While staying at the Lake Mead Recreation Area, we were well-placed to spend some time in the nation’s entertainment capital, Las Vegas! While “Sin City” has traditionally been a playground for adults, we were surprised and elated to find just how accessible it was for families, especially those on a tight budget. So read on if you’re interested in tackling Vegas with kids!
The Strip
It’s hard not to imagine the Strip when one thinks of Las Vegas; the two are practically synonymous. While there is a lot of Vegas outside the strip, we did end up spending the better part of the day exploring it.
Circus Circus
Our first stop while exploring the strip was Circus Circus Resort and Casino. While it lacks the glitz and glam of the bigger casinos, what Circus Circus did have was super accessible and free parking! It also looked like a great first stop when exploring Vegas with kids. Another thing that attracted us was a small free circus act. However, while the webpage said they’d have a show the day we visited, there were no performances that day. (Call to verify their schedule before you go.) Walking around inside Circus Circus is like a never-ending carnival. Game booths and other carnival-like entertainments were interspersed with casino games. If you’re a fan of carnivals and circuses, then Circus Circus may just be your favorite.
The Venetian
The Venetian is one of the big iconic casino resorts, and for us, it was just a pass-through point while we explored elsewhere. We didn’t see anything special here, though it was nice to watch the tourists paddle around the artificial canals on the Venice-inspired gondolas.
Flamingo
When we first approached the Flamingo, I was a little hesitant. The Flamingo is mostly a burlesque theater and not remotely “Vegas with kids” friendly. However, hidden in the back, it hosts a small wildlife sanctuary! It was a s bit of a free zoo in the middle of the city.
Bellagio
Another one of the iconic casinos on the strip, we came to check out their conservatory. This indoor garden is completely swapped out 4 times a year! When we visited, the theme was Tea and Tulips. It was a very “Alice in Wonderland” motif with fairies and whimsy at every corner and very appropriate for Vegas with kids. While it was pretty, Washington DC’s conservatory, being dedicated to nature, was much better.
Of course, one can’t visit the Bellagio without watching the fountain show at least once. We caught the show in the afternoon, and it was cool, but it’s probably much better at night! It combines water, light, and music, and is definitely worth the time to see it.
Paris
Before I visited Las Vegas, my only experience with casinos was tribal casinos, like the Cherokee Casino in Roland, Oklahoma. I had an image in my head of rows of gambling machines and card tables, with maybe a perimeter of restaurants and bars. I was not at all expecting what we saw in Las Vegas. Inside the Paris Resort and Casino, much like the other major casinos, was more like a high-end mall than a gambling hall. The indoor mall was built to look like an old Parisian market, complete with faux cobblestone streets and blue skies above. The casino pits were almost an afterthought. Of the many things to see inside Paris, The Girl was most charmed by a cake vending machine.
Caesars Palace
Ceasars Palace was another expansive, indoor mall. We actually got a little lost inside its twists and turns. Caesars Palace isn’t as stylized as Paris, but it is still immersive and evocative of an idealized ancient Rome. One interesting feature was the ceiling. The ceiling at Caesars Palace was painted and lit like the sky outside. As we mused about it and wondered aloud if it ever became full night, a passing staff member excitedly reported that it used to, but now they don’t let it go past dusk because it got a little gloomy.
The staff member then gave us directions to an immense round escalator that the kids enjoyed riding while we waited for the main reason we were exploring Caesars Palace, the Fall of Atlantis Fountain and Fire show. The Fall of Atlantis show was a “Disney-esc” animatronic event. It was entertaining for the cost (free), but the tech was a bit dated. Still a great stop if you’re exploring Vegas with kids.
Mirage
By the time we hit the Mirage, we were actually making our way back to Circus Circus and the car. However, time and serendipity were on our side, as we were able to catch the outdoor volcano and fountain show. The flames spewing out of the volcano were so hot we could feel it all the way down by the street. It was definitely an experience to put on your “must-see” list and we’re very happy that we didn’t miss it.
All of these casinos and attractions are free and we saw in one day! However, it took us almost 3 days to “de-people” enough to venture forth again. One definitely needs to pace oneself when experiencing Las Vegas.
Preparing for the Vegas Strip
There are a few main things to consider when you tackle the Strip. The most important, especially with kids, are shoes, hydration, food, and sun protection. If you have been hiking like we have been, your hiking boots or tennies will work for shoes. Just make sure they’re comfortable, fit well, and have already been broken in. We easily walked 5 or 10 miles the day we visited the Strip.
Hydration was the hardest part for our family. We are used to a plethora of water fountains, even ones that are easy to refill water bottles with. We found one in all of Vegas (in Caesars Palace), and someone came to turn it off (the chiller was out; otherwise, the water was fine). If you are okay with spending money, there are many places to purchase alcoholic beverages and probably pay too much for nonalcoholic, but we were trying to minimize how much we spent.
We brought food in a backpack and experienced no issues here. If you’re used to hiking, bring a comparable amount of snacks. Did I mention there’s a lot of walking? Again, there are numerous restaurants if you want to spend more than usual.
Finally, remember that Vegas is in the middle of a desert. While you can spend a lot of time indoors and escape the heat that way, you will have to walk outside for a fair amount of time, especially if you don’t pay for parking. Bring and wear sunscreen, hats, and other things to cover up and protect your face from the sun.
Off-Strip Attractions
In addition to The Strip, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of other things to see and do around Las Vegas. The Strip really took the wind out of our sails, but we did manage to see a few other things.
Area 15
Area 15 is a unique shopping mall experience. While it’s free to get in, most of the activities inside cost money. Inside, you can find dining options, specialty shops, and paid “experiences” that range from virtual reality tours to art exhibitions and even rides. Everything inside was dark, neon, and illuminated with black lights. It was a memorable experience, but not very exciting unless you pay.
The Fremont Street Experience
We planned to visit the Fremont Street Experience but were not able to recover enough from the Strip in time. There is a dedicated parking structure for it (The Fremont Street Experience Parking Garage), and at the time of writing this, was only $4/hour or $20/day.
The Fremont Street Experience is a street that is closed to vehicular traffic. Above the street is a giant, lit canopy. The light show is set to music and starts every hour on the hour from 6 pm to 2 am. From what we read, if you don’t plan to eat at one of the restaurants or do the zipline, there’s not much else for kids to do, so you can be done in an hour. However, there are also multiple casinos and shops along Fremont Street, just be prepared for high prices.
Downtown Container Park
Something else that we didn’t have time for but wanted to explore was the Downtown Container Park, near the Fremont Street Experience. This is a giant free park with lots of fun for kids and several small eateries around. If you have the time when you visit, tell us how it is!
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is a large conservation area managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is almost, but not quite, a National Park. While definitely a beautiful natural space and a delight to see, its rangers and staff leave much to be desired.
Suffice it to say, “Sin City” isn’t as rough and tumble as it used to be, and there are lots of things for families of all ages to do and see in Vegas. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and take your time!