Tally

We're thinking about a long weekend in Vegas with our almost 6 year old so I'm curious why there are so many posts advising not to take kids there. The main reason we'd like to go is to take our son to Hoover Dam, but I also think he'd like the spectacle of Vegas (rides, monorail, tigers, etc). We're not into gambling or any of that and have been to Vegas before without our son and enjoyed it (granted it was many years ago). So why not take him there?

SAnParis2

There are a multitude of posts on here explaining the reasons in detail. If you read the posts - including the one where a Mom (against everyones' advice) decided to do it anyway & the results were ahem...not good. Sounds like you've already decided to do it anyway, in which case...live & learn. Personally, I have had my now 6 & 9 yr olds all over including Key West, New Orleans, etc. But I wouldn't take them to Vegas, until they are 'of age'.

starrs

Here are some ideas for kids -
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/kids.html

starrs

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...013021105.html

maitaitom

My dad's company used to help get the costumes for the Lido de Paris at the Stardust through Customs when I was just a youngster. I was one of the few children "allowed" to get in to those adult shows. It's funny, I guess they took me to Hoover Dam, too, but I remember the Lido a lot more. In any event, I have avoided any significant prison time as an adult, so I say if you want to bring the kid to Vegas, do it. I loved Vegas as a kid, and there's a heck of a lot more there now to see than when I went (well, except for the naked ladies, of course).

tom42

I don't like to encourage parents to take their kids to Las Vegas for purely selfish reasons. But really if you want to go with your kids, go. It won't scar them forever. There are things to do there with kids.

Dayenu

There are many things for kids, there are families with kids living in Vegas - they won't be allowed in casinos, that's all.

There are daytime shows - I remember a magician; the dam, valley of fire, cactus garden, red rock park around - it's just that adults think of casinos and bars first of all.

starrs

I think there's a difference in planning a kids' vacation in Vegas and taking kids along on an adult vacation in Vegas.

Of course, the same could be said of any vacation location, but Vegas is known for drinking, gambling and sex. If you're making it a kids vacation, there's a lot to do that is age appropriate.

wtm003

It has been over ten years since we went to Vegas with our then young children and it was fine for us. All we wanted was a weekend somewhere warm, cheap and within driving distance. We are not big gamblers so we were happy going to the pool during the day. In the evening our boys were mesmerized by all the glittering lights, the fountains at the Bellagio and the volcano at the Mirage. It worked for us at that time.

spirobulldog

We are a very conservative Christian family from the sticks in Oklahoma. Our daughter (now 17) has been 6 or 7 times since age 6. All of our trips were actually to other places like Zion, Grand Canyon , Death Valley, Hoover Dam, etc. We usually are just in Vegas about a day each time. She has seen a lot of it and even a few Cirque shows, Blue Man Group, etc. She doesn't really like Vegas, but is glad she saw it and experienced a little of it.

She has traveled a lot. Her most memorable meal ever was July 4th in the Stratosphere watching the fireworks go off. She even put that above eating at the Eifel Tower.

The two most negative things there are the sex pamphlets that they hand everyone and all ages in the streets and of course the gambling.

I don't have a problem at all with it. Last time we stayed at a place called Desert Rose and it doesn't have a casino in it.

sf7307

ditto what wtm003 said. Add the Pirate Show at whatever hotel that's at.

Placename

Treasure Island has the pirate show and the fake volcano.

happytrailstoyou

I totally agree with your analysis.
If you suppose your son will enjoy the experience, he will.
And so will you.
Don't listen to the worrywarts.

HTTY

qwovadis

Treaure Island Pirate Show fun

The Strat has a roller coaster on TOP of the hotel

Circus Circus great prices

www.tripres.com weekdays cheapest best value...

Vegas is fine for kids as long as you stay with the kid

oriented stuff.... my son enjoyed grandcanyontours.com

Chopper in for the experience of a lifetime but not too cheap

volcanogirl

We saw a couple of things that I really don't think a kid should see. A guy on the street handed me a pamphlet advertising escorts, and it had full on nudity on it. The people who didn't want the pamphlets dropped them on the ground, so the sidewalk was covered with all these raunchy images. The other thing was a see through van/bus with women dancing on poles. This stuff was happening late at night on the strip, so if you avoid that area late at night, I think you'd be fine. None of it was earth shattering but would be awkward with a child in tow. There are the great pools, shows, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon etc. that a kid would love.

nytraveler

There are a limited number of things for kids to do (and you need to make sure that the pools are 1) open and 2) not european style topless unless that wouldn;t bother you) and a number of things that are inappropriate for kids (agree that the escort service pamphlets they give everyone - including your kid if they can - are quite tacky).

And obviously a lot of the shows are inappropriate.

lynni

I just finished and topped my report from earlier this summer...hopefully it wll help you. If you click on my name you will see it.

I will say that taking a child to Vegas is work... it is fun but it is a a lot of walking to plan for and food very expensive and needs to be planned for in advance. I thought we could splurge on Starbucks breakfast sandwiches in the hotel but the hotel starbucks dont carry the sandwiches or yogurts, so we ended up having to leave the hotel each morning, which I hadnt expected... that is just one example.

If "rolling with the punches" is easy for you and your child, I would say " go for it."

persimmondeb

Depends on the kid. We had a lovely time with our mildly autistic teenager this summer. We drove to the Hoover Dam and saw Red Rock Canyon. We also spent a lot of time in the pool, and a fair amount walking the strip.

He loved Silverton, which is off-strip, because of the Bass Pro shop and the aquarium, and for some odd reason also liked the El Cortez a lot. We were on Fremont Street one evening and the Golden Nugget permitted us to sit in their pool area so we could look at their sharks. That was a big hit, along with the Golden Nugget's sushi bar. We also ate at a great many buffets, and spent a fair amount of time in Circus Circus's facilities.

One caveat, some of the casinos have added stripper poles over the gaming areas and they can be viewed from non-gaming areas, and DS did not care for that, although the upside-down young ladies were thankfully wearing tops. Also no-one handed him a pamphlet, and I will say that the folks with them did actually seem to be paying attention and not giving them to children.