Wynn Lake Of Dreams

It was no secret to seasoned hotel and casino developer Steve Wynn that there are plenty of places and an infinite number of ways to spend your money while in Las Vegas. Shopping sprees? Check. All day happy hour? Check. Quickie divorce lawyers? Let's hope so. With budget-minded gamblers flocking to the small crop of free sidewalk shows along the Strip, Wynn figured out a way to cash in on the free of charge Lake of Dreams located at his namesake resort hotel, without compromising the caliber of the production.

The trick? The Wynn Lake of Dreams is only accessible from inside the resort, giving patrons a reason to stroll past award-winning restaurants, trendy bars and, of course, enticing gaming tables. The Lake of Dreams is blocked from those on the Strip by an enormous 150-foot-tall mountain that was estimated to have cost Wynn $120 million—all to keep the Lake a secret! The man-made mound comes complete with grown trees saved from the old Desert Inn golf course—a bow to nature conservationists—and eight waterfalls pouring into a three-acre pool below. Unlike many of the eye-catching Strip shows in Las Vegas, the Lake of Dreams show is difficult to describe. There are no scampering pirates, no super-hydraulic bursts of water pressure or spews of lava. Instead, the shows, which commence daily every half hour from dusk to 12:30 a.m., are a testament to the power of lights, music and a little bit of psychedelic imagery. The 4,400 LED fixtures dancing below the surface are programmed to create up to 16.7 million different colors, and the songs range from classical picks to Louis Armstrong. There are nearly a dozen different shows, each more out-there than the last, but they have three things in common: they're short enough to keep your attention throughout, they're amazingly well choreographed and they must have been conceptualized by those with access to great hallucinogens.

The best way to experience the Lake of Dreams is to book a table at either Daniel Boulud Brasserie or SW Steakhouse, restaurants that both offer optimal views of the show. If you've already dined, you can snag a table at the Parasol Lounge and indulge in perfectly mixed cocktails while you enjoy the show.