Fremont Street Experience

Address:Las Vegas, Nevada

A visit to downtown Vegas' Fremont Street will take your breath away! The street is the home of original casinos, saloons and brothels of the Las Vegas "strip" in the early days of the "City of Sin." Today, the historic thoroughfare is a roaring neon bouquet of light and sound, what is known as the "Fremont Street Experience." The nightly show, with over a million lights, smoke, fog, and strobes, is a not-to-miss experience for any lover of Vegas-style over-the-top eye candy.

A frequent backdrop for films and television and the location of events and concerts, Fremont Street Experience draws more than 16 million visitors annually. Freemont Street is home to some of the most recognizable Las Vegas icons like "Vegas Vic," atop the Pioneer Club. Many other vintage hotel and casino signs, which are part of the larger Neon Museum collection on Fremont Street, dot the pedestrian mall and the courtyard of the adjoining Neonopolis Center, a retail center anchored by a 14-screen Crown Theaters movie complex. Ten legendary casinos line Fremont Street with plenty of loose slots so you can play your heart out before, after or during the nightly shows.

Every night there's a different free Viva Vision show starting on the hour at dusk. Seats along Fremont Street are mostly inside the casinos in front of the slots but you can watch the show in the outside seating area of Starbucks in the Golden Nugget, The best to place to watch is from the balcony of Fitzgerald's with a delicious cocktail in hand. Make sure to get there early because these seats go fast!

A walk along the pedestrian mall is very enjoyable with its beautiful landscaping and patterned paving that forms winding paths, inviting you to stroll through this unique place. The mall is a happening spot, with street performers, sidewalk cafés and shops selling discounted souvenirs. If you're looking for the perfect tacky gift from Las Vegas, you'll definitely find it here! When the light and sound shows aren't going on during the day, concert-quality music is played continuously throughout the mall. Take a break from all the fun at any of Fremont Street's 63 restaurants. There's a steakhouses, several bar and grills, American restaurants, yummy treats like fresh, hot Krispy Kreme donuts and so much more!

As far as security goes in such a busy place, Downtown Vegas is pretty secure. Though it's a seedy area, you'll see plenty of police officers around on foot and on bicycles so it's ok to bring your kids with you. If you decide to stay downtown on Freemont Street, you'll be better of in one of the hotels under the Freemont Street Experience rather than those further down. Even though the downtown area is small, there's no real security once you leave the Viva Vision dome.

Downtown/Fremont Street is about a 5 or 10 minute car ride from the Strip, and is accessible by the city buss, known as the "Deuce." We don't suggest trying to walk the distance from the strip. There is plenty of parking nearby at the Parking Plaza, at the eastern end of Fremont Street.