Visiting Las Vegas With Kids
Visiting Las Vegas with kids might seem daunting. But, if you plan right, Las Vegas can be a great place for a family vacation.
We have a lot of family who live just outside Las Vegas (Eli’s grandparents, uncle, and cousins). So, we’ve visited Las Vegas as a family many, many times. Over years of visiting Vegas with Eli, we’ve discovered numerous fun and kid-friendly things to do and see there.
Should You Visit Las Vegas With Kids?
Because of the central location of Las Vegas – near Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, the Grand Canyon, and Death Valley; it is often looked at as a stop when planning a family road trip. But, you might be asking yourself, “is Las Vegas somewhere I should bring my kids?”
It is a valid concern.
When thinking of Vegas, your first thoughts are probably gambling, bright lights, scantily clad women (and men), late nights, and packed pool parties. Sin City at its finest. Family-friendly Las Vegas? Probably not your first thought.
It is true that Las Vegas is geared towards adults and adult fun. That being said, it is possible to have an amazing vacation in Las Vegas with kids.
The key to a fun Las Vegas family vacation is spending the time to find a family-friendly place to stay and kid-friendly things to do while you are there.
Luckily, you are already on the right track! This post will help you with both of those things.
You will also want to keep in mind that visiting Las Vegas with kids will be a completely different experience than an adult Las Vegas vacation and plan your Vegas trip accordingly.
Planning your Las Vegas family vacation around family-friendly things to do and staying at a kid-friendly resort will make Vegas a fun vacation for the entire family.
So, should you visit Las Vegas with kids? Yes! Absolutely. I have some great memories of visiting Las Vegas as a kid and have created many more fun memories with my own child.
Like everywhere else right now, Las Vegas can be expensive! For awesome money-saving tips read – Family Travel on a Budget- 11 Helpful Tips to Make Family Vacations More Affordable
Best Places to Stay In Las Vegas With Kids
I’m going to come right out and say I wouldn’t recommend staying on or near The Strip if you visit Las Vegas with kids.
While there are many hotels on the strip that have amazing pools, there aren’t many that are family-friendly.
Not only that, but while there is a lot to do and see on The Strip, it is really nice to get away from the craziness and stay in a resort away from The Strip.
My two favorite family-friendly places to stay in Las Vegas are the Tahiti Village Resort and Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa.
I would never have discovered Green Valley Ranch had it not been close to where my inlaws live. It is about 10 miles from the strip in the neighboring town of Henderson.
The pool at Green Valley Ranch is so awesome for little kids. It has a beach section where kids can wade into the pool and play in the sand. I also love the location of Green Valley Ranch, away from the strip but surrounded by restaurants and shops. The town of Henderson has some amazing trails and parks (more on that later in this post).
You should know that there is a casino at Green Valley Ranch. So, if you are looking for a resort in Vegas without a casino, the Tahiti Village Resort will be a better option.
Located five miles from The Strip, the Tahiti Village Resort is the ultimate family-friendly Las Vegas resort. Amenities include a lazy river, a sand-entry pool, lawn games, and an arcade! There is also a free shuttle from the resort to The Strip.
If you find neither of these resorts to be a good fit for your family, there is always the option to rent a house or condo in Las Vegas on VRBO. There are plenty of great short-term rentals in Las Vegas and nearby.
Things To Do In Las Vegas With Kids On The Strip
First things first – if you plan to bring your kids to The Strip, I would recommend you do it in the daylight. During the day there is a lot to see and do on the strip. Although The Strip isn’t 100% kid friendly during the day, it is much better than at night.
You will want to avoid visiting The Strip and Freemont after dark with kids.
Also, keep in mind that the resorts on the strip are GIGANTIC! If your kids are young you will definitely want to have a stroller when walking the strip. It is a really long walk from one resort to the next and it can make for long days and exhausted kids if they have to walk (and exhausted parents if you have to carry them).
Following are the best things to do and see on The Strip with kids-
M&M and Coca-Cola Las Vegas
The M&M Store is 4 levels packed full of everything M&M. There is a wall of dispensers containing every single variety and color of M&M you could imagine. Unique flavors like brownie and cookie dough and caramel make it worth buying some at the crazy high price per oz.
M&M Store also has a huge assortment of items with the M&M logo from alarm clocks to stuffed animals and of course all kinds of M&M Clothing.
Right across The Strip from the M&M Store is the Coca-Cola Store offering everything you can imagine with a Coca-Cola logo. There is a gigantic Coca-Cola Fountain on the second floor offering 16 different sodas from around the world.
The Best Kid-Friendly Show in Las Vegas – Tournament Of The Kings
The Tournament of the Kings at the Excalibur is a great show for the entire family. The show is set in the time of King Arthur and includes fighting knights in armor, jousting matches, and horseback riding. It is entertaining for both kids and adults with audience interaction to keep everyone’s attention.
Dinner is served and kids love that just like in King Arthur’s time, there are no utensils. Everyone gets to eat with their hands!
Fremont Street
Fremont Street is a five-block pedestrian mall covered by the largest LED screen in the world. Light shows are shown daily on the hour from 6 pm until 2 am. The screen was recently updated in 2019 and is now more awesome than ever.
I would recommend visiting Fremont Street as early as possible, it can get really crazy in that area later in the evening.
Bellagio Fountain
The water fountain show outside the Bellagio hotel is an entertaining and free thing to do on The Strip with kids. The fountains are gigantic and the water moves with the music,
Bellagio’s fountain display goes off every 30 minutes from 3 pm to 8 pm during the week and every 30 minutes from noon until 8 pm on the weekends. Then, you can catch the fountain display every 15 minutes all week long from 8 pm until midnight.
Because the fountain display is so massive, it is easy to get a front-row viewing spot.
Circus Circus
Circus Circus has two different areas of incredible kid-friendly fun. I can still remember going to Circus Circus with my dad as a kid, such a great time!
The Carnival Midway section has tons of carnival games (with prizes!) and a variety of video games. All are surrounding a circus stage with a FREE trapeze acrobat show daily.
Then, there is the Adventure Dome, a five-acre indoor amusement park. Older kids will love the roller coaster and other theme park rides.
Drive The Strip After Dark
The bright lights on The Strip in Las Vegas are something everyone in the family will enjoy. While I wouldn’t recommend walking down the strip at night, you won’t want to miss a drive down the strip after dark.
Things To Do In Las Vegas With Kids Away From The Strip
While there is a lot to do on The Strip in Las Vegas, there is a lot to do away from The Strip as well!
Visit Hoover Dam
One of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas is to visit the Hoover Dam. The Dam is an incredible engineering marvel that you need to see to believe.
It is fun to walk over the Dam to look at the Lake and also walk over the bridge for an awesome view of the Dam. There are informative signs along the way.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Even if there isn’t a Nascar race scheduled while you are in Las Vegas, chances are good that you can catch a race of some kind at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
I’m not a Nascar fan at all but have attended races at both the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the smaller Bullring and had a great time. The cars are so fast and loud! It is a great activity for the whole family.
City Rec Centers and Parks
There are so many awesome parks in Clark County. It seems that we discover a different park every time we visit Las Vegas. There are numerous parks with huge splash pads, perfect for kids on a hot day. We’ve also found that the rec center pools are top notch too. If you are staying at a VRBO and don’t have access to a pool, the rec center pools and splash pad parks are a great option.
Hiking
Hiking might not be the first thing you think of when planning a family trip to Vegas, but believe it or not, there are some great hiking trails in the hills around Las Vegas.
We love exploring the Amargosa trail system in Henderson. The trails are easy enough for kids to enjoy and offer views of The Strip.
Another awesome hiking spot to check out is Red Rock Canyon. The canyon is only 16 miles from The Strip but seems a world away. There are plenty of hiking trails for all difficulty levels.
Timed entry passes are sold during the busy season. Visit Red Rock Canyon’s website to reserve your pass.
*If you have a National Parks Pass you can get into Red Rock Canyon without a fee.
Springs Preserve Las Vegas
If you have extra time and are looking for something fun to explore, head to the Springs Preserve. Learn more about the cultural and geographical history through Interactive exhibits, museum displays, and nature trails.
Whether you are walking through an old western town or experiencing the power of water at the flash flood exhibit, the Springs Preserve has something entertaining for all ages.
Las Vegas With Kids
As you can see, there is a lot to do and see in Las Vegas with kids. With a little planning, a Las Vegas family vacation will be a great time for the whole family.
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