Kid-friendly things to do in Las Vegas
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Often called ‘Sin City,’ Las Vegas has been a longtime destination for the bachelor and bachelorette parties and generally for adults 21+. However, the city and its visitor authority have revamped the city’s image, showcasing all the kid-friendly things to do in Las Vegas.
Our family decided to head to Las Vegas for our kids’ mid-winter break after searching for somewhere warm enough and with a variety of activities. We were also celebrating my husband’s milestone birthday. The experience exceeded our expectations!
Where we stayed
There are so many affordable options to stay on the Las Vegas Strip, where you’ll find the majority of the famous resorts and casinos. For us, our first criterion was a heated pool that was open in February. Note that by March, most of the resorts have their pools opening up, so there is no need to worry if you’re heading to Las Vegas during the warmer months. Secondly, we wanted the hotel to be conveniently located to avoid driving.
We stayed at Crockfords Las Vegas, one of the newest resorts on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip and the first integrated hotel to be built in over a decade. It encompasses three hotel brands, including the Hilton, Conrad, and Crockfords. The hotel offers spacious rooms, a pool, as well as a food court and other restaurant options located on the main floor.
How to get around
While we rented a car, we talked to other families who took the Las Vegas Monorail around the strip. The 3.9-mile automated monorail starts at SAHARA Las Vegas Station and ends at MGM Grand Station, with stations at Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah’s/The LINQ, Boingo Station at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Westgate Las Vegas. It arrives every 4 to 8 minutes.
If staying on the Las Vegas Strip, you can walk around to most places.
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Kid-friendly Las Vegas: Food
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The food in Las Vegas is incredible. Here were some of the places we went to eat.
Our family’s favorite place to eat was 888 Japanese BBQ. It’s an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant where you cook your food on a grill at your table. The meat quality was great, as were all the appetizers, all included in the price. There was something for everyone to enjoy. Per reviewer tips, we arrived 20-30 minutes before opening, and a line started forming outside. We got in right away, but by the time we left the wait was over 90 minutes.
The Palace Station Oyster Bar is famous for its pan roast, but because it is located in the middle of a casino, kids aren’t allowed. This didn’t work for us, but we found a great alternative just off the strip at PK Oyster Bar. What is pan roast, you ask? It’s a creamy tomato-based seafood stew served over rice.
Carmine’s Las Vegas is not to be confused with Carmines in Bellevue, Washington. Both serve pasta, but Carmine’s Las Vegas, which started in New York, will forever go down in my memory as taking family portions to the next level.
If you don’t want a sit-down restaurant and need something quick on the go, I loved that the city has some of my favorite fast-food chains that aren’t yet in Washington (but coming soon!). Hello, In-N-Out for burgers and Raising Cane’s for delicious chicken strips.
Low-cost fun options vs. splurge
The Bellagio Las Vegas Hotel and Casino has a fountain show set to music that runs every 15 minutes. It’s especially spectacular at night. The hotel is also home to the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which often display different themes. When we went, they were decorated for the Lunar New Year with beautiful dragons and pops of color. You don’t have to be staying at the Bellagio to enjoy them, and both are free.
Walking the Las Vegas strip and finding replicas of recognizable landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower was a real highlight for us, especially for my geography-loving 8-year-old.
There are several state parks within a short drive of the city that make Las Vegas a kid-friendly destination. We wanted to go to the Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon, but we only had time for the Valley of Fire. Entry per car was $15 ($10 for Nevada vehicles), and it was truly magnificent.
You can determine whether Hershey’s Chocolate World Las Vegas and M&M’s Las Vegas can be low-cost or a splurge depending on what you want to do or buy. Going inside and taking photos with the character displays is free, but buying the candy and souvenirs can add up.
Our trip to Adventuredome inside the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino was a splurge. It’s a full indoor amusement park with carnival games and an arcade. The $60 entry ticket (for anyone over 48″) only covers the rides and attractions. You have to buy a game card for the carnival and arcade games, and it can get pricey.
We didn’t get to our entire list of things to do with kids in Las Vegas, including watching a magic show or going to the Shark Reef Aquarium in Las Vegas, but I’m glad we saved some activities to do for our next trip, as we will be back!
Las Vegas had the perfect mix of fun for kids and adults whether you’re a foodie or adventure-loving family. Icing on the cake–there’s a direct flight from Paine Airport in Everett, a much smaller and less busy airport, making the parking and check-in process a breeze.
