If you think Vegas was just for adults, then think again. Even if you’re married and now have kids, there are great things to do in Vegas for the whole family!
Photo by Grant Cai on Unsplash
We all know that Las Vegas has been for decades the paramount of adult entertainment, filled with casinos and night clubs, but there’s actually more. In recent years, the place has been changing slowly to attract a broader audience. In Vegas you can find a family-friendly side if you care to look for it. From hotels and resorts with kid pools and amenities to incredible attractions and museums. You also have access to outdoors adventures and natural reserves from Las Vegas!
So don’t hesitate, pack your family suitcase and keep reading to learn the best things to do in Vegas with kids and some expert tips for a more comfortable trip.
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Where to Stay: Best Family Friendly Hotels
On the Strip
These hotels are excellent if you want to be the closest to all the main attractions that Las Vegas offers, although they can be a bit more expensive exactly for that. These hotels also tend to have a certain theme and attractions inside.
If your kid loves all things aquatic-related, with animals like dolphins and fishes, then you should stay in the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino which has the best pools and even a shark reef aquarium. For a different theme you can choose the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino, which is both budget-friendly and has an amusement park or the Excalibur Hotel & Casino with its medieval theme.
Off the Strip
These may be less ostentatious and fun looking, but they’re great options nonetheless and they’re best for your wallet. You will even save a bit more since they tend to not have casinos in them! You have excellent options with big pools and a family-friendly atmosphere, like the Hilton Grand Vacation Club, the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa or the Tahiti Village Resort & Spa.
Best Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids
Must-See Vegas Experiences
The Sphere
The Sphere is one of the most recent attractions and one of the most spectacular. The Sphere is a state-of-the-art venue which offers a unique sensitive experience, with immersive visuals, 360-degree sound system and the biggest LED screen in the whole world. If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can’t miss seeing a show or concert in this venue. If you want to see the true marvel and potentiality of this kind of venue, you should see the “Postcard from Earth” film. With this film you’ll find yourself completely immersed in the wonders of our planet, mesmerized by the miracle of life.
High Roller Observation Wheel
It doesn’t matter who you’re traveling to Las Vegas with, you can’t skip this experience. The High Roller observation Wheel is one of the most popular attractions and it’s actually the highest observation wheel in North America, with a stunning 150 meters. From up there you’ll have the absolute best views of the Strip, especially incredible if you’re riding it at night. Although, if you’re traveling with kids, you might want to do it during the day to not disturb their sleep routine.
Interactive & Fun Spots for Kids
Pinball Hall of Fame
If you have a certain age, you might remember the golden age of Arcades. Elsewhere in the world might be rare to see them, but not on the Pinball Hall of Fame! If you want your kids to learn early on about classic games, then you can’t miss this place. You’ll find all kinds of Pinball machines, a whole collection starting as early as the 1940s, to today, with over 200 in total. Don’t worry too much about money. The place is completely free to enter, and most games cost between 25 cents and $1 to play.
The Discovery Children’s Museum
If you’re a good parent, you’re probably a bit worried that they’re having lots of fun, but they’re not learning all that much. If that’s so, then you should mark the Discovery Children’s Museum as one of your destinations in Las Vegas. There you’ll find a full three-story building filled to the brim with interactive activities designed for children of all ages to learn about science, art, and society.
There are areas like Patent Pending where your kids can design, build and test their own inventions, or the water world, where they’ll get to learn all about water science. If you think you have a little Miguel Angelo, they will enjoy the art-focused exhibits.
Best Things to Do Outdoors +Day Trips
Red Rock Canyon
If you want your kids to take some fresh air and exercise a bit, then take them to Red Rock Canyon! It’s only a 30 minute ride on the NV-159, and then you’ll enjoy the beauty of the Mojave Desert. Once there, there are many fun things to do. You can take a scenic drive, on the 13-mile trail full of sandstone cliffs and desert landscapes. If you like hiking, there’s the Calico Tanks Trail, the Ice Box Canyon, and the Petroglyphs, all of them short enough to take the kids with you. Just make sure you take many photos so you’ll remember the trip in later years.
Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon Tour
A Grand Canyon Tour is another great outdoor thing to do with your family! You can participate in one of these tours and have a full day of fun out in the desert. You can go by yourself, but the experience is way better if you go in a bigger group with a tour guide.
About 40 minutes from Las Vegas, you have the Hoover Dam Stop, where you can visit the power plant and learn how the dam works, before you head to the Grand Canyon. If you’re going with kids, we recommend you visit specifically the West Rim, which is only 2 hours from there. It. If you want the best spot for photographs, there’s the Eagle Point, where you can cross the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a stunning glass bridge over the canyon. There’s also the Hualapai Ranch, with Native American culture, great food, and cowboy-style entertainment.
Free and Budget-Friendly Things to Do
Bellagio Fountain Show
If you’re worried that nowadays most things for kids seem to be increasingly expensive, there are a few options in Las Vegas that are completely free! Like the Bellagio Fountain Show. You can find it near the Bellagio Hotel, over the Bellagio artificial lake. The spectacles feature popular songs synchronized with multiple jets of water going as high as 140 meters into the air.
The fountain starts working at noon every day, with a spectacle every 30 minutes until 6:30 and then a spectacle every 15 minutes until midnight. So it shouldn’t be hard to wait for the next one if you happen to miss it. For the best experience, you should go after the sunset, where the lights are added.
Photo by Antonio Janeski on Unsplash
Mandalay Bay Beach
If you miss the sea and just want to relax in a giant pool, visit the Mandalay Bay Beach. If you’re staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the entry is completely free, but outsiders can pay a small fee to enter and even rent a cabin or a daybed. For the best relaxing experience, you should try the lazy river, but if you want a more dynamic experience, or tire out your kids, maybe try the wave pool. Be careful, the waves can be up to 2 meters high. Whenever you feel hungry, you can head over to the Beach & Bar Grill, for some snacks and refreshments.
Photo by Cor Dulce on Unsplash
Best Family-Friendly Shows in Vegas
Tournament of Kings
If your kids love history and everything princesses and knights, then you can’t miss the Tournament of Kings. You can make your reservation at Excalibur Hotel & Casino, for about $50-$90 per person. Once there, while you dine like a medieval king (with your own hands, no utensils allowed) you’ll watch as King Arthur himself with his brave knights joust for justice. The experience even includes real trained horses for the spectacle, as well as fireworks and special effects. Your kids are going to love it.
Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère
The Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère is probably one of the most unique spectacles in all Las Vegas, which is hard in a city with so many fun things to see and do. If you want to see the best circus in the whole world perform, you better get your tickets well in advance, since they tend to sell quickly. The prices usually are between $70 and $150, the best sittings being the ones near the orchestra.
Once the spectacle starts you’ll find yourself submerged in a fantasy world that feels more like a dream than a real world show with normal people. Unlike other circuses, the spectacles are all tied out by a story, completed with live music and stunning costumes and set design. So just sit down and let yourself be involved by the artistry.
Where to Eat in Las Vegas with Kids
Secret Pizza
There’s nothing kids love more than secrets and pizza, so what happens when you combine them? That must have been the original idea of this establishment. The place is quite popular, but finding it isn’t easy if you don’t know about it beforehand. There are absolutely no signs and it’s not even on the hotel directory. But we can tell you how to find it, you just have to go to the third floor of the Cosmopolitan and look for an unmarked hallway with vinyl record covers on the walls. Inside it’s a treasure of New York style pizza!
Photo by Klara Kulikova on Unsplash
Proper Eats Food Hall
If you can decide on what you want to eat and everyone wants a different thing, maybe try the Proper Eats Food Hall. It’s located inside the ARIA Resort & Casino and offers quite the diverse menu thanks to the many food vendors. You can find Korean fried chicken, sushi, Jewish sandwiches, Mediterranean dishes, and so much more. There is something to everyone’s liking there.
Final Thoughts: Is Vegas Worth It for Families?
Yes, it totally is. Even if it may feel a bit unorthodox, we assure you it can be a great experience for your whole family. There you can watch unique shows, take great day-trips to national monuments like the Grand Canyon, and in general discover great fun things together to make everlasting memories.
Essential Vegas Travel Tips for Families
Stay connected in Las Vegas
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Plan attractions in one area
The Las Vegas Strip is long and tends to be quite crowded. Trying to walk longer distances can be tiring and overwhelming for an adult, imagine for a little kid. So try to plan for close attractions, and use the Monorail or the free trams between hotels as much as you can.
Stay Hydrated
Don’t forget that you’re essentially in the middle of a desert, and deserts are hot. So pack a good water bottle for you and your kids and make sure you do frequent stops to cool down.
Visit the Strip early in the day
Even if it has a lot of family-friendly attractions, Las Vegas still has a lot of adult content, especially during the night, and you surely don’t want your kids near any of those places. There’s also the fact that people tend to party and get rowdy after dark. So, do the walking around during the day to avoid any of those areas.