Las Vegas for Kids

"Mom, I'm bored"

I have never been a kid in Las Vegas (well, once for two weeks), nor have I raised any. Our daughter and her husband, however, are Las Vegas parents with kids ranging from four to eighteen (ok, the teenager isn't really a kid, but for several years, she was).

As grandparents, we have had a fair amount of experience finding out what kids in Las Vegas enjoy. I'll cover many of the things we've done, and some we haven't.

You may find things that have been mentioned elsewhere on the site, but I thought it would be nice to have all the kid stuff in one place.

Before I get to the attractions, most of which cost money, let me mention that almost every neighborhood in Las Vegas has at least one nice park.

When her children were very young, our daughter would often take them to one or more of the local parks.There, the youngsters could run, jump, yell, swing, slide, and generally have a great time while burning off all that energy that exhausts parents (and grandparents).

Ask around, or glance at a map. Finding a park near you should be easy.

Some cool things to do for the younger set

Adventuredome at Circus Circus
As mentioned elsewhere, this totally indoor amusement park is always a hit. They have great rides for the kids and adults. The fee is reasonable, and it makes a fine place to pass an afternoon ... especially when the outside temperature is 115 degrees!

Circus Circus also has free circus acts performing throughout the day. Where else but Vegas can you go to the circus for free, seven days a week.

Hint: Ride the Canyon Blaster.

Big Shot at the Stratosphere
One of three rides at the top of the tower, I admit it's one of my personal favorites in Vegas. According to the website, it shoots riders up "...at 45 mph (over 4 Gs) until they are 1,081 feet above the Strip."

X_Scream at the Stratosphere
This ride carries you out over the edge of the building at almost 900 feet above the ground. Having ridden it only once, I will say that if you are not in front, the effect is less than it might be. The surprise ending, however is good from any seat.

Insanity, the Ride at the Stratosphere
This ride sends you spinning into space (over The Strip) at about 3 Gs. I've never ridden it, but it looks like it would be a kick.

As long as you're up there, you might as well do all three.

Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
We went with our daughter's family after dinner one night. My wife's son was also in town. What a kick! Besides several different tracks, they have rides, an arcade, and good food. Check out the website at: http://lvmgp.com/

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at the Venetian
Ok. The Party with Hef may not be for the younger set, but there is plenty for the kids to do and see. This place allows you to actually interact with the figures.

Your teenage daughter has a crush on George Clooney? She can have her picture taken with him to impress her friends back home. She can even marry him!

Your son the athlete might want to shoot against Shaq.

For the younger set, the Pirates of the Caribbean await.

Visit the site at: http://www.mtvegas.com/

Also at the Ventetian, you can take one of two gondola rides. One inside, and one outside.

Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage
Lions and Tigers and Dolphins, oh my! This surprisingly quiet garden is serene enough, you'd never guess it was on the Las Vegas Strip. As much as I like the big cats, It's the dolphins I spend the most time watching.

MGM Grand Lion Habitat
Although often crowded, it's probably as close as you'll come to being face to face with one of these big cats. We have stopped there several times after eating in the Rain Forest Cafe (which the kids have always enjoyed).

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
This 1.6 million gallon, salt water attraction has to be one of the world's great aquariums. I could easily spend a whole day here, with or without the grandchildren.

The Roller Coaster at New York-New York
Probably not a good choice for the very young, but for the adventurous teen, it's one of the good things to do in Las Vegas. If you're going to be at the south end of the strip, try it out.

Perhaps you could combine the MGM, New York New York and Mandalay into a single, very active day. You can easily walk from MGM to NYNY, and to the Excalibur. From there, a tram will get you to the Mandalay Bay in short order.

Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur
A great show that includes Merlin the Wizard, full speed jousting, and pyrotechnics, all while you're eating dinner. I think we've now been four times, and it has always been enjoyed.

Some places I've never been but are rated well

The Luxor has both the IMAX Theater and In Search of the Obelisk. The online reviews have been favorable, and perhaps I'll try them someday.

Lied Discovery Children's Museum
This always seems to get good reviews. In fact, I may go by myself, and leave the grandkids at home.

Speed - The Ride at the Sahara
Again, not for the very young. I've have never ridden it, but having spent some time at the Sahara (poker room), I can tell you the screams I've heard, indicate it's not lacking in excitement.

Some other thoughts

Many of the local casinos have ice skating, bowling movie theaters, and various other activities the kids will enjoy. In fact, it wouldn't be hard to plan an entire day at just a couple of different locations. I know we've had dinner and gone bowling without needing a car in between.

Out of Town

If you're up for a day trip, don't forget Lake mead, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire or Mount Charleston. Any of these places can easily fill up a day without coming close to seeing everything there is.

If you're out in Red Rock, say hello to Majave Max for me. He's Nevada's answer to Punxsutawney Phil ... and just about as accurate.

UPDATE July 1, 2008: I received some sad news today. Mojave Max has passed away at age 65. A successor will be named at a later date. Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings.

This is just a small sampling of ways the kids can have as much fun as the adults in Las Vegas, but it should be enough to get you started.

Have fun

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