Las Vegas trip with teens - 19 and 17
 

Can anyone advise me what a teen would like to do in Vegas. What is there to do, they are too young for the casinos, but I would like to take them with us as it would be nice for them to get away also. Any ideas anyone.

I don't know what your teens are interested in, but we liked:
Hoover Dam, Clark County Heritage Museum, Red Rock Canyon, Springs Preserve, Shark Reef (Mandalay Bay), feeding of the lions (MGM), Jubilee backstage tour (Bally's) Car Museum (Imperial Palace), Dolphin Habitat & Secret Garden (Mirage).

Things that we didn't do: Volacno (Mirage), Sirens show (TI), King's Ransom (Imperial Palace), Masquerade in the Sky (Rio), thrill rides (Stratosphere), roller coaster (NYNY).

There are large arcades with games at NYNY & Circus Circus.

In addition to what abram said, if you have a car, take them to valley of fire and do a bit of hiking, or if you want to spend a longer day go to Death Valley NP or Zion and do some hiking. There are also trips by bus, plane, helicopter,and from Vegas to Grand Canyon that they could take even if the adults decided not to.

I'm surprised this thread hasn't been more "lively" for you! Kids in Vegas is a rather hotly debated topic on some travel forums. And speaking of "other" travel forums, I hope I'm not out of line suggesting that you visit one, in this case, the Las Vegas forums on TripAdvisor.com. There is an excellent "sticky" post discussing over 100 family-friendly activities in the Las Vegas area.

Another excellent source of information for things your kids might like (and that don't cost you anything!) can be found on www.vegas4locals.com.

Anyway... just an observation from my younger brother: when I got married in Reno, he was only 19. Because he wasn't 21, he was constantly being shooed off, rather rudely at times, by security guards if he set one foot too close to a gaming floor, bar or any other 21+ area. He found it frustrating - here were all these experiences that as a young adult he was clearly "ready" for, yet couldn't have as he was "technically" too young. Definitely felt like an "outsider looking in."

In my opinion there is a ton of things to do around Vegas, but nothing in Vegas other than eating, shows, gambling.
We have traveled Vegas many times and ejoy about 1 day of it. We have been to Utah areas, Zion, Grand Canyon, Death Valley. This is true for adults and teens, unless you really like to gamble. We experienced right the opposite of what K-bot says. We had a 20 year old with us once and he gambled a lot and never was turned away. I don't know what he would have done had he actually won much. He just played slots and blackjack. He does appear older than 21. I don't advocate this, I am just telling you what he did.

See a Cirque show, Ethel M factory, several of the Hotels are attratctions within themselves, Forum Shops, Stratosphere rides. I would get away from Vegas to a lot of the places I mentioned or others.

<<<Because he wasn't 21, he was constantly being shooed off, rather rudely at times, by security guards if he set one foot too close to a gaming floor, bar or any other 21+ area. He found it frustrating - here were all these experiences that as a young adult he was clearly "ready" for, yet couldn't have as he was "technically" too young>>>

We took my very-young looking daughter to Vegas when she turned 21. She wasn't ID'd even once, until I asked the guard to PLEASE ask for her ID :-)

By "technically too young", I assume you mean "LEGALLY too young". They can lose their gaming/abc licenses if they allow under-21s in (they're not even allowed to linger in the gaming area, all they can do is pass through from one public area to another). I was very very surprised my daughter wasn't carded.

I've been on the fence about taking my kids to Vegas as well. I went twice by myself and loved it and I'm not a big gambler and didn't go there for anything seedy, lol. Actually, I had no desire to go but got a cheap trip and loved it! There are so many shows to take the kids to. The helicopter ride to the Canyon is expensive but well worth it. I also took the ride that landed at the bottom of the Canyon where we went to a ranch and went horseback riding.
I'm considering a week in LA and driving with the kids to Vegas for a few days because I think its worth them seeing. I live in NY and can do Broadway anytime, but there's something different about Vegas. Believe me, you'll find plenty to do!

Highly recommend the tour to Grand Canyon via air or helicopter - well worth it, especially if this may be your only chance to see it. Be sure to book a tour going to the South Rim (as opposed to the West Rim).

Check out Terry Fator's Show (he won "America's Got Talent"). Fabulous!

The Cirque du Soleil productions are amazing.

Consider Madame Tussauds.

There's plenty to do in Las Vegas and never set foot in a casino.

Note a great place to stay with kids (but it's best to rent a car) is South Point with on sight movie theaters, bowling alley, etc., and lots of great eateries.

Thanks for the ideas everyone, will take them into consideration definitely. Does anyone know if Criss Angel is still in Vegas (I think at the Luxor). Thanks again for the info - much appreciated.

Believe (the Cirque de Soleil show starring Criss Angel) is still there -- and continues to get very bad reviews.

The Criss Angel got terrible reviews. I'm not sure how hard it is to get tickets to Love, but that gets raves!

Thanks for all your info and ideas everyone. sorry haven't been on the site too much lately. Both my teens are special needs, the oldest is autistic but high functioning, the youngest is learning disabled - the younger of the two is having doubts about going (feels he may be bored), the oldest is bummed because he can't go to the casinos, however, he loves history and site seeing, so it may be good for him after all. Aside from taking the boys for a getaway for them, I think it would help curtail my time at the slots if I am doing things with them also. I hope we can still go, but having doubts about it too. Anyway will look into some of the ideas mentioned and keep you posted.
Thanks again everyone. !!