Las Vegas with kids

Best things to do with kids

Landmark · Center Strip

1.Fountains of Bellagio

Bellagio's choreographed fountains send jets of water up to about 140 metres above an artificial lake, set to music from opera to pop. Shows run frequently from the afternoon until late at night and are free to watch from the lakeside promenade on the Strip.

For a higher view, watch a show from the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck at Paris Las Vegas across the street.

Time needed

30 minutes

Cost

Free

• Iconic
• Free
• After dark
• Couples
• Kids
• Photo spot

Garden · Center Strip

2.Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Inside Bellagio, the glass-roofed conservatory is replanted five times a year with elaborate themed displays — Lunar New Year, spring, summer, autumn and the winter holidays — using thousands of flowers, trees and sculptures. Entry is free.

Go early in the morning, when the conservatory is quiet and the light through the glass roof is soft.

Time needed

30 minutes

Cost

Free

• Free
• Kids
• Couples
• Photo spot
• Rainy day

Aquarium · South Strip

3.Shark Reef Aquarium

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is built around a sunken-shipwreck tank and walk-through tunnels with sharks, rays, sawfish and sea turtles, plus a touch pool. It is one of the few attractions on the Strip designed with children in mind.

Use the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur to save a long, hot walk.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Cost

Mid-priced

• Kids
• Rainy day
• Nature

Museum · South Strip

4.Pinball Hall of Fame

This non-profit arcade, now in a large hall near the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, has hundreds of playable pinball machines and vintage arcade games spanning seven decades. Entry is free; you pay per game, and profits go to charity.

Bring small bills to change into quarters; older machines cost very little per game.

Time needed

1–2 hours

Cost

Free

• Kids
• Free
• Rainy day
• Off the beaten path

Garden · West Las Vegas

5.Springs Preserve

Built around the springs that gave Las Vegas — 'the meadows' in Spanish — its name, the 73-hectare Springs Preserve has desert botanical gardens, walking trails, the Nevada State Museum, live desert animals and a flash-flood demonstration.

Visit in the morning in warmer months, and start in the indoor galleries if the afternoon is hot.

Time needed

2–3 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Kids
• Nature
• History
• Off the beaten path

Viewpoint · Center Strip

6.High Roller

At about 167 metres, the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ was the world's tallest when it opened in 2014. A full rotation in one of its 28 glass cabins takes about 30 minutes, with views over the Strip and the surrounding desert; some cabins serve drinks.

Ride at dusk to see the Strip in daylight and as the lights come on during a single rotation.

Time needed

45 minutes

Cost

Mid-priced

• Views
• After dark
• Couples
• Kids

Experience · West of the Strip

7.AREA15 and Omega Mart

AREA15, just west of the Strip off Interstate 15, is a warehouse of immersive art and entertainment. Its best-known tenant, Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, begins as a surreal supermarket and opens into hidden rooms and interactive storylines.

Allow at least two hours for Omega Mart and open every door and freezer; much of the experience is hidden.

Time needed

2–3 hours

Cost

Mid-priced

• Kids
• Art
• Rainy day
• After dark

Rainy-day ideas

• Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — Go early in the morning, when the conservatory is quiet and the light through the glass roof is soft.
• The Venetian and the Grand Canal Shoppes — Walking the indoor canal is free; book a gondola ride only if you want the full serenade.
• Shark Reef Aquarium — Use the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur to save a long, hot walk.
• Pinball Hall of Fame — Bring small bills to change into quarters; older machines cost very little per game.
• AREA15 and Omega Mart — Allow at least two hours for Omega Mart and open every door and freezer; much of the experience is hidden.

Where families should stay

Family travel tips

• Under-21s may walk through casinos but cannot stop at tables or machines, and staff will move them on.
• Choose a resort with a family-friendly pool, such as Mandalay Bay's wave pool and lazy river.
• Plan outdoor trips such as Red Rock Canyon or Hoover Dam for early morning in the warmer months.
• Clark County enforces a night-time curfew for unaccompanied minors on the Strip; check the current rules if travelling with teenagers.
• Many shows have age limits, so check ratings and minimum ages before booking.

Day trips for families

• Hoover Dam and Lake Mead (About 45 minutes by car) — Completed in 1936, the 221-metre Hoover Dam holds back the Colorado River to form Lake Mead.
• Valley of Fire State Park (About 1 hour by car) — Nevada's oldest state park has red sandstone formations such as Elephant Rock and the Fire Wave, petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock and short trails through narrow canyons.
• Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk (About 2.5 hours by car) — On Hualapai tribal land, Grand Canyon West is the closest part of the canyon to Las Vegas, with a glass Skywalk that extends over the rim.
• Grand Canyon South Rim (About 4.5 hours each way by car) — The national park's South Rim has the classic panoramas from Mather Point, Yavapai Point and the Rim Trail.
• Mount Charleston (About 1 hour by car) — In the Spring Mountains north-west of the city, Mount Charleston's pine forests are often 10–15°C cooler than the Strip, with hiking trails in summer and snow in winter.

When to go with children

The best months overall are March–May and October–November. May and October are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.

Questions travellers ask