Las Vegas is a special place for our family. Jared and I got engaged in Las Vegas, and since being married we have been there several times.
It seems like we visit Las Vegas about once a year. (We can usually get great flight deals!) Even though Vegas isn’t the first place you think of when you think family vacation, there are a lot of fun things to do with the whole family.
Before we get to the activities let me just share a few tips from our trips to Vegas as a family.
Tips for Visiting Las Vegas with Kids
- If you want to visit the strip during the day and early evening are the most family-friendly times.
- Make sure that your kids know not to take anything people offer as they walk down the strip – often people try to hand out questionable pictures.
- Wear good shoes, anywhere you go in Las Vegas you will have to do a decent amount of walking – even if it’s just from the parking area to the building.
- Consider bringing a stroller – When you’re deciding what to do think about how much walking will be involved and the age of your children. Sometimes it’s a good idea to bring a stroller even if you only use it half the time it’s easier than carrying a 3 or 4-year-old when they get too tired.
- Dress for the weather – Vegas weather can get really hot or cool depending on the time of year. Be sure to dress for the weather.
- Depending on what you’re doing bring snacks and water-hungry or thirsty kids make outings a lot harder!
Okay, enough tips, on to the fun family activities!
Las Vegas Activities for the Whole Family
M & M World
M&M World is located next to MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip.
Visiting M&M World is a fun experience for all ages. The store has tons of gifts, souvenirs and yummy things to eat. You can create and print personalized M&M’s and don’t forget about the Free 3-D movie.
Coke World
Coke World is located next to M&M World on the Las Vegas Strip.
You can find everything Coca-cola in this store from clothing to ornaments and everything in between. While visiting the store don’t forget to head upstairs and try different coke products from around the world and other fun coke treats.
Hoover Dam
Though not located right in the heart of Las Vegas the Hoover Dam is only a short drive from the strip and is totally worth it.
Walking around the Dam is free and there are some great views of the dam as well as an awesome bridge across from it. Tickets are required to enter the visitor center with additional charges for a Power Plant Tour and Hoover Dam Tour. You can find the prices here, children 0-3 are free.
**The parking garage at the Hoover Dam is in the mountain and very unique. Driving through it always amazes me!
Circus Circus
Circus Circus is a hotel and casino located on the Vegas Strip. This hotel has a lot of fun family activities including:
- Adventuredome – 5 acres of indoor fun, take a look at these rides and attractions. (this is best for those over 33″)
- Carnival Midway – Enjoy carnival games as well as arcade games. Our favorite game is the horse/camel race.
- In the middle of the Carnival is a stage where Free circus acts are performed daily.
The Fountains of the Bellagio
Enjoy an awesome show with water, music, and lights that will amaze you. (I love seeing the show in December when it’s Holiday Music!)
- Monday through Friday the show is every 1/2 hour from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturdays and Holidays every 1/2 hour from 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Sundays every 1/2 hour from 11:00am -7:00pm.
There are additional show times later at night but I just mentioned the most family-friendly times.
Stratosphere
The Stratosphere observation deck has amazing views of the city that everyone will enjoy. For the thrill-seekers in your family, there are some crazy rides.
- X-Scream – Dangle 109 stories in the air before snapping back to the tower.
- Insanity – Hang and spin 900 ft over the strip
- Big Shot! – Blast 160 ft straight up while on top of the stratosphere tower.
- Sky Jump – Leap of the tower from 829 feet
Shark Reef Aquarium
Located in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino the Shark Reef Aquarium has over 2,000 animals. Along with viewing the animals, you can book a stingray feeding, sea turtle feeding, shark feeding or a shark dive!
Tournament of Kings
We went to the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur last December. The show is fun but I would not recommend taking kids under 2!
At 10 months old, all of the noise was too much for our little guy. The show isn’t scary so if your child is okay with loud cheering they will probably be fine.
We took our little guy to an area away from the loud cheering and he loved watching the horses.
Swimming
Along with all the other fun family activities we love to go swimming. When we go to Vegas as a family we try to stay at places with fun pools.
The Tuscany Suites and Casino has an outdoor pool and a family-friendly set up, with rooms in separate buildings from the casino.
Another favorite is the Grandview at Las Vegas. This resort has vacation condos with 5 pools and 5 spas for tons of pool fun.
If you want to stay on the strip check out our post about staying at the Luxor for less than $30.
Ethel M. Chocolates
Ethel M. Chocolates is a Mars company. You can visit the factory in Las Vegas and view how the chocolates are made each day. Often they have a sample of chocolate after you go through the viewing aisle. The viewing aisle and sample are free.
If you want to spend more time at the Chocolate Factory you can sign up for a Chocolate Tasting Class. Throughout the store, there are tons of different chocolates and other merchandise for purchase.
Botanical Cactus Garden
Just outside the Ethel M. Chocolate factory is the Largest Botanical Cactus Garden in the South West. It is free to walk through the garden and explore the area. Over 300 different plants can be found throughout the garden.
What is your family’s favorite thing to do in Las Vegas?
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These are fantastic things that I never would have thought of!
Thanks.
Can’t wait to go back to the Hoover Dam with the fam.
We love visiting the Hoover Dam!
Great ideas!
Thanks
Thanks for these ideas! My parents just moved to Vegas and I don’t really want to take my kids to the strip. These other ideas sound fun!
The strip has a couple fun things, but generally we try to do more activities off the strip or at specific hotels/casinos. When we do activities on the strip we generally try to spend as little time as possible “walking” the strip.
Great read! I want to go back to Vegas at some point, but my babies are 10 months old…so I was thinking it wouldn’t happen for maaaaaaany years!
I was worried the first time we took our little guy to Vegas when he was 6 months old. But last Christmas we went back when he was 9 months and it went smoothly and we are planing another family trip to Vegas soon. You just have to know where to look for family friendly activities. It’s always a challenge to travel with little ones!
My inlaws live in Las Vegas, but we’ve only been once, when our oldest two were 1 1/2 and 5 weeks old. We went to the Hoover Dam, walked the strip in the daytime and saw the Bellagio Fountains. We haven’t been back since, but we’ll definitely have to check out your other places the next time we go!
The Hoover Dam and Bellagio Fountains are awesome to see! We are going to Vegas again the end of the year with our 21 month old and I’m excited for him too be more aware of things than on our last trip.