Las Vegas Strip Cheap & Free Tourism with Style
Budget-Wise Non-Gambling Relaxed Fun In Sin City
Oct 29, 2009
Las Vegas Boulevard, also called The Strip, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is best known for its night life and adult-only entertainment. However, for those who know where and when to look, non-gambling, non-alcoholic, and budget-friendly relaxed fun can make a good get-away too.
Bellagio's Free and Breath-taking Sites
Wander the Bellagio’s shopping mall, and the chocolate fountain is a free decadent joy for the Las Vegas guests’ eyes. Of course, few walk past the chocolate fountain without going into the shop and partaking of its tasty treasures, which may be worth a small investment for the flavorful satisfaction.
Bellagio’s upscale galleria style mall has wide, beautiful walkways leading guests to the breath-taking surprise in Bellagio’s lobby. A visual fiesta draws all eyes upward to the massive and gorgeous hand-blown glass flower menagerie overhead, made by the world-famous hand-blown glass artist, Dale Chihuly.
Just beyond the lobby, visitors are enticed into the Bellagio’s Botanical Garden and nature walk in another awe-inspiring art form. This free, indoor Bellagio Botanical Garden walk changes with the seasons.
Outside are the famous Bellagio water fountains. The free show of synchronized water and music show begins every 15 minutes starting at about 4 o'clock each afternoon, running until about 10 o'clock at night. The fountains have even been featured in movies, like Ocean's Eleven with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Bellagio Casino Hotel, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109, Telephone: Room Reservations and Via Bellagio (shopping mall) information: 888-987-6667, Open 7 days 10 a.m. to Midnight
No Need for a Passport to France for the Eiffel Tower Experience
Visible across the street from the Bellagio is the sidewalk trek to the Eiffle Tower. Paris is for lovers and families too. The Parisian Eiffel Tower is a half-scale model of the historic Eiffel Tower, and Las Vegas visitors can go up about 50 stories high into its version, without traveling all the way to France. There’s an observation deck at the top to see the whole Las Vegas skyline, a glass elevator, and even a restaurant on the 11th floor where guests with reservations can eat and enjoy the view.
The Eiffel Tower Experience: 3645 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109, Phones (702) 946-7000 or (888) 266-5687; the tower elevator has no age, height, or weight restrictions. Children age 5 and under are free. From 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM Prices are $10 for Adults, $7 for Seniors over age 65 and Children age 6 to 12, and a Family 4 Pack Ticket Special of $30 (2 Adults +2 Children); Between 7:30 PM and 12:30 AM, prices are a little higher at Adults $12, Seniors & Children $10, and no Family 4 Pack Tickets are offered.
Escape to Venice, Italy at Grand Canal Shoppes
Follow the canal and gondoliers behind the Eiffel Tower, into the Grand Canal Shoppes. Like walking the streets of Venice with the echoes of gondoliers serenading couples as they romantically float through the canals. You don’t have to pay a gondolier to enjoy their grand vocalizations which take you away to a Venetian holiday. Just follow the aroma of any tasty bakeries or delicatessens along the enclosed, cleverly decorated, Venice-like “streets,” stake out your claim at a nearby bistro table with a snack, and enjoy the show for as long as you please. Walking the Grand Canal Shoppes can bring a day of constant free live music on the Las Vegas Strip, with free or cheap food, if you bring your own, hit the food court deli, or fast food stops mixed among the canal shoppes.
The Grand Canal Shoppes, 3377 Las Vegas Boulevard South Suite 2600, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, phone 702.414.4500; Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m.-Midnight
MGM Grand's Lion Habitat and Rainforest Cafe'
The MGM Grand plays up to its famous iconic roaring lion symbol, with its MGM Grand Lion Habitat. The lions are very happy, because they don’t actually live in the glass enclosure. They stop by for a visit from a nearby ranch where they roam freely and live the life a lion should. The lions are in the Habitat only a few hours in the middle of the day, so visitors to Vegas should stop by the MGM Grand between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. if they want to catch a glimpse of some of the famous MGM lions. The habitat is FREE to visitors, and lucky folks who stop by around 11:15 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. get in on the lions' feeding time!
While there, plan to keep the wildlife theme going by eating lunch in the MGM Grand Rainforest Café. The fun atmosphere includes huge salt and fresh water aquariums of colorful fish. Visitors pass through a tropical entry into a rainforest world of electronic synchronized tropical rainstorms, waterfalls, and jungle animals in robotic animation all around. The menu includes something for every pallet from burgers to salads and soups, ranging in price from $5.99 to upwards of $14.99.
MGM Grand Hotel Resort: 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, phone (702) 891-3832; Lion Habitat: open daily, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Feeding times are 11:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. Free; MGM Rainforest Café open Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-12 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 a.m
These 4 cheap and free Vegas Strip tourism suggestions are easily done in a relaxing day or two, and within walking distance of each other.
For further reading, see Budget Dining in the Luxor, Venetian, and Bellagio, by Lynn Pritchett.
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