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Things To Do On Fremont Street – Besides Gambling

Looking for non-gambling things to do on and near Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas? You’re not alone.

According to a visitor profile survey from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority (LVCVA), 53% of Las Vegas visitors visited downtown in 2021.

Among those that visited downtown, only 12% did so to gamble with the rest coming to sightsee, dine, and see the Fremont Street Experience light show.

First things first, I know you came here for things to do on Fremont Street besides gambling, however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the gambling downtown tends to be better than the Strip in a number of ways:

  • Table game minimums are lower than you’ll find on the Strip, and you can even find a $1 minimum game at Downtown Grand.

If you plan to do so some gambling in Vegas, save some action for downtown.

Now that I got that out of the way, let’s dive into a comprehensive list of things to do on and near Fremont Street besides gambling.

Related: Free activities in Las Vegas, both on the Strip and downtown.

Things To Do On Fremont Street

Fremont Street Experience Light Show: Among the most popular things to do downtown is taking in the light show on the Fremont Street Experience canopy which is fresh off a $32 million upgrade.

The screen, which is 1,375 feet long, and suspended 90 feet overhead is now illuminated day and night, although is more impressive after dark.

Lightshow above Fremont Street
©checubus/123RF.COM

Live Entertainment Under the Canopy: In addition to the canopy light show, the Fremont Street Experience is known for its live music, offered free of charge on 3 separate stages.

Check the entertainment calendar and plan your visit downtown to align with your preferred musical acts.

Granger Smith plays a guitar and is singing into a microphone on stage.
Granger Smith performs on Fremont Street – Credit: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

Another Live Music Option: The Sand Dollar Lounge is open at Plaza and offers live music nightly. As one of the only spots to find live music downtown (aside from shows put on by the Fremont Street Experience), the Sand Dollar is generating a lot of buzz.

Entrance to The Sand Dollar from Plaza's casino floor.
Oscar’s at Plaza – ©kitleong/123RF.COM

Explore The Movie Prop Experience: A museum of sorts in Neonopolis, The Movie Prop Experience is a museum dedicated to showcasing props from hit movies that span the spectrum of genres from horror to sci-fi.

A tour vehicle from the movie Jurassic Park sits in front of the Movie Prop Experience.

See Las Vegas History: Among the best things to do on Fremont Street besides gambling is jumping from casino to casino to see historic artifacts and windows to the past that are on display.

While a full list of historic things to see on Fremont Street can be viewed here, I recommend putting Golden Gate at the top of your list.

There, you will be able to open a small unmarked door revealing a piece of Golden Gate’s original wall. Additionally, you can check out an intricately designed fountain which is a relic of the early 1900s.

Window into Golden Gate's History
Window to Golden Gate’s Original Bones

Eat a Great Steak: Downtown Las Vegas is home to a number of great steakhouses that come with a more “vintage” vibe than those found on the Strip.

Among my favorite places to eat a great steak on Fremont Street are Oscar’s at Plaza, Hugo’s Cellar at 4 Queens, Andiamo at The D, Top of Binion’s Steakhouse at Binion’s, and Triple George at Downtown Grand.

View of Plaza's hotel tower and the dome at Oscar's from their new oudoor seating area.
Oscar’s new outdoor patio

Or, Eat Cheap: Downtown Las Vegas has numerous cheap food options that range from sit-down options to fast food.

Check out my breakdown of cheap food options on Fremont Street here.

International Eatery Exterior
This bad boy is packed with cheap food options.

Grab a Slice: On the topic of cheap meal options, two of the best pizza-by-the-slice spots in Las Vegas are located downtown.

I can’t recommend stopping by Pizza Rock at Downtown Grand, or Evel Pie on Fremont East enough.

While Pizza Rock is my personal favorite (pictured below) they’re both spectacular… and cheap!

Exterior of Pizza Rock Las Vegas
Pizza Rock is unreal. Go.

Mob Museum: Located just steps from the Fremont Street canopy, the Mob Museum provides a window into the Mob’s influence on Las Vegas and the United States as a whole.

With 20,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Mob Museum is jam-packed with information and deserves to be atop your list of things to do on Fremont Street besides gambling.

Related: See my Mob Museum Review, here!

Exterior of the Mob Museum in Las Vegas on a sunny day

See a Show: Although shows on Fremont Street are less numerous and lack the grandeur of their peers on the Strip, there are some quality comedy and magic show options that deliver value.

A few top options include:

Kevin Lepine on stage with sleeping audience members behind him
Hypnosis Unleashed

Visit a Speakeasy: There are two speakeasies on Fremont Street that offer a unique experience and are worth a stop.

The first is The Underground at the Mob Museum and the other is The Laundry Room at Commonwealth. Click on either for more info and entry instructions.

Related: Speakeasies in Las Vegas – Both on the Strip and Downtown.

Green door marking the entrance to the Underground Speakeasy
Find this door, and you’ve found the entrance to The Underground.

Container Park: Across the street from El Cortez, the Downtown Container Park is an outdoor mall constructed entirely of shipping containers.

In addition to numerous shopping outlets, bars, and restaurants, the Container Park offers live entertainment (view the Container Park’s entertainment calendar), a playground for the kids, and yard games.

Downtown Container Park Praying Mantis

If you’re visiting with a spouse or significant other, bring a lock, and attach it to the love lock display. Rumor has it, your relationship is guaranteed to last if you do… can’t hurt!

Love Lock display on the wall at the Container Park
Look at all those iron clad relationships.

A Free, Firey, Show: Outside of the Downtown Container Park, is an enormous praying mantis that shoots fire from its antennae nightly.

The free shows begin after dusk and are choreographed to music.

Downtown Container Park's Praying Mantis with fire coming out of its antennae

“Unleash your inner Viking”: Looking for unique activities on Fremont Street? Look no further than Axehole. The venue serves up drinks while allowing guests to throw axes, ninja stars, tomahawks, and spears at wooden targets.

They also have a “smash room” where you can destroy an assortment of items including printers, plates, and other fragile items. Could be a good spot to take de-stress after a bad beat on the tables.

Exterior of Axehole Las Vegas.

Drink Cheap: Ranking among my favorite non-gambling things to do on Fremont Street is taking advantage of cheap drink and happy hour deals – And there are plenty of them!

Check out my full list of downtown Las Vegas happy hour deals here!

Exterior of Hennessy's Tavern and Neonopolis
©jiawangkun/123RF.COM

A Rotating Bar: While not as inexpensive as some of the happy hour deals previously mentioned, Whiskey Liquor Up’s rotating bar at Binion’s offers great views of Fremont Street properties.

Whiskey Liquor Up at Binion's
The rotating bar at Whiskey Liquor Up

Take a Million Dollar Photo: Binion’s $1 million display is back and better than ever, giving visitors a chance to dream big.

A glass pyramid with $1 million on display within it sits on a table for people to take pictures with.

Grab a Craft Beer: As a beer person, seeking out a craft brew is at the top of my list of non-gambling things to do on Fremont Street.

Both Chicago Brewing Company at 4 Queens and Triple 7 Brewing at Main Street Station serve craft beer at a palatable price.

Triple 7 Brewery seating
Inside Triple 7 – A great value.

Sweat a Bet at Stadium Swim: Circa, the newest resort downtown is open and is a must-visit. Among the resort’s signature amenities is their Stadium Swim rooftop pool deck and amphitheater.

Non-hotel guests can access the pool for a cover charge of around $20 on most days (although it can be more).

There, you can take advantage of Stadium Swim’s heated pools, swim-up bars, and a gigantic screen that will always be playing the big game.

There’s no better place to sweat a sports bet.

Stadium Swim at Circa
Stadium Swim at Circa

See The Tank: The runner-up for Fremont Street’s best pool scene is The Tank at Golden Nugget. The pool itself surrounds an enormous 200,000-gallon aquarium with various aquatic species including sharks.

During the summer months, non-hotel guests can usually access the pool for a nominal cover charge, but you can take a peek for free. As far as “can’t miss” activities on Fremont go, seeing The Tank at GN is up there.

The Tank at Golden Nugget
©sainaniritu/123RF.COM

Don’t Tell Mama: A New York style piano bar in Neonopolis, Don’t Tell Mama showcases world-class piano talent nightly.

Additionally, the waitstaff are aspiring performers and take the stage themselves. Where else does the staff serve AND entertain? While there are a plethora of bar options downtown, Don’t Tell Mama ranks among the most unique.

See Some Gold: The largest golden nugget in existence weighing in at 61-pounds is known as the “Hand of Faith” and was discovered in 1980 by a random guy in Australia playing around with a metal detector.

Although the one on display at the Golden Nugget is rumored to be a replica, I still find it to be a neat diversion.

Hand of Faith gold nugget on display at the Golden Nugget
Hand of Faith at Golden Nugget

There are also over 1,000 ounces of gold on display at Circa’s Legacy Club.

Enjoy a HUGE Breakfast: If you follow any Las Vegas-focused social media groups, you have likely seen images of Hash House a Go Go’s enormous portions. Especially if you desire a solid “base” before drinking, HHAGG is a great option.

Snickers twisted flapjack, 2 slices of bacon, and scrambled eggs on a plate
Twisted Flapjack (Snickers) at Hash House

Enjoy a Free Meal if You’re Huge: Heart Attack Grill offers free meals to those weighing in at 350 lbs. or more. Even if not eating, taking a peek inside HAG is a Vegas oddity I can’t resist.

Guests wear surgical gowns, and the wait staff spanks customers that don’t finish their food with a wooden paddle.

Exterior facade of Heart Attack Grill

Tame Slotzilla: Among the more thrilling things to do on Fremont Street besides gambling, Slotzilla sends adrenaline junkies flying on a zipline over the pedestrian mall below.

Riders choose between the lower, 77-foot high zipline which is 850 feet long, and the taller 114-foot high zoomline which is 1,700 feet long.

I recently braved my fear of heights and rode SlotZilla’s Super-Hero Zoomline – Check out my experience!

Slotzilla Zipline tower flanked by Walgreens and Neonopolis
©neilld/123RF.COM

See the Antiques at MSS: Main Street Station is home to a unique collection of historic antiques from around the world. While antiques are usually lame, I can assure you that this collection is legitimately cool.

Complete with items like a section of the Berlin Wall, Louisa May Alcott’s railcar, and Winston Churchill’s snooker table, there is sure to be something you care to see.

Winston Churchill's Snooker Table
Winston Churchill’s snooker table

View Poker History: Check out the names and pictures of the poker legends that comprise the Poker Hall of Fame at Binion’s.

Drink a Scorpion: One of the more unique, and disgusting, things to do on Fremont Street is the “Scorpion Shot” at Nacho Daddy. Apparently, 55,000 people have been crazy enough to try one since 2010. Don’t stress the scorpion, they are already deceased and the stinger has been removed.

Karaoke: Whether you are singing, or just like watching people make a fool of themselves, Karaoke is offered at the Cat’s Meow in Neonopolis nightly.

Shop for Toys: The Toy Shack, owned and operated by Pawn Stars Expert Johnny Jimenez Jr. specializes in historic and memorable toys from your youth. Stop in to meet the Pawn Stars personality, and check out the collection!

Related: Things to do with kids on Fremont Street, and around Vegas!

Toy Shack Las Vegas
Toy Shack in Neonopolis

Street Performances: Street performers and buskers on Fremont Street come in all shapes, sizes, and talent levels. One of my favorite non-gambling activities is watching the more talented acts do their thing.

While most aren’t worth your time, and could even be described as an eye/earsore, there is occasionally some legitimately cool talent on display.

A street perormer dressed in gray and with skin painted in gray poses, waiting for a tip to start the show.

Go-karts: Located in Neonopolis, Gene Woods Racing “Drift” Experiences will have you ripping around an indoor track on all-electric go-karts.

Score Some Cheap Shrimp: A foundational element of the Las Vegas culinary scene, shrimp cocktails were historically used as a loss leader to draw people into the casino. Nowadays, a cheap shrimp cocktail is harder to find.

Fortunately, the cheapest option in Vegas can be found at Fremont’s Lanai Express for .99 cocktail daily.

Full disclosure: It isn’t the best shrimp cocktail you’ll ever eat, but the price is right.

Fremont Casino Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp Cocktail at Lanai Express – Fremont Hotel and Casino

Sigma Derby: While I promised a list of things to do besides gamble, Sigma Derby can be done cheap, and hardly counts as gambling in my opinion.

Located upstairs at The D, Sigma Derby is a mechanical horse racing game that can be played for as little as a quarter per race. Plug the quarters into the machine, pick the horses you think will win, then watch them go! It’s a legit blast.

Think of it as an old-school arcade game in which you can win some money.

Sigma Derby
Sigma Derby at The D

People Watch: Fremont Street attracts some of the most unique people you will see in your lifetime. I recommend grabbing a seat at one of the numerous bars with seating overlooking the pedestrian mall, sit back, and enjoy.

My preferred people watching perch is along the rail overlooking Fremont Street at Binion’s Whiskey Licker Up bar.

Seating at the bar overlooking Fremont Street below
Whiskey Licker Up has the BEST people-watching perch.

Things To Do Near Fremont Street – Besides Gambling

Visit the Neon Museum: For Las Vegas history enthusiasts, or for people that have been visiting the city for decades, the Neon Museum is among the best things to do downtown besides gambling.

They offer both day & nighttime tours through the boneyard as well as an evening show called Jackpot! Brilliant that brings historic signs back to life with projection technology.

With signs on display from properties like Sassy Sally’s, Fitzgeralds, Stardust, and more, the Neon Museum is a MUST for those nostalgic for Vegas of yesteryear.

Illuminated "STAR" sign along with the a sign depicting a cowboy's face.
The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, NV

Walk the Arts District: The Arts District is among the most underrated things to do in Vegas, with many visitors oblivious to its existence. For those unfamiliar, The Las Vegas Arts District is 18 blocks of unique shopping, dining, and drinking between STRAT and downtown Las Vegas.

I love the district for the neighborhood feel and breweries, while my wife enjoys antique shopping, art stores, and culinary offerings.

Catch the free Downtown Loop shuttle on Fremont Street at Circa or the Mob Museum for a ride to the Arts District.

18b Neon Sign in the Arts District
©woodkern/123RF.COM

Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum: Zak Bagans of “Ghost Adventures” fame has displayed a “collection of oddities” at his Haunted Museum in downtown Las Vegas.

The setting is perfect, as the museum of haunted items calls the Wengert Mansion home, which is said to be haunted in its own right.

While no pictures are allowed once inside, I documented my experience at the Haunted Museum to help you gauge if it’s worth a visit.

Zak Bagans' Haunted Museum Exterior
Dolls sitting on shelves surrounding a fake candle

Catch a Free Ride to STRAT: While STRAT and the resort’s SkyPod aren’t downtown per se, the property is easily accessible from Fremont Street via the Downtown Loop Shuttle.

I recommend taking the free ride to enjoy the numerous unique things to do at STRAT, and then either continuing south to the Strip or taking the free shuttle back downtown.

Strat Las Vegas Skypod Exterior
©jetcityimage/123RF.COM

Explore Springs Preserve: For one low price, Springs Preserve gives visitors the opportunity to wander botanical gardens, stroll through a tent filled with butterflies, and explore a number of museums.

I spent an afternoon there and especially enjoyed Boomtown 1905, a mock city that you’re able to explore as well as Waterworks, which provides an education on water resources in Nevada.

A street view of Boomtown 1905, where all the buildings on wone dside of the street are visible.
Boomtown 1905 at Springs Preserve

See Where It All Started: Before the bright lights and civilization in the Las Vegas Valley, settlers established the Old Mormon Fort as a rest stop along the Old Spanish Trail.

Today, you’re able to wander the recreated ruins of the fort and learn about Las Vegas’ first inhabitants courtesy of an indoor museum.

A guard tower rises above the walls in the corner of the fort.

Natural History Museum: Next door to the old Mormon Fort is the Museum of Natural History, which has exhibits dedicated to ancient Egypt, marine life, the animals of Africa, and more.

Animal skeletons, to include the skeleton of a standing cave bear on display.

Hit the North Premium Outlets: If shopping is what you seek, the North Premium Outlets may be the answer. An outdoor mall with over 180 luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Armani among others, the shops are a short Uber ride from Fremont Street (under $10).

Outdoor Shopping mall
©usataro/123RF.COM

As evidenced by the robust list above, there are a ton of things to do on Fremont Street besides gambling! Hopefully, I was able to help you add a few non-gambling activities to your Las Vegas itinerary!

See Also: My ideal 3-day Las Vegas Itinerary to include non-gambling activities!

Featured Image: ©crackerclips/123RF.COM

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