Las Vegas with Kids Travel Guide

As you probably already know, the Las Vegas was, very much so, made for adults. Age 21 and up to be specific. While the vast majority of things to do there consists of gambling and topless showgirls, there are still plenty of things to do if you choose to go to Las Vegas with kids in tow. Everywhere in Vegas puts on a show, from the streets to the fancy hotels. There’s plenty of things to do with kids, and a lot of them are free for everyone. And activities that require admission, are typically free for ages 3 and under, some are even free age 6 and under.

We’ve been to Vegas multiple times over the years and it’s one of our favorite places for a quick getaway, but now that we have children, it’s a whole different city. Here’s a breakdown of the kid-friendly activities you can do in Las Vegas when you visit. (And by “Las Vegas,” I’m referring to the Las Vegas Strip)

Free things to do in Las Vegas with kids

Bellagio Fountains: The fountains are amazing to watch in action, and the kids loved going every day to see a show (or two, if we happened to walk by again). There’s a wide selection of songs that play, so it’s unlikely you’ll see the same show twice while you’re there. The shows run daily and run a little less on weekdays than on weekends. The current schedule is: M-F 3-8pm every 30min and 8pm-midnight every 15min, and on Saturday/Sunday/Holidays noon-8pm every 30min and 8pm-midnight every 15min. The show is hard to miss, as it takes place in the waterfront right in front of the Bellagio Hotel, across from the Paris Hotel with the Eiffel Tower replica. You can double check the times and song schedule here.

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: This 14,000 sq ft. space just next to the lobby entrance of the Bellagio Hotel changes with the seasons with elaborate flower displays. They also recycle 90% of the flowers/trees/plants used into the next display, which makes the grandeur seem less wasteful. Depending on the age of your kids, they may enjoy this for different reasons, either it will just looks cool or they may actually appreciate the amount of work and flowers that is put into the displays. You can get to the Conservatory from either side of the fountains, but the left side (when looking at the hotel from the Strip) is fastest and you won’t have to walk through the shops or casino. You can find more information about the Conservatory and the current display here.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel: On the backside of the Flamingo Hotel, there’s a little outdoor oasis they call the Wildlife Habitat (follow the signs for “Wildlife Habitat” in the hotel and casino) that has some Chilean Flamingos and a few other birds, including some pelicans. There’s a nice walkway that takes you by a little waterfall and flamingo fountain too. It’s a calm and quiet little area to walk around and get away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip. And when it comes to birds, Flamingos are a kid-favorite in our house. The Habitat is open from dawn to dusk and they have daily pelican feedings; you can find more info here.

The Fall of Atlantis Show and Shopping at Caesars Forum Shops: There is definitely plenty of shopping options in Las Vegas. And while shopping isn’t always kid-friendly, the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace are a different kind of shopping experience than you’re typical mall. Like I said before, the big hotels stick to their themes, and Caesars does the best job in my opinion. The Forum Shops transport you to another city, with the cobblestone-like ground, massive fallen columns for benches, fountains, and of course, the painted ceiling that makes you feel like you’re walking outside underneath the blue sky and clouds. Even if you don’t buy anything or go in any stores, there’s a lot to see that will keep the kids’ attention. Don’t forget to head down to see the Fall of Atlantis show near Nike and The Cheesecake Factory. It’s an 11min animatronic show that plays every hour on the hour from 11am to 10pm. The show may be a little over their heads, depending on your kids’ ages, but it’ll keep their attention either way with the talking and moving characters, and the fire and dragon.

Explore the hotels: All of the major hotels on the strip stick to their theme and usually have some over the top displays. To be totally honest, you could take the kids around to a different hotel each day and probably spend a couple hours at most of them. A lot of them have shopping inside as well. Some of my favorites to explore are Caesars, Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan, The Venetian, and Paris.
Watch the Volcano erupt at the Mirage: This is what it sounds like, a volcano eruption display that is set to music. It’s about 4min long and sure to capture the attention of the kids, despite their age. It used to go off more often, but now the display happens every day at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm. The Volcano is located just outside the main entrance on Las Vegas Blvd. More info here.

M&M World: On the north end of the Strip, there’s even more shopping. It’s a short-ish walk from the main hotels, but in my experience, M&M World is an adult and kid-favorite. This location has 4 floors, and the second floor has the giant M&M wall, which is my favorite and fun to take pictures in front of. They also have the option to customize your own candy while in the store, and a FREE 10min long, 3-D movie called “I lost my M in Vegas” that runs throughout the day. More info here.

The Hoover Dam: To incorporate an educational piece to your trip, take the kids to see the Hoover Dam. It’s about a 45min drive from the Strip, but it goes by quickly in my opinion. It’s free to visit the Dam, but parking is $10 in certain lots. If you drive across the Dam, there’s free parking on the Arizona side, you’ll just have to walk a little bit to the Dam, but not far. Fun fact: The American Society of Civil Engineers named Hoover Dam one of “Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders” in 1955, along with such landmarks as the Empire State Building and the Panama Canal.

Paid things to do in Las Vegas with kids

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay ($19+ and kids under 3 are free): This Aquarium features over 14 exhibits, including a 1.3 million gallon shipwreck, full of sharks and other fish to view through the large clear tunnel. Depending on where you’re staying, it can be a little bit of a trek, so you may want to drive or uber there if that’s more convenient. More info and tickets here.
Gondola Ride at The Venetian (starts at $29 per person): If you’ve never been, or plan on going, to Italy, this is probably the only place you’ll get to ride a gondola. It’s about a 15min ride, and they have an indoor or outdoor option to choose from. Even if you choose not to ride a gondola, they are just as fun for the kids to watch and waive to the people onboard. The indoor route runs through the Grande Canal Shoppes, so there’s plenty to see and do (and eat) besides riding the gondolas. They run from 10am – 11pm or midnight, depending on the day. You can find more information here.

The Eiffel Tower Experience (starts at $9 for youth over age 3, and $16+ for adults; they also have group packages for families): The Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas is a 46-story, half-replica of the original Tower in Paris. It’s impossible to miss from almost anywhere on the Strip, and it’s located at the Paris Hotel across from The Bellagio. More info and tickets here.
The Neon Museum ($17-$22; children under 6 are FREE): The Neon Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. You can go on a guided tour or self-guide yourself through the variety of old signage. It’s an interesting spot for adults and kids to see and get a little taste of Las Vegas history. It also makes for some cool photo backdrops too. The website does recommend only ages 12+ for the night tours due to the broken glass, rusty metal and darkness. More info here.
Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus or the Big Apple Roller Coaster and Arcade at New York New York: these are self-explanatory and great for any adults or kids that enjoy rides and video games. Adventuredome info here and coaster/arcade info here.
High Roller Observation Wheel ($10+ for kids age 7+, $24+ for adults; kids under 6 are FREE): This is a fun way to get a view of the Las Vegas Strip, and it’s much less terrifying than your typical fair ferris wheel. It’s more of a small, enclosed room, so it’s totally safe for kids and everyone can get a great view of Vegas. I recommend buying online beforehand, as it’s a little cheaper than in person. More info and tickets here.
Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage ($17-$22; under 3 are FREE): This exhibit is known for dolphin training shows and big cats like lions, tigers and leopards (Duh, Siegfried and Roy). The dolphins reside in a 2.5 million gallon tank and there’s an underwater viewing area too. More info and tickets here.

Tips and Tricks about traveling with kids in Las Vegas

Not all restaurants have a kid menu! This was was kind of surprising (but not really when you think about it) to me. But, many of the restaurants we ate at with our kids didn’t have a kids menu. Some of them did though, so don’t think it’ll be impossible to find. Just make sure you look up or call the restaurant beforehand if it’s a concern for you. Spending $20 on a grilled cheese sandwich for a 2 year old who only eats 3 bites can be quite frustrating. So, just a heads up to be aware of this potential situation.
Be prepared for cigarette smoke! Remember, most of these hotels are also casinos where smoking indoors is allowed, and you may be walking through them during your stay. The bigger and nicer hotels have better air systems, so you rarely notice the smell unless you’re right next to someone smoking, but some of the older hotels and casinos can be a little overwhelming.
Anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed on the casino floors. The casino could get a hefty fine for having underage (even babies) people around the gambling games and machines. There’s plenty of employees there that will remind you, of course. But just a reminder that if you want to gamble, get a sitter or take turns watching them while the other parent gambles.
If you have small children: Since it is primarily an adult-town, getting around with a stroller can be annoying. There’s plenty of wheelchair access in the buildings, which is nice. However, getting around outside can be a pain. The Las Vegas Strip is setup so you rarely have to cross the actual street, and there’s a lot of pedestrian bridges and walkways to get across popular streets (which is much safer given the typical level of intoxicated people walking around). Those bridges are accessible via escalators or elevators. So, if you have a stroller, you’ll be stuck going up the elevator, crossing the bridge, then going down another elevator, and then doing it again to get across the next one. It gets old, quick. If it’s an option, I would recommend either ditching the stroller to baby wear, or bringing an umbrella stroller, if that’s an option, so you can just hop on the escalators (if they are working, of course).

So, there’s a pretty decent list of Las Vegas activities you can enjoy with your children. And again, I say “Las Vegas,” but I’m primarily referring to the Las Vegas Strip, because that is where most people go when they visit Las Vegas from out of town. Obviously plenty of people live in the city of Las Vegas with kids, and there’s plenty to do.

I hope you have a blast visiting Vegas and would love to hear if this list was helpful or if you have any other suggestions to add to it!