Help Us Entertain Our Kids in Vegas!
February 28, 2012 2:54 PM Subscribe
What awesome fun things can we do with our small children in Vegas?
We are taking our first family vacation to Vegas, and want to know what great things there are to do with kids who are ages one and three. I've been doing my research and have found lots of things that look like they'd be fun, but there is a LOT, and it's sort of overwhelming. So, what awesome things did you do with your small kids in Vegas? What shouldn't we miss?
We are taking our first family vacation to Vegas, and want to know what great things there are to do with kids who are ages one and three. I've been doing my research and have found lots of things that look like they'd be fun, but there is a LOT, and it's sort of overwhelming. So, what awesome things did you do with your small kids in Vegas? What shouldn't we miss?
It's hard to say what they'll think of it, whether this would be overwhelming, but I'd say Fremont Street in Downtown Vegas. Spectacular light-screen overhead, plus a noisy light-show on the hour-- that may be a bit much.
Maybe take them on the tram that goes up the strip; you can see a lot of strip without actually getting down on it.
And I seem to recall that Caesars has some amazing aquaria in its Mall area, and there was some kind of hourly show related to that as well.
Enjoy your trip, and keep everyone hydrated!
posted by Sunburnt at 3:21 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Maybe take them on the tram that goes up the strip; you can see a lot of strip without actually getting down on it.
And I seem to recall that Caesars has some amazing aquaria in its Mall area, and there was some kind of hourly show related to that as well.
Enjoy your trip, and keep everyone hydrated!
posted by Sunburnt at 3:21 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Las Vegas Springs Preserve--it's not oriented to really small kids, but it's nature and outdoors.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:26 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 3:26 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Down at Fremont St, there's a bunch of people wandering around in crazy outfits looking to get people to take pictures with them, ranging from a classic "showgirl" outfit to video game characters.
posted by rmd1023 at 3:38 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rmd1023 at 3:38 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Inside or outside? What time of year? Do you already live in/near a desert? These are the important questions.
I'd probably do:
* Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay
* Top of the Stratosphere in the evening - best view of the city. If they can sit still any length of time, the Top of the World restaurant there rotates, and lunch is reasonably priced (dinner is way overpriced, though)
* Red Rock driving loop (if you have a rental car and aren't from the desert already)
* The Venetian (kids like the indoor canals)
* Bellagio Fountains/Mirage Volcano
Like others have said, kids that age might really like just wandering Fremont Street.
posted by coolguymichael at 3:52 PM on February 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'd probably do:
* Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay
* Top of the Stratosphere in the evening - best view of the city. If they can sit still any length of time, the Top of the World restaurant there rotates, and lunch is reasonably priced (dinner is way overpriced, though)
* Red Rock driving loop (if you have a rental car and aren't from the desert already)
* The Venetian (kids like the indoor canals)
* Bellagio Fountains/Mirage Volcano
Like others have said, kids that age might really like just wandering Fremont Street.
posted by coolguymichael at 3:52 PM on February 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Almost forgot: Bonnie Springs out past Red Rock has a pretty cool petting zoo and an Old West show.
posted by coolguymichael at 3:53 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by coolguymichael at 3:53 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
And I seem to recall that Caesars has some amazing aquaria in its Mall area, and there was some kind of hourly show related to that as well.
Yes, it's this crazy corny thing about Atlantis and it is kind of secretly mesmerizing. (I am in favor of wacky corny things happening in Vegas hourly.) It is also free and in the middle of the mall, so if they get bored and wander off, no big deal.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 4:55 PM on February 28, 2012
The free outdoor pirate show has gotten a bit racier, I see, since we were there. Parental guidance is suggested now. Hmm.. well, you'd know if they're up for it or not.
posted by peagood at 5:50 PM on February 28, 2012
posted by peagood at 5:50 PM on February 28, 2012
The pirate show is now scantily clad chicks gyrating, and I think it still includes the scary explosions. It also draws big crowds. I don't think it'd be fun for/with toddlers.
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:07 PM on February 28, 2012
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:07 PM on February 28, 2012
I took my son to vegas when he was 7. Basically we went to the hotels that had arcades and played games, did the outdoor pirate show, Fremont Street, and the indoor amusement park, but by far his favorite thing was the Mac King Magic Show
posted by holdkris99 at 10:01 PM on February 28, 2012
posted by holdkris99 at 10:01 PM on February 28, 2012
The Mandalay Bay shark reef and the Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage were hits with my friends with kids, and fun for adults too!
The pirate show is awful, sort of racy, and super crowded - don't bother.
posted by gemmy at 10:27 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
The pirate show is awful, sort of racy, and super crowded - don't bother.
posted by gemmy at 10:27 PM on February 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is going to sound weird, but when we went to Vegas (with kids almost exactly that age), we immediately found one of those people in the lobby of the hotel who would give you, like, a $100 gift card for dinner if you'd go look at their time share. It was about a half a day, got to go on a bus ride out to the place in the desert, got to tour the construction and the apartments, got donuts and juice. Low-rent red carpet treatment, which the kids loved. At the end we thanked them for the nice ride, had another donut, then pocketed the gift card and went back to the hotel to swim.
posted by jbickers at 7:21 AM on February 29, 2012
posted by jbickers at 7:21 AM on February 29, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Fountains at Bellagio (if they are awake at night).
Lazy River pool at Mandalay Bay.
But who are we really kidding? At one and three, they will like lights at night, palm trees, noises and lights observed from the edge of the casino, buffets, running in long carpeted hallways, using a remote control in the room, jumping on beds.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:04 PM on February 28, 2012 [3 favorites]