Las Vegas - Vegas is great for kids too! No need to gamble

For those of you who have kids and thought that Las Vegas was purely for adults who like gambling and call girls, think again.

My kids are 10 and 12 and had an absolute ball. I didn't spend one dollar on the casinos during our one week stay, but was never bored.

Las Vegas strip is one of the most spectacular (if just a tad over-the-top) displays of opulence you could ever wish to see.

There are roller coasters at New York New York, and Sahara Casinos. A children's theme park at Circus Circus casino. Awesome thrill rides on top of the Stratosphere. Simulation rides at Luxor, Indoor Skydiving. Nightly displays of dancing fountains at Bellagio; Volcanic eruptions at Mirage; Pirate ship battles at Treasure Island; Waterfall displays at Wynns; Scenic views from the top of the eiffel tower at Paris casino; gondola rides at Venice casino. The activities are endless.

Then there are the stage shows, rock shows, and magic shows - including regular appearances by Criss Angel and David Copperfield.

For a change of pace, there are tours to Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Colorado River, Grand Canyon (including helicopter rides and rafting trips).

Some of the casinos offer incredible accommodation value. I remember staying at The Tropicana Casino a couple of years ago and only paid US$30 a night during the off season.

I have travelled all over California, and parts of Arizona and Nevada. I have also been to New York, Buffalo, Niagara, Cleveland and Miami, but my favourite place (and my kids' favourite place) is Vegas. Don't miss it.

I'll make the popcorn.

Then there are the stage shows, rock shows, and magic shows - including regular appearances by Criss Angel and David Copperfield.



You omitted Wayne Newton and Wayne Brady. :D

I prefer the Vegas I first visited 3 decades ago and NYC/Manhattan.

I have also been to New York, Buffalo, Niagara, Cleveland and Miami, but my favourite place (and my kids' favourite place) is Vegas.

I have to agree, LAS is more fun than BUF or CLE! :D

Oh yeh..Wayne Newton. A legend in his own mind. Great wig! Actually, I think Celine Dion has become the new Wayne Newton.

..... I didn't spend one dollar on the casinos during our one week stay...



I know this is probably a troll, but...

As long as you're keeping your kids out of the casinos (and avoiding the March of Death along the Strip, with the pr0n slappers), you have a point. Vegas does have a lot of entertainment options that would appeal to kids.

The problem is all the terrible parents schlepping their babies around in strollers at midnight. I once saw 2 pre-teen kids hanging out in a casino gift shop at 2 AM (!) while mom spent "just a minute" playing slots.

The problem is all the terrible parents schlepping their babies around in strollers at midnight. I once saw 2 pre-teen kids hanging out in a casino gift shop at 2 AM (!) while mom spent "just a minute" playing slots.

I saw this as well... lots of strollers.

I saw this as well... lots of strollers.

No strollers in Henderson.

Saw a few Rascals (http://www.rascalscooters.com/), walkers, and portable oxygen tanks.

While I strongly disagree that Las Vegas is someplace to take kids, there are - as you mentioned - a few places.

One is the relatively new Town Square about a mile or so south of Mandalay Bay that has lots and lots of kid friendly areas, plus great shopping.

There is also The District (directly next to Green Valley Ranch Casino) that has some fun stuff for kids, especially on weekends - but this is a bit of a schlep from The Strip (15 - 20 minute drive on a good day) and you will need a car to get there - still, worth the trip.

Several years ago, Vegas toyed with the idea of making it a "family vacation" destination, and had disastrous results; while more tourists arrived, fewer played the slots and did "adult" things. Thus MGM Grand quickly closed down their Disney-like park, and other casinos scrapped that family-friendly idea in short order.

I suppose if you "have to" take kids along to Las Vegas, you can find a good time; but I suppose if you had to take kids to Tijuana, they would probably also be entertained by petting donkeys between shows. I just don't advise doing it.

South Point Casino has movie theaters and bowling.

While I strongly disagree that Las Vegas is someplace to take kids, there are - as you mentioned - a few places.


If I took my 7 year old to stay in Vegas, spent a lot of time by the pool, checking out Circus Circus, the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, the Coney Island Emporium at New York New York, M&M experience, eating lots of different kinds of food (plenty of kid-friendly buffets), in the various toy stores, gawping at the different buildings, volcanoes, water shows, he'd be delighted.

Plenty of parents go on trips to Disney World or whatever and spend 2 weeks or more do nothing but kid activities. There's no reason why you can't go to Vegas with that same mindset.

Of course slot machines and blackjack tables are not suitable places for children, but the hooks with which the casinos reel in the customers - absurdly over-the-top themes are *extremely* appealing to children.


Several years ago, Vegas toyed with the idea of making it a "family vacation" destination, and had disastrous results; while more tourists arrived, fewer played the slots and did "adult" things. Thus MGM Grand quickly closed down their Disney-like park, and other casinos scrapped that family-friendly idea in short order.


That's comes down to casino marketing. But if you're looking for a family vacation with lots of things for kids to do, you can certainly go to Vegas and spend a week engaged in childish activities, and get a pretty good value trip - kindly subsidised by all the child-free gamblers - out of it.

... but I suppose if you had to take kids to Tijuana, they would probably also be entertained by petting donkeys between shows. I just don't advise doing it.

That, my friend, is the funniest thing I've heard all day. LOL!:D

I suppose if you "have to" take kids along to Las Vegas, you can find a good time; but I suppose if you had to take kids to Tijuana, they would probably also be entertained by petting donkeys between shows.

Brilliant!!! :D

Hey let us not forget that Krusty made up for the Kamp Krusty fiasco by taking the kids to "the happiest place on Earth: Tijuana!"

For those of you who have kids and thought that Las Vegas was purely for adults who like gambling and call girls, think again.

I like gambling and call girls but Vegas is about the last place on Earth I'd go for the latter!



Las Vegas strip is one of the most spectacular (if just a tad over-the-top) displays of opulence you could ever wish to see.

A spectacle? Indeed.
Opulent? Hardly.
Over-the-top? Just a tad? Maybe if "tad" is defined in the space miles terms of Airplane II.



Some of the casinos offer incredible accommodation value. I remember staying at The Tropicana Casino a couple of years ago and only paid US$30 a night during the off season.

I have travelled all over California, and parts of Arizona and Nevada. I have also been to New York, Buffalo, Niagara, Cleveland and Miami, but my favourite place (and my kids' favourite place) is Vegas. Don't miss it.


And by all means bask in the spectacular opulence of the Tropicana while you're there!

I like gambling and call girls but Vegas is about the last place on Earth I'd go for the latter!

> You might not, but there seem to be plenty of sleazebags who do.



A spectacle? Indeed.
Opulent? Hardly.
Over-the-top? Just a tad? Maybe if "tad" is defined in the space miles terms of Airplane II.

> I was being sarcastic....duh!




And by all means bask in the spectacular opulence of the Tropicana while you're there!

> Did I say that Tropicana was opulent? I just said $35 a week was great value.

That's comes down to casino marketing. But if you're looking for a family vacation with lots of things for kids to do, you can certainly go to Vegas and spend a week engaged in childish activities, and get a pretty good value trip - kindly subsidised by all the child-free gamblers - out of it.

> I have no qualms at all about 'child-free gamblers subsidising family trips'. More fool them! You don't need to be Einstein to figure out that the odds are heavily stacked in the Casino's favour - the opulence of Caesars Palace, Palazzo, Venice, etc... makes that crystal clear.

While I strongly disagree that Las Vegas is someplace to take kids, there are - as you mentioned - a few places.


There was a "Wet N Wild" near Sahara hotel few years ago.

There was a "Wet N Wild" near Sahara hotel few years ago.

Sadly, it was torn down. There were great promises of it being re-built somewhere near The Strip "soon", but it has been several years now, and not a word.

Too bad - I went there several times when I was just a tourist visiting here (now I live here) and really had a good time - especially mid-week when it wasn't all that crowded.

While I'm sure Vegas may be great for those with kids I can safely say that for those of you that are like me, Kids are not that great for my ideal Vegas.

While I'm sure Vegas may be great for those with kids I can safely say that for those of you that are like me, Kids are not that great for my ideal Vegas.

I noticed somebody ignoring the 'no strollers' sign at Wynn, but I can't say the kids bothered me at all. Sure, there were plenty at Circus Circus, but for the most part the 'no kids loitering in gaming areas' rules are strictly enforced.

Plus if you have kids pretty much every hotel has a handy food court where you can feed the kids at short notice without getting ripped off on room service.

There are plenty of places where kids could disturb people expecting an exclusive 'adult' trip, but Vegas isn't really top of the list.

My experience is quite different from yours. I go to LV a couple of times a year and the presence of strollers, bored kids, tantruming toddlers and screaming babies has gotten noticeably worse since the recession. I agree with the previous poster: Vegas may be great for kids, but kids are not great for adults who visit Vegas.

My experience is quite different from yours. I go to LV a couple of times a year and the presence of strollers, bored kids, tantruming toddlers and screaming babies has gotten noticeably worse since the recession.

Which hotels and in which areas were you seeing this?

Which hotels and in which areas were you seeing this?Primarily the Venetian and Caesar's though also Encore and Wynne, though to a lesser extent. Fremont Street is more or less of a freak show, anyway (though a fun freak show ;)). It particularly bothers me at the Venetian, which is my preferred hotel, perhaps because I spend the most time there. I get very tired of playing obstacle course ducking around the strollers and rug rats. As for areas in the hotels -- basically everywhere, including the casino floor. Yes, there was little loitering, but the number of strollers/people with children cutting through, while presumably legal, was extremely annoying. If there's one place I don't want to hear young children, it's the casino.

Does the Palms still have the IKEA-like "check your kids for 3 hours and 59 minutes" play area? That was freaking depressing.

I'm in the keep my kids the hell away from Vegas until they are 21 camp. That's what grandparents and uncles are for. It is much easier to go that route than explaining why the hell daddy is wooozy at breakfast and mommy was praying really loudly to god the night before.

If you stay downtown, you can go hours and not see a single kid. Better odds and limits, as well. Then again, I'm too focused on gambling to notice some rugrat.

I do have a little bit of regret that I didn't take my son to see Vegas when he was, say, 7 or 8 - the prime age of wonder. He would have been really impressed with all the lights, the crowds, the fountains, the fake NYC, Paris, Venice, etc.

Now, as a tween, he would be much more likely to notice all the drunks, hookers, drug dealers, and con artists, as well as the ads for topless clubs. So he's missed his window of opportunity until age 21.

Primarily the Venetian and Caesar's though also Encore and Wynne, though to a lesser extent. Fremont Street is more or less of a freak show, anyway (though a fun freak show ;)). It particularly bothers me at the Venetian, which is my preferred hotel, perhaps because I spend the most time there. I get very tired of playing obstacle course ducking around the strollers and rug rats. As for areas in the hotels -- basically everywhere, including the casino floor. Yes, there was little loitering, but the number of strollers/people with children cutting through, while presumably legal, was extremely annoying. If there's one place I don't want to hear young children, it's the casino.

We stayed at the Venetian, and I can't say I noticed, though perhaps it depends on when you stay.