Its been over a year that I have lived in Las Vegas and I have been making the best of it. Surprisingly, most people think of Vegas as this four-mile road known as “The Strip”.
Though the strip has a lot to offer it is not the only part of the downtown area you should checkout. Among many things, Fremont Street should be one of them.
History
Fremont Street is named after John Charles Fremont, an American explorer. The street itself has its roots when the city of Las Vegas was founded in 1905. 20 years later it became the first street be paved in Las Vegas. It was known for its busy gambling scene long before gambling was legal.
Today its still offers gambling plus various forms of entertainment making it what is known as the Fremont Street Experience.
Hotels & Casinos
If gambling is your thing there is plenty of casinos to do that at. All the casinos have bars, restaurants, pools, and spas to name a few amenities. If you are planning to get a room, they have that too!
Here are some hotel & casinos that are on Fremont Street:
- Binion’s Gamgling Hall
- The Fremont Hotel & Casino
- Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
- Four Queens Hotel & Casino
- The D Casino & Hotel
- Golden Nugget Las Vegas
- The California Hotel & Casino
- Circa Resort & Casino
- Main Street Station Casino, Brewery & Hotel
It definitely helps to stay close to the street. That way you could get up and do it all over again.
Street Entertainers
You will immediately see people performing acts, painting, dancing, or posing for pictures. These are Fremont’s street entertainers. They make their money through tips/donations so don’t forget to give!
Some people bring their kids, but I will warn you, you might witness some interesting people. For example topless nuns, male strippers, man wearing a diaper, and the occasional drugged out person.
I didn’t manage to capture many personalities, but I did capture Mayrlin Manrow on a short video clip.
Viva Vision Light Shows
The Fremont Street Experience offers free light shows on the renovated video screen composed of 16.4 million brilliant pixels. It also has a 600,000 watt concert quality sound system that puts you right in the music.
Viva Vision shows run every hour and last approximately six minutes and they start around 6 PM until 1 AM. They run seven days a week so there is always time to make it up.
Drink Up
Drinks are everywhere! I felt that this was a drinkers nirvana. Fremont Street is home to a shit load of bars ranging from lounges, modern bars, to brew pubs. My favorite part is that you can buy your drink conveniently on the street and keep walking to enjoy the 5 blocks of Glitter Gulch!
The draft selection was very limited on the outside bars, which is OK, because I went for their slushy alcoholic drinks. Offered are a lot flavors to select from such as lemon head, blueberry lemonade, and raspberry tea to name a few!
There are plenty of food options as well.
Live Music
Music! Fremont offers three stages that are out in the streets. While you are walking with your beer you could enjoy live music as they play your favorite drinking song. Bands play on a rotating schedule throughout the night. The live music ranges from local talent to the occasional international superstar.
The best part of this entertainment is that is free!!!
You might run into some interesting people in front of these stages. I happen to find some guy that had to be on something. He was on the floor dancing like there was no tomorrow. Making some weird attempts of the worm.
The interesting part is that there was another non-street performer entertaining the crowd nearby. This lady, poor thing, was out of her mind. doing some weird moves. Somehow some spectator danced with her eventually moving her close to the man rolling on the floor.
They then started dancing together. I couldn’t find it in me to film it, but the crows was loving it! I think they were too…
Zip Line
SlotZilla! Yes you heard that right. This is the slot machine Godzilla would play with if he was to make his way to Las Vegas. Too bad its in the middle of a desert and there isn’t any ocean in site.
Its a zip line that launches you from the world’s biggest slot machine. SlotZilla stands a massive 128 feet. It offers you to scream through Fremont street. I recommend you do this sober.
Conclusion
If you want a fun and crazy night of street performers, drunk people trying to dance, live music, gambling, and drinks galore! This is the place to do it. It gets you away from the glamor the Las Vegas Strip offers and lets you get lose and be yourself.
Which is the craziest thing you’ve seen?
