One of the unexpected benefits of using the wonderful "Deuce" bus system was an unplanned visit to see the Fremont Street area(we just thought it'd be too far from our hotel & time wouldn't allow for it). We thoroughly enjoyed all of it! It was wonderful seeing the old signs, casinos & atmosphere of an older Las Vegas.We LOVED visiting "The Golden Nugget" & especially enjoyed the shark tank!I can only imagine how difficult it must be to get the kids out of THAT pool to do ANYTHING else!We never encountered any unsavory people while there.Our only disappointment was that (due to illness)we were unable to make it back there for the 'night-lights'.(We stayed much further down the strip.)As with most cities in US it's always great to see the older downtown areas being 'revamped', revitalized & productive again!

It's worth going to the casinos in this area, lots of great old lights and creepy smoky casinos. But the 'Experience' where they have a dorky light show at midnight? This might have been impressive in 1980 when it looks like it was done, but now it is stupid and boring. Your time is better spent trying to get free drinks from cocktail waitresses.

After making early plans and booking a hotel on Fremont Street, LV, for New Years celebration, 2006, I am informed that the FSE is available only by $80.00 ticket from 5:30 to 1;00 am. on New Years Eve.
I have planned for many years to celebrate in LV, only to find
a big bump in the street and closed gates at the entrance to the festivities.

I am so disappointed. I will celebrate on the LV strip this year
and enjoy the FSE another time.

We spent a full day walking downtown and around the surrounding streets - guidebooks tell you to do this at your own peril but we didn't feel at all threatened or in danger (but then we're from Glasgow!. Our wander culminating in Freemont Street, the Casino/Hotels there and the light show. The show is on every hour and is a different one each time. It's midly entertaining, and the sound is amazing. However, we would thoroughly recommend a visit down there just for the vibe, the atmosphere and the experience of what we imagined Vegas would really be like!

The casinos and hotels at this end of town are a far cry from those on the strip yet in some ways seem much more glamourous than the many luxury resorts.

The atmosphere is amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact if we were to return to Vegas we would definitely stay down town instead of on the strip. Worth a visit.

The Grotto (italian restaurant inside the Golden Nugget) was exceptional for food and very reasonably priced!