I remember the looks that I got the first time I said I was taking Baby Bug to Las Vegas, and also some of the comments. “Vegas is for adults,” “What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas,” etc, but while this could be true having been to Vegas many times as an adult, I knew there was a mild side. And sure enough, after that first successful trip we have been back several times. Yes there are the “gross card flickers” as Baby Bug calls them, but in all of our experiences they really have not been a bother when ignored. Also, timing your trip during Spring Break could be asking for trouble but by going during the week rather than on a weekend, not only will you save money but you will lose some of the party atmosphere.
The pools usually open by the beginning of April and usually remain open till into October. There are lots of kid friendly restaurants like Rain Forest Cafe, Bubba Gumps, Johnny Rockets, etc. And because there are so many beautiful hotels with a crazy number of rooms you can usually end up with a quite nice room for a reasonable price. And by the way, yes kids are allowed in the casino since most of the hotels are attached to one, however you may not really stop or pause in the casino area – you must be walking through, so if you’re wanting to gamble – leave the kids home.
The choice is up to you, but if you do decide to bring kids (or even if you don’t and you’re looking for some fun things to do), check out our list:
8. Shop – now most kids really are not shoppers but who can resist the 3 floor M & M store, with the Coke store right beside it, and sometimes a small “bribe” can get you another hour or two of sightseeing so a stop may be well worth it. There are also 2 outlet malls at each end of the strip with a Disney store, a Lego store and more…
7. The Secret Garden (at the Mirage) – this choice may be a little controversial because captive animals (like in a zoo) are not everybody’s thing. And admittedly when we went I had not given it much of a thought, however now with all of the documentaries about the animal’s well being I might give it a second thought. I can say that when we did visit we really did enjoy it. There are dolphins and beautiful tigers. Prices are approx. $22 p.p.
6. The High Roller and the Big Apple Coaster – take a ride on the world’s tallest observation wheel called the High Roller, located at the LINQ promenade, it takes 30 minutes to complete a full revolution (kids under 3 are free, youth are 4-12 and adults are 12 and up).Day prices are $22 and $9, and add $10 more for night time. Tip: pre buy your tickets online to save $5. Also don’t forget to grab a burger from “In n Out” at the LINQ promenade when you’re finished – yum – a definite fave of ours!!!.
Big Apple Coaster is located at NewYork New York, cost is approx. $15 and riders must be at least 54″ tall.
5. Cirque de soleil show – depending on the age of your child, some of these may be appropriate, but do your research, usually the music themed ones are great for kids – for example we absolutely love the Beatles LOVE at the Mirage and its definitely kid friendly.
4. Pink Jeep tour (or rent a car for the day) – about 30 minutes from the strip lies the Red Rock Canyon National Park area. This is a beautiful area and its an easy drive for a break from the strip. Car rentals are usually available at the front desk or a Pink Jeep tour can pick you up, do a tour and then drop you back off at your hotel (this is usually around $50 a person and is a half day tour)
3. Eiffel Tower– this is a fun thing to do at night to see all the lights. The cost is around $20 per person. This attraction is located at the Paris hotel and you take an elevator up to an enclosed walkway and you can take your time enjoying the view.
2. Gondola ride – another fun thing to do located at the Venetian hotel. There are two options – indoor and outdoor and most of the time you will even be serenaded. Cost is approx. $29 p.p. Now obviously this ride can’t compete with the real thing but I’ll never forget Baby Bug’s first trip to Venice, when going on a truly authentic Venetian gondola and telling the gondolier that “this reminds me of Las Vegas.” lol!
1.The Bellagio – my favourite thing to do (young or old) and best of all is it’s free, is to watch the dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio hotel. Each short show is approx. 3 or 4 minutes and every song is different. I never get tired of watching. Shows run about every half hour. Another great thing about the Bellagio is the Conservatory (just past the registration desk). These amazing gardens are themed and changed 4 or 5 times a year.
And if the milder side of Vegas doesn’t appeal to you, check out my post here to read about some adult fun!
