Part 2 of an ongoing series about things to do in Vegas. The things to do and reviews are free in this post and parts 3 and 4. Read ’em all to learn about everything Vegas has to offer and if seeing all the hotels is worth it! For things to do in Downtown Las Vegas and reviews for the Neon Museum, Mob Museum, and more, visit Things to Do In Las Vegas Part 1! P. S. The downtown activities, while paid, were some of my favorites so I highly recommend them.
If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you visit Part 1 of my things to do in Las Vegas series, which starts with Downtown. At least read the introduction before returning here because it will give you an idea and background for my reviews and comments. If you choose to dive in without that background, let’s just say Las Vegas has changed a lot from the old days. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not!
Anyway, I decided to write this post because I have always wanted to walk around the hotels in Las Vegas and see the essence of each one. But when I was searching for the décor in each hotel or what was enticing to see, I couldn’t find a post or resource. It may exist, but if it does, I had ZERO success finding it! So, I am creating my own – it started as one post, but turned into over 8,000 words, so I hope you enjoy these shorter tidbits 🙂
This installment of things to do in Las Vegas is ALL FREE! And it’s all free things to do the North Strip of Las Vegas. It’s also in order going South 🙂
Mostly, the free things to do in Vegas involve hotels, but which ones are worth visiting? Should you go see Treasure Island even though they removed their pirate show? (Spoiler: no. just no.) How about Circus Circus’ circus acts or Adventuredome? (You know that song High Hopes? That’s what I’m singing in my head if that gives you any ideas.) Read on for what is worth it and what isn’t!
Keep in mind, all opinions are completely my own, based on my experiences and preferences. Everyone is different and unique – and that’s ok! I also stuck to free things in hotels, so it’s solely based on décor, store wandering, and free shows not any of the attractions they host.
Also, please note several of these images were taken with an old iPhone so they may not be as good as my others! But still pretty good…
Circus Circus
Circus Circus opened in 1968 as the first family-oriented casino in Vegas. The first floor of the iconic big top was a casino, and the second held carnival games for kids, which is true today. The first hotel addition was added in 1972 and it’s had several since then, but we only walked around the big top (the world’s largest permanent one!) and Adventuredome.
In the big top, you can gamble on the first floor. However, the best stuff happens on the second. There are tons of carnival games for kids that I think adults can enjoy too. They also have an area (called Midway Stage) where circus acts perform every half hour – these shows range from juggling, trapeze artists, contortionists, and more. They post their schedule for the shows too.
The Adventuredome is free to enter and walk around, but if you want to go on any of the rides, you need tickets. The Adventuredome is a 5-acre indoor amusement park with about 25 attractions, including coasters and bumper cars.
I love that they still have their classic sign. And I love how they’ve kept so much of their original vibe. Unfortunately, they’ve let it go. They need a renovation, but not necessarily to strip it down and rebuild a modern style like so many other hotels. They just need to spruce themselves up. New paint, updated designs. But it can still be a circus, and they can still have the acts and games that are so classic. The carnival area was pretty busy and had quite a few games that looked like fun! As for the Adventuredome, it also needs some sprucing up, but they are trying.
Circus Circus review/score: 3/5
Why: Overall, Circus Circus just has a very sad vibe. It’s run down and tired, and it’s apparent everywhere you look. It’s getting a decent score because I want to see it succeed without falling prey to conformity.
The Wynn
Wynn opened in 2005 on the site of the prior Desert Inn Hotel. There’s not a theme, but the hotel and casino (in conjunction with its sister Encore) have won several awards including AAA five diamond, Mobil five star, and Michelin five star. I won’t continue to bore you because the list seriously continues. When you walk in, it’s easy to see the glamour and expense that make it such an award-winning hotel.
Seriously. I was enraptured with their bathrooms. But I won’t torment you with those pictures.
If you are looking for other cool outside things in the area, check out Death Valley!
Outside the hotel, but in the back so visitors must enter the hotel, there’s a sheet of water that falls into a 3-acre lake. In the lounges (one is called Parasol Up and the other is Parasol Down!) right next to this attraction, there’s umbrellas hanging from the ceiling providing a topsy-turvy feeling. In another area of the hotel, there’s floral creations, like a carousel and balloon, made of living flowers. There’s also a Lake of Dreams that performs similar to the Bellagio fountains… but not exactly. There’s actually no fountains. But it helps gives you an idea. Needless to say, there’s a lot to see in this magnificent hotel!
I loved the live flower creations, but the Lake of Dreams requires some more description. They start nightly at 6pm, repeating every 30 minutes until 11:30pm. Unlike the Bellagio fountains, you have to enter the Wynn and visit. The show includes dancing flowers, an interesting floating head, vibrant colors, and music by Garth Brooks! Note: The show is being updated (see previous link)!! A lady of the lake and a musical journey? Looking forward to it!
Wynn review/score: 4.75/5
Why: It’s not an experience like some other hotels, but it’s attractions and décor are beautiful in their own right. It’s smaller, which I think is a plus because you don’t have to walk over mile inside a building to see everything. The downsides are the non-unique stores and the prices of restaurants, but when you’ve got as many awards as they do, high prices are expected.
Encore
The Encore opened in 2008 as a sister to Wynn. It’s connected through the shopping area, but Wynn holds pretty much all of the attractions. That said, there are lovely touches throughout like these beautiful red butterflies! That said, it’s mostly the “boutique hotel” part of the property.
Encore review/score: 3/5
Why: There aren’t any special things to see here even though it’s connected to Wynn. I felt odd giving it a low score, but if I went back, I wouldn’t bother with Encore! And according to my scale, even 3 is high if I wouldn’t go back to see things.
Fashion Show Mall
Fashion Show Mall opened in 1981, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by going. It chic and modern, everything you expect from a shopping area on the Strip. We stopped here to look for a specific store but came across a few unique ones too. Attic Salt was my favorite, but I realized as I was doing research for this post, they have a few locations. I’m not sure how unique that’s considered, but they are all in the Vegas area, so I’m counting it! They also have a Banksy Exhibit, and even though we didn’t do that that, I thought it was bloody cool! On the weekends, the mall hosts a fashion show too (bet you couldn’t guess from the name).
Fashion Show Mall review/score: 2/5
Why: Other than these few spots and feature, it’s just a normal mall.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island Hotel and Casino opened in 1993 with a focus on family – an era in Las Vegas I didn’t even know existed! For years, they had a pirate show out front and a huge fiberglass skull as part of their roadside sign (hey, remember that skull at the Boneyard?!). After ten years, Treasure Island revamped itself to leave behind the “family friendly” era of Vegas. There was a new, more sophisticated pirate show, décor, and a modern sign. Soon after, the show too was abandoned in exchange for another shopping center on the Strip (there’s a lot…), which I didn’t find out until I was trying to figure out when I could see it. On the plus side, they kept the ships outside! As for the new sign, it’s not modern and stylish. It’s actually pretty ugly, basic, and boring. But that’s just my opinion.
Now that they have updated themselves, there’s really nothing free to do and no décor worth seeing.
You can probably already guess what my opinion of Treasure Island is. It was disappointing in nearly every way. The décor was simple and not pirate-y, the amazing signage was gone, and the show was abandoned. It’s become a sell-out/generic location, which you can see by the Senor Frog right next door. It’s redeeming quality was the Sea Nymph motorcycle, which is a piece of breathtaking artwork.
Treasure Island review/score: 1/5
Why: In its effort to become modern, it’s ruined its charisma and charm. Other than shopping (which you can do anywhere), there’s no reason to visit Treasure Island over any other hotel or casino in Vegas. Unless you want to see a cool chopper for a few minutes. Or, the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N, but that’s a completely separate attraction even if it’s on Treasure Island property. And not free.
The Venetian, Palazzo, & Grand Canal
The Venetian opened in 1999 and the Palazzo in 2007, both with Italian themes. For anyone confused, The Venetian and Palazzo are two separate hotels, but they are joined by the Grand Canal shopping complex and the same in all the major ways. The hotels themselves are impressive and beautiful, but they don’t scream Italy until you explore the Grand Canal – which of course houses the expensive gondola rides.
Even better, the Grand Canal rotates areas of its décor – when we went it was Chinese New Year, and the designs were immersive and beautiful. They even have signs strategically placed with information on whatever the décor is, so I learned a lot about the Chinese New Year theme. Outside the shopping area, Madame Tussaud’s also has a wax figure outside, so it’s fun to stop and take pictures (at least when one of you has a huge crush on Vin Diesel…)
On top of the decorations, there are multiple unique shops that I hadn’t come across. My favorites were Spirits & Spice (a rad alcohol and cooking shop with specially blended flavors of liquor, vinegars, oils, and spices), Sugarboo & Co. (whimsical home goods, paper prints, and art), Nectar Bath Treats (typical bath products, but they are in fun shapes and reinvented!), and Animazing Gallery (an art gallery specializing in conceptual animation). I loved Fabio Napoleoni’s work at Animazing in particular. A few of these may not be unique to you as they do have multiple locations, but they were new to me and not world-known names, so they count!
The Venetian & Palazzo review/score: 4.75/5
Why: I’m counting the Grand Canal Shops here because they connect – you enter them without even realizing it. Everything is close to what I wanted it to be, and it was more than I expected – largely because of the shops. The big attraction here is really the décor and window shopping, though, so if you are looking for a show this isn’t it.
Mirage
The Mirage is a Polynesian-themed resort and casino opened in 1989. It’s biggest appeal is the Volcano show in the front. Because of that, we did not enter the hotel, so my thoughts are only regarding the show. The Volcano not only erupts, but it’s set to music and a few lighting changes.
I had no prior expectations going in, but I enjoyed it. It feels like the old days of Vegas with all the free shows, but the Mirage has kept it’s show because it’s not hard to continue! It was longer than I expected, and many people flocked, so I suggest getting there at least ten minutes prior to the start. That’s when I got there, and I got a spot right on the fence.
Other than the show, there are no free things to do or see. Paid attractions include Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Exhibit – but I’m not sure about the ethics of these. The website does make a compelling case for their ethics.
Mirage review/score: 3.5/5
Why: It’s enjoyable and short. It wasn’t mind-blowing like some attractions, but I think it’s worth a watch! I love that Mirage has kept it going.
Have you done anything of these things in Las Vegas? What did you think? Let me know in the comments, and come back for more discussion for things to do for free on the Strip!
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Really cool article! I’ve never been to the Wynn. It was built after I moved away from Vegas. When I lived there I loved the Venetian and my little brother loved Caesar’s Palace. This was more than 15 years go though so a lot has changed.
Thank you! I wonder how much Caesar’s and the Venetian have changed in 15 years – they are in my next posts, and I really enjoyed them!