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Zion NP & Las Vegas with Kids for 3 days in July - Please Help

Zion NP & Las Vegas with Kids for 3 days in July - Please Help

Old Jun 1st, 2016, 01:05 PM
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Zion NP & Las Vegas with Kids for 3 days in July - Please Help

Hi All,

Good day.

We, 3 adults and 3 kids (6,7, and 12 years) would be in Zion NP and Las Vegas for 3 days and we need help. Appreciate your comments and suggestions. We are open for changes as much as possible.

Note that this post is a branch out from our original post .
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-need-help.cfm

from the wonderful suggestions and advise we got from above post we completely reworked our itinerary . Thanks to Gardyloo, jamie99 ,janisj,tomfuller,Cjar and many others

17th July - Day 1
-- Fly SJC--> LAS (arriving at 10:30AM)
-- Take a airport shuttle to the car rental center. https://www.mccarran.com/Go/RentalCars.aspx
-- 11.30 AM Pick up the Minivan from AVIS
-- Drive to Zion NP( 3 to 4 hours)
-- Lunch ??
-- Overnight stay at Cable Mountain Lodge
-- Activities ???
-- Dinner

18 July - Day 2
-- Early Wakeup
-- Have breakfast and Leave to Las Vegas - 3 to 4 hours
-- Las Vegas Stay at TI
-- Lunch ????
-- Mystere show at 7-9PM
-- Dinner - Casa Di Amore 1-2 hours
-- Bellagio Fountains( 1 hour)
-- Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio Less than 1 hour
-- Stroll around The Strip

19 July - Day 3
-- Breakfast - at Mon Ami Gabi 1-2 hours
-- The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Plan to stay: 1-2 hours
-- Las Vegas North Premium Outlets More than 3 hours
-- Downtown Container Park 2-3 hours
-- Lunch - at Park On Fremont1-2 hours
-- High Roller Less than 1 hour
-- The Sirens of TI (Treasure Island at The Mirage)
-- Fremont Street Experience
-- Dinner - Outback Steakhouse
-- Put the kids in the bed

-- Casino Royale
-- Casino at Harrah
-- Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
-- Entering the casino /shops etc without a plan

20 July - Day 4
-- Getup late & Fresh'n' up & Pack
-- Breakfast - Grab a quick one
-- Check out @ 10
-- Return the Car at @11.30
-- Catch a Flight @13:30 to San Diego - Spirit Air

Flights,Rent a car, Hotels and the Show are booked and confirmed.
However I am not sure if the Zion NP should be avoided(Though always wanted to experience GC) and instead only do LV - may be a day trip to hoover dam or to the mountain etc.

Any suggestions on Lunch/Dinner places!
Initially thought(All You Can Eat 24 Hour Buffet In Las Vegas For $45, Bon Appetit!) this was a good idea to visit many places and sample all food then again summer time with the Kids! gave up on this.

I know there are mono rail between few of the hotels/casinos. Is this a preferred method to move around other than taxi or walking.

Did I miss anything quite obvious or must do activities.

As always thanks in advance and Appreciate your help.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 07:39 PM
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I have been counting the hours, and I think your day 3 is really two days; you are underestimating the heat of July as well. Given that you will not be leaving for Zion until noon, and you need a lunch stop, I am also not sure how much time there will be to actually see Zion. Another thing that confuses me, are you planning on having dinner, with young kids in tow, after the shows are over late evening? Honestly, a bit too much in the planning.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 08:31 PM
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Agree with Social about time for Zion. Seems like Las Vegas is the main event with just a very quick visit to Zion. Why even go for such a short time? I cringe when I see an itinerary so dependent on time allowed for each activity. If one thing messes up the whole plan is out the window.
Are you aware that kids cannot be in casinos? Can walk thru and enter gift shops okay but that's it. Wondering where they will be during the casino visits. Also Las Vegas can be difficult strolling. Sidewalks jammed with people. Limited places to cross streets. You might want to check on the TI sirens show to make sure it is kid friendly.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 09:06 PM
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I actually think you can squeeze in Zion -- not perfect but barely doable. But your time in Vegas is VERY crammed. Especially day 3. If you manage even half of that I would be surprised.

You will be moving slow over large distances and it will be VERY hot. The hotels/casinos are ENORMOUS and sometimes you are walking 2 city blocks just getting through one out to the street. And cabs are tough because of the traffic.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 09:57 PM
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Thanks socaltraveler,lindagj.

Initially the plan was to go to GC and considering valuable suggestions from Fodorites, changed to Zion NP- It was closer than GC and more scenic.However now we are not sure about Zion NP. It may be too much for us to handle in terms of time. Truly don't want to mess up the whole thing.

I will call TI to see if we can be accommodated a day early.

For Casino time, one of us(3 adults) will stay with Kids.Thanks for pointing out on TI sirens show as well as on our strolling plans.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 10:13 PM
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Thanks janisj.

Would it be worth to squeeze in Zion. We could get an extra day in Vegas and may be spread out Day 3 activities.Any other suggestion for a Day trip to some where closer? Or should we take it easy and hit a pool at TI.

I am sure we can't do all activities as planned. It just gives some comfort to pick and choose from quite obvious or must do activities. Hope we didn't miss any.
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Old Jun 1st, 2016, 10:37 PM
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I think Zion is the best part of your trip. Forget the TI Sirens show. No big deal. I don't care for Fremont Street, but others do. I say play day 3 by ear and see how you feel. You don't want to wear yourself out for the rest of your trip.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 02:31 AM
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I agree with MichelleY - Zion is the best part of your trip, but it's not clear to me what you will be able to accomplish at Zion.

Your current plan has you arriving in Springdale ~3 or 4pm when you will check-in to your hotel, and leaving to LV right after an early breakfast the next day.

That gives you about from 5-8pm of daylight to actually visit the park - minus whatever time you plan on dinner. That's barely time to ride the park shuttle in a loop without even getting off the bus. My recommendation would be to spend 2 nights at Zion. The natural beauty far surpasses any man made glitz of LV.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:21 AM
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Thanks MichelleY. Will remember your advise.

Thanks J62. All I have is 1 day.I have booked and confirmed all other arrangements. Though I could re schedule to leave Zion by 12 Noon as I need to check in LV by 3-4PM only , hope that helps.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:15 AM
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>>I will call TI to see if we can be accommodated a day early.>Though I could re schedule to leave Zion by 12 Noon as I need to check in LV by 3-4PM only earliest you can check in, not the only time you can check in. I'd leave Zion in the late afternoon.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:29 AM
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Thanks janisj.
>>That is the earliest you can check in, not the only time you can check in. I'd leave Zion in the late afternoon.

Only issue is I have booked for Mystere for 7PM - and considering traffic issues if any would it be ok if we were to leave Zion by 2-3PM.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 06:26 AM
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Before you decide -- I'd phone and see if you can change your booking for Mystere to the next night.

I know the tickets are typically non-changable . . . but I've had good luck when my plans have changed and called (I had to change two shows, one a Cirque, when I had to reschedule a Vegas trip last year)
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 08:56 AM
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Skip Zion--do a trip to Hoover Dam. Vegas is the main part of your stay. Hoover Dam is interesting and it is cool under the dam. The ONLY way to do Zion in summer is first thing in the morning when it is cool.

I love Zion and really don't like LV. But this is your trip and I think you should go to Hoover Dam instead--it really is an interesting tour.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 01:33 PM
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The Hoover Dam tour is very interesting. Stanton Hyde gives good advice and travels with their children.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 02:04 PM
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Not much to add, other than all the worry about the appropriateness of "Sirens of Treasury Island" is MOOT, since it's been CLOSED SINCE NOVEMBER 2013. The Treasure Island theming at TI has been almost non-existent since mid-2013, so don't expect pirates swinging from the ceiling.

I would be shocked if you had trouble changing tickets for Mystère, given that it's one of the older Cirque shows and probably not running at full houses every night any more. It's great, no question-- but it's a bit long in the tooth for a Vegas show.

Dinner at an Outback Steakhouse...? That is a chain restaurant, and not a particularly good one. I'd characterize it as singularly AWFUL, to be honest. Don't take your family there. DON'T. If you want steak, you might just try the steakhouse at TI, which is apparently pretty good. Or go back to Mon Ami Gabi, which is a VERY good restaurant. Or wander over to Bellagio for their buffet, which is very good. Or any of the places over at the Cosmopolitan, which friends tell me are wonderful (I myself will be hitting Jaleo, the Spanish place run my José Andrés, on June 26th with my DH). Or Lotus of Siam. Or Border Grill down in Mandalay Bay. Or Samba at the Mirage. Or....
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 02:49 PM
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>>I would be shocked if you had trouble changing tickets for Mystère, given that it's one of the older Cirque shows and probably not running at full houses every night any more. It's great, no question--
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Old Jun 2nd, 2016, 06:13 PM
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We like Outback.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2016, 03:44 PM
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@sf7307: Well, that's great. But this family will be in Vegas. Why waste money at a place that will serve the same dreary Aussie-themed food they could get in Trenton? Or Cincinnati? Or Houston? Or up the road from me in Lakewood, CA?!

If they want good steak, any Strip casino steakhouse will do just fine. I can tell you that Mon Ami Gabi serves awesome steaks, at reasonable prices for the Strip. And everything else is good too. AND you can sit on the patio after dark and watch the dancing fountains over at Bellagio.

Actually, the visits to Casino Royale and Harrah's are baffling. Neither property is particularly nice, and the casinos are rather dull. If you're looking for nice casino spaces, you hit Paris, Caesar's, the Mirage, Bellagio, then the Venetian, then the Palazzo, then Wynn's. To mention just a few. I'm looking forward to playing over at the Cosmopolitan (an independent resort), just judging from their super-cool, enigmatic TV ads. "Just the right amount of wrong" indeed...!
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Old Jun 3rd, 2016, 05:21 PM
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>>Actually, the visits to Casino Royale and Harrah's are baffling.
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Old Jun 3rd, 2016, 10:52 PM
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Thanks StantonHyde. Just to give our perspective, in this trip we wanted to do GC(almost impossible) until Gardyloo suggested Zion as an alternative. GC/Zion would have been distinctively different from all other activities and Kids might remember this for long time-specifically playing with water. In summary if we could do Zion then we will just do it however if it wont worth the effort then we will give a miss.Further I looked at the Emerald Pool Trail and many comments in TA suggests that the pools are almost empty by now then how it will be by the time we make it in July.
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