Destination: Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Most recently, November 7-10, 2004 (my 7th trip)
Itinerary: Flew in and out of Las Vegas
Las Vegas is just someplace you have to experience. We are definitely NOT gamblers, but we love to go to Las Vegas. We people watch, relax, take in a movie, play bingo, drive and eat! I’ve compiled a list of things to do in Las Vegas, most of them free. Times are subject to change, of course. Check it out before you go.
Here is it:
The Fountains of Bellagio
Bellagio Hotel
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.693.7111
Hours: 3:00 PM - midnight; Sat. and Sun. noon - midnight; shows every half hour until 7:00 PM, every 15 minutes from 7:00 PM – midnight Easily the most ambitious water feature ever conceived, Bellagio's world-famous fountains command the attention of the Strip as they spring to life and dance to the strains of some of the world's best music. More than forty different shows have been choreographed for the synchronized fountains. These include routines to Broadway favorites, Sinatra standards, patriotic melodies, and opera classics. Don't miss the dancing fountains at Bellagio, one of the most spectacular and memorable sights in Las Vegas! It's free, and supremely unforgettable.
Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street between Main St. and Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
702.678.5777
This pedestrian promenade in the heart of downtown Las Vegas turns up the wattage on a city already crackling with electric entertainment. Shows each hour on the hour from dusk to midnight daily. Surrounded by 10 hotels and spanning a four-block stretch, Fremont Street Experience employs more than 2.1 million lights and 540,000 watts of audio in a state-of-the-art canopy constructed 90 feet over street level. The sky truly is the limit when it comes to the one-of-a-kind light and sound shows produced here nightly. Fremont Street Experience is a can't-miss attraction in Las Vegas, and it's free!
Masquerade Show in the Sky
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103
702.252.7776
Hours: Shows at 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 9:30 PM daily; dark 11/15-19, 12/15-25
Price: Free to view, $10 to participate
Thanks to the "Masquerade Show in the Sky," it's always Carnivale at the Rio. Considered by some to be the best free show in Las Vegas, "Masquerade Show in the Sky" is a raucous parade performed in and above the casino's Masquerade Village. Consisting of talented musical performers, colorful costumes, a myriad of masks, and more beaded necklaces than you can shake a stick at, this state-of-the-art suspended parade of floats delivers airborne, Brazilian-flavored festivities seven times daily.For those seeking the ultimate in high spirits, seats can be reserved on several of the hanging floats.
MGM Grand Lion Habitat
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702.891.7777
Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM; closed 3:45 PM - 4:20 PM daily
Anybody familiar with MGM movies knows Leo, the majestic lion whose series of roars have greeted film lovers for generations. What many may not know, however, is that MGM Grand is dedicated to funding research aimed at the future preservation of the kingly cat. Visitors can learn more about lions and the MGM Grand's efforts when they visit the collection of mighty roarers at the Lion Habitat, a naturalistic environment designed by noted feline expert and lion owner Keith Evans. General admission to the Habitat is complimentary.
The Mirage Volcano
The Mirage Resort & Casino
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.791.7111
By day, a tranquil waterfall lulls passersby into a misplaced calm. By night, a volcanic inferno spews fireballs 100 feet in the air. Located at the heart of the Strip, the Mirage's lagoon is permanent home to an eruption more dependable than Old Faithful. A technical marvel, this recreation of nature's fury starts blowing its stack at dusk and continues to do so every 15 minutes until midnight. Each "performance" tends to draw a crowd, so arriving at the end of the previous eruption is recommended if you want a place at the railing. This is especially true on colder evenings when chilly spectators tend to linger for a second helping of the pyrotechnic display's intense heat.
Sirens of TI
Treasure Island at the Mirage
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.894.7111
Hours: 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM, 10:00 PM, 11:30 PM
"Sirens of TI" features more of what audiences love, swashbuckling and high seas action, but also includes some comely new additions to this boisterous show seen by more than 35 million people in the last 10 years. The new show is touted as less "yo-ho-ho," and more of a "sexy and beautiful, adult Broadway-caliber show." The Sirens of TI spice things up at this popular Strip hotel—it's out with the kitsch, in with the cool.The resort as a whole is undergoing a move toward being a more adult-oriented destination, but the show is still appropriate for family viewing.
Tropicana Bird Show
Tropicana Resort & Casino
3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702.739.2222
Hours: Shows daily except Thursday at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM
Price: Free
World-renowned animal trainer Tiana Carroll has brought her menagerie of rare, exotic, beautiful, and talented birds to Tropicana's intimate Tropics Lounge. The show's beak-guiling antics include singing, dancing, bicycling, and even upside-down juggling. Audience participation is encouraged. This show is free, so shake a tail feather and enjoy the best in avian entertainment. And don't worry about the performers forgetting their lines. They're pros, so they've learned to wing it!
Other Favorites:
- The canals and gondolas at the Venetian
- Shopping at Caesar’s Palace
- The shark reef at Mandalay Bay
- The buffets at MGM Grand, the Rio and Sam’s Town
- $.99 margaritas and shrimp cocktails at the Westward Ho
- Pretzels at NewYork, NewYork
- The Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel (go up at night and watch the Bellagio Fountain Show!)
- Gambling, bingo, bowling and movie theater at Sam’s Town
My Recommendations: GO! Las Vegas is NOT just for gambling. There is a lot to do and see, and something for everyone! The best times are spring and fall. Summers are hot, winters are cool (not Minnesota-cool, but cool enough.) March is a tremendously busy time to go. There is a new Light Rail system that goes from one end of the strip to another that makes renting a car unnecessary. There are tours you can take to Hoover Dam and other outlying areas. If you can, go Sunday through Thursday for much better rates!