7 things to do under $21 in Las Vegas
 

For those who want to spend more time than money in Las Vegas, here are 7 things to do for less than $21, all aimed at keeping the bottom line low and the fun factor high.

1. Springs Preserve. Forsake the fake pyramid and fake Statue of Liberty for a power walk through the real Vegas: 110 acres of pre-Bugsy Siegel desert. There are miles of cactus-filled trails, botanic gardens and a museum that pays tribute to the city's Mojave Desert roots. Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

2.Hoover Dam Bypass. The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, as it's officially known, opened two years ago to ease traffic congestion at Hoover Dam. The bridge, about 35 miles south of Las Vegas, became an instant landmark for its breathtaking views of the dam and the Colorado River. Pull off U.S. 93, take a stroll over the span and snap a few pictures.

3.Can you say Chi-hu-ly? Glass man Dale Chihuly seems to be everywhere in Vegas. The chandelier in the lobby of the Bellagio is a must-see, with layers and layers of glass flowers and petals in the massive sculpture. Then tour the Gallery at Crystals Place in CityCenter where the artist's glass works sell for $4,000 to $640,000 — but window-shopping is free.

4.Mandarin Oriental Tea Lounge. This calming refuge awaits on the 23rd floor of the luxe, gaming-free hotel. A pot of tea — organic lychee green or jasmine Earl Grey — is about $12 a person. There's no better place to look out over the Strip, particularly during the late-afternoon lull, and watch the lights come up. Afternoon tea 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

5.Take home a souvenir that captures the glamour of Las Vegas. (You could always say you were in the show.) Get a free picture taken with a showgirl, with the famed "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign as a backdrop. Go to Harrah's near the north entrance of the casino.

6.The Mob Museum__No one goes to Las Vegas to visit a museum, but the hottest new attraction in town may be the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement. Exhibits give equal time to crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone and the men who pursued them, from J. Edgar Hoover to Rudy Giuliani. Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $13.95 for children 5-17. 300 Stewart Ave.; (702) 229-2734,

7.Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. It's not as adrenaline-pumping as the Stratosphere Tower ride, but going 460 feet up the Eiffel Tower (half the scale of the real one) offers spectacular panoramas of the Strip — without being strapped in. Why not create your own "Midnight in Paris" moment? It's open 9:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. (barring bad weather) and costs $10.50-$15.50 for adults and $7.50-$10.50 for children.

Thank you! Awesome ideas :-)

Valley of Fire
Red Rock Canyon
Death Valley NP
Zion NP

Some nice suggestions, but I never thought I'd live to see the day when buying just a pot of tea for two for $24 (plus tax and tip -- $30 total?) would appear in a budget post! In fact afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental is listed at $72 for two -- more like $90 by the time you are done.

But I guess you could go in and just order the pot of tea alone?

"Glass man Dale Chihuly seems to be everywhere in Vegas."

You could have put a period after "everywhere." He has an installation at just about every two bit art museum across the midwest. Overrated, IMHO.

The Cosmopolitan hotel has an awesome buffet for less than $21.

I don't gamble so Las Vegas is somewhere to pass through for me. I spent a night in downtown LV once.

The Fremont Street Experience is free. I thought it was fun for an hour.

Also after looking at Chihuly, I visited the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Looked at the displays at the Jean Philippe Patisserie and bought an expensive ice cream (oh wait, it was a gelato).

Went to look at the Caesars Palace shops and bought a croissant for myself and one for a friend at Payard.

Don't feel a need to spend anymore time there. We used Mesquite instead for a recent stopover on the way to Utah.

There are a number of awesome places to visit in Vegas, but these are the ones that fit under $21 pp. Also, tickets could be available at an amazing cheap price from Letsflycheaper.

The mob museum does sound pretty fun. There's actually a lot to do for free in Vegas too. I had the privilege of going twice in 2014 and will be back in January 2015. Doing research on how to stretch my travel dollar this time around.

This article also has some good ideas on free things to do in Vegas. http://www.hoteldealsrevealed.com/bl...-vegas-nevada/

The Bellagio fountains, and the volcano eruption are my faves. I miss the pirate show at Treasure Island. Wish they would bring it back.

Just did the Mob Museum a couple of weeks ago-- it is awesome. You need two to three hours to do it justice.

Also if you like a little low rolling slot play, off the strip on Koval is Ellis Island, a really nice small casino that has a nice little café where you can get a good basic eggs/bacon, toast breakfast for $3.99 The place even has its own brewery and the beer is quite good. Join the players club, play $10 on the slots, and get at least $10 in free play. Hubby got his $10 and I got $175 in free play. So fun!