Free Things To Do In Las Vegas

By MSN Travel Editors

Unless you hit the jackpot at the slots, or betting on your favorite team, you might be looking for ways to save money on your next trip to Vegas.  Here are some ideas to get you started.  Here's a list of our favorite ways to spend time and save money in Las Vegas.

1.  Fremont Street Experience:  Head downtown for this hourly light-and-sound show near some of Vegas' oldest casinos.  Glitter is everywhere here, as millions of neon lights illuminate the heart of downtown Vegas.

2.  Fountains at the Bellagio:  What's not to love about water that dances in time to music?  The choreographed display starts every 30 minutes starting in the afternoon, then every 15 minutes in the evening.

3.  Lion Habitat at MGM Grand:  You can see majestic felines aat the MGM Grand, where the lions can be found batting around their big red rubber ball or chewing on a rawhide bone.  The famous lion that roared at the beginning of an MGM film was the first lion to live here, and now the "pride" has grown to 38; half a dozen lions are on view from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  each day.

4.  Aquarium at the Mirage:  This huge tank - measuring 53 feet long, 8 feet from top to bottom, and 6 feet from front to back - underwent recent technological improvements and now can support up to 1,000 coral reef fish.  See how many species you can spot; there are at least 60 species from places like Australia,  Hawaii, the Red Sea and the Caribbean.

5.  The Conservatory at the Bellagio:  It takes 140 horticulturists to stay on top of all the plants, flowers and shrubs on display in this hotel's indoor garden.  The result is a blooming oasis that gets extra special treatment - and a profusion of themed arrangements - for holidays.

6.  Circus acts:  Catch juggling, contortionists, balancing acts, human pyramids and other circus acts under the big top at Circus Circus.  Shows are performed daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.

7.  Ethel M Chocolate Factory:  Have you ever wanted to see what a 35,000 gallon tank of chocolate looks like?  See for yourself on the self-guided tour of Ethel M's Chocolate Factory in Henderson, Nevada.  Tours run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Both the tour and the samples along the way are free.

8.  Stroll throught the Farmers Market:  If you're in Herderson on a Thursday, stop by the Galleria Mall to see what's fresh from the fields at the Farmers Market.  Local produce and creative crafts are on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

9.  The Sirens of TI:  The cove at the entrancce of the Treasure Island hotel is the setting for this pseudo-17th-century battle.  The sirens are scantily clad, the pirates get lured into a stormy tempest and drama - often in the form of pyrotechnics - ensues.  The show runs every 90 minutes starting at 7 p.m.

10.  Watch a volcano erupts:  This perennially popular attraction at the MGM Mirage closed in February 2008 for renovation, but is expected to open again late in 2008.

11.  Wildlife Habitat:  Step into a tropical rain forest at the Flamingo, where you can see lush foliage, waterfalls and hundreds of birds.  Don't miss the penguin feeding twice a day at 8:25 a.m. and 2:55 p.m.