Fremont Street / Old Las Vegas Strip

While you are in Old Vegas you will still be greeted with modern Vegas, but feel the spirit of what old Vegas used to be like. You will have to see the Fremont Experience which will give you a bit of sensory overload, but isn't that was Vegas is for? Just walking around the area will have you overloaded, but its great to get off the Strip!

I love going downtown when I'm in Vegas. It's a bit older but it's changed a lot since I was little and was first in Vegas. It didn't used to be enclosed like it is now. The show is cool with laser lights and music!

Let me say that the glitz and glamour you might expect from the Strip is not present here. It is cheesy old Vegas. But, it's not pretentious, you can walk from casino to casino quickly, there are street entertainers (good ones, this sax guy is really good), and bands playing on the weekends. They have a light show, which is on the roof/overpass of this street. The old signs you'd recognize from Vegas are here, like the Marlboro looking cowboy with who's tipping his hat. You can also get dinner for $15 versus $100 or more on the strip for the same amount of food. All in all a lively down to Earth Vegas.

I personally love FREEMONT ST., Hubby won't go there (says it is too dangerous) ~ haven't been back there for five years, but I WILL talk him into it!!  Laser Light Show can't be beat!  Also love the Stratosphere ~ even though it is not "Freemont", it is close enough!!

I love downtown. I have been to vegas about twelve times now and have stayed on the strip and downtown. I love the Golden Nugget. We have gotten to know staff and bartenders over the years who always rember us whenever we see them again. as for the strip were just another body to them. On the strip workers seem to be very rude and annoyed that you are there. It is nice to be able to walk from casino to casino without loosing breath. Yeah if you want to see a good show or have a great dinner go to the strip for a night or two, that's what we do. But when it comes to gambling and having a reasonable priced drink with nice bartenders downtown is the place to be.

On a rare disagreement with Magellan, I actually found Fremont St/downtown Vegas to be depressing as hell. I mean, I LIKE authencitity, soul, and whatnot, but this type of experience was not what I was looking for on vacation. The "light show" was tacky, the atmosphere veered from decadent to downright dangerous, esp for female travelers and/or children. There was a sign on the window of one bar for 99 cent margaritas that particular night; my wife went inside and ordered one and it was brought to her in a tiny styrofoam cup - pretty classy, eh? From what I can see, the saving grace for downtown Vegas is the Golden Nugget Hotel/Casino. But just a suggestion; don't stray too far from that hotel at night on foot, as all signs of illicit, illegal activity are lurking around not too far in the distance - esp btwn this area and the Stratosphere Hotel at the edge of the strip.

Fremont Street is the only part of Las Vegas that still possesses an ounce of soul. After the chrome and mirrors of the new Vegas, the old Las Vegas strip is refreshingly sketchy. There are some tough looking characters walking around, and the occasional pan handler. Stuff is run down and creepy looking. There's a weird light show. But unlike the rest of Vegas, you can walk from place to place. It feels almost like a jersey shore boardwalk, but with a gambling theme. There are cool old neon signs everywhere, and freaky little gift shops. If you're looking for some flavor in Las Vegas, I think that Fremont Street is just about the only option. I had a $4 steak at binions at 4AM to cap off nice stroll down this street. Highly recommended.