Free Vegas: The Fremont Street Experience

Las Vegas: gambling, partying, drinking, and the largest LCD big screen in the world?

Many of Sin City's hotel and casino mega-resorts boast some sort of oversized attraction to lure tourists and visitors to the floors of their casinos. The fountains of Bellagio. The Volcano at the Mirage. The giant canals of the Venetian. The "Sirens of TI" pirate show at Treasure Island. These are a few of the attractions on the Strip that are free and designed to attract the tourist's dollar.

Head down to Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas and you'll find the largest LCD big screen in the world. Where exactly is it? Look up, it's overhead - arching over pedestrian friendly Fremont Street. During the day in the above 100 degree weather of the desert, the big screen (known as Viva Vision), shades all of Fremont Street and the casinos that line it. Walk on the strip during the day and you'll likely pass out from the heat, but head over to Fremont Street and you can enjoy a drink while walking in the shade of this behemoth. And at night, every hour on the hour you'll notice thousands of people craning their necks skywards to take in the free light and video shows that dance across the screen. From a tribute to the American landscape to dice and chips rolling to a large alien invasion, you'll never know exactly what you'll see overhead.

When you're not taking in the massive aerial shows on the big screen, you can try your luck in one of the many downtown casino's that line Fremont Street. The Golden Nugget, Binion's Horseshoe, the Las Vegas Club, and the Four Queens are just a few of the casino's that are a part of the downtown Vegas party. Many of these casino's offer generous bonuses to attract tourists and compete with the Strip's mega-resorts. They also offer some of the lowest limits at the tables in Vegas. If you want to play $5 blackjack, head down to Fremont Street.

And while you're strolling around - be sure to stop into the Golden Nugget and see it's namesake - the largest golden nugget in the world is on display in the casino. It's located near the pool, which boasts a large shark tank in the middle which swimmers can slide through from the upper level bar on down to the pool in a long waterslide.

To go along with the big screen - Fremont Street has several stages on which different performers play music nightly. This spot is also one of the best places to people watch as you not only have tourists passing through - but many colorful locals who come out at night to dance and party to the free music. On the weekends there is also a motorcycle show in which 4 motorcyclists ride in super tight loops inside a steel globe to the "oh's" and "ah's" of the crowd.

Many weeks throughout the year Fremont Street plays host to various car and motorcycle shows. Grab a giant margarita and stroll among the classic cars or custom bikes parked on the walkway.

For many years - the final table of the World Series of Poker played out on a table in front and outside of Binion's Horseshoe - the casino which many consider the birthplace of the modern poker boom. There's a lot of history in downtown Las Vegas - so if you're tired of fighting your way through the crowds on the Strip, head down to Fremont Street and poke your head into the many shops along the street and try your luck at one of the many casino's while enjoying the many free and giant attractions of downtown Sin City.