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how to get the most out of downtown in 4-5 hours

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by pink_paradise, Feb 21, 2013.

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  1. pink_paradise

    pink_paradise Low-Roller

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    Mom (50) and I (21), females, will be headed to Vegas in July for my 21st. We have one evening set aside for downtown (july 17th). We are not late (by Vegas standards) night people, so are only planning on being there for maybe 4-5 hours to get a taste of what it is like.
    We are hoping to enjoy a nice meal (was thinking The Flame w/ coupon, but open to suggestions), do the zipline (after the lights have come on), and just generally check it out. Have heard about the million dollar stack to get a picture with, and to get someone to take a picture of the berlin wall in the men's washroom at Main Street Station, but what else should we try to see in our limited time? Any cool shops for unique souvenirs?
    also, should we sign up for the zipline, pick a timeslot, then have dinner and go back to the zipline or should we just wait it out and do zipline before dinner?

    Sorry this ended up with so many questions! What would your suggestions be to get the most out of it in a few hours?

    Thank you for your help!
     
  2. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    I'm not a big fan of the zip-line, but your other activities sound good.
    It sounds like you have one of the coupon books ... ACG or LVA ??? There are coupons in those for free-play at some of the downtown casinos. So as you stroll around, and in & out of the assorted properties, like the El Cortez, when you're there for dinner, take your coupon to the player's club, sign up for a player's card, and do the free-play.

    Have fun !! Downtown is our favorite place to be.
     
  3. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Downtown Sights

    Are you including the nighttime canopy show and live FSE entertainment in your plans?

    The largest gold nuggets in the world are on display at the Golden Nugget. Ask - they are a bit hard to find just wandering around. Main Street Station is a neat place to walk around with it's antique decor and high ceilings. The brew pub there is a good place to eat. Their buffet used to be highly rated, but I think it's slipped a lot over the past couple of years.

    If you are new to Vegas and there to site see, you will be much more impressed with the strip, but it's cool that you've allocated a bit of time to spend downtown. The best things downtown has to offer are stay cheap, eat cheap, drink cheap, and gamble cheap (with better odds). That's a winning hand for us downtown devotees.
     
  4. bswim

    bswim High-Roller

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    Keep in mind you may spend an hour of that time in line at the zip line.
     
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    The Flame is a good choice with a coupon. Other places that no longer have coupons:
    Pasta Pirate or Redwood, both inside the Cal.
    Second St (my fav) inside Fremont.

    Check out the area east of the canopy and the old neon signs that look great lite up after dark.

    If you like video games check out Insert Coins
    http://www.insertcoinslv.com/
    My friend is a bartender there, but I still think the place is cool.

    Beauty Bar and the Griffin are also in the same area and are worth it if you just want to stop in for a drink.

    In July, the outdoor patio of Hennessey's overlooks Fremont St, great for people watching.

    4-5 hours you can kill just wandering up and down Fremont and ducking into a few casinos along the way. Watch the people make spray paint art, listen to some of the musicians along the way. The sax player is very good!

    If you're into antiques, walk over to Main Street Station and pick up one of their brochures that explain where many of the pieces come from. As mentioned the 777 brewpub is also decent as a food option.
     
  6. jrinct1

    jrinct1 VIP Whale

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    Agree with the ideas and just people watching is fun too!
     
  7. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    The only other main attraction Downtown that you don't have in your list is the giant gold nugget at The Golden Nugget.

    For most people the big draw of Downtown is to see the Fremont Street Experience and the cheapness it offers compared to The Strip (cheap gambling, cheap dining, cheap drinking).

    If you are mainly just going there for sightseeing then you will find that 4-5 hours is easily more than enough time to see it all and do some shopping.

    For the shopping itself there are a couple of unique stores, but otherwise most of them just sell the same cheap souvenirs - if you see any interesting souvenirs in a store on The Strip, unless it has a hotel logo you can probably find it 20-40% cheaper Downtown at one of the souvenir shops.


    And I am not dumping on Downtown here, we like going downtown and try to spend 1-2 nights each trip down there... its more just to clarify what your expectations are - the casinos are just that: casinos. The hotels are just basic hotels, not big sprawling mega resorts like on The Strip and while there are a couple of interesting shops on Fremont Street its mainly just a good place to get lots of cheap souvenirs and little "Las Vegas" gift items for people back home. Overall, if you aren't going down there for the gambling it doesn't take that long to see and do it all, so to speak.
     
  8. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    Several good suggestions have been offered. I would also add the following to consider:

    1. Visit the shark tank swimming pool at Golden Nugget (if they ask for a room key, tell them you want to play Blackjack).

    2. I agree the Binion's $1 million photos is a must (they will print one color picture for each person in your group).

    3. You can get a free drink or two comped playing Sigma Derby for quarters(the mechanical horse racing game) on the second floor of the D (across the street of the line for the Zip Line).

    4. Check out the Fremont Street Experience Hourly video schedule before you head out to see which video/videos you will like best. They will also post any live bands (free) performing. The bands are typically decent to very good if you like the particular featured genre. I haven't seen an announcement of 2013 Summer of ______ . In past years, they featured the Summer of 60's, 70s and 80s and also Heavy Metal.

    I like Redwood (@ The California) and The Flame for a nice downtown meal.

    The Zipline line will be longer after it gets dark and the lights are on.

    I like the souvenir shop next to LaBayou (Golden Nugget is on the other side). The downtown shops have similar prices, but the suggested one had a nicer selection / bigger variety.

    I hope you and Mom have a fun time and find enough to tempt you back the next trip. My mom thought the cast of characters and degenerates on Fremont street were hilarious. She almost had a heart attack laughing at the Heart Attack Grill scene. This downtown crowd was a sharp contrast to the sketchy and somewhat scarry folks found begging / hustling / being arrested on the Strip.
     
  9. KnotGillty

    KnotGillty High-Roller

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    At night, I've never been asked for a card to go to the Golden Nugget pool area. As an added tip, when you get to the pool, continue walking around the pool to the backside of the aquarium. You get a much better view of the sharks in the aquarium from the back. Plus, there are restrooms behind the pool aquarium if you need to freshen up. Also, the shark tank aquarium in the GN pool is best viewed at night when the aquarium lights are on.

    Have fun:drunk:
     
  10. Srvanwyk

    Srvanwyk Low-Roller

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    Vic and Anthony's is very good. Otherwise downtown is an experience in itself with all the neon and classic feel!
     
  11. Steve in RI.

    Steve in RI. Low-Roller

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    Pasta Pirate still has a coupon in the 2013 LVA.
     
  12. ohmom

    ohmom Low-Roller

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    oddly enough, i like the selection of "Vegas" souvenirs at Walgreens

    Try the Monopoly Big Event penny slots at the D and the Four Queens....my slot fix and honestly i've cashed out for over $100 more than once at the D
     
  13. Nevada Kid

    Nevada Kid VIP Whale

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    Good call on the Flame. It's a good dinner at an even better price.

    The zip line looks fun, but the time involved and high price keep me from doing it every time.

    Main Street Station is one of my favorite casinos, but it is away from the action (So is El Cortez btw) Sit at the Boar's Head Bar, and try some delicious beers from their brewery.

    Try the Sigma Derby machine at the D. Those are always fun and your $$$ will last a while.

    Even with the price hike I enjoy having a shrimp Cocktail at the Golden Gate.
     
  14. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    If I only had four to five hours I would not waste it with the zip line or a walk to Main Street Station for a pic. I have a pic that was taken in 1993 of me in the Army next to a piece of the Berlin Wall, I have not ever had the urge to look at it. I am not much of a pic person though.

    I would grab a beer the first chance I got and simply walk the street and see where things take you. We did that last week and ducked into some really cool places, no real agenda, just going with the moment!!

    HAVE FUN!!
     
  15. Texas Gramma

    Texas Gramma Low-Roller

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