Most people do not take their kids on their Las Vegas Vacation, but if you have to, like us, you will find that there is a lot to do. Vegas can be quite family-friendly and some of the kid’s activities are free activities!
Be sure to read our tips for visiting Vegas with Kids before your trip!
Childcare Options in Las Vegas
You can find nice child care facilities called Kid Quest in many of the Station Casinos and the Palms. I made it a point to go in and look at a few the last time we were there. They usually have a large facility with a separate nursery area. My kids love these places.
Fun things to do with your children in Vegas are:
*See a show: There are many family-friendly shows in Las Vegas, including some of the Cirque du Soliel shows that are kid-friendly. I took my kids to Mystere almost two years ago and they are still talking about it. There was nothing inappropriate in it. They loved the big guy dressed as a baby! Many of the comedy and magic shows are also kid-friendly.
*Arcades: almost every hotel has one. The one inside the Excalibur is huge and they also have a diner show kids enjoy. It is like Medieval Times.
*Minigolf: Take them to the putt putt. There are several around. There is a huge one in southwest Las Vegas.
*Animal Encounters: Go see the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and dolphin habitat at the Mirage or hit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. The Flamingo Hotel has animals you can see for free at the Flamingo Hotel’s Wildlife Habitat.
*M and M Store: A visit to the M&M store is always fun and yummy. There they have a very creative walk through “M and M factory” on the 3rd floor
*Go to the pool. If your hotel pool isn’t that great you can pay to go one that is, like the one at Mandalay Bay. I found out just today that the Flamingo pool is open to the public after 2 PM.
*Circus Circus is decent enough, they have a great arcade, an amusement park, water park, and circus performers every hour. If you decide to stay there I would ask for the new tower. My friends stayed in the older part and were not thrilled with the room. The Stratosphere also has rides.
*Water show in front of the Bellagio. They do the water show up nicely and change it all the time; you can see multiple shows in one day. Also, at the Bellagio is their conservatory. The conservatory is always changing. It is fun to walk through and get pictures. Both of these things are free.
*World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain – See this for free while inside the Bellagio. It is found around the left side of the conservatory. This is a great place to take a funny photo with your kids. They can pretend it’s pouring into their mouths.
*Lied’s Children’s Museum aka Discovery Kid’s Museum near the Fremont Experience has been updated and better than ever. My kids had a lot of fun when we went. There are lots of different hands-on activities for a variety of ages. My daughter especially liked the tornado experience!
*The Volcano in front of the Mirage hotel and casino is fantastic. They have updated this recently and now have music and fire explosions and of course, the volcano erupts. This experience is free, and not terribly crowded now that it covers more area. You will want to watch from the south side.
*High Roller Las Vegas – The tallest observation wheel in the world, peaking at 550 feet, the High Roller offers views of the Strip and the surrounding desert valley.
*Ethel M Chocolate Factory – Take a self-guided tour, enjoy a free sample and watch the chocolate being made from behind large glass windows. You can also walk through the cactus garden. At Christmas time, this cactus garden is decorated in Christmas lights.
*Ride the Aria Express – This is a free tram ride that goes back and forth between Monte Carlo, the Bellagio, and City Center.
*Art in City Center – Take a stroll to look at the free art around City Center.
*Downtown Container Park – This free park features a treehouse along with play spaces.
*Hike the Aria hotel – A one-of-a-kind workout at the Aria with 60 minutes of walking, climbing, and some workout sets like sit-ups, pushups, and lunges.
*Town Square – An outdoor mall just south of the Strip with an excellent playground for kids. On hot days, they turn on a splash pad too. Also found here is a massive indoor gaming facility, Game Works.
*Tivoli Village – An outdoor shopping center with a covered playground for kids. Plus, there is a splash pad and a sandbox.
*The Mob Museum – A museum about the history of the mob in Las Vegas, as well as its roots in Chicago and New York.
*Recycled Percussion – This is a great show for kids at Planet Hollywood.
*Calico Basin – Free hiking near the entrance of the Red Rocks.
*Red Rock Canyon – A 40 minute drive west of the Las Vegas Strip is a beautiful spot. You can drive through or go for a hike.
*Valley of Fire State Park – An hour north of Las Vegas is an incredible state park.
*Mermaid Show – Located in the Silverton Hotel, these mermaids put on shows Thursday-Sunday. Check the website for showtimes.
Don’t bother:
I also was very disappointed with the gondola rides at the Venetian. It was an extremely short ride, not worth $10 apiece at all!
Have you taken your kids to Las Vegas? What was your favorite family-friendly thing to do?
