There are many things to do in Las Vegas besides the strip which most people come to see, don't get me wrong it is a blast but Vegas has so much more to offer off the beaten path.  One of our favorite things to do is find new places to explore or activities to do.  We had an old friend come to town who wanted to see what else Vegas had to offer so we ventured to the Downtown Container Park.  What a fun concept for an open air shopping and entertainment venue.

Downtown Container Park Las Vegas

The Container Park features 39 shops, restaurants, and bars, located just a few block from Fremont Street.  The park is fairly new and opened in December 2013 and was built from 43 repurposed shipping containers and 41 locally manufactured Xtreme cubes.  The Container Park’s shops range from boutiques offering a variety of apparel, jewelry and accessories to art galleries, home décor and fixtures, offices, and a barbershop housed in a retired boxcar and caboose. The park also includes restaurants and bars with indoor and outdoor seating, and spots for a quick treat including cupcakes, an old-fashioned candy shop, a gourmet popcorn store, and more.

Loving the BBQ at @BigErnsBBQ it's a must have in #vegas #goodeats pic.twitter.com/u3cJdf2axp

— Laura Cyra (@lcyra) July 29, 2014

Our favorite restaurant is Big Ern's BBQ.  We tried almost all the meat they had to offer and were impressed with it all, the flavor is delicious and the spicy bbq sauce is a must try and when the meat is smoked for twelve hours you know its going to be delish.  They also offering catering or meals to go so if you're in a rush give them a call and place an order you won't be disappointed!

Downtown Container Park Treehouse

For the kids an interactive play area sits right in the middle of the park, which features The Treehouse, a one-of-a-kind, dynamic environment where both children and adults can have fun and be active while exploring their creativity. Special features of The Treehouse include a 33-foot-tall slide, NEOS play system, oversized foam building blocks, and much more.  Take the kids on a scavenger hunt in the treehouse or sit back and watch them play!

When it comes to entertainment the Downtown Container Park includes a stage for presentations and live performances, which take place throughout the day, as well as evening concerts.  We thought it was a fun idea that they had movies in the park during the summer, what a fun date night!

Easy to find at the intersection of 7th Street and Fremont Street – 707 Fremont Street.  The Container Park’s stores are open Mon – Sat from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sun from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  While restaurants and bars are open Sun – Thurs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Fri – Sat from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

If you're in the Las Vegas area and looking for something to do off strip I highly recommend the Downtown Container Park, sitting on 1.1 acres they offer fun for the whole family.  If you have any questions while you're there the staff is more than happy to help.  I know we'll be back to eat, shop and relax again soon.

Stay tuned for more fun outings in Las Vegas!

Photo credits to Emily Wilson and Downtown Project