21 Things to do in Vegas for under $21

My friend EdinOK (from LV4E) found this link to an LA Times article of the same name today and referred it to me, so I thought I'd re-post the list here for your perusing pleasure, although I'm not reproducing the article ad nauseum (link: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-vegas21-2008sep21-pg,0,450572.photogallery?track=rss).

There are some really good ideas here that I haven't posted before in my free and cheap things to do in Vegas. I personally would stay away from the clubs in Vegas, but that's because they are not quite my thing. Thanks again, Ed!

#1: Sunbelt Classic and Antique Auto Collection - Not one I've heard of previously. From the article: "Jim Rogers, the owner of Sunbelt Communications, has more than 300 restored vehicles on display in his car barn. But he doesn't advertise the collection, and tourists can see it only by appointment. Call (702) 649-0110 to arrange a time or join a scheduled tour. The museum opens at 6 a.m. weekdays, except holidays, at 1420 Gragson St. Go to www.sunbeltcars.com for details. Free."

#2: Free stuff at Las Vegas malls - A printable coupon book offered up by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority is available at www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas. Print and redeem the coupons at any of the seven participating Las Vegas malls listed inside.

#3: Wireless Internet - The lobbies and casino areas of Palazzo and The Venetian offer free WiFi (although I personally would be cautious about using a laptop in a casino area for fear that Security might think I'm trying to hack them or cheat somehow). I'll also personally note that the "Sugar and Ice" shop in the Wynn shops is a good place that many people use for their free WiFi while taking a break AND getting a nice snack. Also note that you can check various other places along the Strip for free Internet service, including the seating areas of just about every Starbucks.

#4-6: Dueling piano competitions - At each of these three locations, the winner is determined by audience applause: The Piano Bar at Harrah's (9 p.m., free), Kahunaville Restaurant at TI (9:30 p.m., free), or the Bar at Times Square in NY/NY (8 p.m., $10 cover).

#7: Tour Las Vegas history - Las Vegas City Hall offers a free, self-guided tour of all things Vegas within it's walls. Ask the city clerk for a brochure to check out some things such as a 1959 city map, the 1923 city budget, and various Mayor Oscar Goodman bobble heads (he's a very popular mayor) to include just a few items of interest from the tour. City Hall is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays (except holidays) and is located at 400 Stewart Ave.

#8: Collectibles on the cheap - If you're renting a car, the Broadacres Swap Meet in North Las Vegas is a 20 acre, open-air market with about 1,150 vendors. Open 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Fridays with a 50-cent admission price; open 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for $1 admission. (Kids under 12 free on all days.) The swap meet is located at 2930 N. Las Vegas Blvd.

#9: Listen to Bette Midler's band - If you can't afford to see her show at Caesars Palace, you can still check out six members of her band performing as "Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns" in the Lounge at the Palms every Monday night beginning at 10:30 p.m. for free.

#10: The Birdman of Las Vegas - (I have to say I'd never heard of him before this mention. Odd.) Joe Krathwohl, aka "The Birdman of Las Vegas", performs bird tricks with a flock that includes Hawaiian cockatoos, Amazon parrots, and even an endangered Andean Condor. Shows are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Friday - Sunday, inside the Hawaiian Marketplace located on the Strip at 3743 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Free admission.

#11: Ride around Mt. Charleston - Las Vegas Carriage offers 20-minute rides around the mountain area, which is located about 40 minutes northwest of Las Vegas. You can take a horse-drawn carriage in warmer months or a horse-drawn sleigh during the winter. The rides begin at the Mt. Charleston Lodge, 1200 Old Park Rd. Call (702) 596-6715 for reservations. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 per child under 12.

#12: Join the Masquerade Show in the Sky at Rio - Twenty-five members of the public are allowed to ride the floats in the hourly show above the Rio's casino floor. The shows run from 7 p.m. - midnight, Thursday - Sunday. Make reservations at www.harrahs-web.vegas.com/rio/masquerade.html. Cost is $13 per person.

#13: Weekly blues concerts at The House of Blues in Mandalay Bay - Concerts begin at 9 p.m. every Wednesday inside the Crossroads room. Bands change weekly, and there is no cover charge. For more information on the bands, go to www.myspace.com/nothingbuttheblues2007 or call (702) 632-7600.

#14: Q VIP discount card - Q Vegas, the city's leading gay and lesbian magazine, distributes the cards that provide discounts to the Atomic Testing Museum and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art amongst other offerings. Send an e-mail to vip@qvegas.com with your name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number and birth date for a free card to be mailed to you. (No, you don't have to be gay or lesbian to take advantage of the offer.)

#15: Pinball Hall of Fame - A 4,500-square foot "hidden treasure" of a museum display where you can choose to play any of the 200 or so vintage pinball machines. Take a couple of rolls of quarters and enjoy yourself! (I've heard people lose track of time here almost as easily as they lose track of it in the casinos.) The non-profit display is run by Tim Arnold, a former arcade chain owner with a collection that dates back to the 1940's. Open 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily at 3330 E. Tropicana Ave. Visit http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ for more information.

#16-17: Eat at Las Vegas cooking schools - The Culinary Institute of Las Vegas currently serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays at Opus Too, located at 2350 Corporate Circle in Henderson. Call (702) 369-9944 to make reservations. Cost is an affordable $9.95 per person. You can also try the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts' restaurant called Cafe' Bleu. It is open 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for lunch and 5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. for dinner on Tuesdays through Fridays. Cost is $19-$21. Located at 1451 Center Crossing Road, call (702) 851-5322 for reservations. At both places, the students cook the food and wait the tables.

#18: Laugh at Improv students - Aspiring comics who are training with the Second City comedy troupe perform at 9:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Onyx Theatre, located at 953 E. Sahara Ave. The theater is located behind The Rack clothing shop, so don't get lost. Check them out at http://www.onyxtheatre.com/. Admission is $7.

#19: Great sunset view of the Strip - Instead of paying $13.95 to see the Strip from the top of the Stratosphere (or $9-$11 to see it from the top of the Eiffel Tower), head the bar at Mix atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay before 10 p.m. Admission is free, but you might feel like buying a drink or two while you enjoy the view.

#20: Lost City of Atlantis attraction - The 50,000-gallon, horseshoe-shaped aquarium tank at the north end of Caesars Palace's Forum Shops houses more than 500 colorful fish in its collection. During the educational tours, you can also handle live starfish if you'd like. The tours start at 1:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. weekdays near the Tower Records side of the aquarium. Admission is free.

#21: Get into two different Las Vegas nightclubs for free - Grab free passes to two of the Strip's "hottest" nightclubs, the Bank at Bellagio and Jet at The Mirage, at stores like Metro Park and Marciano in Fashion Show Mall, Ted Baker and BeBe at The Forum Shops in Caesars Palace, and Marciano and BeBe at the Miracle Miles Shops. The passes can be worth $20 or more.