....
1) Main Street Station
Located at the far northwest corner of downtown, in the Main Street Station you can view a display of fabulous collection of antiques, that reflect wonderful old rich looking dark woods which dominate the Victorian-themed interior.
Things to look for: there's a turn-of the century apothecary cabinetry in the hotel's registration lobby; check out the chandelier, which once hung in the Figaro Opera House in Paris; a wonderful mahogany bar in the brew pub that once graced the Schlitz family home in Milwaukee; and a neat looking stained-glass window that was given to the singer/actress Lillian Russell (popular in the 1880's) by "Diamond Jim" Brady. And the Men can check out a piece of the Berlin Wall in their restroom that's near the Garden Court Buffet.
Over by the southeast entrance, an escalator leads up to a covered pedestrian bridge that crosses over Main Street to the California Hotel. Boyd Gaming Corp. operates both Main Street Station and the California Hotel, as well as the Fremont Hotel down the street.
2) California Hotel
For luck, drop by the California Hotel's Buddha. A gift to the Boyd family, the rotund statue is near the hotel lobby, just past the Pasta Pirate restaurant. The statue's belly is well-worn...some believers actually leave money...it's said the Buddha usually gets about $1,000 a year.....which is doneated to the United Way in Hawaii....
3) Las Vegas Club
If you're in to sports, then check out The Las Vegas Club, across Ogden Avenue from the California Hotel. Theres a large collection of sports memorabilia. The walls are covered with photographs, posters, jerseys and an autographed baseball bat exhibit. There's bleacher seating in the Sport's book, plus the waitresses wear cheerleader outfits.
4) Fremont Street Experience
To me Fremont Street was the "old glitter gulch" street...it was so lit up you couldn't tell if it was daytime or nighttime....oh well, today, it's the "Fremont Street Experience". In 1995, Fremont Street was closed to traffic, a huge canopy was constructed over a four-block section as part of a city redevelopment project called the Fremont Street Experience. The canopy towers 90 feet above the street and houses more than 2 million lights.
Starting at sundown, a free, computer-generated light and sound show is presented hourly. There are several themed shows. For a schedule of shows and times, check the Web site
www.vegasexperience.com.
5) Binion's Horseshoe
One of my webmaster's favorite spots to gamble at, Binion's Horseshoe, nothing fancy, just old time gambling atmosphere...for the serious gambler. Where the famous "World Series of Poker" is held every year.(For a great burger, chili, quick food, check out the snack bar counter.)
Things to look for: An exhibit near the front entrance of the casino features a collection of guns: a Smith & Wesson .32 owned by matriarch Teddy Jane Binion, a .357 Magnum that belonged to former Desert Inn owner Moe Dalitz and a Benny Binion commemorative Winchester with a gaming chip embedded in the handle. Along the east wall of the casino is the Poker Hall of Fame photo gallery, where you can view winners of the Horseshoe's World Series of Poker.
6) Fremont
The Fremont is home to a favorite downtown restaurant, Second Street Grill. The grill features a fusion of American and Pacific Rim cuisine.
Look for more info in our restaurants section....of our website.
7) Fourth Street
Past the Fremont are a number of shops and fast-food restaurants. You'll be coming up to the intersection of Fourth Street. Although the Fremont Street Experience canopy extends another block to Las Vegas Boulevard, Fourth Street is a throughway, so keep an eye on the traffic light.
8) Neonopolis
An empty lot dominates the northeast corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. This is the future site of Neonopolis, a $100 million retail, food and entertainment complex. The project has a proposed completion date of early 2002.
9) Neon Museum
The "Neon Museum" is located at the intersection of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. You can find the old Las Vegas signs here, which have been refurbished....look for: the old Hacienda Horse and Rider, which was found in the center of Las Vegas Boulevard; others include Aladdin's Lamp and Andy Anderson, Anderson Dairy mascot from the 1950s.
10) Race Rock
At the east end of Fremont Street Experience you will find Race Rock, a full-service, motorsports-themed restaurant. Race fans will want to check out the two-story facility, which is jampacked with memorabilia from all forms of motorsports.
11) Fitzgeralds
One of the best places to catch a Fremont Street Experience light show is from the second-floor balcony of Fitzgeralds. Just take the escalator up to the second level. The small balcony can get crowded during the shows, so get there about 15 minutes early.
12) Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget is the most upscale hotel/casino in the downtown area. Head back toward the shops and you will find the world's largest gold nugget at 61 pounds 11 ounces on public display.
Located by the VIP services desk in the lobby is a painting by LeRoy Neiman, it was commissioned by former Golden Nugget-owner Steve Wynn in 1988, the painting shows a number of high-stakes table games. Take a close look, you'll find entertainers Kenny Rogers and Paul Anka talking to a seated Wynn in the lower left corner of the painting. Also Neiman himself is shown seated at the baccarat table.
13) Vegas Vic
Las Vegas' most famous neon icon is near the west end of Fremont Street underneath the canopy. Vegas Vic, a 40-foot-high neon cowboy, has presided over downtown for 50 years.
From atop the now-defunct Pioneer Club, he greeted visitors with a booming "Howdy Partner." Then in 1966, actor Lee Marvin -- in town filming a movie -- complained of the noise, and the imposing cowboy was silenced for more than 20 years.
14) Golden Gate
At the southwest corner of Fremont Street, you can find the Golden Gate which originally opened as the Hotel Nevada in 1906. The history of those early days as well as that of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco are commemorated in photos on walls throughout the small casino.
The Golden Gate is most famous for its shrimp cocktail priced at 99 cents, available in the back delicatessen; a lemon wedge is an additional 5 cents. A pianist entertains nightly.
15) Blackhawk Rail Car
The Blackhawk antique rail car sits on the west side of Main Street between the Plaza and Main Street Station. Built in 1903, it served as a personal car for Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley, and is now part of the rail car collection featured at Main Street Station.
16) Four Queens
17) Lady Luck
18) Gold Spike
