The STRAT, The Strip's Tallest Building, Offers Heart-Stopping Vegas Views

Las Vegas is a city of big thrills. From world-class concerts and the Strip's unbelievable nightlife to hitting hard fours shooting craps, the Entertainment Capital of the World is indeed entertaining. There's simply no shortage of once-in-a-lifetime experiences to discover within the city's raucous glitz. However, there's one experience that's easy to find.

If you simply look up from almost anywhere in Las Vegas, you'll spot The STRAT. Also known as The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod, the structure is the tallest building in the city. While the casino can surely offer its share of thrills, the SkyPod beckons another type of thrill-seeker.

At 1,149 feet in height, The STRAT is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, providing unbelievable Las Vegas views. While the SkyPod observation deck is typically the initial draw for visitors, the off-the-edge thrill rides and unique dining experiences tend to put the "high" into memorable Vegas trip highlights.

The STRAT features both an indoor and outdoor observation deck, and while admiring the stratospheric views of the Las Vegas Strip and beyond, you can grab a sweet treat, sandwich, or handcrafted cocktail (for a little liquid courage) from 108 Eats, so named because it's located on The STRAT's 108th floor.

For those a bit hesitant about heights, The STRAT's observation deck may be exhilarating enough. However, for thrill-seekers, the SkyPod offers heart-pumping, high-altitude rides for braver dice-throwers, including Big Shot and X-Scream. 

On Big Shot, you're shot straight up the tower mast of The STRAT at 45 miles per hour, where you'll dangle from 1,081 feet. Not to be outdone, X-Scream is a roller coaster ride that takes you 27 feet over the tower's edge, giving riders a feeling of weightlessness while peering over the Strip. Currently, the cost of admission to the SkyPod is $20, with thrill rides costing an additional $5 to experience. 

If these thrill rides aren't enough to fix your adrenaline itch, you can also schedule a SkyJump, which is an open-air leap followed by a controlled, decelerating fall onto a landing pad below. Topping out at over 40 miles per hour, this "controlled" fall may not control the screaming. 

While the SkyPod certainly provides high-octane activities for thrill-seekers, the Las Vegas attraction also invites traveling meal-seekers to experience the heights. Located just under the observation decks, the Top of the World restaurant provides a literally elevated dining experience for its guests.

Slowly turning 800 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, Top of the World has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 24 consecutive years. The fine dining restaurant serves international cuisine, steak dishes, and seafood entrees in an elegant atmosphere. 

Pairing its food with astonishing views, the restaurant actually rotates 360 degrees every 80 minutes, offering different vantage points of the Las Vegas skyline and surrounding landscape throughout the meal.

Whether you visit The STRAT for an elevated meal, an unforgettable thrill, amazing views, or some combination of all three, the trip up to the SkyPod will surely top the Las Vegas list of memorable experiences.