"Let’s start big picture here. The airy central conservatory, which opens up right as you enter Bellagio, was inspired by the verdigris framework of Art Nouveau conservatories of Paris. Despite the fact that Las Vegas sits smack in the middle of the Mojave Desert, you can see the changing seasons in all their glory when the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden transforms five times per year with fresh flowers; towering animatronic butterflies and birds; burbling fountains and bobbing lanterns. Each of its seasonal “theatrical presentations” of the elements is totally new. You'll never see the same things twice. And each is more transporting than the last. It's free, requires no effort to navigate (unless you're trying to elbow your way through all the smartphone-wielding selfie-takers). It's an absolute feast for the eyes: locals love it as much as tourists, and it's one of the top free attractions in the city. Any standout features or must-sees? Each season, its 120 horticulturalists, engineers, and designers create displays with more than 10,000 flowers, which are switched out every two weeks. You'll never see the same thing again, but past examples included a Lunar New Year to celebrate the rat (a symbol of prosperity), with displays that included 32,000 flowers among the Conservatory's four beds (West, East, North, and South), as well as a koi pond, two 20-foot-high jade medallions, an ornate pagoda guarded by two animatronic lion dancers, and five giant gold rats pushing a golden cart and dancing up a staircase between two golden money trees. In other words, expect the unexpected. Was it easy to get around? The Conservatory is simple to navigate: the moment you enter Bellagio's front door, you'll see its 50-foot-high, skylit interior before you. It's a rectangular shape, bordered by stores and restaurants, so it's impossible to get lost. It's also very accommodating for those with mobility issues, with flat pathways and the occasional ramp. All said and done, what—and who—is this best for? Even though Bellagio Conservatory is free, and therefore an automatic draw in this city, the attraction is so over the top it feels like a must-see, even if you're on the spendiest trip of your life. Kids love it, adults love it, influencers love it (a little too much). Each season is more magical than the last, so it's perfect for everyone. It's also centrally located, so an easy attraction to reach on your way to or from other things you might be doing in Las Vegas during the day or night. And because it's an open botanical garden, it never closes—except for the occasional middle-of-the-night seasonal change-up." - Andrea Bennett
