Las Vegas Freebie: MGM Grand Lion Habitat

I'll admit it: One of the things I love about las Vegas is that there's so much to see, do, and experience for FREE! On my most recent visit I went to visit the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand Hotel. I had mixed feelings about the lion-fest and here's why:

Lion Habitat Description from MGMGrand.com:

To honor the lion and help safeguard its preservation for future generations, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino has created a one-of-a-kind Lion Habitat as a showcase for public education and appreciation for this majestic creature of nature. The lion has been a part of the MGM heritage for many years, beginning with the legendary Leo, whose roars have welcomed generations of moviegoers to epics of the silver screen.

The lions live in custom accommodations on an 8.5-acre ranch 12 miles from the MGM Grand. They are owned and cared for by noted feline expert Keith Evans, who has been training exotic animals for more than 30 years.

Sounds cool, right? Well the description I had read in one of the little Vegas guides in our hotel room touted "a collection of exotic felines from around the world". You can imagine how disappointed I was to only find two female lions chillin' in the habitat. Had I read the above description, I would have been thoroughly satisfied with my little lion adventure.

I was as close to a lion as I've ever been in my life! There is a tunnel in the habitat with a 1.5 inch thick glass ceiling. Two female lions were on that ceiling being monitored by their caretakers; one lioness was sleeping while the other chewed on a giant rawhide bone. Being that there were only inches between myself and the lounging lionesses, I had the rare opportunity to appreciate their majestic form up close. It gave me a rush to be in such close proximity to two "Queens" of the Jungle.

If you're looking for some free fun in Vegas, I recommend stopping by the lion habitat to appreciate some of the world's most beautiful and revered creatures.

Habitat hours are 11am to 10pm daily