That Las Vegas has a notorious reputation is no secret; and that it is one of the most iconic places in the world, a cult classic of cities, and capitalizes on fun is also not up for debate. Though the money and the glamour that flows in and out of casinos, and the show-stopping performances might make it look like it’s a place meant for the rich and the elite, the truth is that Las Vegas is open to all and the ‘Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Sign’ is meant for everyone. If you are on a shoestring budget while on a vacation, and still want to experience Las Vegas in its full glory, you can check out these ever-popular options.
Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Bellagio was where it all started, the sowing of roots of the conservatory trend. A fanciful indoor garden that wears festival decorations in full aplomb, the Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been a favorite of visitors for long. During the holidays, the staff makes the gardens sparkle with lights and ornaments, spreading joy into the air. A lot of photo opportunities exist at the conservatory. One suggestion though, visitors should arrive early in the morning to get the best viewing opportunities, before the crowd ascends. It is open throughout the day.
Mike O’Callaghan
Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was built to ease car-piling atop Hoover Dam, which was once a part of US93. The construction of the bridge redirected traffic on the highway and opened a majestic view of the dam, in the process. The best part is that you don’t have to shell a single dollar to walk across the bridge. Placards and boards provide visitors with information regarding the history of the bridge, and the lives of the men that it is named after. Visitors can climb a fleet of stairs to access the full range of views of the bridge. At a height of 880 feet, it is a marvel of architecture and has won itself the title of the highest concrete arch bridge in the world and the second-highest bridge in the United States. For those who don’t have a fear of heights, you should walk along its 1,905 feet length because the best views of the bridge can only be found up-top.
Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation that can easily be spotted from Interstate 15 in the United States of America. It is composed of towers that reach up to a height of 35-foot and multi-colored boulders, peering out of the desert, east of Interstate 15. The installation was created by Ugo Rondinone, a Swiss artist. The boulders give off the impression of being organic rock formations, but in reality, they were found locally and put in place through heavy machinery. After appeals to extend its stay were recently approved, the Seven Magic Mountains are open for public viewing till 2021. Set against the backdrop of Jean Dry Lake and the neighboring desert, the installation deserves to be photographed for its beauty. The Seven Magic Mountains might not make it as an artwork that gets hung in a gallery but it is a wonder of creativity that needs to be applauded and seen by everyone who visits Las Vegas.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
It is a tiny pop of color in the middle of the densely-visited Strip, and arrests visitors as one of the few green surroundings in a concrete jungle. In between the large blinking signs and sidewalk shows on the Boulevard, this burst of colors known as The Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat is home to flamingos, as the name implies. But visitors are also greeted with swans, turtles, ducks, and pelicans. Picture opportunities lie everywhere, next to waterfalls and under the palm trees. Visitors can roam in for free, with walking paths marking the way, and it is one of the most fun things to do in Las Vegas, especially for kids. You can recede into your daydreams while you absorb all the serenity that, in an oasis of wealth and glitz, one might not expect to find.
Fremont Street Experience
The spectacular display of lights at The Fremont Street Experience, called Viva Vision, is a stellar amalgamation of technology and art. Impersonators, street performers, and artists that are fondly known as buskers are found all through Fremont Street who give the whole place a carnival makeover. That’s not all though, a zip line called SlotZilla whooshes past the heads of people, taking visitors for a ride. To increase this out-of-the-world ambiance even further, the overhead canopy bursts into images and music every alternate hour, adding to the atmosphere. It is one of the few free things to do in Vegas that costs nothing and gives you an unmatched experience. Fremont Street wears a humdrum attitude during the day, reserving its festivities for the night. It is also a terrific place for shopping and casino-hopping.
Fountains Of Bellagio
Giving visitors free shows in Las Vegas, of swirling waters tracing patterns on Lake Bellagio, the Fountains of Bellagio captivate visitors. Jets of water shoot upwards in graceful movements, inciting rows of applause from the audience. The show is choreographed to a quintessential Vegas playlist, with Sinatra and Elvis giving music to the dancing waters. It is a family-friendly show that is open to all ages. It doesn’t matter if you see it for the first time or the hundredth, the show casts a spell every single time. You can always spot a mass of people huddled around, with open mouths and starry eyes, bewitched by the fountains’ beauty.
All the words will fail to describe the phenomenon that is Las Vegas. As they say, one has to see it, and live it to believe it. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should include on their bucket list. There is no other place as magical and as fulfilling for tourists, vagabonds, and dreamers as Las Vegas. If there is heaven on earth, according to the poets and their epiphanies, it is this.
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