Enjoy Las Vegas Without Spending Any Money

There's more to Las Vegas than clanging slot machines, and all-you-can-eat buffets.
Leave the smoky air of the casino and head out to the great outdoors.

Exercising in the fresh air is not only good for your health, it's kind to your wallet. Las Vegas has many free attractions, if you know where to look.

Sunset Park

Sunset Park offers activities for the whole family. Spread your blanket under a shady tree, and share a picnic lunch, with a scenic lake in the background. Don't be surprised if the combination of food and a relaxed setting put you in the mood for a nap.

After a short rest, you're ready for some fun and exercise in the fresh air. Stroll over to the edge of the lake and let the smaller kids feed bread to the ducks. Stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish, this fourteen acre lake has enough room for the whole family to go fishing.

The park has 150 developed acres, with baseball fields, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, and a playground for the kids. Form a baseball team, or just relax while the kids tire themselves out at the playground.

Even the family dog can join in the fun, at the dog park. Keep Bowser on a leash as he gets acquainted with the other dogs.

Sunset Park is located in the southeast part of Las Vegas, diagonally across from
McCarran Airport.

Lions Habitat
If you're ready for a quieter activity, drive to the MGM Grand Hotel, and view the Lions Habitat. This may be the best chance to view these majestic creatures at close range, knowing the lions are safely caged behind glass.

Lions are rotated every few hours, so you're not seeing the same ones, and if you're lucky, you may have a chance to see a lion cub.

Feeding times are 11:15 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. Plan to come to the early feeding, and beat the crowd.

Little ones in your group may be intimidated by the size of the lions, so maybe someone in your group can take them for a walk, until everyone is ready to leave.

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Plant and nature lovers will marvel at the gorgeous plants, flowers and trees that adorn the garden. Coastal redwoods can reach heights of 25 feet, with poplar trees topping out at 40 feet. Miniature roses, dahlias, hydrangea, and azaleas are shipped in from various parts of the country, and receive tender loving care in an off-site greenhouse until ready for display.

To maintain the beauty of the Botanical Gardens year round, one hundred and forty expert horticulturists design unique gazebos, bridges, and ponds to match the season.

"We're here for seven days, 24 hours a day," said Tim Hunter, manager of the conservatory. "We work non-stop, around the clock."

Even though selected plants and flowers do well in climate controlled temperatures of seventy eight to eighty degrees, they are replaced every two weeks."It's always got to look nice in here," explained Hunter.

Don't miss the special attractions during the holidays. To celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2009, a 15 foot ox made of 10,000 alternantheras was on display at the Botanical Gardens.

To view the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory, visit the Bellagio Hotel and Casino at the intersection of Flamingo Road and the Las Vegas Strip.