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4-6 hours in downtown-what do we do?

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by 1LuckyMomma, Dec 29, 2013.

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  1. 1LuckyMomma

    1LuckyMomma High-Roller

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    We are going to be in Vegas on business in March. Staying at Orleans, tradeshow at Paris and we won't have a lot of free time. We have one day to spend downtown right after we get into town.

    What are your top 5 favorite things we MUST see/do?

    Favorite place to eat on a Monday (lunch or dinner under $50 for 2)?
     
  2. Keyser Soze

    Keyser Soze Low-Roller

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    Among the Fremont Street performers you will find the "Kick in the Nuts for $20" guy.

    Give the dude a twenty, then blast him in the package.

    You will remember it forever, and if you kick really hard, he will also remember it forever.
     
  3. 1LuckyMomma

    1LuckyMomma High-Roller

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    Seriously? That's disgusting.
     
  4. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I'd just walk around from joint to joint, as that's something you can't do easily on the Strip... you'll walk in some and immediately know it's not for you and others you'll go... "hey, this place is cool, I see why others like it!" You might check out the Container Park out at the east end of things (just opened up)
     
  5. bluesdude

    bluesdude VIP Whale

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    Stop in at MSS and take in the architecture. Ask one of the security guards to escort you upstairs to see the billiards table and other really nice pieces of furniture that not many people know is there. Also, eat and have a beer or two at 777. Hell, you may as well gamble also. Sit at the bar and play some VP.
     
    Dead & Co with my son! June 4 or 5th - June 8th
  6. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Yes, be sure to walk along, and check out each property ....
    >> The "D" is a revamp of the old Fitzgerald's ... updated, but very loud inside.
    >> The Four Queens is always busy in the casino, plays good music. If you're hungry, Magnolia's is a tasty diner.
    >> The Fremont is another busy casino, decent buffet, and other restaurants.
    >> The Golden Nugget is the classiest property, worth a walk through ... and check out the REAL gold nugget on display.
    >> Binion's is old school gaming, but only a little of what it used to be.
    >> The Vegas Club and the Plaza are not much to see.
    >> Be sure to go one block north of the Vegas Club, and check out the California and Main Street Station ... sister properties connected by an overhead walkway. Both have nice casinos, lots of good video poker, and dining choices and casino bars. These two properties are our two favorites downtown ... with the MSS buffet and also the "777" brewpub/restaurant ... and MSS has a slab of the old Berlin Wall behind the urinals in the men's washroom.
     
  7. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    Like smartone said, walk from joint to joint. On your travels, check out -

    Main Street Station - interesting ceilings and décor, you might want to try Triple Sevens for lunch

    Walk towards the Plaza and check out the old rail car on the sidewalk.

    Walk into Golden Gate and know that you're in the oldest casino in Vegas, built in 1906. Check out the pics on the wall by the roulette table and imagine betting all or nothing and imagine how those guys felt.

    Grab some free beads on your way into Mermaids and try a deep fried twinkie.

    Wander into Binions to see and have your pic taken with the million dollar display. They have an Elvis exhibit that they charge for but I think they had it for free in November, now I'm not sure. Trivia - Binion's was the first Vegas casino to install carpet and air conditioning in their casino.

    Take a walk through The Nugget. Their pool area is nice but be sure to check out the large gold nugget on display.

    Take a roll of quarters and go horseracing upstairs at The D. Good drink service there.

    Stand in front of The Fremont Casino and think back to 1956 when the Fremont Casino was the tallest casino in Vegas when it was built. Hard to believe now! Wayne Newton got his start there.

    Continue towards Fremont East and peak into the Heart Attack Grill.

    Check out the new zipline and the tall slot machine where you are sent flying.

    Continue on to the new container park down the road.

    Swing by the new Downtown Grand and check out their eclectic décor. It's different from the others downtown. Maybe have lunch at Pizza Rock or Triple George?

    You won't find too many costumed characters during the day but there is always interesting people to see on Fremont. There are kiosks on Fremont Street selling some interesting stuff. Some of the artists are worth watching for a bit.

    It shouldn't be hard to fill a few hours wandering around.
     
  8. Happygirl21

    Happygirl21 VIP Whale

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    Last time I was DT I went over to the Neonboneyard. Very cool to see and a nice little history lesson.
     
  9. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    I just remembered the Mob Museum. Í haven't been there yet but people say it's good and takes a couple hours to view.
     
  10. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Also, in the very back of the Golden Gate are some of the oldest slot machines you'll ever see. Definitely worth a peek. These are on display only, not for play. Have fun downtown!!! :peace: :beer:
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
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  11. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

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    I think i'll have to agree with you on this......

    There's been some great advice already. One of my favorite things to do downtown is look at all of the old casinos. Binion's, the Golden Gate, etc....You can really get that feeling of what Vegas used to be before the glitz and glamour.
     
  12. 1LuckyMomma

    1LuckyMomma High-Roller

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    Great list of ideas! Thanks everyone! I'm thinking we may want to spend the first night downtown. What's your favorite place to stay? We need something taller than a couple of floors. We are 2 women traveling alone and like staying on a high floor.
     
  13. TFK

    TFK High-Roller

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    I hearing a lot of good things about the new Downtown Grand (except for their video poker). You should give that a try.

    TFK
     
  14. teachani

    teachani Tourist

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    I was downtown on Dec. 23 with my partner. We planned our DT adventure so that we had a few hours to tour the hotels in the late afternoon. Then, we hailed a cab and went to the Neon Boneyard where we had a reservation (thankfully, because all the evening tours were sold out). Then, we cabbed it back to Fremont to tour and take in the street experience.

    The Neon Boneyard tour was fantastic, we learned a lot about Vegas' history, and saw a lot of great signage. I highly recommend this tour!!!!! It was an hour long guided tour. We took many fantastic photographs. The tour guide was fantastic and highly knowledgeable. It made going back to tour downtown that much more interesting because we were checking out signs and easily made connections to what we heard to what we were seeing for ourselves.

    The cab ride from Binions was $7.00. The cab company (Western) must have had a lot of recent requests for pick up at the Boneyard, I overheard the dispatch asking drivers about it and whether it was open to the public, wondering what it was that everyone was doing there. We enjoyed educating our driver, but are not sure if he shared that with his dispatcher.

    Have fun on your adventures!
     
  15. OhioGuy

    OhioGuy Tourist

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    Top Five and Lunch


    I'd start with walking through the Golden Nugget, check out the "Hand of God", actual gold nugget, maybe play blackjack by the pool which is also something to see.

    Check out the Golden Gate, its a great traditional casino that has been updated to feel modern.

    Have a drink at the bar at Oscar's steakhouse. Great place and it has a ton of old vegas pictures involving owner/former mayor/former mob lawyer Oscar Goodman. Really cool place inside the Plaza

    Play some tables or video poker at Binion, check out the Million Dollar photo. It's as traditional Vegas as you'll find.

    Just walk the Fremont Experience area. Walking just a few blocks you'll walk by all the casinos and if it's after dark the canope show is something everyone should see once (top of the hour).

    As for lunch or dinner for that price I'd go Magnolias. It's inside the Four Queens. The burgers and the Phily Cheese Steak are great. The french dip looked good too.
     
  16. suebee

    suebee Low-Roller

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    I always go to Mermaids when we're on Freemont Street. It's a small casino but at the back they still have some old style coin in/coin out machines so you can get your hands dirty just like the good 'ole days. The service is always great there and we usually cash out a bucket or two of coins :)
     
  17. uli_1515

    uli_1515 Low-Roller

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    I am guessing the pay back is to high haha
     
  18. Tree DA

    Tree DA High-Roller

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    Take a piss on the Berlin Wall in MSS. Drink a hoppy brew for $1.75 at their boars head bar to build up the urge.
     
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