Las Vegas isn’t usually the first place you imagine when planning your next family vacation, but if the opportunity arises, you won’t be disappointed. After doing a little research we were surprised to find a mix of adult glitz and glamour to tons of fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids too!
Millions of families flock to Vegas each year to indulge in the abundance of family-friendly resorts, restaurants, pools, shows and entertainment. Here is our three-day itinerary for Vegas and near by options to extend your trip.
Las Vegas Sign
What better way to start exploring Las Vegas South Strip attractions at the world-famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. This classic neon sign has been an emblem of Las Vegas since 1959 appearing on millions of postcards and countless movies. The sign sits in the center of the median of Las Vegas Boulevard.
Don’t be deterred by the lengthy line, the photo ops move quickly. You may find that costumed actors like “Elvis” are on hand to pose with you. They often work with a handler who can take photos for you for a nominal tip.
World of Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola store celebrates the iconic soda, selling a vast array of Coca-Cola brand apparel, accessories, housewares, and other novelty items. We didn’t come just to shop though. The Beverage Bar located on the second floor sells an “Around the World” tray of soda samples that allows you to taste different drinks popular in other countries. We received a 4 oz. portion of 16 different sodas split over two trays and even another tray with floats. That’s a lot of soda for just one person but perfect for sharing among a family. Along with the soda trays, you get a list of all the drinks and what country they are from. We had a lot of fun, seeing everyone’s reaction to some of the more, shall we say, “unique” flavors.
M & M’s World
M&M’s World features four floors of chocolate-themed displays for kids and an abundant opportunity to buy M&M branded gear and goodies in a rainbow of colors. We let our kids pick some of the M&M’s from the giant tubes that line an entire wall of the store. Even using a coupon, we spent $40 on this pay per ounce candy. There is some free fun to be enjoyed here though! We took in a cute action-adventure short 3-D movie on the fourth floor that stars the M&Ms characters and some live actors. There is also an area where you can personalize your own M&M’s and watch them being made as well as a replica of the M&M NASCAR stock car.
Eiffel Tower
Next, head to the Paris hotel for a bit of the City of Lights experience right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. The property offers up some of France’s most iconic sites such as a replica of the L’Arc de Triomphe, the Paris Opera House, and the Louvre but the pièce de résistance is the 46 story half-size replica of France’s famous Eiffel Tower.
The experience begins with a glass elevator ride up 460-feet above Las Vegas. Once at the top you can enjoy an amazing 360-degree bird’s eye view of the Strip, the Bellagio fountains, and the valley. Access to the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck is included with the Go Card Las Vegas, but it’s important to note that it is for the daytime tours only between 9:30 AM-5:00 PM. It’s a wonderful way to get the feeling of being in France for a fraction of the cost while at the same time taking in one of Las Vegas’ most quintessential experiences.
Bellagio Conservatory and Lobby
Using one of the many pedestrian bridges that go over Las Vegas Boulevard, cross over to The Bellagio Hotel. The Conservatory and Botanical Garden here is another fantastic free attraction for families in Las Vegas! Located just past the lobby inside a sky-lit atrium a team of master horticulturalists and landscape designers construct stunningly beautiful scenes using trees, flowers, plants, and structural elements. The elaborate displays change seasonally as well as during major holidays. We were blown away by this impressive attraction. It doesn’t take long to visit but should be on your list of things to do in Las Vegas with kids. The Conservatory is open for 24 hours a day, except for the days between seasonal displays but can get quite crowded.
In addition to the flower display, the Bellagio has the most amazing display of Chihuly glasswork covering the ceiling of the lobby. Stop and take a minute to take in the 2,000-square foot blown glass installation known as Fiori di Como’. Our kids loved all the colors!
Bellagio Fountain
After checking out the inside the Bellagio we stepped out front for what is undoubtedly the hotel’s most famous attraction and signature spectacle; the Bellagio Fountain Show. Millions of gallons of water are sprayed to heights of 240 feet above the hotel’s massive 8.5-acre artificial lake in a computer-controlled fountain show synchronized in time to the music. The choreography of the fountains changes with the music which ranges from classical to contemporary. The free show is easy to catch as it runs Monday through Friday every half hour between 3pm – 8 pm then every 15 minutes to midnight. On the weekend it runs from 12pm – 8 pm every half hour and 8pm – midnight every 15 minutes. The elegant performance looks slightly different from every angle, but we recommend getting there at a few minutes early to nab a spot for an unobstructed view.
Fall of Atlantis Show
Mae your way deeper into the Roman-themed retail realm that is the Forum Shops to find the “Fall of Atlantis Show”. This free 15-minute pyrotechnic packed show features 9-foot-tall animatronic Greek gods fighting for power over the empire. Without giving too much away, the story captivates kids with special effects like fireballs and water fountains even if it can be a little hard to hear the dialogue. My advice is to try and snag a spot up close at least ten minutes before the show. The show plays every hour on the hour beginning at 11:00 am daily and running until 10:00 or 11:00 pm depending on the day. The backside of the attraction features a large aquarium the kids will enjoy as well
New York New York Big Apple Coaster
We continued south along Las Vegas Boulevard to the New York-New York. The hotel occupies a full block of the strip with scale models of famous Big Apple attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge. One notable addition amongst the replicas is the red steel coaster that weaves its way through the faux Manhattan skyline. The taxi-cab themed coaster starts with a slow climb to build-up your anticipation before rapidly dropping 80 feet. You pick up speed fast and make your way through a series of hills, inversions, vertical loops, and a corkscrew spiral all while whizzing by replicas of New York City icons. Our Go Card Las Vegas included a ticket for one ride on the Big Apple Roller Coaster however it’s important to note that participants must be 54” to ride. There is a large arcade located just outside the ride entrance for those who are too short or just not crazy about coasters.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Also located inside the New York, New York hotel is Hershey’s Chocolate World. The 2-story, 13,000 square-foot flagship store showcases over 800 Hershey’s chocolate and candies and offers store-exclusive gifts, products, and treats. Kids can customize their own candy bars and S’mores or send an e-card to friends and family back home from the social media booth. Be sure to check out the little details, like the store light fixtures and of course, posing with the fun sculptures made of candy is also a must!
Excalibur Hotel
The Excalibur Hotel is a cartoonish Arthurian castle, regarded as one of the most “family-friendly” properties on the Strip. We took a walk around to explore, the hotel is home to a Fun Dungeon arcade and the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show. The medieval-themed dinner show consists of fighting, dancing, singing, toasting, and jousting. Eating with your hands is mandatory here! What kids wouldn’t get a kick out of doing that while rooting for their favorite valiant knight?
The Luxor
Next-door to Excalibur is another family favorite hotel; The Luxor. This Egyptian themed resort is hard to miss with its pyramid shape, giant Sphinx of Giza replica and intense beam light bright enough to be seen from space. The atrium inside is the world’s largest at 29 million cubic feet and includes more eye-catching Egyptian decor. There are also several family-friendly attractions housed inside the Luxor. The hotel hosts “Bodies“, a similar exhibit to the “Real Bodies”.
Admission is also included to the “Titanic; The Artifact Exhibition” also located inside the Luxor’s lobby. The 25,000 square-foot exhibit tells the story of the luxury ocean liner that sank on a calm night in 1912 when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. Actual artifacts recovered from the ship are on display including luggage, the ship’s whistles, floor tiles from the first-class smoking room, a window frame from the Verandah Cafe, and an unopened bottle of champagne with a 1900 vintage sticker. In addition, the exhibit features a piece of Titanic’s hull, a full-scale re-creation of the Grand Staircase and Promenade Deck as well as recreations of the passenger rooms. No photos are allowed inside this attraction either.
Blue Man Group
Las Vegas also offers an incredible array of spectacular shows. While most are geared towards adults, Las Vegas does have plenty of shows that are appropriate for the whole family to enjoy. We ended a day of our Las Vegas Itinerary with one of the best; Blue Man Group. Which was also conveniently located inside the Luxor hotel. This wild and wacky show is a multi-sensory experience that defies categorization. It’s a delightful blend of rock-concert, comedy, dance party and interactive elements that brings the audience together for a euphoric, very colorful celebration of life.
Audience members interact with the blue-painted performers and may even be chosen to be part of the show itself.
You’ll want to wear comfortable, easily washable, or non-dry-clean-only clothes, just in case you get splashed with “material” from the stage. Audience members seated in the ‘splash zone’ seats are provided with disposable plastic ponchos. It’s not necessary to sit up-front to have a great view. The intimate theater design ensures there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Shows last between 90-105 minutes with no intermission so this is something to keep in mind with little ones.
The Go Las Vegas Card 3, 5 and 7-day “All-Inclusive” passes include a choice of one “premium experience.” Blue Man Group tickets are one of the premium experience options. This makes the Go Cards an even better value when you consider the cost of the tickets on their own.
North Strip
High Roller Wheel
Our next day of exploring Las Vegas focused on North Strip attractions. The LINQ Promenade an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex that sits just off the Strip between the Flamingo and LINQ hotels. There are more than a dozen places to have a meal from fancy options to grab and go fare like In-N-Out Burger and Sprinkles cupcakes. We just passed through on our way to the LINQ Zipline and High Roller Wheel also located in the LINQ Promenade complex.
The centerpiece of the LINQ entertainment complex is the High Roller Wheel, the tallest observation wheel in the world. It is, without a doubt the coolest Ferris Wheel we have ever experienced. Measuring 550 feet tall and 520 feet in diameter, this wheel takes thirty minutes to complete one revolution and gives you amazing 360-degree panoramic views of the entire Las Vegas Strip and surrounding city. Our Go Las Vegas Card included daytime entry valid from 11:30 am – 4:59 pm. It is a fantastic way to get off our feet for a while and enjoy a peaceful break in the middle of a busy day.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Just off the LINQ Promenade, you will find the entrance to the Flamingo Hotel. This hotel is home to yet another one of Las Vega’s free kid-friendly attractions; The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. Birds of a decidedly pink feather hang out here in the lush outdoor courtyard just steps away from the Casino floor. While the vibrant Chilean flamingos are the main attraction, you can also spot swans, ducks, turtles, koi, a couple pelicans and parrots who do photo ops (for a fee). If you time your visit right, you can also catch one of the daily live feedings. Kids will enjoy just wandering around the grounds enjoying the wildlife, waterfalls, and lovely shady foliage.
LINQ Zip-Line
Another amazing experience included with our Go Las Vegas Card is the Fly LINQ Zipline. This twenty-million-dollar project features ten parallel zip-lines measuring 1,121-feet-long. Our passes included a flight in the seated position any time before 5 PM. The seated position was a perfect option for our family! Once we were all geared up with safety harnesses, weights, and a bag to keep all our belongings safe, we had a blast racing each other across the LINQ promenade at up to 35 mph. Before you leave, be sure to check out the photo taken of you in action and in full flight. You’ll have a chance to purchase a photo of yourself or your group before exiting near the base of the High Roller Observation Wheel.
Senior Frogs
All that Zip Lining and adventuring works up a thirst so you can crossed over Las Vegas Boulevard to Senor Frogs at the Treasure Island Hotel. Kids can enjoy some awesome alcohol-free smoothie concoctions in a fun souvenir glass. Try to snag a quiet table on the patio overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and the old pirate ship that has been used for Treasure Island’s nightly show and enjoy sharing some delicious appetizers like the enormous nachos and Mexican street-corn.
Marvel Avengers Station
Once refueled, ventured inside the Treasure Island Hotel to check out the Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. attraction. This interactive and educational experience puts you right into the world of the Marvel Universe as you train to become an “agent” of the “Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network” –S.T.A.T.I.O.N. -get it?
The attraction includes a huge range of props and Avengers’ operational equipment from the movies including Captain America’s uniform and shield, Bruce Banner’s laboratory, Vision’s birth cradle, Thor’s hammer, Ant-Man’s helmet, and Hawkeye. A favorite gallery, displays all the Iron Man suits. Many of the galleries feature interactive and hands-on elements such as being able to hop on Captain America’s motorcycle. The experience culminates in a face-off as a team in a fight against Ultron.
Mirage Volcano
The giant volcano in front of the Mirage resort was the first outdoor experience on the Strip and remains a fun stop when visiting Las Vegas with kids. The Volcano rumbles to life two to three times daily with a mix of, fire, water and light effects choreographed to tribal music and the sounds of an actual erupting volcano. The experience is most impressive at night, but it still makes for a great photo op during the day. The free show begins every hour on the hour from 8pm to 10pm but times change throughout the year so check the Mirage website for more info. There is also a beautiful 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with artificial corals behind the check-in desk. The lobby of the hotel also features a rainforest themed atrium with lagoons, waterfalls, lofty palms, and beautiful plants.
Venetian Grand Canal Shops
Cross back to the other side of Las Vegas Boulevard to check out the Venetian Hotel and Gran Canal Shops. One of the best things about visiting Las Vegas with kids was the little glimpse it gave us of other cities around the world. The Venetian was another fun take on an iconic city. The stunning interior simulates a blue sky while more than 70 specialty stores and restaurants with faux Italian facades and architecture line a replica of a Venetian Canal. Gondoliers pilot boats under bridges and beside cafes while serenading guests with Italian songs and “living statues” perform daily in a replica of St. Mark’s Square. The highlight for our family was a Gondola ride inside the hotel.
Minus5 Icebar
Interested in a cool experience? Come chill with over 90 tons of ice while exploring a winter wonderland filled with amazing, interactive ice sculptures at Minus 5. This unique, one-of-a-kind ice experience is sure to create some fun and amazing memories for you and your family. Where else can you go from 105° to -5° in the middle of the Mojave Desert?! There are a few different locations you can try. While this is a bar, they do have kid friendly drinks and provide a parka and gloves during your visit. Be prepared, it is cold!
Vegas The Show
The Go Las Vegas Card also allows you to choose one of several included Las Vegas shows for each day of your pass. The show tells the story of Las Vegas through the decades in a fun way that helped our kids understand more of how the city came to be and how it got its glitzy reputation. Skilled performers paid homage to iconic stars like Elvis, Tina Turner, and the Rat Pack while more circus-like acts were just pure fun to watch!
Stratosphere
If you’re not absolutely exhausted after the shows and touring and are looking for more thrills, you’ll want to check out the Stratosphere! The tallest free-standing tower in the U.S. is home to three adrenaline-filled rides at the top; Insanity, X Scream, and The Big Shot. You’ll spin around, shoot into the sky, and drop off the edge of the building. Pick one or do them all – it all depends on how brave you are! While you are up there — take in a 360º view across Vegas and see where Strip ends, and the desert begins. While the Go Card doesn’t include ride, tickets come with general admission to the Observation Deck, plus VIP Skip the Line Access. You must redeem your pass before midnight to gain entrance to the observation deck.
Container Park
Container Park is a great option for dinner. This unique open-air shopping mall in Downtown Las Vegas is made from shipping containers. The complex features boutique shopping and dining, at the center of which is an interactive playground. Kids love the huge tree house and a 33-foot-tall slide, bridges, and giant foam Lego-style building blocks.
There are several small restaurants to choose from for dinner. We recommend Big Erns Barbeque. The food is amazing, and the staff are fun to interact with. The portions are also very sharable for a family.
At the entrance of Container Park, everyone will get a kick out the giant mechanical praying mantis sculpture that shoots flames from its antennae in rhythm to music. Speaking of music, the area also hosts kid-friendly concerts and movie-nights.
Freemont Street Experience
Just down the road from Container Park is the Freemont Street Experience, otherwise known as Downtown Las Vegas. This area offers a covered pedestrian mall with live entertainment filling the airwaves, a zipline overhead and casinos on every side. It hosts some of Las Vegas’ more historic casinos like the Golden Nugget and definitely has more of a kitschy feel. This was a great area to shop for inexpensive souvenirs. The most notable attraction here is the “Viva Vision” light show. The 1,500-foot long video screen canopy, the largest in the world, is embedded with over 12 million LED bulbs that light up with eye-popping animation synchronized to music every hour on the hour between 6 pm-1 am for six minutes.
Note that the Viva Vision show takes place in the evenings only. I recommend only staying for the first show and then scoot out of the area as it has more of an adult-only feel the later it gets. The kids will get a kick out of performers in unusual costumes, similar to what you might see at Times Square in New York City—but I also want to warn you that while some of the costumes will delight your kids—superheroes, Transformers and the like—you may also spot men and women in some pretty risqué get-ups. Consider what your kids can handle before hanging out here after dark.
The best part of our trip were the things we did “Off” the strip. If you have a few more days to explore, be sure to check out some of these top recommendations.
Hoover Dam
Just forty-five minutes outside of the strip between the border of Nevada and Arizona is the Hoover Dam. This marvel of modern engineering is well worth the short day trip from Las Vegas to see. Originally called the Boulder Dam it was constructed in 1935 to prevent flooding in the area, to help with irrigation in the desert and to generate hydroelectricity. These days, in addition to providing power the Dam also welcomes more than a million visitors each year as one of America’s most recognized landmarks.
The Power Plant tour takes you through the Dam’s original construction tunnels to a viewing platform overlooking a 30-foot diameter penstock. Here you can feel the vibration created by water rushing through the pipe. You also get the chance to see 8 of the commercial generators in the Nevada Powerhouse.
The one hour Guided Dam Tour includes everything in the Power Plant tour as well as a visit to the historic tunnels and a ride in the original elevator to the top of Hoover Dam. Being inside the inspection tunnels at the center of Hoover Dam and being able to view the Colorado River from the inspection ventilation shaft is the coolest part of the experience. We’d highly recommend doing the full tour if your kids can hang for an hour.
We also had access to the visitor center and took some time to explore the interactive exhibits and galleries that educate you on how everything works. There are also some incredible vista points you won’t want to miss like the top-floor observation area and along the walkway at the top of the dam.
Helicopter to Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon helicopter tours offer a unique and unforgettable experience that belongs on everyone’s bucket list. We opted for a sunset tour from Vegas that took us over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and the Vegas Strip. This offered views of the Grand Canyon West Rim with a canyon floor landing and champagne toast with refreshments. Words and pictures can not describe this amazing experience. Papillion was amazing to work with in every way.
BlackOut – Dining Experience
It’s no secret that Las Vegas has some of the best dining options in the world. From steaks to sushi, the city caters to your every desire. Once I heard of this unique restaurant, BlackOut, dining in the dark, we decided to step out of our comfort zone to try a truly unique dining experience, and we were not disappointed.
Dinner includes a 7 course meal and you have no idea what it will be. As we checked in, we were greeted by a very informative hostess that explained exactly what was about to happen. You are given a locker to place your phone, watch, and anything else that emits any sort of light. You are required to sign waivers before entering which includes a section stating that you will not get up from your seat unaccompanied for any reason during the meal
Once all the formalities had been addressed, we met our fantastic server. He also ran through the ins and outs of what was about to happen, and proceeded to take us into the ding room. In this experience, all the servers wear night vision goggles so they can cater to their guests. We formed a conga line and stepped into the darkness. Now when I say darkness, I mean absolute, total, complete darkness. Not the type of darkness where your eyes eventually adjust so that you can begin to see shapes, but actual darkness. We were guided to our seats, and the layout of the table was explained. You are given drinks, and silverware, and then the sever will bring in each of your courses served in a variety of plates, and trays for you to enjoy. Servers will also recommend which kind of utensils you should use for each course. Our favorite utensils ended up being our hands. Who could see us anyways, right?
We spent the next hour and a half tasting some of the most amazing foods. After each course, our server would always ask, “So what do you think that was,” while never actually giving any inclination to if our guesses were right or not. Trying to guess what we were eating was almost as much fun as eating it! While your eyes never really acclimate to the darkness, you do begin to get more comfortable with it, and your other senses take over.
Once we finished our meal, our server led us back out of the darkness and into the lobby to the awaiting hostess. As we raved about the entire experience we were again asked, “Well, what do you think you ate?” This time, we were pleasantly surprised with a menu outlining each of the courses. It was so much fun to see how close, and more accurately, how far off our guesses had been during the experience.
A few things I will tell you: the meal is entirely plant-based (I was quite surprised by this), everyone that dines at BLACKOUT receives the same meal (or slight alterations if needed for food allergies), there is a gluten free option, and you will not walk away disappointed!
Dune Buggy
Ready to get dirty, and prepared for an adventure, we decided to book ourselves an hour-long ride with Sun Buggy.
Nothing could quite prepare us for the thrilling and adrenaline-filled experience that we had. Thanks to our guide, we were able to roar through the dunes and kick up as much sand as we could. Some even caught some air and soared over the dune peaks at max speed.
Sun buggy fun rentals offers something for every member of your family. For the extreme thrill-seekers we’d highly recommend the Vegas Mini Baja Chase. Your main goal is to chase one of Sun buggy’s expert dunies. It’s not for the faint of heart. You’ll be cruising at high speeds and the ride will be bumpy. Soar over dunes and taste a little sand. It’s perfect for any adrenaline junkie.
If you’d like to go at a slower pace or have young children in your party, don’t fret. There’s plenty of fun to go around. Sun buggy offers a variety of different tours that offer all the fun of the desert, at a more tame pace. These tours will allow you to take in the scenery while also giving you a thrilling experience.
