Update: This is now the 4th year we have been here. Still the best show in town!

Three years in a row we have gone to Las Vegas and Downtown or “The Fremont Experience” is always on our list. This was the first year we went twice – during the day and at night. This is an area, not just Fremont Street or Main Street.

About the surrounding area:

~The first year we went to Las Vegas we didn’t have a car and getting downtown was simple. There is a bus that runs along “The Strip” whose name is Las Vegas Boulevard. The last two years we had a car. Some people are apprehensive about going to the Fremont area because it is in what my daughter would call a “sketchy” area. After you pass the hotels, you will come to some of the wedding chapels and fairly run down establishments. I wouldn’t walk to Fremont Street, although we walked much of the strip the first year, we didn’t walk that far, but I never felt unsafe.

~The first year we got off the bus at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. We were a bit uneasy as we waited to cross the street but there is a convenience store on the corner so even if some of the people (inebriated, prostitutes or both!) make you uneasy, there is too much activity for anyone to bother you. I am referring to the nighttime. There should be no uneasiness during the day.

~This is the first area in Las Vegas both “in” and “out” of Fremont Street that we saw police. There was definitely a police presence if that puts your mind at ease. There were police both on horses and motorcycles. (That may make you uneasier, but truly, don’t pass this up.)

How to get there and where to park:

~The downtown or “Fremont Street Experience" is between Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. There are two ways to get to the Downtown area. The first one is to drive on Las Vegas Boulevard until you come to Fremont Street. This past February we went on a Saturday night (Traffic wasn’t a problem during the day on the weekday we went.) and my husband chose to take Route 15 North which is a quick way to get from place to place if you are not staying on the strip. (If you are you may have to take Route 15 if you go anywhere). Please note: Do not take Route 15 on Saturday night. The traffic was backed up....very backed up. We finally got off and drove the rest of the way on Las Vegas Boulevard.

~In the past couple of years we have parked in a couple of locations. Most lots are free. You can park at Lady Luck’s parking lot, which you can get to from Las Vegas Boulevard. Taken Ogden Street and you will find it. You can park there and just have your card validated at Lady Luck and lose the $20 you may have paid in parking while you are at the casino. (However, Lady Luck is one of my favorite casinos in which to win!). We parked here last year and during the day this year. This year there wasn’t even anyone giving out tickets to be validated!

~This year at night we parked at the Main Street lot, which belongs to several casinos, one of which is Main Street Station, which was one of our destinations for the night. This was free with validation.

What you will see here:

What makes Fremont Street an experience are a number of things all of which make up one big experience. There is a pedestrian area where cars can not go. 10 casinos and hotels surround this area. You will see carts and kiosks selling items such as stuffed animals, t-shirts with some very unusual sayings, caps, license plates that match the t-shirts and caps, temporary tattoos and Native American jewelry and artifacts.

~What you see when you look up about 100 feet and up and down Fremont street is a canopy of what looks like metal and every night, several times a night a different show of 540,000 watts of sound is presented. We saw two shows that night. One was at 9:00pm and one was at 10:00pm. They last about 15 minutes. The first one’s theme was Soul Songs with old Motown songs played and animation going along with that. The second one had a country sound theme. It is amazing. One of the more amazing electronic sites I’ve seen.

From http://www.fremontstreetcasinos.com/The_Fremont_Street_Experience/index.html I learned that this cost $70 million with 2 million lights.

What else happens here?

~You will be handed colorful beads (like the ones given out at the Rio hotel where we stayed) as well as see The Topless Glitter Gulch. This is a “gentleman’s club” and there was a woman outside enticing people to come in.

~There were plenty of children on and around Fremont Street. I think if you have a child with you, plan on parking at Lady Luck which is the closest lot, watch the show and leave. Personally, I don’t think this is an area that children will find fun. They can’t gamble and the casinos are geared for adults. You will not find Circus, Circus on Fremont Street.

One other tip:

As I said we parked at the Main Street Casino lot. This is a short walk to Fremont Street but it is a walk that is not part of the promenade so not only will you be crossing with cars (no big deal) but also you may encounter “sketchy” characters. If this bothers you, this is what to do:

From the lot walk into the Main Street Casino and get your ticket validated. Then in Main Street there is a bridge to the Hotel California, one of the hotels that belongs to the parking lot. You will be on the second floor of the Hotel California and that will let you out almost on Fremont Street.

To give you another idea of the way to do this, if you are on Fremont Street you will be on the corner of the Mermaid and Horseshoe Casinos or First Street and Fremont which is the name of the cross streets. You will see the Hotel California from there. Walk into it. Go to the 2nd floor to the bridge to Main Street Station.

Anything else?

I am hoping to do a separate review on the many buffets in Las Vegas but I will tell you that we had the buffet at Main Street Station. It is open until 10:15 and ate between shows. There is a seafood buffet on Friday nights, but other nights the buffet is called “Around the World.” (A common buffet theme.) I wasn’t all that impressed with it, but remember it was late at night and they were almost closing up. You will find every kind of food you can imagine, from pizza to calamari. The price of this was a little over $10.00 and if you are hungry, in my opinion, it is hard to eat dinner anywhere for less, but the food is just adequate.

My Final Thoughts:

The Fremont Experience and Downtown are fantastic. Don’t miss it. The show, which is 4 blocks long is the largest outdoor lighted sign in the world!

I actually suggested to my husband that we stay in the area the next time we come. The Main Street Station is a gorgeous hotel! Enjoy the show; enjoy the people – everyone is friendly. Enjoy winning (or losing) and collecting beads. Be careful and watch yourself if you venture outside of the promenade, which you don’t have to do, and I don’t recommend doing so.

P.S. Fremont Street Experience was known as Glitter Gulch thus epinions name for the area.


For more Las Vegas reviews:


Paris Hotel

Red Rock Canyon

Eating Our Way Through Las Vegas Buffets

The Rio Hotel and Casino

The Fremont Experience (Downtown Las Vegas)

The Strip - 2 Low Budget Shows

Valley of Fire
Tropicana Casino

The Luxor

The Rio Hotel and Casino

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime