I first took my eldest daughter to Las Vegas when she was two years old. On that first trip we spent 3 days in Vegas and you can read that itinerary here. Since then we’ve returned two times, at the start of our Southwest road trip and during our week long Nevada road trip. Through these three visits we’ve done a lot and these are our favorite things to do in Las Vegas with kids.
Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids on the Strip
When most people think of the Las Vegas strip they assume kids don’t belong there. While some areas can get a little wild when the sun goes down there are plenty of kid friendly activities on the strip.
Adventuredome Theme Park
The Adventure Dome is located inside of the Circus Circus hotel. It’s a very large indoor amusement park that has mini golf, rock climbing, bungee jumping, roller coasters, an arcade, and more. Some of the activities do have a minimum height requirement of 48” but there are still things to do for kids that don’t.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
If you want to be wowed by beautiful displays made of flowers you have to take your kids to the Bellagio Hotel for a visit to their Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Each time we’ve been the display is different so even if you’re returning for a second visit check it out to see what has changed. My kids eyes always light up when they walk through the gardens. It’s open 24 hours so you can enjoy it any time.
High Roller Observation Wheel
If your kids are obsessed with ferris wheels like mine they will love the High Roller Observation Wheel. Located at The Linq it gives great views of the strip and beyond.
Gondola Ride at The Venetian
If you haven’t been to Venice (read ort itinerary here) or just love Gondola rides you can take one at The Venetian. The Venetian did a great job on replicating the canal to look just like Venice. You’ll have the option to ride inside or outside and up to four people can fit on one gondola.
The Eiffel Tower Experience
If you haven’t been to Paris with kids seeing the Eiffel Tower in Vegas is a great introduction. The one on the strip is half the size of the one in Paris but you can go up to the observation deck and eat at the restaurant. On the way up the elevator is glass so you can get views of the strip while you go up.
See a Las Vegas Show
Yes even when visiting Las Vegas with kids you can see a show.Your child’s age will of course determine the type of show you can see but there are plenty of magic shows for even the youngest audience. Some recommended shows for kids are the Mac King Comedy Magic Show, Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil, and the Jabbawockeez.
Madame Tussauds
Even if you don’t see any real celebrities on your trip to Las Vegas with kids you can always pretend at Madame Tussauds. This wax museum is filled with some seriously real looking celebrities. It’s another great activity to do on hot summer days or when it’s raining in Las Vegas.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Inside of the Mandalay Bay Resort there is the Shark Reef Aquarium. It has 14 exhibits, over 2,000 animals and a touch tank. It’s a great activity to do during the day when it’s really hot outside or if it happens to be raining.
Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
Marvel fans in your family? Then stepping into the Marvel Universe at Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N is the activity for you. Dig into your inner superhero and train as a qualified station agent. You can also see stuff from the Avengers movies like Iron Man’s armor suits, Captain America’s shield, Thor’s hammer and more. It’s a very interactive experience as you go through the exhibit answering questions and watching videos to see if you’re up to Avengers status.
Mirage Hotel Volcano, Aquarium and Atrium
There are three things to do in Las Vegas with kids at the Mirage Hotel. There is an aquarium in the lobby and a rainforest in the atrium. In front of the hotel, they also have a the volcano show at 8 and 9pm, also at 10pm on the weekends. The volcano erupts nightly 8:00 and 9:00 PM (and 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday), talk about a real life science project.
The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel
If you’re kids are really into animals you can take them to visit the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel. They have about 9 flamingoes in addition to turtles and some exotic birds. I will say my last visit wasn’t as impressive as my previous ones. Unfortunately it seems as if The Flamingo hasn’t taken too much care of the habitat most recently and it’s not as kempt as it was before.
Bellagio Fountains
The Fountain Show at the Bellagio is great for kids. Even as an adult it’s exciting to the water from the pond shoot up a hundred feet into the air so imagine a child’s reaction. The show happens every 30 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes once the sun sets. I personally think it’s better at night!
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
Did you really go to Las Vegas with kids if you don’t have a picture in front of the Las Vegas sign to prove it? I recommend coming early in the morning while all the party goers from the night before are asleep. You’ll have a minimal wait if at all and the kids can run around the sign and enjoy it. If you have a car there is a small parking lot here.
Tastes of the World at the Coca-Cola Store
Apparently Coca-Cola tastes a bit different in every country due to the local water that is used to make it. So the Coca-Cola store is the best place to get a taste of all the different variations without traveling all over the world.
M&M’s World
Chocolate lovers in your family? Then M&M’s World is for you! You’ll be able to try so many variations of M&M’s in this 28,000 sq ft, 4-floor store. Have fun personalizing your own M&M’s with 16 color options and a printer to print your own words on your chocolate.
Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids Off the Strip
Seven Magic Mountains
Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation about 30 minutes from the strip. It was actually supposed to close back in 2018 but has become so popular they repainted it and are keeping it open for the foreseeable future. Kids love the bright colors and trying to figure out how the rocks stay stacked on top of one another rather than falling.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, built during the construction of the Hoover Dam. There are several ways to enjoy Lake Mead; from various viewpoints, scenic and dinner cruises, kayaking, or a helicopter ride over it.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is just 30 miles from the Las Vegas strip and a modern marvel of the world. It’s a great place for your kids to learn a bit while on your trip. Mine were amazed at the 700 foot-tall dam and loved walking back and forth over the state lines of Nevada and Arizona. Tours are offered of the dam starting at $15 per person.
Hoover Dam Museum
My girls loved the Hoover Dam Museum! It’s a free museum located in Boulder City, about 15 minutes away from the Hoover Dam. I personally think it’s better than paying for a Hoover Dam tour as it’s interactive and kids can learn so much more than the time spent on the 30 minute tour. If you do make it here you can walk over to Grandma Daisy’s Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Shop for a treat after, just a two minute walk.
Eldorado Mine Tour
If you’ve ever wondered about the gold mining industry in the United States you’ll definitely want to make a visit to the Eldorado Mine Tour. It was such a fun tour and you actually get to walk through the wines that were in use in the 30’s and 40’s. The tour is very educational but also short enough to keep even the littlest one’s attention spans. After the tour you can enjoy all the old cars, planes, and telephone booths on site, that might have been my kids favorite part.
Helicopter Ride
There is nothing like a view from above. Whether you choose to take a helicopter ride over Las Vegas, to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead or all the way to the Grand Canyon Nevada in general offers some amazing aerial views. We personally took a helicopter tour over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam and the views were breathtaking. My kids were 3 and 5 when we did this adventure and absolutely loved it! We took our tour through the trusted Papillon Helicopter Tours.
Springs Preserve
The Springs Preserve is a cultural oasis with a playground, botanical garden, nature walks, a butterfly exhibit and museums. There are also a ton of special events that happen here so be sure to check out their events calendar. It’s closed on Monday’s.
Nevada State Museum
The Nevada State Museum is located at Springs Preserve and your admission to one covers the other so be sure to arrive with enough time to visit both. The museum has both permanent and changing exhibits. Some of the permanent ones include the history of Nevada and the Native Americans indigenous to the area, the mining history, and local animals and plants. It is closed on Monday’s so make sure to fit it into your itinerary on a different day.
Discovery Children’s Museum
You can not come to Las Vegas with kids under 10 and not visit the Discovery Children’s Museum. My daughters literally had to be dragged out of this museum when it closed, they didn’t want to leave. There are 3 stories of non stop fun and activities. They especially enjoyed the 2nd level where they got to try out various careers, earning a paycheck and cashing it to go shopping. It’s closed on Monday’s so plan accordingly.
Downtown Container Park
After visiting the Downtown Container Park all my husband and I kept saying if we wish we had a place like this back home. The park is made out of containers which is why the name is what it is. There are restaurants a playground, shops a stage and more. One of the stores is a magic shop and they do free magic tricks for shoppers.
Viva Vision Light Show
Every night at Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas there is a Viva Vision Light Show. Here the covering of the street has a ton of LED lights that turn a variety of shapes and colors. If you’re coming here with kids which you probably are if you’re reading this post go to the earliest show possible. To me Fremont Street gets much more inappropriate for kids than the strip does.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory
If your kids want to see how chocolate is made a trip the Ethel M Chocolate Factory is perfect. Their tours show you inside of their factory so you can see exactly how this delicious treat is made. We did a similar tour in Orlando and had so much fun (see our itinerary here). Of course you’ll get to try some of the chocolates throughout the tour. After you can walk it off at the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden. Best part is both are free and it stays open until 8pm where a lot of the other kid friendly activities in Las Vegas close at 5pm.
Red Rock Canyon
With all the bright and flashing lights Las Vegas is known for so many people forget it’s in the middle of a beautiful desert. Be sure to make it to Red Rock Canyon and enjoy the scenery. If you and your kids like to hike there are a variety of hikes you can do for various levels of fitness. If hiking isn’t your thing you can enjoy the scenic drive, viewpoints, and the visitor’s center.
Seasonal Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids
Haunted Harvest at Springs Preserve
We visited Springs Preserve in October and were able to participate in their Haunted Harvest. It was so much fun; they had games for the kids, theatrical and musical performances all by kids 14 and under, a maze, petting zoo, arts and crafts and more. Of course there is also trick or treating and bags are provided if you don’t have your own bucket. Tickets are separate than the regular admission to the Springs Preserve so be prepared to pay for both if you want to experience the Springs Preserve without the special event.
Holiday Express at Springs Preserve
While we were at the Haunted Harvest the Springs Preserve was promoting their Holiday Express event. While we haven’t attended it if it’s half as good as the Haunted Harvest it’s worth going to!
Free Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids
If you’re looking to save money, below are the activities mentioned that are free of charge!
- Red Rock Canyon
- Seven Magic Mountains
- Bellagio Fountain Show
- Bellagio Botanical Gardens
- The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo
- Circus Acts at Circus Circus
- The Viva Vision Light Show
- Downtown Container Park
- Ethel M Chocolate Factory
Where to Stay in Las Vegas with Kids
When visiting Las Vegas with kids where you stay might be your most important decision. There are many options including staying in an Airbnb (sign up here to save $40 on your first stay), and hotels both on and off the strip.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas with Kids On the Strip
On our most recent visit we stayed at the Mandalay Bay. I love it for kids because while there is a casino it’s at the end of the strip, away from a lot of the craziness. There is also the aquarium in the hotel and a beach and wave pool. My kids love playing in the sand at the beach and enjoying the lazy river. The rooms are big, nice and clean and have a tub making it easier to bathe small children. You can check out reviews of the hotel here and make your booking here.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas with Kids Off the Strip
If you want a hotel near the airport I recommend the Tru by Hilton. We’ve stayed here as well and as a newer hotel it’s very modern and clean. Your room rate also includes a free airport shuttle, free breakfast and parking is complimentary. There is a pool table in the lobby but no pool. You can check out reviews of the hotel here and make your booking here. If you’re looking for additional ways to save on hotel bookings you can check out the Dosh App, they give up to 40% cash back hotels and are the same price you can find directly on the website. This year I’ve gotten just under $600 cash back thus far.
We’ve now been to Las Vegas with kids three times and I’m sure we’ll be back plenty more. This extensive list of things to do should definitely help you plan an amazing trip regardless of the amount of time you have. Did you find it helpful? Please share it!
Devesh says
October 31, 2019 at 12:11 pmThanks for sharing a great post!