Beautiful & Free Vegas Gardens to Visit
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One of the things I love most about vacationing in Vegas is that there are plenty of free things to do. If you prefer to save money by skipping the slots, there are lots of budget friendly activities available at nearly every casino. You can easily spend the entire weekend here and barely spend any extra money outside of dining and lodging costs. One of the best free activities (which many guests skip over) are the beautiful gardens found at various casinos. Whenever you need a break from the touristy action, these gardens serve as a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a little bit of both nature and art. My favorites are highlighted below.
The Bellagio Gardens and Conservatory
The number one garden to put on your must-see list is the Bellagio Conservatory and Gardens. What I really like about this garden is that it changes throughout the year to reflect the beauty of each season, with a special display for the Chinese New Year. The highlight of the year is the mesmerizing Christmas display which features thousands of colorful poinsettias, several Christmas trees, and other whimsical displays. It’s really a must-see this time of year. My last visit I was fascinated by the wonderful display featuring polar bears made entirely of carnations. The fall display is always wonderful as well. The most memorable display I have seen to date included a quintessential New England style covered bridge surrounded by colorful foliage.
A lot of hard effort and talent goes into creating each season’s garden. According to the Bellagio, the talented horticultural teams often work around the clock to create the stunning displays. Unfortunately, tourists are often unaware of just how much work goes into creating such a magnificent event that is free to the public. Over 10,000 flowers are used, and thanks to the hotel’s dedication to sustainability, most of the material is repurposed.
The Wynn Atrium
The gorgeous Wynn casino, although super expensive to stay at, is one of my favorite places to stroll around. After hours of pushing through boisterous crowds, taking a stroll through this upscale casino is a real treat. This property is so beautiful, the highlight being the colorful atrium gardens. While I prefer the Bellagio gardens due to the creative seasonality, The Wynn’s display is just as magical. The eye catching atrium includes a colorful hot air balloon and carousel, constructed entirely of over 100,000 flowers. The idea for both came from designer Preston Bailey.
The hot air balloon weighs 4000 pounds and stands 20 feet tall. The moving carousel weighs 6000 pounds and comes in at a height of 13 feet and width of 16 feet. Take a close look at the details and you can imagine the amount of hours that went into creating this artistic masterpiece. You can walk to the 2 installations via a beautiful walkway lined with live ficus trees. As you stroll, colorful hanging flower balls hang from the trees and beautiful colorful plants and flowers surround you in every direction.
Like the Bellagio, The Wynn also puts on one fantastic holiday display. The festive setup includes over 10 christmas trees, pretty lights, and beautiful poinsettias. It’s the most elegant holiday display in Sin City. On a side note, The Wynn Buffet is hands down the best in Vegas!
Ethel M. Cactus Garden
This one is a bit of a drive off the Strip, but worth a look if you have the extra time and are seeking something new and interesting to do. In suburban Henderson (about a 20 min drive from The Strip), lies a working chocolate factory that you can tour via a self guided walk down the factory aisles. You can also shop for truffles and gifts, book a tasting tour, and enjoy sweet treats at the on-site cafe. What makes the drive really worthy is the beautiful cactus garden which showcases over 300 species native to the Southwest. It’s free to visit anytime.
The one exception to the free admission is the annual holiday display featuring over 3 million lights. This is a beautiful festival I recommend checking out if you have the time. It actually used to be free, now they charge $3 with 100% of proceeds going to a food bank. So at least your fee goes towards a noble cause.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Whether or not you are staying at The Flamingo, it’s worth a visit to stroll the free gardens. After being on your feet all day, overstimulated from all the bright lights, noisy packed crowds & excitement, escape to the tropics for an hour or so. This free habitat features ponds, waterfalls, exotic birds, and free roaming flamingos. The best part is all the greenery which makes you feel as if you have temporarily left the desert in favor of a lush oasis. I almost feel as if I took a quick flight to Florida. This place reminds me a bit of Sarasota’s Jungle Gardens.
On the downside, flamingos really stink. Several years back during a zookeeper chat, I learned that they pee on their legs to cool themselves down! Stinky odor aside, they truly are beautiful! Get here by 10am and you can attend the free ranger talk where you can learn more about this habitat. Bonus: there is no smoking allowed, so a refreshing break from all the stinky casinos (most casinos still smell like smoke despite newer ventilation systems!).
