The National Atomic Testing Museum, one of 37 museums in the U.S. officially affiliated with the Smithsonian, chronicles the history of the atomic bomb in Nevada, where early tests were conducted in the desert outside Las Vegas. Its more than 12,000 artifacts illustrate the development and deployment of the nuclear bomb, combining educational resources and historical and scientific information with some playful, tongue-in-cheek touches appropriate for Las Vegas.
Best and worst time to go to the Atomic Testing Museum
The best time to visit Las Vegas is during the spring (March to mid-May) and fall (mid-September to late November). Weather during the summer (mid-May to early September) can be excessively hot, although that's less of a concern for indoor attractions. Hours at the museum are limited on Sundays, so it may be best to pick a different day to get the full experience.
Must see/do at the Atomic Testing Museum
In the GZ Theater, you can experience a simulated atomic blast, much like the ones people witnessed at the Nevada Test Site. "Area 51: Myth or Reality?" is a fun exhibit devoted to the various legends surrounding the supposed alien presence at the mysterious military installation. The museum's lecture series features presentations that combine pop-culture hooks with lessons on history and science.
Admission to the Atomic Testing Museum
Standard admission is around $20, with discounts for students, seniors, military, Nevada residents and children under 17. Museum members and children under 6 are admitted for free. Group tours are also available.
Parking and public transportation at the Atomic Testing Museum
Free parking is available on-site, and local RTC bus service stops within walking distance. For visitors staying on the Strip, a cab ride should only take a few minutes.
Food at the Atomic Testing Museum
No food or drink is allowed inside the museum, and there are no restaurants in the museum itself. But several strip malls are nearby with quick options for eating, and the Strip, with its wide range of restaurants, is a short drive or cab ride away.
Insider tip for visitors to the Atomic Testing Museum
Although the museum may not look that large from the outside, it can take more than two hours to experience all the exhibits, so make sure to allow enough time (especially on Sundays, when hours are shorter).
Josh Bell is a Las Vegas-based writer (and 20-year resident) and the film and TV critic for Las Vegas Weekly. Find him on Twitter and Facebook.
The Fremont Street Experience is the signature landmark of the hotel-casino district in downtown Las Vegas. The canopy covering Fremont Street from Las Vegas Boulevard to Main Street features the Viva Vision light show every hour starting at dusk. Under the canopy, visitors can walk the pedestrian-only stretch of Fremont Street, checking out street performers, vendors, live music and some of the city's most historic hotel-casinos.
Parking and public transportation at the Fremont Street Experience
The Experience operates its own parking garage at Carson Avenue and 4th Street. Generally, parking downtown will cost from $2 to $10, although you can usually get a couple of free hours in a hotel-casino garage by getting validated inside. Local bus service runs regularly up and down Las Vegas Boulevard near the Experience, and cabs are available from the Strip area.
Best and worst time to go to the Fremont Street Experience
As with any outdoor attraction in Las Vegas, the best time to go is during the fall (mid-September to late November) or spring (early March to mid-May), and the worst time to go is during the summer (late May to late August). If you want to catch the Viva Vision light show, it's best to go after dusk.
Admission to the Fremont Street Experience
There's no charge to walk the Experience itself or watch the Viva Vision light show, although you will probably have to pay for parking. Live entertainment is generally free, but a ride on the SlotZilla zip line costs between $20 and $40.
Must see/do at the Fremont Street Experience
Watching the Viva Vision light show is pretty much mandatory, and it's the entire reason for the existence of the overhead canopy. If you're into thrills, you should ride the SlotZilla zip line, which will send you soaring over the heads of tourists below. The various cover bands that perform on the Experience's stages are a cut above clichéd lounge acts.
Other places to visit near the Fremont Street Experience
Just across Las Vegas Boulevard is the Fremont East entertainment district, which is home to popular bars, restaurants and shops. Check out live bands at Beauty Bar or the Bunkhouse, shop for vinyl at 11th Street Records and books at the Writer's Block bookshop, and head to the Downtown Container Park for restaurants, boutiques and a giant, fire-breathing praying mantis.
Insider tip for visitors to the Fremont Street Experience
Everyone stops dead in their tracks and looks up during the Viva Vision light show, so it's a good time to make your way quickly through the crowd if you're trying to get to a hotel or a musical performance. It's also a good opportunity for pickpockets, so make sure to stay aware of your surroundings if you watch the show.
Josh Bell is a Las Vegas-based writer (and 20-year resident) and the film and TV critic for Las Vegas Weekly. Find him on Twitter and Facebook.
Often cited as one of the greatest tourist attractions in the world, the Fountains of Bellagio are a dazzling spectacle of water, light and music, all contained in the eight-acre lake at the front of the Bellagio hotel-casino. Multiple times every day, the fountains come to life for choreographed shows set to a range of music.
Parking and public transportation at the Fountains of Bellagio
Parking is generally plentiful and free on Las Vegas Boulevard, and the Bellagio itself has a large parking garage, although it's a bit of a trek from the garage to the street in front of the hotel. Buses run regularly up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, although taking a cab might be quicker if you're at another hotel and don't have a car.
Best and worst time to go to the Fountains of Bellagio
As with any outdoor attraction in Las Vegas, the best time to go is during the spring (mid-March to early May) or fall (mid-September to early November), when temperatures are moderate. The height of the summer (June through late August) is the worst time to be standing outside in Las Vegas. For the fountains, although performances do occur during the day, the show is much more impressive at night.
Admission to the Fountains of Bellagio
There's no charge to watch the fountain show, and it's easy to get a good vantage point right from the sidewalk.
Must-do at the Fountains of Bellagio
If you don't mind spending a little money and you are in town on a Sunday, check out the Fountains Brunch at Jasmine inside the Bellagio. You can eat a luxurious meal while enjoying the best view of the fountains (the restaurant is right on the lake), and the show runs more often during brunch hours, so you can see several performances.
Other places to visit near the Fountains of Bellagio
After seeing the fountain show, head inside the Bellagio for gourmet restaurants, the water-based Cirque du Soleil show "O," the impressive hand-blown glass sculpture "Fiori di Como" by Dale Chihuly in the lobby, the themed exhibits in the arboretum and the Gallery of Fine Art. Or walk over to one of the closest other hotel-casinos, including Caesars Palace, the Cosmopolitan and the Paris.
Insider tip for visitors to the Fountains of Bellagio
There are many different shows that rotate, with different music and different choreography for each piece, so seeing the fountain show once is never enough. Chances are each time you come back you will be able to see a new show.
Author's bio: Josh Bell is a Las Vegas-based writer (and 20-year resident) and the film and TV critic for Las Vegas Weekly. Find him on Twitter and Facebook.
