Vegas with a 7 & 9 year old
 

We will be in the US for 3 weeks in Sept. visting Disneyland, San Diego, Los Angeles. We have two nights in Las Vegas Any suggestions on things to do with two children ages 7 & 9 in Las Vegas for three days/two nights.

The hotel swimming pools.

There was a funny show on the Travel Channel last weekend about travel memories and the comedians all agreed that Vegas is no vacation for kids if the adults are gambling.

Maybe sight-seeing trips out to the desert? Jeep ride? Hoover Dam?

Circus Circus has neat stuff for kids. Lots of free acts. They also have an amusement park on site.

Try the pirate ship battle on the strip. Go up to the mountains. Go to Hoover Dam.

Google(search) for stuff to do with kids in Las Vegas. You will be surprised at the number of things that will show up.

Most of the casinos have a free show of some kind, and if it's not actually in the casino proper the kids can see it.

www.cheapovegas.com
www.vegas.com/map.html
www.lasvegasadvisor.com

can all give you more ideas.

There are also paid attractions at many casinos - aquarium, white tigers, etc.

There's plenty for kids to do - it's just that having kids there limits what the adults can do.

Visit the Valley of Fire. My kids loved climbing on the rocks and peeking out of the holes.

The pirate battle on the strip is now a VERY PG-13 show, and it no longer appropriate for kids, IMHO.

Take them to the Mirage to see the dolphins and the tigers in the Secret Garden. It's great for kids of all ages!

Rainforest Cafe at the MGM. 4D experience at Luxor. Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. M&M museum.

Las Vegas is really NOT that great a place for kids but I also realize that sometimes, that's just the way it works. As stated, there are things at some of the hotels that kids will enjoy, and there are also game arcades at many of the hotels. The pirate ship battle has been "upgraded" to have a more "adult" theme, and of course the ads now saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" tells you the "family thing" has kind of been put on the back burner. If you want to gamble, (and you didn't say one way or the other) it will really be difficult with kids of that age. There are baby sitting services available, but...... The one thing that I have always HATED to see when I've been down there is, kids just hanging out on the sidewalk waiting for their parents to finish gambling and kids being dragged all over the place at all hours of the night..kids exhausted at midnight or later. I think the suggestion of acutally getting out of the city at some point and seeing some of the beatiful scenery is a great suggestion. You could also go to Lake Meade or the dam. You didn't say where you are from, but thank you for visiting our beautiful country.

11th child - you didn't say where you will be staying in LV - I hope it's not Circus Circus - that place is a DUMP! If you don't have reservations yet, try the Tropicana. It is an older hotel, but the pool is great and the kids will love it. I live here in LV and rent a room at the Trop every year when my nieces visit because they love the pool.

The Excaliber has a pretty big arcade - kind of pricey - that the kids might like. Circus Circus has a theme park, also circus acts kids like - just don't stay there!

In the MGM there is a free lion exhibit that's fun to watch. At Mandalay Bay the shark reef is cool for kids. But my all time favorite is the Secret Garden at the Mirage - dolphins and lions, tigers, etc and very fun - only $12 pp (kids are less, I think). There is a roller coaster at NYNY and Sahara they might like.

We started a family National Parks tour last August in Vegas with kids ages 8 and 10. Was much better than I thought. Stayed at the Flamingo because they have the best pool (at least that's what my fodor research said) that you didn't have to pay extra for. My kids loved it. Pool area definitely got rowdy with large groups of drinking people but my kids just ignored it as best we could.

My kids loved the Shark Reef at Mandalay (worth the $$), the arcade at Excalibur. Walking through NYNY and MGM with the lions. Also went to the Venetian (some good posing statues and definitely interesting) and Paris for dinner (daughter LOVES Paris so this was a treat as she's never been to the real one). Didn't make it to the Mirage so can't comment. Have heard that you don't want to go to the pirate ship.

Would say that I found Vegas less sleazy than I expected. Only once were we handed porn on the street and they immediately pulled the paper back when they saw we had kids with us.

Worst was waking up early (we were on East Coast time) and seeing people gambling and drinking at 6 a.m. Son thought it was "gross". Actually think exposing my kids to that kind of behavior (along with the smoking) made them not think it was glamorous. Just adults behaving badly.

Have a great triP!

Great ideas! Is 2 days enough for all the Kids' stuff, no gambling by adults, just schlepping a 7 yr. old around before heading to SLC for skiing?

There really is a LOT that can be done and enjoyed in Vegas by kids. Including time by the pools, you will not see all the kid-friendly stuff that Vegas has to offer in 2 days. But, you'll enjoy 2 days in Vegas all the same, and you'll be tired at the end of it. If you really love it, you can always plan another couple days back there another time. :)

There's a very cute daytime magic show at the Trop, Rick Thomas, that is appropriate for children.

I don't think he's there anymore. I just got a postcard from the Trop listing a new magician. He may be just as good, not sure, but it looked like maybe Rick Thomas has moved on? I'm sure the Tropicana web site would have more info.

Rick Thomas has left the Tropicana - he's now at the Stardust with shows daily at 2pm and 4pm- dark Wednesdays.

If it's the same show that was at the Tropicana, it's definitely worth the $25 - with magic, humor and white tigers you can't go wrong. :)

I also second the ideas of the Secret Garden and Shark Reef. That may be a lot of animals in 2 days, but it's a different, "softer" side of Vegas that's quite appropriate for kids and enjoyable for adults, too!