When visiting do you guys recommend staying on the strip or not?

then yes, that's where it's at.

Will that work?

Yes a mile away from the strip is fine for hobbying & personall time & most likely you'll need a car to get around for any personal errands.

When I visited Vegas in November, I stayed at the Wynn. Great place right across from the mall

off the strip... and be in a quiet relaxed hotel... and take an uber to the strip for stuff to do.  
I was just in Vegas over the weekend