining and entertainment.

For an international taste of Vegas, visit the newly opened Giada, which serves Italian cuisine at The Cromwell. Try a dish infused with French flavor at Bardot Brasserie inside Aria or a Japanese yellowtail with jalapeño at Nobu inside Caesars Palace.

The Downtown Districts

Don’t be fooled—there’s more to Vegas than the Strip, which is actually located outside of the city limits. To the north of the scenic Strip is downtown Las Vegas, which houses several equally scenic districts that demand up-close exploration.

Catch a free concert or light show at the Fremont Street Experience. This five-block entertainment district is canopied by the world’s largest video screen suspended above an urban pedestrian mall. If 12.5 million LED lights and a 55,000-watt sound system don’t increase your heart rate, then be sure to ride SlotZilla. As the world’s largest slot machine, this 12-story zipline is another Las Vegas record setter.

Clockwise from left: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Strip, Delano Beach Club
Image Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau

See historical Las Vegas at the Cultural Corridor, home of the Neon Museum and Boneyard, a collection of vintage and restored neon signs that helped Las Vegas earn its nickname, the “City of Lights.” An 11-minute walk down Las Vegas Boulevard, making a left on Stewart Avenue, will take you to the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. At the Mob Museum, you’ll learn of the mob’s most notable made men and the G-men who brought them down.

At 18b, the ever-expanding 18-block arts district, creativity doesn’t end in the galleries. Theaters, clothing boutiques, and antiques stores are just some of the artistic avenues available.

Low-Key or Action-Packed, There Are Events for Everyone

Las Vegas is the place for doctors to experience death-defying activities. Test your resolve on SkyJump, the controlled free fall from the Stratosphere’s 108th floor, or get thrown 160 feet into the air on the Big Shot. At Richard Petty Driving Experience, ride shotgun in a NASCAR race car or get behind the wheel of a Polaris RZR for a drive through the Mojave Desert. If Ferraris are more your speed, visit SpeedVegas, a 100-acre racing complex that’s set to open early next year.

Golf with PGA professionals like Mike Davis at the Walters Golf Academy or Chris Eastman at The Revere Golf Club. Play Jack Nicklaus’ favorite holes at his Bear’s Best course. Or stop by Topgolf Las Vegas, which is scheduled to open in spring 2016 at MGM Grand.

Relax at the newest spa on the Strip, The Spa at The LINQ, where you can listen to jazz, lounge in a eucalyptus steam room, and hang out in the Himalayan salt therapy cave. “With 45 resort spas offering hundreds of culturally diverse treatments and services, wildlife and national parks for hiking and adventure escapes, in addition to the countless dining and entertainment options,” said Ms. Smith, “Las Vegas provides the perfect blend of work and rejuvenation for business delegates.”

After the assembly, you may want to stay in Las Vegas a little longer. On Oct. 19, the third and final presidential debate will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus.

Shakeema Edwards is a writer based in Hoboken, New Jersey.