Never been to Vegas and looking to take the family end of August (2 kids 8&12). Any recommendations?

If you haven't booked it already, I'd reconsider for 2 reasons:
1. It is really expensive to keep 2 kids busy in Vegas. Admissions to everything are a fortune.
2. It is going to be brutally hot. Over 100 every day. Seriously. Walking around outside is not going to be an option. The only people that go to Vegas in the summer are the ones that plan to sit in an air conditioned casino all day. This is really a trip for later in the fall when you can take them to Red Rock and Hoover Dam, etc.

Maybe Nancy lives in Yuma and LV will be a respite temperature wise??
Just kidding.
Ellen's got a point about the heat, but I must say that those temps of 105-110 every day don't stop tens of thousands of tourists from visiting LV every August. Just recognize that outdoor activities won't be an option from 11-3. Even the pool is pretty brutal at those times. But the AM's and evenings are fine when the sun's low. Yes it's still really hot but it's not unbearable.
Entertaining kids in LV is another issue entirely. Requires creativity.
Can be done but I'd count on day trips to Lake Mead or the parks to occupy them at least a day or two.
And realize that parents can't gamble with kids around. So if you're going for the sights and shows and out of town stops, that's fine.

Nancy, we took are boys when they were 11 & 8. They say they would much rather go back to LV than WDW! We had rented a car and went some great places. They loved Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire STate Park (although we were unable to hike much due to the extreme temps of 120), and especially Buffalo Bill's Hotel & Casino in Primm, NV. The Desperado Roller Coaster is there, and we loved it! They also have various other amusements.
About 1/2 hr away is Mt charlreston, where you can go horseback riding. Unfortunately, they were not riding the day we went. That whole area is quite different from LV, and beautiful.
In LV, we did a dinner show at the Excalibur that the kids loved. We also visited the Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, Circus,Circus' Grand Slam Canyon, and the Manhattan Express in NY,NY.
Fun is in the things you like to do, and I'm sure you'll have fun!

there are some inexpensive things to do with kids in vegas but most of them are outdoors which won't be much of an option in august. i'd make darn sure about booking a hotel with a good pool with shade cause you'll need it. i personally would reconsider - 8 & 12 yr olds who are bored and whining cause it's too hot doesn't sound appealing to me.

Our kids ages 12 and 13 loved Vegas. Went there in July. Stayed at the Flamingo, good rates great pool. It also has lots of turtles, warm water penquins all sorts of water fowl etc. and of course flamingos! I chose the hotel for the pool as I knew the kids would want to spend lots of time there. The Mandalay Bays pool is just like a water park. A bit more expensive though. We were there for 4 days and our kids couldnt get enough of the eye candy, Bellagio fountain, volcano at the MGM, free circus performances at Circus Circus (strong men were awesome)just wandering around the Paris and Venician. All free. Maybe you could spring for a show, Blue Man, Cirque de Soliel, whatever. They will have a blast.

Here's my (repost for those that don't know how to search) list of free/cheap things to do in Vegas w/ kids (ok, the free drink at the beginning is for the adults, but most of this is geared towards children):

PART 1

Frozen Drink (Casino Royale): time to start your vacation off right, at the bar (area that faces the street) they have a free drink for showing your out of state driver’s license (you CAN walk around with liquor, so get the drink and enjoy while walking to and in the Venetian)

Lobby (Venetian): be sure to go to the lobby and look up (then walk to the left if you’re facing the check-in desk) and see more of the ceiling

St. Marks Square (Venetian): see the canal and gondolas, as well as the painted sky

Parade in the Sky (Rio): The show is free to the public and is performed every 2 hours from 2:00pm to midnight daily EXCEPT Wednesdays (you’ll need to take a cab or shuttle bus there)
Rio to Harrah's (shuttle bus, to get to/from Rio for masquerade ball)
Runs every half hour from 9:00am to 1:00am (BUT I HEARD THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE SCHEDULE!!) may just want to take a cab to save the hassle (or go to the shuttle bus area at Harrah’s and if people are there and waiting a while, wait with them as one is likely to come soon, if not many people there, then you may have just missed the shuttle and take a cab from Harrah’s)

Pirate Show (Treasure Island): every hour on the hour from 4:00pm to 10:00pm weather permitting (also read it could be every 1 ½ hours) (HIGH PICK POCKET AREA DURING THE SHOW), get there AT LEAST 20 minutes before the show to get a space that the kids can see!!

White Tigers (Mirage): 24/7

HUGE Aquarium/Fish Tank (Mirage): 24/7 located behind the check-in desk

Volcano (Mirage): 6pm-midnite??, but great at night, so maybe do on the way back to hotel (it’s almost directly across from your hotel)

Statue Show (Caesars): every hour on the hour in the shopping mall attached to Caesars starting at 10am (not great, but kids MAY REALLY enjoy it)… be sure to look at the fountains/driveway on your way in (filmed Rain Man there when he was “driving” in the parking lot)

Fountains (Bellagio): make sure it’s dark/dusk when you go (every 30 minutes from 3pm-8pm, every 15 minutes >8:00pm, stay for a few songs as they’re different songs and fountain movements)

Flower Garden (Bellagio): walk in the main doors and go straight to the back to see (and notice the smell when you walk in) the most beautiful arrangement (better than it sounds)

Part 2:


Eiffel Tower (Paris): while at Bellagio turn around and see a “built to scale” version

Rain Inside (Alladin): by the shops there is some sort of rain contraption that makes it rain from the ceiling into a reflecting pond below (I don’t know much about this other than it exists)

Lion Habitat (MGM): 11:00am to 11:00pm daily

Skyline (NYNY): 24/7 not much inside, but great skyline outside

Pyramid (Luxor): no need to get too close, but cool pyramid building

Fremont Street Experience (Downtown): Hourly show from dusk to midnight. Free

Golden Nugget (Downtown): display of the world’s largest gold nugget

General (Downtown): see the lights and glitter; this is “old Vegas”

99cent Shrimp Cocktail (Golden Gate): may have to splurge $1.49 for medium size shrimp, but this is a Vegas Classic (if it’s not the Golden Gate, it’s a place next door, but I’m sure it’s advertised on the side of the bldg)

Aerial View of Vegas (Stratosphere): take the elevator to the top for an aerial view of Vegas (costs to go up, you can decide if you want to do it when you’re there)- : 9am - 1am Sunday through Thursday

Circus Events (Circus Circus): Free circus acts (on the ceiling above the casino), 11:00 am thru midnight daily (not worth a special trip, but "ok" to see if you're walking by)

.99 Margarita (next to Circus Circus): decent drink for the price (the place MAY be the Westward Ho)

Coffee Mug/Deck of Cards (Riviera): time to cash in the coupon you printed (DON”T do their $40 credit for $20 buy-in, although you may have to wait in that line for your mug/cards)

CAESARS MAGICAL EMPIRE (Caesars) Caesars Magical Empire at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, offers free tours 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Guests can explore the catacombs en route to a 70-foot-tall central rotunda, where high-tech special effects are featured (I’ve never done this, but heard it’s decent)

Music Memorabilia (Hard Rock Caf&eacute: guitars, pictures, clothing, autographs, etc. (also note the giant guitar sign out front!)…. Stop by the concierge desk and ask for a "Rock Tour" map and you can take a self-guided tour of the hotel and all the rock'n'roll artifacts


MISCELLANEOUS:

Antique Car Show (Imperial Palace): free with coupons they “hock” in front of the casino
Star Trek Experience (LV Hilton)
Dolphin Habitat (Mirage)
Magic and Movie Hall of Fame (O’Shea’s, next to Flamingo)
Leid Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas NV, (702)382-KIDS(5437) or (702)382-3445 (1 mile north of Fremont St)
Ethel M tour – free chocolates at the end
Gameworks- NICE!! arcade with rock climbing wall (next to MGM). If you go, be sure to get coupon in “What’s On” (local LV advertisement magazine) for $10 Free with $10 Purchase (gets put on a card)
Rollercoasters- NYNY’s is good
Breakfast Buffet (Paris): Rumored to be SUPERB! with great crepes, omelets to order, and pastries (~$13 adults, kids ?? ½ price ??)

I HIGHLY recommend the show "Mystere." Expensive, but worth it!

We were just there with our 2 kids (10&13) for 3 days. We stayed at the Mirage which has a great pool, but it was too cold to swim. In any case we found lots to do. SOme things your kids will enjoy for free are the Pirate show, evenings at treasure island, the volcano, evenings at mirage, the moving statue shows at ceasars palace, and check out the flamingos and penquins at the Flamingo. Also just checking out some of the hotels on the strip like the venetian (which is incredible), paris, NYNY, etc. It's kind of like epcot, all these little different country areas. For a fee (but well worth it)is the shark acquarium at mandalay, the lion/dolphin habitat at mirage. In fact they have several dolphin pools and my kids played catch with the dolphins for about a 1/2 hour. they could have spent the entire day there! Also the Back to Atlantis Ride at ceasers (kind of a 3-d universal studio type ride) was one of my kids favorites. We also splurged and got tickets to Mystere which is great. We had a car and spent a 1/2 day at hoover dam (about 30 miles away). For food, we liked the buffets, it seemed like the easiest and they are fairly reasonable compared to some of the reataurants in the hotels. We also enjoy the italian restaurant (I can't remember the name, but think it starts with B) in the shopping concourse of ceasers. It the one next to the Piazza Navona looking fountain.

ttt

For the thereuare recommendations! Great list.

Before you take kids to Vegas take a look at the transformation that's going on:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Downtown/index.html

Then you be the judge of what to do with your own situation.

My co-worker went to Vegas in August with a 8-year-old boy. He got out of the hotel only once, for an hour or so, and never again till the flight home, it was so hot. With her husband they had to take turns to stay with him in the hotel. Good it was Circus with some kids' activities.

How will your children stand the heat? Maybe you can take vacation during their winter/spring break?

Oh, and one more thing. You need to get from hotel to hotel. A few are connected by trams, the majority are not. You will not be hoofing it hotel to hotel in 110 degrees (there is no shade on the strip). Hotels are a lot farther apart than they appear, even if they are right next door. It could be a 1/4 of a mile from the door to the street itself. The reason the heat doesn't keep thousands of tourists away in the summer is because that is when it is CHEAP, not because it is the best time to go! Heck, you can get to Miami in July for $69 but who wants to?

Hi Nancy, I live in Las Vegas and love it here. There are many things to do here in Vegas that your kids will love, children are not hard to entertain so you just have to keep them busy. I am the Creative Design Manager for Looktours and we feature over 120 different sightseeing tours available in Las Vegas on our website: www.all-las-vegas-tours.com I invite you to take a look at the website, we feature trips to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Helicopter Tours, Lake Mead Cruises, Horseback riding (yes your 8 years old can ride a horse, my family went and we have a 7 year old girl who loved it) and much more. We pride ourselves on quality with the tours we provide on our website and our agents and their families take the tours on a regular basis so we know what we are offering to the public.

Just visit the website and if you want, feel free to book on-line with our safe reservation page or call us toll free at 1.866.868-7786 and tell them Cyril Nelson told you book. I am sure you and your family will enjoy any tour you choose and we guarantee the lowest fare!!

Once again that website is www.all-las-vegas-tours.com

ENJOY!

It really depends on what you want. Personally, I don't like taking my kids there any time of the year. With this said though, I do like to gamble and this is the primary reason I go there. The arcades are so expensive and I went through more money than if I had been able to gamble myself. I love to take my kids on vacation but NOT LAS VEGAS....this is for an adult get away! Maybe you should reconsider and take the kids on a different vacation like So. California or somewhere that is a "heaven" for kid activities. If you're not into gambling....than ignore everything I just said. I'm only speaking from my own perspective. Lilly