Free Activities in Las Vegas
 

I've planned a trip in Las Vegas in August. It's a girl's trip celebrating my daughter's 21st birthday and my mother's 75th. We'll be staying at Harrah's because it will be free, and we basically have 5 full days.

We plan to see Le Reve, but I'm interested in what free activities are recommended. Please give some advice on these options.

Bellagio Conservatory and Fountains
Ceasar's Palace Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain Show
Freemont Street Experience
MGM Grand Lion Habitat
Treasure Island Sirens show
Venetian Canals and Street sho
Mirage Volcano
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Other than the Sirens show, I would say that all of that is worthwhile and that you have plenty of time for it.

With 5 days, I would also recommend that you rent a car for 24 hours and get out to see what else the surrounding area has to offer. Zion National Park is my favorite day trip, but it is 2.5 hours each way. Red Rock Canyon is much closer, and Valley of Fire/Lake Mead makes for a wonderful afternoon drive. Hoover Dam is on most must-see lists, too.

There are several car rental offices right on the strip and rates are reasonable...so find the nearest Avis, Budget or Dollar location and book something....it requires no pre-payment and you are under no obligation if you change your mind and decide not to take a day trip. Parking at all the hotels is free (just a tip of a couple bucks if you use valet instead of self-parking), so you could use the car at night to see some of the big casinos that are just too far to walk to with a 75 year old. I would recommend renting around noon for a nice afternoon adventure-drive, using the car at night for some casino-hopping, and then you'll have the car until noon the next morning to have a nice off-strip locals breakfast or to visit one of the outlet malls a couple of miles down south of the strip.

I have to agree about with the above about the Sirens show. It's pretty sleezy.

divineMM,
Didn't I just see you on a thread about ATL...:-)

I actually was considering a day trip early one morning to Hoover Dam, I just wasn't sure it would be something my daughter would care about. My mother is probably in better shape than I am, so I'm not so worried about her walking. She went to Peru and Galapagos last year and climbed Machu Picchu.

If we choose to venture out to the dam, do you recommend renting a car or taking some sort of excursion tour? I was under the impression that most hotels charge for parking.

So is the Sirens show just too awful? I thought the previous Pirates show was well thought of...if this one a real bust?

When we were in LV last year, none of the hotels charged for parking. I'd recommend renting a car to see Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon, both of which we really enjoyed.

I didn't think the Sirens show was too awful - just sexed up since Vegas abandoned the "family-fit" theme. We were in the area and my family still enjoyed it. I actually won at the bar poker game in Tropicana and the drinks were comp-ed so that may color my point of view. I wouldn't skip it if I was in the area but I'm not sure I would make a special effort. Tropicana is right next door to the shopping mall so if you want to stop there, stay for the Sirens.
When you see the volcano, stop in and see the tigers in Mirage too. We enjoyed the dolphin habitat at Mirage too, although that is a day-time experience. Flamingo has a nice walk through too.
And if your 21 yr old is into rock and roll, a stroll through the Hard Rock Hotel and/or Cafe may be fun (but bring ear plugs for you and your mom since it is Loud). We love to breakfast at Mr. Lucky's 24-7 and they used to have some "secret special" but I never got it even when I remembered it. Their menu had plenty of options.
I haven't been in since Alladin switched to Planet Hollywood but I used to enjoy the shopping area that they called Desert Passage so you may want to check it out.
Personally, I wouldn't make a special trip for the Fremont Experience. We were under-whelmed and there was no other reason for us to be downtown since we don't gamble much. My father loves to shoot crap but only downtown so we stayed for the show. But we go to Vegas yearly and I've never been back. I still hold to my father's advice to take advantage of valet parking since it is typically free (except for tips) - use if because if you were a thug looking for someone carrying cash and didn't want many people around, where would you look? Right - in the self park lots. Something to think about.
If you haven't been to Hoover Dam, definitely go with a car so you can stay or go at your leisure. But go. And have a great trip! Oh and I Loved to cruise Vegas playing Sinatra, Darin, and the Rat Pack CDs, so if you have any - bring them!

Love all the suggestions. I've lived right outside of LV for 11 years. Do all on your list (it's plenty of time) but take time to rent a car for a day or two, it will be well worth it. Go up to Mt Charleston, it's so beautiful. That's only about an hour or so, and they have the lodge for a nice lunch. Or, go to the dam early am (because it's cooler and nicer, as well as less crowded). Then keep on going into AZ, go to Kingman and take Highway 66 to the Cave near Peach Springs. On the way at the Kingman Airport, you can take a free tour and tasting at the new Distillery, they make Rum and Vodka. But the Cave is a must see, and you can take an elevator down into it and take the tour there. It is cool and peaceful, and the museum is cool to. There is alot in Kingman, or you can keep going to Flagstaff, it's another 2 hours past Kingman. (Kingman is only about 1 hour from the Dam). If you go to Flagstaff, have a nice dinner and then come back to LV. The drive is easy, the roads are good. And you get to see a bit of AZ. Utah's Parks are so beautiful too. Just depends on which direction you want...and where you want to explore. If you don't want to go as far as Flagstaff, you can go up Hailapai mountain (Kingman) and there is a lodge up there with a wonderful restaurant. And it's very nice weather up there, up high elevation and all. We just found out about the lodge and restaurant up there...but all the locals know about it. Lake Havasu is nearby, but it is HOT there, being much lower in elevation. I wouldn't suggest it during the summer. I live near Lake Mead, and it's just not the best thing to do on a summer day, more like a Fall or Spring activity. Too hot. Have fun!

Yikes. We walked away from the Sirens show last week in progress -- IMO not worth the time spent to stand on the sidewalk. Sleezy, yep. But not clever enough to be engaging Again, just my opinion.

Family "Freebee" Favorites: (Family = Mom, Dad & 11, 15 and 17 year-old kids.)

Volcano @ Mirage
Bellagio Fountains
MGM Lions

Least Loved:

Flamingo Wildlife
and of course Sirens

The Atlantis/Festival Fountain Shows were alright, but LOUD (since inside) and perhaps not worth walking into Forum Shops for that sole purpose -- but it was COOL inside - a definite bonus in July!

We stayed & Flamingo, THEHotel (Mandalay Bay), Red Rocks and The Mirage (pool-hopping w/the kids) and also parked @ MGM and ALL were FREE PARKING.

More later in trip report -- just thought I'd throw a few thoughts out there. Have fun! :)

IMHO all of those activities are marginal - OK if free but not worth a lot of time - and can be covered easily in a very short period of time.

For instance the lions at MGM can be seen in 15 minutes max.

You will need a lot of other things to so/see to fill up 5 days - unless you plan on spending mornings and late afternoons at the pool (middays will be WAY too hot).

Agree! We are talking about a lot of walking for maybe 15 minutes max per attraction (as per nytraveler above).