“A family trip to Las Vegas?”
“Las Vegas?? Really?”
“Why would you take your kids to Vegas?
“There are so many other places you can go.”
That was pretty much the response we got from everyone when we told them we were going to Vegas with our children. People who don’t live in south Louisiana may not understand why you’d bring the kids down for Mardi Gras. But we thou
ght we would have a great time in Vegas as a family, and we were right. With walking and activities rivaled only by our trips to Disney, Las Vegas was an ideal Spring Break for our family of five. In case you are planning a family trip to Las Vegas, here are some tips and tricks to make the most of your vacation:
Stay off the strip.
You can stay on the strip and be fine, but we preferred to retreat back to our resort which was an easy 20 minute drive away. We were able to avoid the noise and crowds in the evening, and were able to afford a much nicer place because we were off the strip.
Avoid the area just “off the strip.”
During one of our drives, we ended up on a street behind the strip, not even sure what it is called, but it was very … adult. As in, lots of signs that will make for awkward conversations if your child is old enough to read.
Rent a car.
Even if you decide to stay on the strip, having a car means you never have to worry about finding transportation, and you can enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the strip such as Red Rock National Park. Some of the most breathtaking natural views we have ever seen were just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas strip.
Go during the week if possible.
Obviously, it is easier to travel on weekends, which is why things are significantly more crowded. We chose Spring Break so we could spend only weekdays in Vegas.
Make a loose plan.
While it is nothing like Disney, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Vegas and you’ll want to have some idea of what you’d like to see and experience. These things will obviously vary from family to family, so below I’ve listed some of the top kid-friendly attractions in Las Vegas. We did not get to experience them all, but I know without any sort of plan we would have missed out on more.
Top family-friendly activities in Las Vegas:
Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel
Observation Deck at the Stratosphere
Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat
Marvel STATION at Treasure Island: Huge hit with our whole family!
Aquarium at Caesar’s Palace (free)
Fountains of Bellagio (free)
Carnival Midway at Circus Circus (free)
The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Casino
Off the Strip Fun:
I could go on and on with the amount of family fun in and around Las Vegas!! We absolutely loved our trip and would go again with the kids. That said, I know it is a completely different experience without kids and am looking forward to visiting with just my husband.
Hi, Myndee! I am a fellow mom of 3 under 3, although they are now ages 10, 8, and 8. We are heading to Vegas in October for a wedding and plan to make a 4-5 day weekend out of it. I appreciate the suggestions for activities! The hotel world is made for families of 4, so any advice on places to stay that work well for a family of 5?
Thanks!
Hi Andrea! I would call the hotels you’re interested in to ask their policy. Some of the hotels had 4 per room listed, but when we called, they said 3 kids and two adults would be okay. Have a great trip!!
Its really a good blog on family tour. I appreciate your article. Discover the outside world and collect information through our site. This blog is really helpful to give a light in this issue. So thanks for sharing all that important information.
Las Vegas is a wonderful place to visit for vacations. You have shared some important points that can be handy for a family to enjoy their vacation at Las Vegas hassle free.
Las Vegas has been always on the top of every travelers bucket list and indeed a perfect place for a family vacation. Awesome blog Myndee!
Great post. A website I found handy when planning my family’s visit to Vegas this October was lasvegaskids.net.
Vegas was great for my family of 5 in June. We took day trips to breathtaking Zion National Park in Utah, Hoover Damn, Red Rock Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. On our way back from the Grand Canyon, we took famous Route 66 and stopped at the Lion Habitat Ranch for an up close and personal lion encounter. The kids enjoyed the roller coaster over the strip and the eye over Vegas. Both were spectacular at night with the strip lit up and in full glow from a million neon lights! We also visited the pawn shop that is featured on “Pawn Stars”, the fountain show out front of the Bellagio, the aquarium at Caesars Palace, and of course Hershey Chocolate World. A week wasn’t long enough!
Thank you for this blog. I have teenagers and we are planning a family vacation to Vegas. My mom thinks I’m crazy for wanting to take them there. Your blog just confirmed to me that our choice for a vacation is going to be the best time ever.