Hundred years ago a desert and now a fantasy wonderland – Las Vegas is the ultimate Entertainment Capital of the World. No wonder more than 41 million people come to the city to party and gamble with the hopes of hitting the jackpot in one of the casinos and making it big. However, Las Vegas is more than just that. If you don’t fancy trying your luck in the casinos and are just interested in doing in some of the free things to do in Las Vegas, then you should check out the list given below.
Take in the sights and sounds of the Fremont Street
While the Las Vegas Strip is known for glitter and glamor, the Fremont Street Experience takes things to a whole new level with the world’s largest projection screen – the Viva Vision canopy. With more than 12 million LEDs and a 555,000-watt sound system, this five-football-field big canopy runs light shows every hour. And not just that, various acrobats, musicians, and artists perform there after dusk until midnight, thus making the Fremont Street Experience the perfect party destination.
Be a part of an Italian Carnevale at The Venetian
The Grand Canal at The Venetian is a sight in itself. But while a ride on the gondola may not be free, Carnevale di Venezia is. If you want to see Italy in Las Vegas, then The Venetian’s Carnevale di Venezia is the place to go. Just a 15-minute entertaining performance here will bring you close to the Italian opera and folk music. Couples can go for a waltz, children can check out jugglers and stilt walkers, ‘selfie crazies’ can take a picture with the colorful troupe, while art connoisseurs can enjoy the performances of the living statutes. The Italian Renaissance is enlivened at Carnevale di Venezia.
Read about Italy :Leaning Tower of Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Colosseum, Rome, Portofino,Uffizi Gallery, Pompeii
Take in some culture during First Friday
The first Friday of each month sees a creative street festival called First Friday. During the event, many studios, art galleries, and antique stores open their doors to the public for free. From live music concerts to performances by eclectic contortionists on the streets, you can enjoy it all while savoring delectable dishes from the near-by food trucks and beverage vendors. Even children can pitch in by drawing on the sidewalks with chalk. There is even a special Kid Zone to keep the little ones engrossed during their visit to the First Friday Festival. It is the perfect way to get a dose of culture in Las Vegas.
See an epic show at Cesar’s Palace
The Fall of Atlantis is a show performed inside the Forum Shops at Cesar’s Palace. It evinces the confusion that King Atlas had about which of his two sons is fit to rule Atlantis after him and then showcases the fierce feud between the two brothers for the throne. The show features amazing animatronics and impressive water and fire works.
Check out fish at the Silverton Casino
The Silverton Casino has a gigantic 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium that houses more than 4,000 varieties of fish, such as triggerfish, parrotfish, leopard shark, Achilles tang, unicorn tang, emperor angelfish, etc. Other than that, there are interactive feeding shows including one in which the marine biologists inside the tank answer anything you want to know about the fish. And if that wasn’t all, then may be mermaids can satisfy your curiosity. Hued fins, bikini tops, these mermaids are trained underwater dancers and stunt performers.
Enjoy a free circus show
Head over to the Midway in the Circus Hotel to enjoy a circus show free of cost. The performances include a roller skating duo from Hungary and Italy, quick change artists from Costa Rica and Russia, a Ukrainian hand balancer, an American trapeze artist, a Ukrainian aerial silk artist, and many jugglers and clowns. The show doesn’t feature any animals which are sure to make animal lovers happy. The show starts at 11:00 a.m and goes on throughout the day.
Check out some sweet rides at the Quad Hotel & Casino
Automobile enthusiasts will definitely love to check out the Auto Collections at the Quad Hotel & Casino. The collection features more than 250 cars with a mix of antique cars, muscle cars, military vehicles, classic luxury cars and much more that are surely must-see for connoisseurs. From Johnny Carson’s 1939 Chrysler to a Chrysler Royal 1962 to a Lincoln Continental 1919 to a 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera to a 1953 Jaguar XK120, you can catch a glimpse of all but only until they are sold. To avail free entry, you just need to take a printout of a coupon that is available on their website.
Enjoy the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino
Located just outside the Bellagio, the fountains of the hotel have become an iconic eye-catcher ever since their inclusion in the 2001 movie – Ocean’s Eleven. Thoughtfully interwoven water, music, and light make the fountains an awe-inspiring wonder for your senses. Against the beautiful backdrop of Las Vegas’ lilac sky and pouring the tunes of opera, classics and Broadway, the fountains are a realm of quietude after a hard day of gambling or roaming about.
Be amazed at the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio
The desert climate of Las Vegas isn’t suited for tropical plants, but that didn’t stop the horticulturalists at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino from creating a natural wonder to behold. No wonder more than 5 million visitors come to the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens every year to see the full-blown floral production created by the horticulturalists for the four seasons and the Chinese New Year. Apart from the seasonal exhibit, you can also enjoy live musical performances between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the South Garden.
Befriend some birds at the Flamingo
The Flamingo Las Vegas is the oldest resort still running in the city. Its 15-acre grounds are a wildlife habitat for pink Chilean flamingos, exotic ducks, black swans, koi fish, pelicans, parrots, etc. Grasslands, waterfalls, streams and brooks adorned the natural beauty of the place. It is a must-see for bird lovers or kids.
Take a course on gambling
Even after all the free things to do, if you still want to go for gambling, then you must take a gambling lesson. Many casinos in Las Vegas offer free gambling lessons, telling you about the rules of the games and the different outcomes. It is a great way to learn different gambling games in the casinos and try your hand at winning one of those. If you already know how to play, then you can ask the instructors for some tips and they might just give you some.
Image credits: Larry D. Moore,Gnuckx, David Stanley, Photographersnature, Rob Young,
Note: Some pictures are for representational purpose only