Las Vegas – Free Activities
The bustling city of Las Vegas is known for many things, especially its vast amount of casinos. Some visitors love to spend time pulling down that lever on the penny slots and rolling the dice at a high-stakes card table.
Meanwhile, others may not want to risk big money in order to have fun. This is why many seek out free activities to simultaneously save and have a fantastic Las Vegas experience. There are many no-cost attractions to check out, and we’ve put together some of your best options below.
Las Vegas Sign
You can’t take a trip to Las Vegas without getting a picture of the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign! This distinctive landmark was designed in 1959 and has since become an unmistakable symbol of the city.
You can see the sign right as you enter Las Vegas, and you may also see groups taking a picture with it. While the area can get crowded with tourists, it’s worth the wait.
Bellagio Fountains
One of the most popular destinations in Las Vegas are the Bellagio Fountains, and they just so happen to be free. These immense fountains put on a mesmerizing show that you can enjoy over and over again.
The Bellagio Fountains display is a choreographed spectacle of water, colorful lights, and music. Streams of water perfectly coordinated with the music shoot upwards and dance in the air, creating an amazing sight. This show is great for all ages, so head down to the Bellagio and wait for the show to begin.
Mirage Volcano
Another one of Las Vegas’s wonders is the volcano outside the Mirage. Once you’re done admiring the graceful beauty of the Bellagio Fountains, get your heart racing at the rumbling Mirage Volcano. These two attractions may be on opposite ends of nature’s spectrum, but they were designed by the same person, Mark Fuller. Fuller has also designed fire and water attractions for multiple Olympic Games.
The Mirage Volcano starts by rumbling, alerting everyone that the show is about to begin. This escalates into spewing lava, pillars of smoke, and bursts of fire set to a perfectly coordinated soundtrack. The entire experience is entertaining, family-friendly, and, most importantly, free!
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
When it comes to free activities, the Bellagio has more than just fountains. After checking out the unforgettable fountain show, head inside to the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This space is a lush escape from the crowds and bright lights on the Strip.
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens consists of 14,000 square feet of incredible plant life. In typical Las Vegas fashion, no expenses are spared when it comes to making this one of the most impressive natural displays in the city. The designs in the garden vary by season and holidays. This way, no matter how many times guests visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, they can still have a unique experience.
This free attraction is easy to find, as it’s located just off the front desk area of the Bellagio. You’ll be joined by hundreds of people taking pictures of the conservatory and botanical gardens, so head over early and wander through this impressive spectacle.
Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat
Get a glimpse of nature amidst the urban environment of Las Vegas at Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat. Similar to the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, this destination is full of lush greenery and plants.
The 15-acre wildlife habitat features lush foliage, waterfalls, flowing streams, small islands, and more. In addition to flamingos, other animals inhabiting the area include exotic birds, fish, and turtles. Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat is only a short walk from the Las Vegas Strip, so it’s the perfect way to spend some time amongst nature, for free.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory
Another free, family-friendly destination in Las Vegas is the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. Anyone with a sweet tooth is going to have a great time there. While the factory is just over 20 minutes from downtown Las Vegas, it’s worth the trip for some free fun! Take a self-guided tour of the factory, where you can see the making of Ethel M’s amazing chocolates. It’s a popular destination to learn about the process of chocolate making and then to try a delicious sample after the fact.
In addition to decadent chocolate, there’s another free destination on the grounds of the Ethel M Chocolate Factory: the largest cactus garden in the Southwest. The Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden is a four-acre, completely unrelated attraction that has hundreds of species of cacti. Where else in the world can you enjoy chocolate and cacti in the same place besides Vegas?
Pinball Hall of Fame
“Pinball Wizard” by The Who might just get stuck in your head when you visit this free museum. The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas is a huge nonprofit museum filled with hundreds of pinball machines from different decades. The oldest machines in the Pinball Hall of Fame are from the 1950s. Most are from the 1960s to the 1980s, the “height of pinball.” The Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club runs the Pinball Hall of fame, and the members of this organization own many of the machines.
In addition to admiring the hundreds of kid-friendly pinball machines, visitors can play them for $0.25 to $1.
Mystic Falls Park
One of the coolest indoor experiences takes place in the lobby of an off-the-strip hotel. Inside Sam’s Town is Mystic Falls Park, an immersive show that bursts into life every two hours throughout the day.
The atrium is open to the ten stories of the hotel above, creating an airy, spacious environment. Mystic Falls Park sits at the ground floor of the lobby and is beautiful to stroll through. Even before the show, guests can enjoy a soothing waterfall and the sounds of birds chirping in the trees.
Soon enough, this peaceful experience morphs into an exciting show filled with animal sounds and beautiful lights. You’ll hear wolves howling and see colorful lights dancing throughout the lobby. The shows go on every two hours starting at 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. every day. They’re perfect for Las Vegas visitors wanting to see a show without spending too much money.