Planning a trip to Las Vegas is nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a grownups playground, after all. Adults travelling to Sin City can check out world famous casinos such as the Bellagio or the Venetian, or catch one of the amazing shows. Planning a trip to Vegas with kids in tow is a little trickier. It certainly has the makings of stripping any parent of the Parent of the Year award, but since we weren’t really up for the honor anyway, we figured we’d take spin on the roulette wheel and take our chances on Vegas with the kids.
What to Do in Vegas with Kids?
Adventure Canyon at Buffalo Bill’s: One of the most unique water rides in the country, this soaker not only gets you wet, but let’s you practice your shooting skills at the same time. The ride features a thrilling 35 foot drop at the end with the fun of shooting at electronic bandits along the way. Of course, the bandits return fire-with water guns- doubling the chances that you will get wet. Those are good odds in Vegas.
Adventuredome at Circus, Circus: It’s the largest indoor theme park in the country, and in Vegas, you wouldn’t expect anything less than a 5 ½ acres of thrill rides encased in a pink trimmed glass dome. All day passes are available, so kids and kids at heart can enjoy unlimited thrills.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory: It’s a sweet break from the bustle of the strip to see the parade of chocolate morsels dance down the conveyor belt and into hand packed boxes. A sample (or ten) are hard to resist.
Gondola Ride at the Venetian: It’s cheesy to the max to indulge in this ultra touristy attraction, but it’s also a great way to get away from the strip without ever really leaving. It will just feel like another world as you glide beneath the faux Italian architecture and enjoy the cheesy gondoliers songs.
Nevada Southern Railroad Ride an authentic train along the same tracks that once carried the cargo for the construction of Hoover Dam. The narration during the train ride offers fun facts about Boulder City and the Southwest desert.
Pinball Hall of Fame: It is cost you a quarter, but the payout is a certain sound of low-fi beeps, and 8 bit digital songs as you play the 141 pinball machines in the warehouse. Other retro arcade games from Tetris to Super Mario are also available to remind the kids that you were there from the very beginning of some of their favorite video game characters.
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage: Show the kids the wilder side of Vegas in the middle of the day with this collection of exotic and rare animals.
Shark Reek at Mandalay Bay: Vegas has it all, including an entire ocean habitat right in the middle of the desert. The accredited aquarium houses more than 1,200 species of marine life including sharks, exotic fresh and saltwater fish, a 300-pound sea turtle and much more.
Springs Reserve: Vegas has a rich history that doesn’t need to be sanitized for kids, but can be explored freely at this 180-acre cultural and historic attraction. The Preserve features interactive exhibits that explore the geological history of the Mojave Desert and the formation of the valley and springs. Kids can play with fossils, see how desert animals adapted and learn about erosion. A live-action flash flood demonstrates the danger of flooding in the valley as 5,000 gallons of recycled water comes crashing down every 20 minutes.
Volcano at the Mirage: Vegas after dark offers something for the younger set in the form of a choreographed explosion at the historic Mirage Volcano. The volcano includes two volcano systems, a lagoon and fire shooters that shoot flame on demand. The best part? Dancing flameballs. Only in Vegas.