14 Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas

Wait a minute: is there really anything to see and do in Las Vegas if you're under 21? You'd be surprised how much this city has to offer. While most people are attracted to Las Vegas because of its casinos and the whole gambling industry, the truth is that it is possible to visit this city as a family with young children.

Although when families go to this destination they are more likely to go on excursions to nearby national parks, that doesn't mean you can't make a great plan right there - Las Vegas is one of the entertainment capitals of the country and it's perfectly possible to have a great time with your kids.

The rides are perfect for kids and you'll love it when you discover all there is to see in Las Vegas. One of the highlights is the High Roller which, at 170 metres high, is the tallest Ferris wheel in all of North America.

As Las Vegas is a city located in a desert environment, everything is flat and when you go up, you will have some of the best views of Las Vegas. Kids will love it. First of all, because they will have a view of everything and will be able to recognise different places in the city and also because it is a lot of fun: for one hour, the Ferris wheel goes all the way from the moment it goes up to the moment it comes back down.

And you still don't know the best part: children under the age of three travel for free! You can't miss the opportunity to discover this space with the kids, so book your tickets for the High Roller Ferris wheel.

Practical information

• Price: around €25. Children over 3 years old pay admission.
• Location: 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, a few metres from Harrah's & The LINQ monorail station.
• Hours: 4pm to midnight, but may vary in winter.

Madame Tussauds is a franchise of wax museums in many cities around the world, but the one in Las Vegas is special because it was the first in the United States. All this means that this museum, apart from showing different wax figures of celebrities, has a very important story behind it.

Children especially love to see singers and action figures, such as the Hulk or Spiderman, whose size surprises most of them. This is the ideal place to take all the pictures you want of the kids next to the figures.

The museum is located in the Venetian Resort Hotel and can be visited all year round. It's best to buy tickets for Madame Tussauds in advance, especially if your visit to the museum will include the 4D cinema, where your seats can move according to the show.

If you want to discover more about the origins of the universe and see planets and galaxies millions of light years away, as well as incredible natural scenes of our planet without leaving Las Vegas, the Iluminarium is an experience that both children and adults will thoroughly enjoy.

It is a high quality audiovisual exhibition that includes 4K laser projection and 3D audio and will test all five senses, as you will come to doubt whether you are really travelling through outer space or if it is all part of an alternative, cinematic reality.

Children and adults alike will have fun while learning more about the earth and outer space, all from Las Vegas. A plan suitable for all ages!

If you think it's important for your little ones to learn about the earth and its wonders, then it's essential for them to learn about themselves and what their thoughts and emotions hide.

The Las Vegas Fantasy Lab is another extraordinary sensory experience that, this time, will take them on a journey to the centre of their soul and put their brains to the test with this immersive activity full of stimuli.

Labyrinth, Circus, Stars, Nightmare, Kaleidoscope, Insomnia and Illumination are the 7 spaces where you will be able to test your emotions and connect with your most hidden thoughts and dreams. Do you dare to live this experience?

The Stratosphere Tower not only offers one of the best views of Las Vegas, as it is the highest observation deck in the entire state of Nevada (it is located 350 metres high) and from which you can see the fantastic and luminous skyline of the city of casinos.

Can you imagine a high-tech, high-speed lift that travels 108 floors in less than a minute? Experience it and, if you feel like it, have a cocktail and enjoy the view at the Air Bar, an exclusive bar located on the 108th floor of the Stratosphere Tower.

Also, if you buy your tickets for the Stratosphere Tower in Hellotickets, you can add in your reservation the access to one or two attractions: the Big Shot, a catapult that launches you almost 50 meters high, or the X-Scream, a roller coaster of impression.

Can you imagine seeing the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Zion National Park, Arches National Park or the Mohave Desert without leaving Las Vegas? Then don't imagine it and experience it at Las Vegas FlyOver.

This simulated flight takes place on a platform with up to 6 degrees of movement where you will discover the most visited and impressive landscapes and natural scenery in North America.

Your kids will be amazed by this virtual journey in which you will travel through amazing landscapes and natural scenery while you are suspended in the air, in a super realistic and inverse experience.

Las Vegas has a lot to say to geeks, particularly Marvel fans. If your kids are into superheroes, there's no forgiveness if you don't take them to the Treasure Island exhibit dedicated to Marvel and, specifically, The Avengers.

The official name of this place is Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. and it's perfect for both adults and children to enjoy everything characteristic of this saga. In short, this Avengers station is a sort of museum that has sections dedicated to all the superheroes that make up this team. When you go, you can see in detail the costumes that the superheroes wore in the films, as well as different temporary and permanent exhibitions dedicated to all their exploits.

It doesn't matter if you like the Hulk, Captain America or Iron Man: this is a space for all the Avengers to meet and, for that reason, children will have an incredible time, because they will feel like they are in a Marvel movie. Do you dare to share this experience with them?

OK, we know you can't go to the casinos with the kids. But there's nothing stopping families from going to a museum where you can see the history of Las Vegas casinos.

Are there Museums in Las Vegas? Sure! They are really cool and varied. If you want to spend a more pleasant evening with the little ones, then don't miss a visit to the Neon Museum.

Located in the Neon Boneyard, this is a space designed to show not only the history of the casinos in the city, but also the emergence of Las Vegas as a city based on gambling, through its neon signs. As its name suggests, this museum places great emphasis on neon lights, which is why the best time to visit is at night.

Practical information

• Price: between €20 and €30, but varies according to the type of tour, such as guided tours in English and Spanish. Children under the age of six are free, while those between 7 and 17, as well as the over 65s, have reduced admission.
• Location: 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North. Serving the 113 bus at the SB Las Vegas before Cashman stop.
• Hours: 4pm to midnight. Last guided tours depart at 11pm.

Downtown Las Vegas is home to one of the most amazing museums in town that kids will love. It's the Discovery Children's Museum, or Museo Discovery de los Niños, which offers the little ones all kinds of incredible experiences with educational rides and games that won't bore them for a second.

There are nine interactive zones in the museum, but the dynamic is to climb a 21-metre summit where there are twelve levels dedicated to science, which also incorporate climbing activities and games.

In addition, you will also find a Water World where all kinds of activities in the marine world are explained, as well as a section dedicated to communities and sustainable urbanism, EcoCity, and sometimes there are exhibitions and displays on very innovative subjects such as 3D printing or space exploration.

Practical information

• Price: around €15.
• Location: 360 Promenade Place
• Opening hours: 10am-5pm, Sundays 12pm-5pm.

The most fantastic circus in the world is also in Las Vegas. In fact, Las Vegas is the city with the most shows going on at the same time: a total of seven. But this is not just one of the many shows you can go to in Las Vegas. I guarantee it's another level. With a little advance notice, you can keep an eye out for which resorts are hosting which shows.

The little ones will especially love the acrobatics, the laughs and the comedy. After all, these are stories told through the circus that will give you plenty to laugh and watch. Moreover, you can rest assured that Cirque du Soleil does not use animals in its performances in the United States. This way, children can understand how it is possible to have a circus without animal abuse.

Although tickets to Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas are somewhat expensive, I advise you not to hesitate to buy them, because neither you nor your children should miss out on what could be the best show you will ever see.

No exaggeration: the Bellagio Hotel's botanical and conservatory gardens are among the best in the world for their characteristics. It is very unusual to have such gardens in the middle of a hotel designed primarily for gambling.

But this space is fantastic and the children love it because of the number of flowers and plants they can see. It is also a very cool space, because it is indoors and serves as an air conditioner when the summer makes even the water sweat.

Missing this garden, being with children, would be foolish, because it is completely free and only if you go by car you will have to pay for parking. I recommend you visit at any time of the day, even if it's just so you can all take a break from the sun and the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas.

Chocolate: we know it's not the healthiest of foods, but we love it! Children are always the first to go for chocolate, and even more so if it's M&Ms. Although, like any product with excess sugar, it requires a lot of moderation, if you're in Las Vegas, take them to M&M's World, located in the Showcase Mall.

This is a gigantic, 2,600 square metre shop that is full of chocolate on all four sides. Besides, of course, buying M&M's chocolates, this amazing space can be adapted to something more specific: printing your own M&M's! In the shop there is a printer that has different modes to be adapted and you can choose the ones you like the most.

What kid won't want to create their own M&M's? Also, this is another perfect place for photos, because there are different things made out of M&M's, like cars and some models. The chocolate is just an excuse to see a one-of-a-kind shop where children will burst with excitement.

Practical information

• Price: No admission is required to be in this shop.
• Location: Showcase Mall 3785 South Las Vegas Blvd, close to the MGM hotel.
• Hours: 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Monday - Saturday

Imagine an amazing amusement park on top of a hotel. But it doesn't stop there, those rides are closely related to the height of the hotel. Does it make you dizzy? I'm sure the kids don't. You can find all this at The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod. Of all the attractions, the most famous is the SkyJump.

As its name suggests, this attraction consists of a 260-metre free fall at 65 kilometres per hour. It's a blast that will make you shake and scream, and the kids will feel the whole thing fall. But it's not the only one: unless you get too dizzy, you can take three spins on a ride that will make everything spin 275 metres high.

If you're looking for nightlife in Las Vegas, this is a spectacular place to spend an afternoon or evening with the family. There are more attractions, such as the X-Scream or the Big Shot that will take you to the edge of madness with so many moves.

Three museums in one, all at the same time. Kids and adults can get a great tour when they visit the Springs Preserve, located at the Nevada State Museum, which shows how Las Vegas originated as a city and reproduces what its streets looked like at the turn of the 20th century, which kids will love.

But there's more: the Springs Preserve has 73 hectares of trails through forests, botanical gardens and wildlife habitats, plus temporary and permanent exhibition centres. My advice is to make a full day of it, pack plenty of sunscreen and a fully-loaded camera to detail every plant.

For example, kids will marvel at the huge collection of cacti and can identify different species of birds and desert animals in general. It's a place to learn about history, yes, but also to relax, walk around and enjoy, although the kids are sure to run around a lot.

Practical information

• Price: about €8 for adults and about €4 for children. Children under 2 years old are free. Advance booking is required.
• Location: 333 S. Valley View Blvd. SB Valley View after Meadows bus stop for bus #104 and #207.
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-Fri.

The fact that children under the age of 21 are not allowed in Las Vegas casinos is an obstacle for many families who want to see the city, but it's all about adapting the plan. As you've seen in this article, you'll find plenty of other things to do besides the best casinos in Las Vegas, so it's worth going, even with young children.

However, you should be on your toes. Even if you stay in a hotel with a casino, children under the age of 21 are not allowed in the gaming areas unless they are in transit from one point to another and it is essential that they are always accompanied by their parents. This includes, for example, that they cannot watch any shows in casinos or casino bars.

If a parent wants to gamble, my advice is to take turns looking after the children for a while. Only from the age of 16 onwards do some hotels offer a very restricted gambling programme that needs parental approval and monitoring.

Traveller Tip

Some parents choose to go to hotels that don't have casinos, but finding one in Las Vegas can be a real uphill struggle. As long as they are not in the gambling areas, children can stay in the hotel.

Transportation is always a complicated issue when going on holiday and even more so in the United States. With children it is even more complicated. Nevertheless, you have different options. In Las Vegas there is a pretty decent public transport, with a monorail system that connects the main tourist areas of the city.

There you can travel with children in comfort. But if you want something more focused on sightseeing, buying tickets for the tour buses will be the best option, as the whole family will be able to see the best of the city from the top and the kids will really enjoy the ride. It can also be the starting point for some of the city's tours and excursions.

While this may be useful to see some of the attractions, you will most likely need more than that to see everything. For this reason, especially if you have children, renting a car is often the best option. This option will be more economical in the long run, especially if you're staying more than a week in Las Vegas and intend to visit places outside the city. In addition, many hotels and attractions cover the cost of parking in the services they offer.