The Bellagio Hotel-Casino is not just another glittery spot along “The Strip” in Las Vegas, Nevada, a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of Boulevard famous for its concentration of the largest and most posh casinos, luxury resort hotels and world-class entertainment along its route. Bellagio is a class on its own with its most unique feature: the Bellagio Lake and Fountains.
The Lake, an 8-acre (3.2-hectare) man-made one, was built inspired by the Lake Como of Bellagio, Italy. The lake has been built between the Strip and the Bellagio Hotel-Casino building and the Strip. Its most outstanding features are the collection of water fountains dancing in harmony to music, dubbed as the “Fountains of Bellagio.”
Great Free Shows for One and All
Not everyone who visits Las Vegas is up to gamble or watch the “showgirls.” To keep up with the trend of the times, the Sin City has greatly evolved, so that even kids, student backpackers and non-gamblers can find something interesting to do here. It’s a little wonder that the Sin City has remained a world’s leading travel destination being visited yearly by about 40 million tourists.
While the classy resorts and attractions will cost you big bucks, there are free shows around the city to provide free entertainment. Some of these are shared by Nerissa Avisado in her curated article (Las Vegas is for the Kids Too for Travel Hints for You) of USA Today’s Free Attractions for Families in Las Vegas. Aside from the Fremont Street Experience, The Mirage Volcano, the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand, and the Trapeze Act at Circus Circus, the Bellagio Fountains also offers free shows for one and all. Avisado writes:
“These fountains located in the 8-acre Lake Bellagio entertain people with the ‘famous Las Vegas resort dance.’ The waters in the fountains ‘dance’ to the beat of classic songs by shooting up to 240 feet in the air to dance to Broadway hits and operatic masterpieces.”
What to Expect from Bellagio Shows
Time says, “People stare at lots of free shows outside the hotels, but there’s only one worth going to: the Bellagio fountains.” These free shows happen every day and people work to keep the shows happening as scheduled 365 days a year. “Every half-hour between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and every 15 minutes from then ’til midnight, an 8.5-acre lake in the middle of the desert explodes with 1,214 spritzers shooting water up to 460 feet in the air…” The dances are choreographed to over 30 songs you may not even be familiar with, but which you’ll perhaps download later to remind you of the beautiful experience.
The dancing jets of water are illumined from the inside and stick out out occasionally to the beat of whichever tune is playing. They shake, spiral and spin, making the audience utter oohs and aahs as the tempo changes with each crescendo.
Vegas.com’s Fountains at Bellagio offers a complete schedule of the shows, other relevant information, and some interesting facts about the Bellagio Lake:
- Lake area: 375,000 square feet, equivalent to three city blocks or eight football fields. The water could fill 2,000 swimming pools and would take more than a year to fill with a garden hose.
- Length of lake: 1,100 feet.
- Fountain shooters: 1,214 devices that can shoot higher than a 24-story building.
- Maximum water in air at any time: More than 17,000 gallons.
The Bellagio Hotel-Casino
This HUGE hotel has 3,933 rooms; each is a quintessence of classic Italian luxury as is the rest of the building complex.
- It grand Italian luxury start on its threshold. The lobby’s ceiling is adorned with a grand collection of “2,000 hand-blown glass flowers,” covering an expanse of about 2,000 square feet (190 m2).
- The Italian-themed courtyard is ostentatiously highlighted with five swimming pools as well as elaborate fountains and sculptures.
- Cirque du Soleil, known for its aquatic production “O,” is a major attraction.
- Bellagio’s immense and elegant gaming floor and the “5-pearl” service is among the best in the Strip. It has a multitude of blackjack tables, slot machines, and high-roller poker games.
- The Bellagio rooms are stylish, modern, but very Italian. Each room is provided marble bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and glass showers.
- Other amenities that guests typically enjoy are the formal room service, Bellagio’s superb buffet and fine-dining restaurants like Le Cirque, luxurious fitness center and spa, and the entertainments/attractions such as the indoor botanical gardens and of course, the world-renowned dancing Bellagio fountains.
The Bellagio is a resort where you can spend your entire vacation having everything that you may possibly want. If just passing by, the Fountains make a great way to pass your time, rather than be struck in traffic. With shows happening “every half-hour between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and every 15 minutes from then ’til midnight…” there is always something wonderful to do here… for free.
