- Downtown Las Vegas. - Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau.
The Las Vegas strip, a long boulevard filled with massive, modern hotels and casinos, has long been considered the city's main attraction. The site for dozens of movies and television shows, the Strip has become synonymous with Vegas. But what about the older, less expensive casinos just north of the city – Las Vegas' original central area? Few venture into downtown Vegas, but for those who do, this hidden treasure is well worth the discovery.
The Golden Nugget's Pool and Aquarium
The hotels and casinos that line Fremont Street – including the Golden Nugget, Fremont Hotel and Casino, 4 Queens, and Binion's, just to name a few – are more run-down to be sure, but they also have a sense of history that the newer buildings lack, and some of the older attractions have been beautifully refurbished. At the Golden Nugget hotel and casino, the pool has become a spectacle within itself, having been transformed three years ago into a sprawling oasis complete with a water slide, a private pool and bar for adults, and an enormous aquarium filled with exotic fish and sharks (through which the water slide winds).
Cheap Drinks and Gambling, Free Entertainment
Venturing outside the Golden Nugget, the atmosphere is more relaxed and intimate than on the Strip. The casinos are closer together, so there is less walking involved when going from place to place. There is also free entertainment every night – everything from live bands playing to saxophone soloists, to show girls wandering up and down the street. Another great benefit that is sorely lacking on the Strip is the cheaper prices. For example, a vodka cranberry at the Bellagio is a staggering $8.50, while the same drink at Binion's in downtown Las Vegas is a much more reasonable $5.00. All of the casinos in downtown Vegas have much cheaper buy-ins for their table games, including blackjack and poker. The average price to buy in to a table at a casino on Fremont street is about $5.00, while the same tables on the Strip can average up to $10.00.
The Fremont Street Experience: A Must-See
In addition to the cheaper drinks and gambling, there is also a unique spectacle that occurs every night, appropriately called the Fremont Street Experience. A large screen extends 90 feet overhead for five blocks on Fremont Street and plays free shows every hour from dusk until midnight. The screen looks like a giant canopy has been turned into a plasma T.V., and the lighting and sound are excellent. Currently there is a 70s-music theme, with the screen displaying images and music from that era. Many of the live bands playing on Fremont Street also have a 70s, disco vibe.
For a change of pace from the usual high prices, long walks, and slick modernity of the Strip, downtown Las Vegas and particularly the Fremont Street experience is an excellent alternative.
Jenna Becker - Hi, my name is Jenna Becker and I recently graduated from the University of Colorado. I am passionate about writing and I have always ...
