Las Vegas with the kids
By Michelle Rae Uy
Las Vegas view from the Eiffel Tower Experience (Photo by Michelle Rae Uy)
Many parents assume that Las Vegas is not a place to take the kids for a vacation, mostly due to its reputation as Sin City; but the fact is that the city has been undergoing a massive transformation over the years. Slowly but steadily, Vegas is blossoming into a very family-friendly destination with many kid-friendly attractions and accommodations, so that spending a family weekend in Vegas is easy for the parents and fun and wholesome for the kids.
Here are some of the city’s kid-friendly offerings for a weekend visit, approved by families just like you.
(MORE: Insider Guide: Las Vegas)
Family-Friendly Hotel Hot Spots
The LINQ (Photo: Jeremy Thompson)
Just off the strip, away from the nightly hustle and bustle, the very affordable, Brazilian-themed Rio All Suite Hotel has vibrant and very spacious suites that families will find fun AND comfortable as well as a tropical-themed beach area with swimming pools and cascading waterfalls, offering a kid-friendly cool down space for those hot, Vegas days.
For an on the strip spot, sister property The LINQ is a contemporary and hip family-friendly hotel that the tweens and teens will absolutely adore, with USB charging stations, LED flat-screen TVs, colorful aesthetics and even deluxe poolside cabana suites perfect for the millennials in the family.
Kid-Friendly Draws
High Roller (Flickr: Tony Webster)
With all its neon lights, towering structures and exciting attractions, Vegas is already a stunning sight at ground level. But seen from above, aboard the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel, it’s even more breathtaking. Each of its sleek and air-conditioned cabins boasts sweeping views of the sparkling city and takes passengers young and old on a 30-minute revolution that offers several different perspectives. Tickets start at $14.95. Kids ages 12 and under ride FREE!
Can’t get enough of the views? Try the Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas, where you will be taken on an exhilarating elevator ride 46 stories up for more glorious views. Find a right spot to watch the famous Bellagio Fountain Show at its finest. Tickets start at $10.
A wildlife habitat in the middle of Vegas? Most definitely! Flamingo Las Vegas makes it happen with its 15-acre Wildlife Habitat lush with flora and teeming with exotic birds, turtles and koi fish, a serene hideaway on a street abuzz with electricity. Its centerpiece, the Flamingo Island, where Chilean flamingos flaunt their graceful forms, has the makings of paradise including streams and waterfalls. Wake the kids up early and witness the pelican feeding at 8:30 in the morning. Free for all ages.
Serendipity 3 (Courtesy Serendipity 3)
New York City’s famous, old-fashioned restaurant Serendipity 3, has always been undeniably popular with the young, thanks to its glorious Frrrozen Hot Chocolate and other delicious ice cream treats. And its Vegas location at Caesar’s Palace is no exception. There’s nothing like a frozen delight to combat that infamous desert heat!
LINQ Promenade (Flickr: Daniel Ramirez)
Merely steps from the High Roller, LINQ Promenade is one of Vegas’ latest family-friendly attractions. The open-air commercial district, tucked away from the older, busier strip, is as quaint – with its string light wrapped trees, brick street and fountains – as it is very modern. Enjoy kid-friendly retail stores, restaurants and dessert shops, and some entertainment, all under the watchful eye of the world’s tallest observation wheel. This month of October, the Promenade will host a number of Halloween-themed events for families, including the annual Triq or Treat (October 29), a Thriller flash mob (October 30), and a Halloween costume contest.
(MORE: 5 Family-Friendly Las Vegas Hotels)
Dazzling Shows
What is Vegas without the sensational shows of some of the greatest performers in the world? Whether you’re looking for that perfect parents’ date night, a mom’s night out or a girls’ night out, there are several shows that fit the bill, including Celine Dion’s residency (through 2016) at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, Britney Spears’ Britney: Piece of Me at the Axis at Planet Hollywood and the several Cirque du Soleil performances.
Michelle Rae Uy contributed this to MiniTime. She is a travel writer based in Los Angeles and MiniTime’s Head of Content, who spends her free time on adventures and film photography.
