When it comes to late-night free options, Las Vegas has plenty

They say nothing in life is free. They may have a point in an abstract sense, but when They are in Las Vegas, They may find there are things They can do gratis—without any extra charges. An entire mission to experience all that is free, in fact, can be accomplished beginning with a pilgrimage to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the southern tip of The Strip. 

The sign was designed by Betty Willis for the Western Neon company (eventually bought out by YESCO to resemble a period key fob with “WELCOME” spelled out in silver dollars. By the ’70s, it had become de rigueur for tourists to take souvenir photos. Now there are driveways and parking spaces, as well as Regional Transportation Commission bus service. Early morning is optimal selfie time. 

Early mornings are also good times for Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens as the Earth turns toward the sun and light begins to shine through the greenhouse-glass ceiling. Effects of illumination and shade create different effects throughout the day (and night) for the 14,000-square-foot space where installations change with the seasons. Designer Ed Libby and the Conservatory team opted for an enchanted forest theme for autumn, with oversized pumpkins and statues of woodland creatures providing incomparable photo ops. 

The RTC transit line runs all the way to Fremont Street Experience, the fabled playground of Downtown Las Vegas, where bands play free concerts on outdoor stages and state-of-the-art Viva Vision light shows are programmed to play nightly on the underside of the canopy. Pedestrians are free to walk around with open containers, but not free to violate city ordinances. Party responsibly.  

It’s also free to check out Fremont Street’s casinos, from new kid Circa Resort & Casino to old-school Golden Gate, where memorabilia, including a model of a 1907 telephone (phone number? 1!) and original hotel ledgers, is encased in the renovated lobby. International design firm Gensler reimagined the property by applying contemporary concepts in lighting, technology and design to its art deco personality. The hotel opened in 1906 and provides a priceless opportunity to get in touch with Vegas history. 

Resorts World Las Vegas has made history in terms of tech and integrated design, with the acreage apportioned between several hotel entities. They also display art, enough so that it’s worth reserving time to take a tour. 

Luxury hotelier Crockfords has the most dazzling, elegant collection, with works such as Herb Williams’ “Louis Vuitton Doberman” and Hiro Ando’s “Samurai Cat” standing at attention in its lobby. The collection’s prints, paintings, sculptures and digital works are comprehensively cataloged at rwlasvegas.com.

For an immersive art experience, nothing in Vegas compares to AREA15. From the red dog statues standing sentry at the entrance to the macro exterior installations of Art Island and the illuminated concepts inside, AREA15 is a universe of expression and exhilaration curated for the perpetually curious. Art Island’s permanent outdoor gallery is revised occasionally, with works by artists Kristen Berg and Davis McCarthy among recent additions available for purchase or casual perusal. 

Some things in life are free, regardless of what They say.

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