Las Vegas is known for the place to go to gamble, party and let loose. I mean, you don’t get the nickname “Sin City”, for your architecture or libraries. Sean and I love Vegas, and were able to do a quick getaway this past weekend to celebrate his birthday.
We always budget money to gamble, we think of it as our entertainment fee. If we win, that’s great but if we don’t, hopefully we had fun trying. After the money runs out at the black jack table, then what? The great answer to that is – there is so much to see and do outside of the casinos. Added bonus is there are tons of FREE entertainment options. Check out our top 10 from this trip.
10. Freemont Street Experience
Freemont Street is in downtown Las Vegas, so not on the strip. It’s a 15 minute cab or Uber ride away, and certainly a must see. Their main attraction is the canopy of lights that hosts nightly shows starting at 6pm. Suspended 90 feet above Fremont Street, are over 16 million brilliant pixels spanning 1,375 feet along the pedestrian walkway. In addition to the light show, they also have nightly music and other street entertainment.
While you are downtown you can also check out the casinos including Binions, where you can take your picture with a pyramid of $1 Million dollars, or The Golden Nugget to check out their 200,000 gallon Shark Tank. One of the newer additions that brings a little bit of modern flair to old school downtown is Circa. Circa’s big draw is their rooftop pool, Stadium Swim, featuring a massive 40 foot tall, high definition screen that can be seen from the six different pools.
9. Resorts World Globe
Resorts World is one of the newer hotels on the strip, located on the north end near Circus Circus. It’s actually three hotels in one – Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords. They have lots of high tech features throughout the hotels and casinos, including cashless gaming, digital concierge services and The Globe. Located in their shopping area, The District, you will find the 50 foot wide, 40 foot high LED globe that offers fun interactive images. You can stop and watch the show and of course get a great picture.
8. Palazzo Fountain
A lesser known fountain show, but still fun to stop and watch, can be found in front of The Palazzo. We happened along late one night and found ourselves enjoying the music, lights and water spectacle. While you are there you can head inside The Palazzo and check out the atrium waterfall and gardens.
7. Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Need a break from the casinos, or just want to enjoy some sunshine, check out the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. You will be treated with not only flamingos, but swans, turtles, fish and more. Follow the winding paths through this quiet getaway and enjoy the wildlife and lush landscape while snapping a few awesome pictures.
6. Lake of Dreams Show
The Lake of Dreams show at the Wynn is pretty amazing, my only complaint is I wish it were longer. The 3-4 minute show combines lights, music and even puppets all backdropped by the 45-foot high waterfall. You can catch this free show from the Parasol Lounge but the best viewing spot is definitely for those lucky to be dining at the waterside table in the Lakeside restaurant. They have several different interludes that rotate every half hour until 11:30pm, so if you wander around the Wynn you may be lucky to catch a few of the different shows.
5. Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes
If you’ve always dreamed of going to Venice, wandering the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian may be right up your alley. You can enjoy watching the gondolas float down the canals and hearing the sounds of the serenading gondoliers. If you are up early enough, you can catch the gondolier march as they all process and sing in unison to announce the opening of the day. While inside St. Mark’s Square you can catch performing artists throughout the day from opera singers to street mimes.
4. Mirage Volcano
Another hot show on the strip is the Volcano show outside of the Mirage Casino. With over 150 fireball cannons, fiery lava and erupting booms all set off in sync with awesome music, this show is a must see. You can catch the show nightly from 8pm – 11pm. You’ll definitely want to get there 10-15 minutes before the top of the hour to grab an up front view.
3. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Located right off the main lobby of the Bellagio is the awe-inspiring Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. You will be amazed by the 14,000 square foot garden that is maintained immaculately and the displays are changed out with each season. This free exhibit is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It’s also has the added bonus of air conditioning, which provided us some great relief from the 100+ temperatures.
2. Fountains of Bellagio
After you finish checking out the flowers inside, head outside for a crowd favorite and watch the fountain show in front of the Bellagio. These dancing fountains, spanning more than 1,000 feet, are accentuated with lights and choreographed to music. You can see the fountains backdropped by the Bellagio hotel if you stand on Las Vegas Boulevard. We caught the show from the sidewalk coming out of the Bellagio and had Paris Hotel and the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop which made for some cool pictures. Wherever you stand, you will surely enjoy this beautiful show.
1. People Watching
For us, hands down, the best FREE entertainment is the people watching! When the sun goes down the people watching only gets better. From scantily clad showgirls wanting you to take your picture with them (not free) to the over-served birthday or bachelorette party goers, you will surely be entertained. When your feet are tired from walking the strip, find a bench outside the Fountain at Bellagio or maybe stop for a snack at Grand Canal Shoppes and just watch in wonder. My personal favorite, watching the young ladies in their 4-inch heels and micro-dresses that slid up their backside with every step.
There are so many more things to see and do. Whatever you decide to do in Vegas, fun is sure to be had. We can’t wait to go back and find more things to add to our list. But for now, back to reality.