Las Vegas is America’s playground. As of October 2017, more than 35 million visitors came to Vegas to experience all the city has to offer — and that’s just the 2017 total! Some of the city’s most popular attractions include:
- Casinos and gambling: 88 percent of visitors
- Lounges: 72 percent of visitors
- Shows: 62 percent of visitors
The City of Lights probably conjures up images of the iconic strip lit up at night and hotel casinos, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this city is adults-only. There are tons of things to do with your family in Vegas. Explore some of these Las Vegas attractions for kids.
Shows
Shows are an iconic Vegas attraction, and these options are sure to entertain kids, adults and kids at heart:
- Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil has been performing Las Vegas for years — and for a good reason. This spectacular show is always a hit. Performers don dazzling costumes and combine acrobatics, music and stunning set pieces for an unforgettable show.
Right now you can catch a number of different Cirque du Soleil performances including KÀ, The Beatles LOVE, Michael Jackson ONE, Mystère, O and Zumanity.
- Tournament of Kings
Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur Hotel is one of the best Las Vegas shows for kids. Gather in a 900-seat theater for a totally medieval dinner and show. Live performers in armor spin a tale straight from Arthurian legend.
You can cheer for your knight of choice as you enjoy a three-course meal true to the times. Kids will love the authenticity of eating without silverware, not to mention the sword fights, the jousts, the horses and the fireworks.
- Blue Man Group
Kid-friendly Vegas shows do not mean you have to be bored. Adults from across the world love Blue Man Group.
It’s a classic Las Vegas show and completely family-friendly.
The iconic group performs at the Luxor in Vegas. Kids will love the music, dazzling visuals and always creative performance by the three men in blue. The show is great for dancing and laughing, so get tickets for the whole family!
Museums
We know. Museums? In Vegas? But before you start drawing conclusions, just wait until you check out these:
- Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
Your kids might roll their eyes when they hear the word “museum,” but they haven’t been to museums in Las Vegas. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is an institution with hundreds of years of history, but there is nothing boring about it.
Take your kids to see eerily life-like recreations of their favorite actors, musicians and athletes. Take pictures with Vegas legends like Elvis and Celine Dion. Pose with Channing Tatum, Britney Spears, Will Smith and more. The museum also has a 4D experience that kids will love.
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The Las Vegas Natural History Museum is full of exhibits that will spark your kids’ imagination. Travel back in time to the ancient world in the Treasures of Egypt exhibit. See replicas of Egyptian tombs, chariots, mummies and more.
Additionally, any kid who has “Jurassic World” fever will be fascinated by the museum’s Prehistoric Life Gallery. Get close to the T-rex that roars, and check out the other dinosaurs on display. The museum’s other exhibits include the International Wildlife Gallery, Marine Life Gallery, African Rainforest, the African Savanna Gallery, Prehistoric Mammals Gallery and Geology Gallery. Kids can also get an interactive experience in the Young Scientist Center.
- DISCOVERY Children’s Museum
DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is a must-see for kids of all ages. The entire museum is the opposite of “don’t touch.” Kids get to use their hands and minds to explore a series of engaging exhibits. For instance, they can climb three stories through The Summit. This interactive exhibit teaches kids about light, electricity, sound, space, magnets, flight and more.
Kids can also explore the Eco City, Patents Pending, Water World, Mystery Town and Young at Art exhibits. If you have younger children, they can play in the museum’s Toddler Town.
Nature
Glittering lights and high-rise buildings are aplenty in Vegas, of course, but there are also a variety places where you can experience the natural world, too:
- Springs Preserve
Springs Preserve is a 180-acre outdoor preserve in the middle of Las Vegas. The preserve is a great place for kids to explore. Springs Preserve has outdoor trails, a botanical garden, museums and tons of activities. Try the WaterWorks exhibit to give your science-minded kids a hands-on experience with a water treatment system.
They can also explore Boomtown, a historical recreation of a 1905 town and get their energy out on the playground — complete with new interactive, equipment. Kids will also enjoy the larger-than-life sculptures of wildlife, including a snake, falcon, butterfly and more.
- Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
The Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is located at the Mirage hotel. Kids will be enchanted by all of the exotic animals that call this attraction home. You can see a whole family of dolphins, including a baby recently born in the habitat. Try fun activities like painting, yoga or trainer for a day with the dolphins.
You can also see the garden’s white tigers, lions and leopards, and you can even take a VIP tour of the whole garden and habitat. Kids of all ages may just want to spend the whole day here!
- Shark Reef Aquarium
The Shark Reef Aquarium is an unforgettable experience located at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The aquarium is designed to look like an ancient temple that is slowly sinking. Visitors can walk through an underwater tunnel that gives an up-close view of more than 30 different sharks swimming through a 1.3 million gallon tank. Kids will be amazed by this close encounter with one of the world’s most fascinating predators.
The aquarium is also home hundreds of other aquatic creatures including crocodiles, sea turtles, exotic fish and more. The Shark Reef Aquarium is a great addition to your list of Las Vegas attractions for the family.
Adventures
Looking to add a little adventure to your Las Vegas excursion? You might want to try these:
- The Venetian’s gondolas
Imagine you are in Venice in the canals of The Venetian. The whole family can take a trip in one of the hotel’s authentic gondolas. The boat ride will take you down the resort’s Grand Canal. You have the option to take an indoor ride or an outdoor ride. Either way, you will be treated to a great view and an unforgettable experience.
Kids will love watching bridges, cafes and the Strip float by. If you are looking for the perfect family photo opportunity, a gondola ride could be the answer.
- Marvel Adventure S.T.A.T.I.ON.
If your kids are superheroes in training, this attraction will be right up their alley. Directly inspired by the Marvel movies, the Marvel Adventure S.T.A.T.I.O.N., located at the Treasure Island casino, will take you on a journey that includes an up-close experience with working equipment. Check out Tony Stark’s Ironman suit and try the simulator that puts you right in it. See Captain America’s shield, and wander through Bruce Banner’s lab.
The 8,000 square feet of gear and experiences will be enough to satisfy any major Marvel fan. The experience also has a gift shop if your little heroes want to take something home with them.
- Hot air balloon ride
Forget about walking the Strip. See all of Las Vegas from the sky. Vegas Balloon Rides takes people on a breathtaking aerial journey. The flight will give you a view of the Strip and the Red Rock Mountains. You will fly for about an hour before gracefully landing. Adults can toast with champagne at the end, while kids will get a non-alcoholic beverage.
The hot air balloon company also caters to special occasions. Celebrate a birthday or holiday with a ride across the skies. Kids will love the unique experience and the chance to take some amazing pictures.
- SlotZilla Zipline and Zoomline
If your kids are a little bit older and looking for an adrenaline rush, the SlotZilla Zipline and Zoomline is a dream come true. From the height of a 12-story, slot machine-inspired building, riders can soar over the city either on the Zipline or the Zoomline. Zipliners get to sit while they soar over Vegas. This ride starts more than 70 feet over the ground, and you will land between the Fremont and Four Queens casino.
The Zoomline is for the more adventurous. You will be more than 100 feet over the ground, and you will fly superhero-style with your arms and legs straight out. Zoomline riders will land at the Golden Gate casino. Either one is an exhilarating experience the entire family is sure to love.
- Adventuredome
Adventuredome at Circus Circus is Las Vegas’s very own theme park. The five-acre, indoor park has tons of rides and activities for kids of all ages. Test your skills on the Batman Laser Challenge as you run through a series of lasers and try to defeat the Joker. The whole family can play mini golf on the Pirates Bounty 18-hole course. The park also has an arcade and plenty of games with prizes.
Adventuredome, like any theme park worth its salt, also has roller coasters. Take a thrilling, 55-mile-per-hour ride on the Canyon Blaster, or take on the twists and turns of the El Loco coaster.
Sights
Las Vegas is also home to some amazing sights. Be sure you don’t miss these:
- The Eiffel Tower Experience
The Eiffel Tower Experience is one the best ways to get a spectacular view of the Strip in all of its glory. This recreation of the Paris landmark is located at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Ascend 46 stories to get a panoramic view from the observation deck. Take pictures with the whole family, and enjoy the view.
You can also stop on the 11th floor to dine at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Kids will be amazed by the journey up and all they can see from the bird’s eye view.
- Bellagio Fountains
No matter where you stay in Las Vegas, you will want to stop and see the Bellagio Fountains. This landmark is one of Vegas’s most famous sights — it is easily recognizable from movies and TV. At regular intervals, either every 15 minutes or every half hour, the fountains will put on a show. The water will splash and dance in concert with light and music.
The music includes nearly any genre you could imagine from opera to pop. Watch the show and take pictures with your family at this must-see Vegas icon.
- High Roller
The High Roller is a Ferris wheel with an incredible view. At 550 feet tall, the High Roller is taller than the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer. Hop into one of the observation cars for a sweeping view of Las Vegas and the Strip.
One trip takes a full 30 minutes, so your kids will have plenty of time to take pictures and point out famous landmarks. The High Roller even has family-friendly deals, like the four-pack of tickets. Let this unique experience show you Las Vegas from the sky.
Tasty Treats
You need to eat sometime during your Vegas trip, and these locations will satisfy any sweet treat cravings you might have:
- M&M’s World
M&M’s World is a dream come true for kids and chocolate lovers of all ages. This monument to everyone’s favorite chocolate treat is four levels and 28,000-square-feet. You can shop tons of different M&M’s gifts, from cookware and sports equipment to luggage and t-shirts, and you will get to see M&M’s in a rainbow of different colors. Kids will love the third floor, where you can personalize M&M’s with words and letters of your choice. Be sure to also catch the 3D movie featuring the Red and Yellow M&M’s.
The top level of M&M’s World is dedicated to NASCAR. See the candy’s sponsored race car and tons of NASCAR-themed products.
- Sprinkles
The cupcake craze may have slowed down, but there are still plenty of confectionaries offering this timeless treat. Stop at Sprinkles, located right by the High Roller, to sink your teeth into an unbelievably sweet and delicious treat. Try a classic cupcake, or go for one of the rotating flavors of the week. Sprinkles also serves cookies and ice cream.
If you want to try something novel, line up at the cupcake ATM. This machine dispenses fresh cupcakes on demand. Be warned — your kids will likely want to make this a daily stop on your Vegas trip.
- The Coca-Cola Store
Before you step inside the Coca-Cola Store, located on the Las Vegas Strip, you will see the world’s largest Coke bottle. The towering soda bottle stands at 100 feet tall. Stop for pictures before you step inside this store dedicated to all things Coke. The first floor has a ton of different Coke products to browse, but the second floor will hit the spot for any sweet tooth as it features a large tasting bar. You can order an Around the World tray to try 16 brands of soda that Coca-Cola sells around the world.
You can also get a tray of floats — sure to be a big hit with the kids. This tray features eight different types of soda paired with ice cream.
Make a Stop at Giordano’s
After a long day seeing the sights and catching shows, you and your family might be beat. Be your kids’ hero and decide on a pizza for dinner. Grab one at Giordano’s on the Strip, or order carry out and enjoy your piping hot pizza in your hotel room.