Things to Do in Mesquite

King Putt takes the rigors of an outdoor ground game and translates them into an indoor glow-in-the-dark experience. The ultimate mini golf package spoils players with two rounds of mini golf, two glow-in-the-dark necklaces, and one game of air hockey. King Putt's northwest course encourages birdies and eagles amid a jungle environment of jolly, golf-enthused animals. The southeast locale near Henderson provides an Egyptian backdrop, with Anubis heads and black-lit sarcophagi setting the scene for each stroke. Mini golfers can also celebrate the earth's habit of walking in circles by purchasing a birthday package ($215, not included with the cost of this Groupon), then use this deal to invite two additional friends after filling the allotted 10 spots. Partiers enjoy 18 holes of putting-green navigation, a magic show, pizza and beverages, and a private party room.

The finale of Campus MovieFest features screenings of more than 250 student films; industry workshops; guest appearances by directors, actors, and screenwriters such as Mark Boal and John Ortiz; and the national grand finale of the College Battle of the Bands. All student movies were made in just one week and span the entire country, drawing around 75,000 participants. Bus explosions and spontaneous implosions are left for hubris-heaped Hollywood as these low-to-no-budget films explore the full spectrum of film, from comedy to drama to llama. The $29 ticket avails you of the final 16 films, beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday, featuring door prizes, guest presenters, and awards for the winners.

Like a magnet inside a paper-clip factory, the Las Vegas Film Festival attracts celluloid images capturing the visions of storytellers from around the globe. Taking over Vegas's renowned Hilton Hotel from July 19-22, the fest unveils the best of these silver-screen treats in showings and award ceremonies. The schedule is also peppered with industry panels in which professional filmmakers and actors discuss the nitty-gritty of breaking into the film business. As the sun sets, the structured events of the day give way to red-carpet arrivals, evening soirees, and late-night Citizen Kane 2 writing sessions.

Madame Tussaud began crafting wax likenesses in 1770s Paris, and a sense of history clings to her wax museums around the globe today—according to the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventurers, the location is haunted by unsettled spirits. By day, the collection of wax sculptures fills the serene exhibits with characters ranging from daredevil Evel Knievel (complete with his original Harley Davidson and good-luck teddy bear) to Lady Gaga and Whoopi Goldberg. A Hugh Hefner figure, wearing the Playboy magnate’s signature smoking jacket, reclines on a bed, and a nightclub-themed section of the museum honors Las Vegas’s entertainment history with a waxen Elvis and Wayne Newton.

Velvet ropes no longer cordon figures off from the public, granting guests up-close-and-personal photo ops. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas honors its spooky roots with special late-night Scream events, a shriek-inducing tour through a maximum-security prison set interspersed with ghoulish wax figures and live actors.

European Formula EK20 karts whiz by on Pole Position Raceway’s quarter-mile track, cruising at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Spectators crank their heads to keep up. There’s no wind to battle against, no sun blinding the drivers’ eyes, and no birds rigging the race by dropping smoke bombs because all of Pole Position Raceway’s competitions happen inside. This is thanks to a fleet of electric-powered karts, which accelerate more quickly and hug curves more smoothly than gas-powered karts without dumping out clouds of exhaust.

To sate speed cravings, drivers simply arrive and drive—show up and nab one of 13 spots in the next race. Then with a DOT-approved racing helmet, they push the pedal to the floor for roughly 10 minutes, drafting their opponents to fly past them near the finish line. At the end of each race, drivers receive a SpeedSheet that displays their race results, fastest lap time, and the likelihood of getting their own action-movie franchise. For those seeking to dive deep into the world of racing, Pole Position Raceway offers driving clinics and youth racing camps, where younger racers pilot EK10 karts that peak at 20 mph.

Desert Pines Golf Club

From the framed photos of legendary players lining the walls of the stately clubhouse to the last putt on the meticulously manicured 18th green, Desert Pines Golf Club surrounds players with tradition. Named one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the nation by Golf Digest, the Pete Dye design opened in 1997 and received a major overhaul 10 years later, complete with 18 newly designed and rebuilt greens. The course features rolling mounds and thousands of mature pines that delineate narrow fairways, yielding beautiful views and occasional lucky bounces back to safety. Unlike other area courses and driving ranges that double as airport runways, wind isn't much of a factor at Desert Pines, thanks to its low elevation, dense foliage, and zero-gravity tee boxes.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,810 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.6 from the back tees
• Course slope of 125 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard:m]]

Royal Links Golf Club

Recognized as the Best Course in Las Vegas in 2006 by the Review-Journal, Royal Links Golf Club honors the game’s centuries-old traditions with a links-style labyrinth of holes modeled after 11 British Open rotation courses. The Dye International design transports players to such famous holes as the Road Hole at St. Andrews and the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, and commemorates great moments in British Open history with monuments interspersed throughout the course. As players crush their drives down hilly, narrow fairways, professional forecaddies illuminate the hole’s history, warn players of hidden pot bunkers, and squelch rumors about a local ball-eating Nessie lurking in the waterways.

After completing a round, golfers can head to the elegant clubhouse, which borrows architectural details from Scottish castles, or load up on gear at the pro shop, named one of America’s 100 Best Golf Shops in 2004 and 2005 by Golf World.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 7,029 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 73.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 135 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard:m]]