Vegas with kids
 

Family is heading to Vegas in 3 weeks. Our kids are 6 and 8. Would love info on the most kid friendly hotels, preferably on the strip, as well as kid friendly activities.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Vegas is really not a fmily destination. There are minimal activities for kids - and I don't know why adults go there except to gamble.

Naturally it's none of my business - but since the kids aren;t allowed into casinos, the shows are usually inappropriate for kids that age - never mind expensive - don;t know what they will do. The time spent looking at fountains and MGM lions is minimal.

And the last time I was there (on business) a huckster was handing flyers for "escort services" to kids not much older on the street.

I don’t think Vegas is any sort of family destination. No doubt it’s great for couples and young people but certainly not for kids below 18. But still don’t want to ruin your vacation so here vegas.com/attractions/kids.html you will find things that kids can do on vacation in Vegas. Have a good time there.

Seeing the lions fed at the MGM
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
Volcano show at Treasure Island
Wildlife Habitat at Flamingo
Dolphin Habitat & Secret Garden at Mirage
Hoover Dam
Red Rock Canyon
Springs Preserve

Seeing the lions fed at the MGM
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
Volcano show at Treasure Island
Wildlife Habitat at Flamingo
Dolphin Habitat & Secret Garden at Mirage
Hoover Dam
Red Rock Canyon
Springs Preserve

Abram posted what I was thinking (twice for that matter). Use Vegas as a base to do whatever. I agree with the anti-Vegas sentiment for families if just staying at casinos. But even then, there are a lot of things to see. Wouldn't do a whole week though so make sure to go to the Hoover Dam. Are you going to take a couple of days and go to the Grand Canyon?

tripres.com

The Stratosphere(Roller Coaster on top of the Hotel)

or

Circus Circus

both cheap and VERY kid friendly.

Visit on the weekdays for very best prices

carrentals.com cheap car rental to

Antelope Slot Canyon amazing Grandcanyontours.com also

tonnes of fun with Hoover Dam on the way.

I've been going to Vegas for a long long time and from what I see, it's getting more and more family friendly. Though I agree it's not quite there yet.

My DS, DIL and GK's go to Circus Circus when they go to LV.
In addition to abram's list, I'll add the zipline under the big screen at the Fremont Street Experience. The buffet at the Golden Nugget has a view of the circular swilling pool which surrounds a big shark tank. the shark tank has a water slide going through it. They might enjoy seeing the largest gold nugget on public display (near the front desk) at the Golden Nugget along Fremont Street.

I don't get dragging kids hundred if not thousands of miles to see a couple of lions (thera are more and better in your local zoo) and a gigantic gold nugget.

Unless Vegas is a brief stop on the way to some natural wonders I think small kids will be bored stiff.

I don't know why some of you are so negative--especially since the OP didn't ask for advice about whether to go to LV or not.

Some of us have listed a bunch of things that we think kids would enjoy--I'll add the roller coaster and arcade at NYNY and the shows at CircusCircus. At those ages, my kids would have been thrilled to spend days and days at a pool.

I know that OP didn't ask for advise about whether to go to LV or not, but how would she feel if she went and found out that huckster are everywhere on the strip handing out flyers of naked woman and that men have urinated against a building right in front of everyone. At least they are forewarned and can protect their children. Also there is a lot of people traffic on the sidewalks so keep the kids close at hand.

I'll add the fountains at the Bellagio Fountains.
A day trip to Valley of Fire State Park

Utahtea

There are a number of posts on here re: kids & Vegas including one Mom who was adamant about going (despite the protests of Fodorites) who came back & basically agreed that we were correct. My children have been to Nola, Key West & other places of debauchery, but I would never take them to Vegas, until they are 21. Please reconsider.
Addressing 2 of the hotels mentioned - The Strat is well off the Strip & not close to anything - it is an OK hotel for people who have been before. Circus2, while kid-friendly, is an absolute dump.

SAnParis, the Strat is pretty much a dump too. Maybe a little less dumpy than Circus Circus.

C2 is in a class all by itself...lol

The VOLCANO show is at Mirage. It only lasts about 3 minutes.
The show at Treasure Island is NOT kid-friendly at all. It is the "Sirens" and features scantily clad women hanging off a pirate ship.
The roller coaster at Stratosphere is way up on top of the tower and it scares me to death. I seriously doubt 6 and 8 year olds would like it.

I will add my recommendation to everyone else's that Vegas is NOT a family-friendly destination anymore. Take the kids to the Grand Canyon, but only stay a day in Vegas.

There no longer is a roller coaster on the top of the Stratosphere. The current attractions tend toward the scare-the-#%*$-out-of-you variety. "Anyone 15 years or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian."

<<<The show at Treasure Island is NOT kid-friendly at all. It is the "Sirens" and features scantily clad women hanging off a pirate ship.>>>

We took our kids to see the Treasure Island pirate ship show and it was fine. I'd be really surprised if they even noticed that the women were scantily clad, and if they did notice, well, no biggie (I don't think it's any worse than the pirates chasing the women in the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean ride).

There are a lot of great day trips to take with kids if you'll have a car. Lake mead, Valley of Fire, etc.

http://www.vegas.com/attractions/kids.html

www.lvmgp.com

www.vegaskids.info/

About 10 years ago Vegas was trying to cater to families. I think the casinos were losing their backside on that campaign so things have changed (families were not gambling). There is a reason they now have commercials saying "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas".

You might try the Pinball Museum, I think it's hands on. Kids might enjoy that. some hotels have arcades, too. We took our kids when they were younger, they had a great time. Just don't plan too much walking in one day for the younger ones.

"I don't think it's any worse than the pirates chasing the women in the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean ride"

I don't think the Sirens show is *that* scandalous, but they are certainly more scantily clad than in the POTC ride, and there is a lot more sexual innuendo. Every line is about "the pirate plundering my booty" and that sort of thing.

The last time I saw it there were certainly some moms with small kids with very disapproving looks and taking the kids away after a few minutes. So some people might be offended if they think this is a "family" show designed for kids when it's really not.

PS - I meant to say it was the moms with disapproving looks on their faces, not the kids. The kids either liked it (the innuendo going over the heads over the youngest ones), or had their hands over their ears because the explosions were too loud for them and they hated it.

Thank you all for the replies. I actually appreciate the honest feedback. We'll be on a road trip from SLC down to Bryce, then Zion, and Vegas was simply "on the way" to Phoenix (visiting family), our final destination before returning home. So, I think we'll reconsider Vegas. Thanks again.

FWIW, I sometimes think that the best part of Vegas is just driving down the strip and gawking at all the crazy buildings. It's all downhill from there for me, lol! Enjoy your trip, Vegas or no.

The last time we were in Vegas we were also on a road trip....we spent an evening walking around and seeing a few sights...we stayed at Caesar's Palace and walked to the Bellagio to see the gardens and fountain show...ate at NYNY and saw tigers and lions across the street(can't remember where)...we never gambled and everything we did kids would have enjoyed...if its on the way and you need to get out of the car for awhile and be entertained this is a great place to stop even for a night.

<i>We'll be on a road trip from SLC down to Bryce, then Zion, and Vegas was simply "on the way" to Phoenix (visiting family), our final destination before returning home. So, I think we'll reconsider Vegas. Thanks again.</i>

A more scenic route would be though Page, AZ and the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area (Lake Powell). There you can do a float trip on the Colorado River or take a boat tour to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. The Upper Antelope Slot Canyon tour is very easy for children to do.

Utahtea

Thanks for the updated ideas!

Las Vegas is not just a strip of tourist attractions and casinos. If it makes sense to do an overnighter there, timewise, then you can find a number of newer, well-priced hotels with nice pools and free breakfast that are nowhere near the strip and very convenient to the freeway. Just search the Hilton Garden Inns, Hampton Inns, Holiday Inn Express chains etc for Green Valley, Henderson, Centennial Hills etc, whatever makes travel-sense with your roadtrip. The new bypass bridge near Hoover Dam is a great little one-hour diversion with a pedestrian walkway and great photo ops, a hotel in nearby Boulder City might work, too.