Portland Coffee Tour 2025 - Part 5

Spring has sprung, and that means the return of sitting outside in the sun and drinking some first-rate iced coffees. Honestly, I'm an all-year hot coffee drinker, but if I'm out and about in the middle of the day, I'll order one over ice. Often I choose something that's a bit different than my usual hot drink then, because the ice can water it down.

I had some errands to run on the other side of town and that gave me an excuse to try some other coffee shops not near me. 

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Crema Coffee + Bakery

I was picking up some treats for the dog on my day off and decided to pop around the corner to check out a coffee shop I've not seen before. My friend lives near there and told me Crema let's them hold their fundraiser there every year and that they also give back to the community through charitable contributions, and I love that. This shop is big and airy with huge roll-up garage door walls that are opened when it's nice out. I'm a big fan of those.

There are so many baked goods here, from bread to pastries, and next time I'm in the area, I'll be picking some of those up. There were so many Spring drink specials here and I was intrigued. I asked for a recommendation between the strawberry and the lavender latte and, though she said I should come back to try the other, the person taking my order and money said she slightly preferred the strawberry, so I ordered an iced oat milk strawberry latte. It was light and fruity and not artificial tasting at all.

I will try the lavender latte on a future trip and probably also sit outside, because they have the street blocked off and in that space they have a lot of nice tables and umbrellas and games to play. I bet it's packed in the summer. 

Saint Simon - Brazee

Saint Simon has a few locations in Portland. This one is right in the middle of a neighborhood and we used it as a meeting point for a weekend walk with friends. This place was busy busy, so you might not get a seat, if that's what you're looking for. It's also bigger than the other location I've been to, where I was able to order and snag a window seat. This one has seating outside, too, but that also seemed full. I can't blame people, because if I had a coffee shop like Saint Simon right by my house, I also would be there every weekend.

Saint Simon, named after The Shins' song by the same name, is very Portland: sleek, white, but innovative and friendly. I didn't actually wait in line too long before I got to order and it gave me a chance to look at the specials board and then ask about the intriguing fig and clove latte. I love a spicy drink, but too much clove can overpower everything and numb your palette. I was told it was a little spicy and a little sweet. 

The flavors were perfectly balanced and it was a great coffee to take with me on a walk around the neighborhood with friends to check out little "libraries" on the Sidewalk Joy map. 

Brickhaus Coffee

This is my favorite local coffee shop. I try to go at least once a month. It's Asian, woman owned and they got me the very first time I came in and asked for a suggestion and they recommended a "butterbeer" coffee. Um, yes, please. They also have all the Houses as latte flavors, with my favorite being Hufflepuff and my second choice being the spicy Gryffindor. 

I have tried many of their coffee specials and they are always delicious. They get their pastries from a local French bakery, so they are always awesome. I love their bagel breakfast sandwiches as well. They are a small business that raises up other small businesses, too. They sell a bunch of things from other local places and things they just love like handmade chocolates, bags from Portland Gear, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Funko Pops. There's always some amazing baking show on their TV that is entrancing (I believe they make Vietnamese sweets). 

Two of my favorite things at this shop are the Iced Strawberry Mocha and the strawberry pastry flower. They are perfect items for spring and summer, but the strawberry mocha is also great hot. I don't go many places where they know me and my name and always ask about trips I'm taking. This is the only coffee shop where I'm on a first-name basis with the owner. It's also the only shop that I go to that has eliminated tipping, because they pay their small staff a living wage. 

That's it for this month. I've got my eye on a few potentials for June, so stay tuned for that. Tell me about your favorite coffee shop from your travels or your own city. 

Why Taking the Scenic Route Makes a Better Trip

The scenic route of a trip makes more sense to take if you have the time. There are such sights to see when on your way to a new destination, making the journey the star of the show. From making memories to exploring for an adventure, here are some reasons to take a detour.

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Enjoying the Slower Pace

Unhurried travel meandering through stunning vistas, stopping off at small towns, and savoring the journey is more fulfilling than pushing past unmissable destinations. Discovering heartwarming places that become part of you is what makes a scenic tour worthwhile, especially when cruising through and stopping off at an RV park. Stopping means you can take in more of the local scenery and discover something magical no matter where you are on your journey.

A More Memorable Journey

If you aren’t paying attention, the world will pass you by, and what a waste that can be. On the road, it can be a little boring, but you never really know what is beyond the next pass or around the corner. Scenic routes can make a journey far more memorable with all that you can discover. Coming over the horizon, you can witness a golden sunset across fertile farmland. You never really know what you will see, and they can make a lasting impact you will never forget.

Taking the Scenic Route is Great for Photos!

Further to never forgetting, there could be remarkable photo opportunities just beyond the next corner on a scenic route. Photography is a hugely enjoyable hobby when you learn about lenses and photographic techniques. However, even phone cameras are pretty decent these days. You can also share from your phone instantly. 95 million images are shared on Instagram every day, and there are other apps for travelers to show off their scenic images.

A Little Bit of Exploration

Getting from point A to point B is the journey most people take. But what about everything in between? There is an entire world waiting to be discovered, and all it takes is a willingness to stop every now and then and consider exploring more than usual. Taking the scenic route encourages your inner explorer to heed the call of the wild and stretch your legs. Along the way, there will be new things to experience and unexpected opportunities for a fulfilling adventure.

Engaging the Senses

While you can enjoy a cold breeze on your face just as much as the dog with its head out the window, there is so much more to experience on the road. The land between cities is littered with glorious sights, aromas, and other sensory experiences that make a scenic trip worth the extra time and effort. Experiencing new things and engaging the senses are more likely to forge unforgettable memories that help you appreciate the journey in a much more profound manner.

A calmer and more relaxing experience is possible when taking the scenic route on your travels. There’s also the opportunity to feed your inner shutterbug and get some stunning shots along the way, all while engaging all your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

3 Ways to Get a Cheaper Flight

The U.S. dollar is weakening a bit and with travel already being expensive, that's not going to do you any favors. We're all out here trying to visit cool places, while also not going broke in the process, so how do you even accomplish that when things are so uncertain? Well, luckily, the dollar only dipped slightly, so unless that changes drastically, we're all still pretty okay. 

If you don't want to travel within the U.S., and I certainly can't blame you, even though there are amazing things to see and do in this country, here are 3 ways you can a cheaper flight. Don't worry, you can also use these tips domestically:

Travel during off- or shoulder-season

Everyone wants to go to Paris in the Springtime or Germany in September or Greece in the Summer, but what that means is that everyone is there. It's crowded, it's expensive, and it's kind of a nightmare. You can't see everything you want, your flights and hotels are going to cost more than you want to spend, and you'll have to stand in All. The. Lines. Instead, go during less in-demand times, because not only will you save money, you'll also save time and sanity. You may have to pack a light sweater or enjoy shorter opening hours, but it may ultimately worth it. 

We almost always take our big trip in September/October, and while the weather may be cooler and things aren't open as long, we get more things done, don't have to contend with massive crowds, and we save money overall on our trip.

Use your points

If you use the same airline(s) for your trips, chances are you have a lot of points built up. Get online and book all or even just part of your flight with points. I've used points to go round-trip to Vegas, we've used points to travel one way and paid for the way back, and we've also covered one person's flight and paid for the other. Maybe you have frequent flyer miles through a credit card or have accumulated a bunch of cashback through one. That's free money for your flight.

Book mid-week flights

More people want to be at their destination on the weekend, so they're flying on Thursday or Friday, the most expensive days to fly. Friday and Saturday are also the most expensive nights at hotels. Aim to fly Tuesday or Wednesday and early in the day. Sure, you may hate getting up at 4am to take that first flight of the day, but you'll also get to your destination earlier and you have a much lower chance of your flight being delayed or cancelled by something other than weather.

I'd much rather sleep on the plane or take a quick nap when I arrive than take a later morning flight that then gets delayed due to late flights and then I lose a good portion of my first day. Suck it up and take that first flight and you could save hundreds sometimes. Learn how to make your trip more comfortable so you can get some rest and enjoy your time right off the plane.

Did you find an awesome deal on a flight for any of your trips?

What's Everyone Doing for Their Summer Travels?

Summer travel is fast approaching and with the economy kinda tanking and people having problems of all kinds, 2025 is shaping up to be different than other years, especially in terms of travel. I know we aren't spending as much as we usually do on travel, and definitely not as much as we did in 2024, where we took 3 trips over the summer. This year we'll be heading back to Vegas, but we will probably do less or eat at less expensive places (or both).

So, how do your travels stack up to other Americans?

While we won't be going to any of the most popular destinations

this summer, we will be headed to France in the fall and will be staying in both a vacation rental and hotel.  Tell us where you're going and if you're spending more or less than average.

Places to Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is AAPI Heritage Month, where we try to learn more about those people who helped build the country that we live in. I frequent a handful of AAPI-owned businesses just in the town where I live, but I try to find others in greater Portland and also when I travel, because when minority-owned businesses are uplifted and thrive, the whole community benefits.

Here are some places to visit on your travels to celebrate and support the AAPI people there:

Chinatowns

Most large cities have a Chinatown, but there are some that aren't that well known that are steeped in history and have amazing food that should be on your radar:

• Las Vegas - Believe it or not, amongst all the other crazy things in Vegas, you can visit a completely separate Chinatown that's not on the Strip. It has over 150 restaurants and is home to 6 supermarkets. This has been on my list for over a year, and I hope to spend some time here on my summer trip.
• Oakland - Often overshadowed by San Francisco's Chinatown, Oakland can be a bit more chill. It's mostly a neighborhood rather than a tourist destination, but there are 45 restaurants and 9 tea shops, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Madison Park, where you can see people doing Tai Chi in the mornings, and Oakland Fortune Factory, where you can customize your own fortune cookies.
• Honolulu - Hawaiian/South Pacific culture is different than Chinese culture, and Honolulu's Chinatown is it's oldest and most artistic neighborhood, with an eclectic mix of Asian vendors, from lei makers, dim sum restaurants, the Japanese Izumo Taishakyo Mission Shrine, and Chinese Kuan Yin Temple.
• Houston - Although it seems like an unlikely place to find authentic Chinese culture, Houston has a younger, thriving Asiatown, as it brings diversity, instead of just Chinese merchants. You'll also find Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean, and more within the 6 square miles, including the Hong Kong City Mall and Teo Chew Temple. You can also take a bus tour of this sprawling neighborhood through Asiatown Houston Bus Tour.

Japantown

At one point there were many Japantowns, like Chinatown neighborhoods, but they got pushed out of towns, so now there are only three: San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. There is also a Japantown in Vancouver, BC. I had a goal to visit two others besides San Francisco, but I didn't have time in my schedule when we traveled to LA and Vancouver, so they are still on my list. 

Museums

I love a good museum and when I can learn about a new culture or heritage (or even my own), even better. There are some great ones that can educate you on the history of Asians in America. Here are just a few:

• Wing Luke Museum in Seattle - Located in Seattle's Chinatown, this museum is named after a city council member who was the first Asian American to hold a public position in the Pacific Northwest. Inside you can view paintings, photos, other artwork, and textiles. The museum also offers programming and city tours.
• Angel Island Immigration Museum on Angel Island, California - Thought of as the West Coast's Ellis Island, an estimated one million immigrants came through Angel Island, though Asian immigrants were discriminated against, so not nearly as many were allowed in as wanted to come. Now, Angel Island is a state park that is home to a recreated detention center that will show you what life was like for those Asians who were forced into these types of centers due to the Chinese Exclusion Act.
• Hmong Cultural Center Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota - You might not think of a large Asian population calling the midwest home, but make sure to visit this museum that tells of the Hmong people from Laos who sought refuge in the US after the Vietnam War. Even know, there are around 90,000 Hmong people living in Minnesota, as they were given help through the University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service to set up farms in the Great Lakes area.

Can't afford to travel and you're not near any of these things? Well, you can always check out your local Chinatown or Asian cultural center, go eat at a local Asian restaurant, coffee shop, or bakery, or you can throw a destination date night or party at home. Here are a few we've done:

• China
• Japan
• Myanmar/Burma
• Polynesia/Pacific Islands
• Tokyo
• Vietnam

Another great idea is to get ready for a future trip by learning a new language, like Mandarin, Japanese or Korean.

• Babbel allows you to buy a lifetime subscription at up to 55% off, but you can also just pay for a monthly membership. We plan to travel to a lot of international destinations and I jumped on a really good lifetime sub sale in 2021 as a Christmas present to us.
• Pimsleur has been around for a long time and I've used it when they were individual CDs, because I'm old, and that's what was around the second time we traveled to France. Now you can have all their offerings in one spot. Choose one language with Premium Monthly or get access to all 51 languages with All Access Monthly/Annual.
• Rosetta Stone is another one I used before everything was online. I still have Spanish CDs from them somewhere. The online RS is much better, because it's easier to use. You can choose from one language with three month and twelve month plans or all 25 of their languages with a lifetime plan.

Previously, I recommended Duolingo, as I used it in a pinch, it was fun, and it can be free, but they have announced that they are going to be using almost exclusively AI, which means, you never know if you are getting the correct language education, so I immediately dumped it from my phone.

Over the course of the next few months, I'll be posting facts on Facebook about Asian and Black history in destinations I'll be going to over the next year, because I think knowing more than just white history is important, even outside of the US.

Do you have a favorite Chinatown, Asian Market, or Museum that you would like to add to this list? I'd love for you to share.

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France Is Calling

So, I have been trying to decide where we will go on our usual Fall vacation and going back and forth as to whether we should leave the country or not and trying not to let my FOMO get the best of me and just get on a plane to somewhere everyone else has been going. While it's a few months off still, I've landed on the perfect balance for us: Normandy, France.

Now, you may have noticed we've been to France several times. The last time we went, it was the first time we didn't include it as part of another vacation. We first visited in 2006, as part of our honeymoon. It was mostly not my favorite trip there. We visited again in 2013, again as part of a bigger trip to London, but we spent more time there than the first trip and did more interesting things. Our last trip was in 2022. If you have been around awhile, you know that we did a lot of non-touristy stuff, and then we spent 3 days at Disney, because that trip cost less altogether than a trip to Orlando would have, plus we got to sightsee around Paris. 

This trip we're going to try some new things. First up, renting a car and driving in the French countryside. I'm always nervous about driving in a different country, but more so I'm definitely afraid to drive in the big city if it's on the other side of the road. I will gladly try that out in the country or even on the highway. I won't be doing that this time, though, because France drives on the right-hand side like we do in the U.S. I also won't have to figure out how to drive in Paris, which seems like it could be scary...though I did drive in Ecuador and Quito was crazy, but we didn't die and I actually was really confident by the 3rd day.

Why Normandy? Why not? It has a ton of history, beaches, great food, Monet's garden is out there, and France just happens to be an affordable destination, even now. I'm excited to explore new areas of France and not have to rely on public transportation to go to a new town. Not that I have anything against buses and trains, but when you have limited time, you don't really want to waste it waiting on a bench. If we didn't rent a car, the train trip from Paris to Normandy would only be 2 hours, which is fine, but getting around the area might be a bit more challenging.

Normandy is an area made up of a bunch of smaller towns, so there's so much to check out, but here are just a few things I have on my list to do:

• The Bayeaux Tapestry - a 230 ft-long tapestry showing Duke William of Normandy's conquest of England.
• Notre Dame Cathedral - apparently, the one in France isn't the only one, it's just the most famous.
• Conservatoire de la Dentelle - a conservatory dedicated to the art of handmade lace.
• Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy
• Bayeaux Botanical Garden
• Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet
• Jardin de Plantes and Jardins des Simple - two gardens in Caen that showcase rare and medicinal plants.
• Caen Castle
• Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei - officially listed as one of the most beautiful towns in France.
• The Haras du Pin National Stud - known as the Versailles for horses, it encapsulates all of Normandy's horse history and culture.

And since we'll be flying and out of Paris, we're absolutely going to visit Disneyland Paris again. I love those parks and have a new plan for dining this time, too. I've been doing more research and it looks like the food in Disney Village is better than the sit-down dining in almost any of those in the parks, unless they are quick-service. I'd also like to explore, at least, the Disneyland Hotel and possibly the Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel. We might be lucky enough to also be there during a festival or the start of Halloween.

If you've been to Normandy and have recommendations for things to do or where to eat, hit me up. (Same for Disneyland Paris food suggestions.)

Traveling In This Political Climate

I've been talking to a lot of people lately about how they plan on traveling in the near future while everything is so up in the air and uncertain. People are being detained at the border, even if they are US citizens, recession is probably coming and there are wars in a lot of places as well. 

So, how do we navigate these new, unprecedented times? Do we stick close to home or do we pretend that nothing is different and plan all our trips like we have just been going about life and work like everything is normal. It's not normal. 

The answer isn't simple, unfortunately. It depends on who you are and how you usually travel. A white-presenting person is going to have a lot fewer problems than someone with black or brown skin. The same goes for U.S. citizens versus those with Green Cards or naturalization. And still someone who is trans or non-binary is going to have different concerns traveling right now than traditionally gender-conforming cis people.

I look white, but also have a popular middle eastern name, so at the moment, I don't really feel comfortable going to Egypt, which is one of the places I thought about traveling this year. Luckily, I have Global Entry and PreCheck, so coming back to the country from mostly anywhere shouldn't be that big of a deal for me. I never changed my last name when I got married and I don't look threatening in any way.

Over the next month or so, I will be doing a series on traveling while the world is so uncertain and the US government kind of wants to ruin everyone's life. I hoped that the Covid pandemic was our only tumultuous once-in-a-lifetime event, but it looks like this may be another one for Americans. Luckily, most other countries know that many of us didn't vote for this administration and are still welcoming to us. 

My face when the cherry blossoms weren't blossoming, but possibly your face reading this

Also, don't worry. If this doesn't sound interesting to you, I'll still be writing about where you could be traveling on a budget, where to travel for Asian American culture/history (for AAPI History Month), packing light, Portland coffee, and I still have a bunch of reviews to get to. 

So, I want to know how you are traveling, struggling, staying home, or planning for the future right now. Tell me in the comments.

Top 10 Ways to Save On Food When You Travel

Food isn’t like souvenirs—you can’t just skip it while you’re on vacation! Eating is a must, but that doesn’t mean it has to blow your budget. The good news? There are plenty of easy ways to cut down on food costs without missing out on amazing meals. Just because you're trying to save a bit doesn’t mean you're stuck with fast food or boring sandwiches the whole trip. 

Here are my top 10 tips for making your food money go further while still enjoying some of the best bites your destination has to offer.

Ask the locals where they eat

Odds are, people who live where you’re traveling don’t eat at the fanciest restaurant in town. You know who eats there? Tourists and people celebrating their anniversaries. The “normal” people eat at affordable dining establishments that are also delicious and serve food from the local area. They are going to want to point you towards some of the city’s gems and impress you because, unlike hotel staff, they don’t get paid for recommending the crazy expensive steakhouse down the street.

Look forward to lunch

You probably aren’t always frugal. While on vacation, it’s okay to splurge sometimes. If that includes going to a top-rated restaurant that you know is spendy, make reservations for lunch instead of dinner. The food will be just as tasty, but cheaper than at dinnertime.

Split an entrée

Most restaurants serve you at least twice as much food as you can eat. Don’t be weighted down having to carry around leftovers or feel bad about food left on your plate. Share a main dish with your travel companion. Most hotels will split an entrée for no fee, but even if you have to pay for an extra plate, it only costs a few dollars, which is cheaper than paying for a whole other meal. 

Order an appetizer for a meal

Most appetizers can be plenty to fill you up and can be as little as a third of the price of an entrée. This is also a great option for you if you like to try many different dishes. Order two to three for the same price as a meal.

Hit up the food carts

Food carts can offer a huge variety of different local and international foods, but can be half the price of (or less) than dining at a sit-down restaurant. With this kind of savings, you can try fare from several carts with no regrets.

Shop the farmers market

There’s no better way to experience local cuisine and interacting with residents than a visit to the closest farmers market. You will find a variety of food, including meats, fruits, vegetables and cheeses. Purchase enough for lunch and enjoy the afternoon having a picnic in a nearby park.

Rent a vacation home or stay in a hotel with a kitchen(ette)

This is my favorite way to stretch my food budget, because there are so many options. Renting can be a great value over hotel stays if you’ll be visiting for a week or more, plus it gives you the chance to check out the local grocery store. Make many of your own meals and save considerably. I don’t often like to spend money on eating breakfast out, so I love to buy new cereals and pastries I can enjoy in my room.

Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast

You don’t realize how much dining out can cost until you go on vacation. A reasonable breakfast can cost between $8-15 per person. If you multiply that by the number of people you’re traveling with and the number of days you’ll be staying, that number can be huge. If you find a hotel in your price range that offers free breakfast, you’ve hit a jackpot of savings.

Sign up for Groupon

If you haven't been using Groupon, what are you even waiting for? Save 40-90% off food and more, meaning you can eat for way less than you originally planned, meaning you can splurge on a fancy meal, spend that money elsewhere, or actually just stay on budget. Sign up at Groupon for the destination of your next vacation (they cover many international locations as well as the United States) and eat for less!

Don’t order off the kids’ menu

If you travel with children, you’ll notice that most kids’ menus seem to have the same small rotation of foods. Obviously, little ones don’t just live on hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets and PB&J sandwiches. Not only do they charge an outrageous amount for these “staples” that cost hardly anything to make, but they offer hardly any nutritional value and your kids are likely to eat only half of it before declaring they’re full. Instead, order a meal that you both will eat and share. This saves you money and might get them to eat a vegetable or two.

While there are other ways to save on dining, these have proven to be the most useful for my travels and are my first suggestions to anyone asking how to cut costs on their trip. They are easy to do and will enable you to try a bigger variety of foods, too. You’ll experience more of the city and its people, giving you a greater vacation experience.

How do you save money on dining out when you travel?

Free Things To Do In Vegas

Las Vegas is a city that is forever changing, but one thing doesn't change: as much as there is that costs a lot of money, there is still a long list of free things to do while you're there. I visit Vegas multiple times a year and I do a lot of these things, because they are fun and also a great way to fill my day in between eating and other activities. 

If you're in Vegas for 1 day or a lot more, here are things I absolutely recommend and do myself on my own visits.

Flamingo Habitat

The Flamingo is really trying to reinvent itself. I tried the new Vanderpump lounge for dinner one night and it is stunning. But that's not the only awesome thing there, besides new food and drink, amazing shows, and the easiest access to the Monorail, you can go outside on the way to the pools and view flamingos and other birds, turtles, and fish at the flamingo habitat, which is always free. There are fountains and a waterfall back there and nice sidewalks to take a little stroll around. 

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden

5 times a year (once for each season and once for Lunar New Year), the master gardeners reinvent the botanical garden into something wonderous and different. Every time I go, I have to see what's going on there and it's always spectacular. I don't know how they keep coming up with new ideas, but they do and it's always gorgeous. This is what it looked like on my last visit.

This is the best picture I have of the fountains (that I took from the Eiffel Tower)

Bellagio Fountains

People love the fountains in front of the Bellagio. It can get really crowded, but sometimes you get lucky and can see them from inside (where it's air conditioned) or from the covered walkway off to the side. The music is pretty chill and the show is pretty cool, but again, the crowds, especially on Las Vegas Blvd, are crazy.

Dancing Fountains between the Wynn and Encore

While everyone else is waiting for nighttime to watch the fountains at the Bellagio, I much prefer to come down to these smaller ones that have more upbeat music and run 24/7. Are they as fantastic? No. Will you have to throw elbows to see any of it? Absolutely not. There's also a waterfall across the walkway that makes for other fantastic pictures. I always see couples trying to get a good shot (tip: be kind and ask if they would like you to take the picture and make someone's. They often want to return the favor.)

Welcome to Las Vegas sign

I've done this, approximately, once, but I'm also not a person who wants to stand in line for a photo. There is a parking lot for this, as it's at the end of the Strip and also very popular. It also helps if you bring a tripod or a friend with you to take said photo. My suggestion is to do this early in the day, before it gets too hot or too crowded. We did it at nighttime and still had to wait for our turn. If you want that one iconic photo though, it's definitely worth it.

City Hall

I just learned about this before my last trip while I was looking for museums and other things in Vegas to do on my one full day on my own. While City Hall may sound really boring, it's not. They have rotating exhibits in their lobby and in their small gallery upstairs. It won't take you very long to look at everything, but it's a fun way to see some things that you wouldn't otherwise. I was the only one in there and was able to take my time looking at Cirque du Soleil costumes and makeup and then check out the gallery of Black artist works upstairs. 

You'll have to pass through security, but they seemed really happy that I wanted to come look at art. And it's two blocks away from Fremont Street Experience, so you're not making the trip for an activity that takes maybe 45 mins. 

Fremont Street Experience

While we're on the subject, Fremont Street is 3 full covered blocks of...a lot. A lot of stimulation. A lot of casinos. A lot of lights. A lot of entertainment. A lot of people (sometimes). A lot of street performers. If you can handle what might be overstimulation to some people, you might really love Fremont Street. They have three stages for free concerts, you can watch the people fly by on the zipline overhead, and on a schedule you can watch video/light shows on the canopy screens above you. Fremont street is a whole different vibe at night, so I always suggest people come down in the late afternoon, wander through and see what it's like during the day, go check out the art around (see below), get something to eat, and then come back when it's dark. 

Downtown Arts District

Las Vegas does quite a bit with artists and each year they do Life Is Beautiful, where they bring in artists from everywhere to beautify their city with new murals and other pieces. You will find so much within 3 blocks of Fremont Street Experience. It's one of my favorite things to do. Not only will you see wall murals, but there are large pieces brought in from past Burning Man festivals, including one made of two semi trucks and a giant preying mantis that shoots fire to rad music at night. You'll find the mantis at the Container Park, which is just one block away from Fremont Street Experience. There's shopping and dining during the day and bars and snacks at night.

Area 15 art

If you're cool with going a bit further off the Strip, you for sure want to check out Area 15. They have a whole art/sculpture garden in front that is free. You can also go in and see free things inside and just really enjoy the vibes. Again, it can be a lot, but it's also really cool. Book free tickets online through their website (sometimes there is a person checking your QR codes and sometimes they don't care and just let you in, I assume during less busy times). You can even do a virtual scavenger hunt in there with your admission, and that's also free.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden

Even though I'm not a huge fan of their chocolate, I really enjoy visiting Ethel M. You can go in and watch them make candies in the factory and then go outside and wander their cactus garden, which has little walkways and alcoves to sit. It's a great place to take pictures and if you go at night, it's lit up. I have yet to do that, but it looks really pretty.

Silverton Casino Aquarium & mermaid show

Usually when I visit Vegas in the summer, I have a car, so I can go a little further out than most people. Silverton isn't that far away, but it is if you don't have transportation, and unless you are spending a good chunk of time there, I wouldn't waste money on rideshare. You could dedicate a good portion of a day there though, and if you do, there's a large aquarium at the entrance with lovely tropical fish. 

On certain days they have mermaids in it for kids (and adults) and I've also been there when there have been divers in there answering questions about cleaning the tank or the sting rays that they're feeding. It's really cool. There's also a Bass Pro Shops inside the hotel, in case you want to see some more outdoorsy stuff. 

Sam's Town Sunset Stampede

This is a drive, but also it gets you away from Vegas proper and is really interesting. Inside of Sam's Town is a whole indoor park, under an atrium roof, so it feels like you're outside. The hotel rooms look down into it and are made to look like buildings. They call this Mystic Falls Park, because there is a beautiful waterfall at one end. There are also a lot of animatronic animals dotted around. Each evening, there are several showings of Sunset Stampede, a laser light and water show at the waterfall. I booked a table for my mom and I at the Angry Butcher, because I figured if it was lame, at least we'd have good food to eat, but both were excellent and the show was quite long and immersive. 

Here I am, in Las VGas :D

More free things that I wouldn't go out of my way for, but would do it if I were there:

Fall of Atlantis at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

This is a multi-daily animatronic show with fire and fog and projections, but it is pretty run down. On the backside is a big aquarium, which is pretty neat though.

Circus Acts at Circus Circus

I don't know how much longer this will be around, since Circus Circus has been sold and nobody has any idea if they new owners will keep the theming or not. For now, you can go inside and watch an array of circus performers throughout the day for absolutely free. You can also go walk around the Adventuredome, their indoor theme park, for no cost. 

The large cola taster tray at Coca-Cola World

Hershey World, Coca-Cola World, and M&M World

If you like any of these things, great. Check them out. I've done them all at least once. They basically all occupy one area of the Strip down by The Park at MGM, which is actually between Park MGM (yes, they really put "The Park" next to a place called "Park") and New York New York. The Park itself is cute and often has live entertainers and artists in the evenings. 

Hershey World is multiple floors of, you guessed it, Hershey products. There's nothing amazing here, except for the giant chocolate Statue of Liberty. 

M&M World is massive and sells pretty much anything you want that has M&Ms on it or is an M&M you can eat. You can create a blend of any colors you want and you can even personalize your own candies. The selling point, for me, is that there is a movie starring all your favorite M&M characters. There's also a racing car in there somewhere that is wrapped in 100% M&M's branding.

Coca-Cola World is sort of a mix between M&M and Hershey. They are huge. They have merch and soda (they make floats and mocktails). The coolest thing here is that you can go upstairs and try all the different sodas they make around the world. This part isn't free, but it's not that expensive and it's fun to do with others. You can get up to 14 flavors. Some are delicious and some are disgusting, but you won't know which ones until you try them! 

These aren't the only free things to do, but they are some of the easiest to get to, and also ones that I've personally done and enjoyed in some way. If you're looking for free things further out, I suggest Seven Magic Mountains, an art exhibit in the desert, and visiting Boulder, where you can go to the history museum (for free), go see Lake Havasu before it dries up from the overlook, and see all the free sculptures and murals all over town. 

If you've been to Vegas and found a fun free thing not on my list, please add it in the comments, so we can all check it out on our next visits!