It's obvious that the area where Fremont Street meets Las Vegas Boulevard has seen better days: hotels and casinos tend to be older (but less expensive) than those on the Strip, and there are far more street hawkers. The whole area is just a bit rough around the edges. But don't write downtown off completely. It's home to the Fremont Street Experience (a light show centered around the world's largest electric sign), which is a nice free activity, and there's also a developing arts district, with art galleries, restaurants, and bars slowly cropping up.
