Family Activities in Las Vegas?

[cin]

DH HAS to have a vacation. Soon. We've been checking airlines and hotels and it appears that we could fly and stay in Vegas relatively cheap. So, what is there for a family to do in Las Vegas, in September?

 

We may take a day trip to Grand Canyon or Bryce, but we'd (ok, I'd) really like to stay in Vegas. I love nature, but with a 5 & 8 yr old girl, I'd prefer to stay in the town. With a pool. And electricity & indoor plumbing.

 

TIA

[OrganicAnn]

Red Rock and Valley of Fire are closer trips. Death Valley is also a good day/2 day trip.

 

We always spent time out and about, so I don't know what they have in LV. I would google museums, water parks etc to see what is available.

[Mom-2-7]

September is still going to be very hot here. A few things to do:

 

Lied's Children's Museum - Hands on Science stuff

Circus Circus Adventurdome - roller coasters and such in the Circus Circus Hotel

Springs Preserve - Walking trails, desert living, museum - Very interesting

Shark Reef - Venetian Hotel - My dc love this!

Dolphin Habitat and Secret Garden at the Mirage

Just outside of Las Vegas is Mount Charleston. Lots of good hiking and walking trails. Our favorite is Mary Jane falls. It's a fairly strenuous hike (lots of switchbacks) and at the end you get to play in a waterfall. Or, depending on the time of year, it could be a water drip!

 

A word of warning, especially for your dd. Las Vegas prides itself on it's sinfulness. We have extremely vulgar bilboards EVERYWHERE. Even the ads on the back of cabs can make you blush. As you walk down the strip, people will try to hand you and your family cards advertising porn. They are quite explicit. The cards are littering the streets so it's impossible not to see them.

 

But even with the bad, Las Vegas has much to offer. I hope you have a great time. Spend lots of money here!!

[cin]

Thanks 'MOM'. I'm hoping too! Can you recommend any restaurants that are eating 'experiences' for kids. The Rainforest Cafe was fun. And I'd LOVE to take the girls to Emeril's, (if we can afford it) as they LOVE to watch him BAM.

 

And, thanks for the heads up on the Billboards and stuff. I'll start initiating some conversations now about modesty and such, and hopefully have them prepared or as DH says, indoctrinated by the time we go there. I"ll also have to warn my 8 yr old to not YELL and point out other people's 'sin' or 'rude' behavior. She has a rather loud voice.

 

If you think of anything else that is a Don't Miss, please let me know! You can PM me, or post it here. I REALLY appreciate it!

[EmilyK]

I'd be interested too, since it looks like we'll be accompanying my husband on a business trip (with boys ages 7 and 10). I remember when my oldest was 2 and 3 we took several trips and I remember lots of kid friendly stuff, but I hear now -- not so much.

 

Things I remember and wonder if they are still there and kid friendly:

 

--barge rides at Luxor

--I've heard the pirate ship battle is now pretty r rated -- too bad

--there was some sort of show in the shops at Caesar's -- still there and OK for kids?

--gondola rides at the Venetian

--tiger habitat (Siegfried and Roy)

--I think there were some attractions at the MGM Grand

--bellagio fountains and art exhibits

 

Anyway, feel free to tell me it is all different, but I'd welcome any suggestions.:001_smile:

--

[AmyP]

We took our two oldest last year. I asked my 14 yo what she liked and thought younger kids would like. Here is what she recommends:

 

• helicopter ride
  
• magic show (Nathan Burton)
  
• M & M store
  
• arcade type place really close to M&M store and another in New York, New York
  
• Rainforest Cafe
  
• Madame Tussaud's wax museum
  
• Cirque du Soleil Ka
  
• Grand Canyon
  

I can't remember anything too risque in the shows mentioned above. When we had questions about shows we would call and ask if they had age recommendations.

 

Hope you have fun!

Amy

[Spinning]

Agreeing 100% with the previous poster about the explicit billboards/hand bills/ and even taxi cub ads. It's very 'in your face' and everywhere in the Strip or downtown areas.

 

The Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon are nice, but are quite a distance (I would much prefer Disneyland in LA for the drive!). I believe Zion/Bryce or Grand Canyon are about 4 hours away, but GC might be a bit further. Hoover Dam has a cool educational tour and it's not too far...maybe 45 minutes away from the Strip? Most of the things mentioned in the above posts would be great and my kids enjoyed them--esp the M&M Factory. I believe they have a rock-climbing wall in the M&M Factory area. There is a cool rollar coaster at the New York New York hotel. The Adventure Doom is fun, but Circus Circus was pretty run down the last time I was there. At the Paris, they can ride up the Eiffel Tower. If you can spring for it, the King Arthur's Tourament for dinner (with the kids) would be fun. I'm not sure what the price is now, but it definitely a medievel experience: eating with your hands, soup in pewter bowls, plus the show (josting/horses). Free things that are a must see would be the Beligio Fountains and Mirage Volcano. There are some really, really nice local parks too...especially in the Henderson/Green Valley area. Also off the Strip is the Ethel M Chocolate Factory--they have a free tour and hand out chocolate. Are you going to be staying on the Strip? Will you have a rental car? Most of the hotels on the Strip are very nice/new, but some are a bit run down.

Edited August 1, 2009 by Spinning

[newbie]

Thanks 'MOM'. I'm hoping too! Can you recommend any restaurants that are eating 'experiences' for kids. The Rainforest Cafe was fun. And I'd LOVE to take the girls to Emeril's, (if we can afford it) as they LOVE to watch him BAM.

 

And, thanks for the heads up on the Billboards and stuff. I'll start initiating some conversations now about modesty and such, and hopefully have them prepared or as DH says, indoctrinated by the time we go there. I"ll also have to warn my 8 yr old to not YELL and point out other people's 'sin' or 'rude' behavior. She has a rather loud voice.

 

If you think of anything else that is a Don't Miss, please let me know! You can PM me, or post it here. I REALLY appreciate it!

 

There is no Bam at Emerils restaurants, it is very dark and stuffy. The food not so great, kids not impressed and neither was hubby. The rest. at Bellagio overlooking the fountains was nicer and better view and food. The best is the Top of the World(not sure of name)but its on top of Stratosphere, it spins, very cool, the kids loved it. Go at dusk. This restaurant tops all others.

 

The shi shi one in Paris hotel, is very good. But expensive and if you dont like waiters hanging around it will bother you.

 

Make sure you make reservations way in advance for all.

[DarlaS]

When we flew out to AZ this past may we went from Phoenix (quickly!) to Flagstaff then Williams and finally Kingman (My brother lives there.). We left AZ in the final days of our vacation and eventually flew out of Vegas.

 

We did take the Hoover Dam tour (It was on the way.) and it was great! The Secret Garden (Siegfried and Roy) Habitat (at the Mirage) is very kid-friendly too. Of course the tigers were all asleep.

 

Oh, and we stayed in nearby Henderson (DH's brother lives there.). 15 minutes from the strip. The only thing we went to Vegas for was to see the white tigers.

 

I'm pretty sure the Grand Canyon Caverns are about 3 hrs from Vegas too. Maybe a little more...

 

ETA: I just noticed I use way too many parentheses, and I'm sure everyone really cares about all my brothers and bil's who live out west. :tongue_smilie:

 

In my defense, I've been up for 18 hrs. :blink:

Edited August 2, 2009 by darlasowders

[Stacia]

Many, many years ago, dh & I decided to do a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Vegas. It's much farther than you realize & we spent many hours getting there. I can't remember now, but I think it was in the 6-7 hour range, esp. as there was horrible traffic backed up on the 2-lane highway around Hoover Dam. Basically, we finally make it to the south rim at dusk w/ the clothes on our back (shorts & tees since it had been about 100 degrees in Vegas). But, at the Grand Canyon, it was dipping below freezing at night. We got a hotel room (the last one available) along the canyon & quickly ran to buy some sweatshirts, lol. Our day trip turned into 2 long days (but we did see a glorious sunrise over the Canyon).

 

So, imo, the Grand Canyon is not a 'day trip' from Vegas.

 

Have fun in Vegas. It's been a long time since I've been there (& I've never gone w/ kids), but I've always enjoyed it.

 

Maybe your dc would like to see you & your dh renew your vows at one of the cheesy wedding chapels & having 'Elvis' preside over the ceremony? ;) (My sis & her dh do that every time they go to Vegas at various chapels, lol. They've even done the drive-through Elvis one. :lol: On a separate note, I know my sis has highly recommended The Secret Garden at the Mirage as a great & fun thing to see.)

[EmilyK]

Thanks for all the fun -- and funny -- ideas.

[Desert Rat]

If you do want a day trip, Rhyolite is a neat abandoned mining town about 1.5 hours outside of Vegas. It's about 2 miles outside of Beatty. It has an old grave yard, crumbling buildings, a cool house made out of glass bottles and heaps of mines to look at from afar (but never go near-they're super dangerous).

I second MOM's rec's. Remember, September is still going to be in the 90's. That might be too hot for you to do things outside if you're not used to it.

HTH

[2cents]

When we go to Vegas, we love taking side trips to Oatman, a real old west mining town with a lot of history. Donkeys roam the streets and there is a mine tour too. http://www.desertusa.com/oatman/du_oatman.html

We also like the Hoover Dam. A little further west is the Calico Ghost Town which is more commercial but a lot of fun too. In Vegas, we like Circus Circus and walking around the mall in Caesar's. The Luxor also has an Egyptian Museum that is interesting. They used to have a Nile boat ride but that was gone the last time we were there. The museum is still there though. T he Luxor also has a fun family entertainment level that has shows and games too.

Edited August 2, 2009 by 2cents

[Tony'sMom]

Just a quick "Funny". A few years ago my husband, his adult daughter, and our 8 year old son headed WEST (from Indiana) in our motorhome. I had to stay home because we had our business and it refused to run itself :glare: They had a great time and I had my son keep a journal - a pre-printed form - saying where he was when he woke up, what States they traveled through that day, what interesting things he saw, how many miles they traveled (yep, I got math in) etc... It's still fun looking back at his journal. Anyway, I get a call from Vegas and it is my 8 year old. He was so excited!! He told me that Vegas was GREAT!! He said, "Mom, it is just like Chuck E. Cheese, only bigger!!!!"

 

P.S. They took a helicopter ride and he still talks about it 6 years later.