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| The Famous Las Vegas Sign |
You might be thinking that nothing in Las Vegas is for free;
there is always a catch. Well, sometimes there is a catch, but times are hard,
even in Vegas, and there are a host of freebie shows and other entertainment on
offer as the hotels and casinos fight for your business. And, whilst free often
translates to cheap and shoddy, this isn’t so here. There are free shows in
Vegas that wouldn’t be out of place on Broadway. Let’s take a look at some of
them so that you can see what I mean. Oh, and by the way, the ones I’ve chosen
are suitable for all the family so no one in your party need be left at home.
Caesar’s Palace and
the Fall of Atlantis
The Emperors of ancient Rome would have made a beeline to
this hotel had it existed in their day. Looking like a rebuilt Pompeii, the
fantastic setting of this world-famous hotel will get you in the right mood for
its Fall of Atlantis show. The show, which takes place in the hotel’s forum
shopping mall, will have a familiar ring for most fathers. The King of Atlantis
has to referee a slanging match between his son and daughter, this time the
argument is over who should be chosen to rule Atlantis. Before the king can
decide the local gods step in and save him the trouble by destroying the city
of Atlantis.
All of this is accompanied by some splendid special effects
using light, sound and the creative use of fountains. There are also some (slightly)
scary monsters who put in an appearance to help hasten the demise of the city.
The show is a delight for children and adults alike – the only pity is that it
doesn’t last longer.
However, once the
show is over you can browse round the 50,000 square foot aquarium, around which
most of the show’s action takes place. Here there is a chance to get up close
to stingrays, puffer fish and a myriad of other exotic sea creatures. Make sure
your camera battery is fully charged. If you time it right you will be able to
observe the divers who enter the aquarium twice a day to feed the fish.
The Fremont Street
Experience
Unlike most of the attractions in Las Vegas, the Fremont
Street Experience is not located on the Strip but is further north in Downtown
Las Vegas. This location gives the show a more authentic feel, a taste of the
real Las Vegas.
What Is It?
Imagine a Rio carnival atmosphere, a truly stunning son et
lumière display, crowds of people enjoying the live entertainment and you’re
somewhere close.
The centerpiece of the experience is the huge overhead
canopy on which the light show is displayed. This technological marvel has
millions of LED light modules choreographed to music from top artists such as
KISS and Bon Jovi.
If you have the nerve you can even be part of the display by
taking a ride on the “zip-line”. For those who don’t know, a zip-line is a
climbing harness attached to pulleys suspended above the ground. Once you are
strapped in you launch yourself off a platform and then take a Tarzan-like
flight, in this case just below the canopy. I’ve mentioned the zip-line in this
article because of its fun and unique experience but please be aware that the
ride isn’t free.
There’s more to Fremont Street than the lights and sounds,
fabulous though they are. The shops stay open late and you can spend some time
souvenir hunting or even having your photo taken with a Hollywood celebrity.
Well, maybe not a real one, just a lookalike, although in Las Vegas, who knows?
Obviously, the best time to visit the Fremont Street
Experience is in the evening, so it’ll mean a late night for the kids, but that
all adds to the fun and excitement of being on holiday.
Clowning Around at
the Circus Circus Hotel
Everyone loves a circus, especially when it’s free. The
world’s largest permanent circus performs daily in the Carnival Midway at this
larger than life family-friendly Las Vegas hotel.
Thrill to dazzling displays of dexterity by world-class
trapeze artists, jugglers, acrobats and clowns, and marvel at the fact that you
are getting the opportunity to watch this extravaganza free of charge. The
shows take place daily from 11 am and they are very popular so be prepared to
tear yourself away from whatever else you’re doing to be in line for a good
view.
The circus stage is surrounded by an old-fashioned fun fair
where you can indulge in a bit of nostalgia and win a teddy bear while you’re
waiting for the next performance.
Streetmosphere At The
Venetian Hotel
The Venetian Hotel succeeds in bringing a slice of Italy to
the desert with its replica of St Mark’s Square and the evocative Grand Canal
Shopping Mall complete with waterways and gondoliers.
A streetmosphere performance takes place at various times
throughout the day when the mall comes alive with opera singers, stilt-walkers
and dancers, all decked out in Italian costumes from the days of the Renaissance.
The performers take the time to interact with their audience and, to help the
memories stay with you, are available for photographs after the show.
In the mall is a superb mix of shops where you can search for
a special souvenir or browse the many designer boutiques. For a real “Italian”
experience take a ride in a gondola along the canal. See if you can spot the
mini Rialto Bridge as you glide through the water. Please note that there is a
charge for gondola rides although entrance to the mall is free.
As well as the free entertainment that abounds in Vegas, there is also, of course, a huge selection of shows that are not free. Well, Las Vegas is the "Entertainmnent Capital of the World" is it not?
Stars of the caliber of Celine Dion, Elton John, Tim McGraw and many others will be taking center stage in Sin City this summer. The youngsters might find the concerts a bit boring so Vegas has organized some fabulous shows just for the family. There's the ever popular Cirque Du Soleil and there are variety type extravaganzas featuring magicians and comedy. Something for everyone in fact.
Take a look at what Las Vegas has to offer by clicking on the picture below. And have a wonderful time!
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