By Harriet Baskas, contributor
The well-known \"Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas\" sign at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip has made appearances in tourist photographs for more than 50 years.
Now the sign is officially an icon: in May it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
You could use that an excuse to pack your bags and visit Las Vegas, or head for one of these cheap and offbeat attractions.";
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Part museum and part collectible car showroom, this auto collection is hidden away at the Imperia Palace Hotel. Find it, and you’ll get to wander among the hundreds of antique, classic, muscle, and celebrity-owned autos on display.
Some, like these Alpha Romeo BATS from the 1950s, are one-of-a-kind.
Tip: There is a paid admission, but coupons good for two free admissions can be found on the museum's Web site.
Find it: The Imperial Palace Auto Collections are on the 5th floor of the Imperial Palace parking structure at 3535 Las Vegas Boulevard South.";
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Head outdoors, past the lobby and the casino, and you’ll find a surprisingly serene tropical wildlife habitat with streams, waterfalls, lush foliage and an island that serve as home for Chilean pink flamingos, swans, ducks and other birds, as well Japanese Koi fish, turtles and a few other exotic creatures.
Find it: The Wildlife Habitat is located at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
Admission is free.";
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It can get hectic and hot walking along the Las Vegas Strip.
Try timing your stroll so you can rest your feet while taking in the free Fountains of Bellagio show that synchronizes the flow and directions of dozens of high-powered water fountains with colored lights and snippets from opera, classical and popular music.
Find it: The Fountains of Bellagio show takes place in the lake in front of the Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
The hotel Web site has a schedule of performances and a complete list of the music featured in the show.";
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Once you’ve seen the fountains outside the Bellagio, make your way to the Botanical Gardens inside.
The 13,500 square-foot conservatory has a ceiling measuring 50 feet high and a team of 140 horticulturists that works year-round to create a series of theatrical, colorful and sometimes outrageous garden installations.
The summer garden features giant balloons, an aviary filled with plumed lorikeets and parakeets, and a 42-foot–tall Ferris wheel with sunflower-filled seats.
Find it: Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is inside the Bellagio Hotel, past the lobby.
Admission is free.";
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The Neon Museum rescues and repairs classic neon signs from the Las Vegas skyline.
Much of the collection is inaccessible to the public, but 10 classic refurbished vintage signs can be visited 24 hours a day on a self-guided walking tour in an outdoor downtown “gallery”.
The tour includes the original Aladdin’s Lamp sign and the Red Barn sign (pictured, circa 1960) that was saved from a bar of the same name that burned to the ground.
Find it: The Neon Museum’s free self-guided walking tour begins in front of the Neonopolis at Las Vegas Boulevard near the Hacienda horse and rider sign. See the museum Web site for the route and a list of the signs on the tour.";
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In downtown Las Vegas, the always-free Fremont Street Experience is a mix of animation, light and music projected on a high-tech canopy stretching the length of five football fields.
This summer, the “experience” also includes a free concert series featuring Jefferson Starship, Canned Heat and other top bands from the 1960s.
On the first Friday of each month, the downtown Las Vegas Arts District also holds a free arts and entertainment party that stretches for 20 blocks.
Find it: For more information and schedules, visit the Web sites for the Fremont St. Experience and First Friday-Las Vegas.";
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The Flamingo Hotel may have a wildlife habitat filled with birds, but the MGM Grand features a mini-African safari filled with lions.
In this free exhibit, guests can walk through a see-through tunnel that offers close-up views of up to six lions that may be sleeping, prowling or playing.
The lions spend their afternoons at the hotel, but live on an 8 1/2 acre ranch about 12 miles out of town.
Find it: The MGM Grand Lion Habitat is inside the hotel at 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South.
Admission is free.";
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Not free, but definitely offbeat, the Liberace Museum pays tribute to the famous and flamboyant pianist who became known as “Mr. Showmanship” for his extravagant costumes, his “classical music with the boring parts cut out” concerts, and his trademark candelabras.
In two giant buildings, the museum displays Liberace’s extensive collections of cars, pianos, jewelry and costumes.
Find it: The Liberace Museum is in the Liberace Plaza at 1775 E. Tropicana Avenue.
Admission is charged, but there’s a free shuttle that stops at many hotels on the Strip. The hotel will also discount your ticket if you show them your taxi receipt.";
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In addition to free wireless Internet access, McCarran International Airport has a free 24-hour aviation museum right inside the terminal.
In addition to more than 30 exhibit cases filled with artifacts relating to Howard Hughes and others with ties to local aviation history, the airport displays a Cessna 172 (pictured) which took off from McCarran Field on December 4, 1958 and landed 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes and 5 seconds later, on February 7, 1959 having set a world record for endurance flying.
Find it: The main exhibit area of the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum is pre-security, on Level 2 of the main terminal at McCarran International. The Cessna is displayed above the baggage claim area of the airport.";
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