Top 10 Kid-Friendly Attractions in Las Vegas

Think Las Vegas just isn’t the place for kids? Think again!

Believe it or not, there are plenty of rich, educational, and fun activities for kids and their families to enjoy in Las Vegas! Sure, there are plenty of attractions that draw adults from around the world here, but here’s a list of ten great reasons to bring the kids too (plus a few bonus picks)!

On The Strip.

Shark Reef Aquarium
Mandalay Bay is home to our very own stunning aquarium filled with not only some impressive sharks, but a wide array of fascinating marine life. Bring even the youngest children to experience this beautiful attraction that features 14 exhibits including a shipwreck where visitors can walk through a tunnel below the water to watch the sea life swim overhead. Most kids also love the touch pool where they can get a hands-on experience with animals like rays and horseshoe crabs.

The Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat
Another great animal attraction for our smaller visitors is Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. Along with the gorgeous bottlenose dolphins, families can also enjoy the sights of white tigers & lions, golden tigers, black panthers, and leopards. Not only do we love the scenery here, we love the price too – Children 4-12 get in at a discounted rate and children 3 and under are free!

M&M World
You may not even have to buy anything for your children to be impressed by this place! This store is located conveniently on the Strip next to the MGM and across from New York New York. As soon as you walk in, the many bright colors of M&Ms surround you. There is an enormous variety of M&M products to shop for, but for the kids, the most incredible sight will likely be the floor-to-ceiling display of colored M&M towers that create a stunning rainbow-esque appearance along the back wall of the main floor. Oh yes, there is more than one floor to this shopping experience! You can even purchase M&Ms with your children’s names on them and have the treats printed while you are there.

Tournament or Kings Dinner Show
The Tournament of Kings dinner show at The Excalibur makes for spectacular fun for the whole family. Children of all ages can enjoy the show along with a delicious meal. Especially young visitors (ages 0-3) are allowed to share a seat with mom or dad and do not need to purchase a separate ticket. Kids will love watching the dancing, jousting, and fireworks, but for many kids, the best part is getting to eat dinner with their fingers!

The Big Apple Coaster and Arcade
The New York New York Hotel is home to the Big Apple Rollercoaster which includes a 180-degree “heartline” twist and dive. Granted, this is more of an attraction for older children, teens, and adults (you must be 54” to ride), but even the little ones can have fun playing the carnival-style midway games and some of the standard coin-operated arcade games located near the coaster. Many families love to finish their playtime at the New York New York with some delicious Nathan’s Hot Dogs to complete the experience.

Adventuredome
Circus Circus is home to Las Vegas’ very own indoor amusement park. The rides, carnival games, food, and entertainment at the Adventuredome are sure to please your kids. One of the best things about this attraction is the variety of rides – There are rides designed especially for small children, rides for the whole family to enjoy together, and rides for teen and adult thrill-seekers as well!

Just A Short Drive Away.

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve
The Springs Preserve is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful, educational, and kid-friendly attractions in the city. Kids can enjoy not one, but two museums onsite – The Origen Museum and The Nevada State Museum. Children will also have a blast playing on the outdoor playground, walking through the lush gardens, making crafts, and visiting the Nature Exchange where everything is hands-on! Your kids will have a blast seeing live desert animals such as Gila monsters, leopard frogs, and desert cottontails as well as exploring shells, rocks, pinecones, and more with their hands inside the Nature Exchange. Check their website for even more possibilities for kids including story times and revolving exhibits.

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
The brand new Lied Discovery Children’s museum is located only minutes from the Strip and has literally hundreds of engaging activities for children of all ages! The new building, which opened in March of 2013, is three stories high. The first floor includes dramatic play activities such as a pirate ship, castle, and theater. There is also a large water play area and “Toddler Town,” made just for the littlest ones. On the second floor, kids help pretend to run a small town with a bank, restaurant, veterinary clinic, and more. As children and families continue to climb through the museum, there are places for kids to share their creativity through works of art and inventions. You really must see it to appreciate all it has to offer!

Sky Zone
Sky Zone Las Vegas is an indoor trampoline park only about 10 minutes south of the Strip. This trampoline park includes a large separated play area just for young children, which is wonderful as it keeps the smaller kids safe. There are also dodge ball courts, a giant foam pit kids (and parents!) can jump or flip into, a basketball area, and a large open bounce arena for the bigger kids & grown-ups who still like to play! Sky Zone provides everyone with special socks for jumping safely and keeps a staff member monitoring all stations at all times to maintain a high level of safety for every family. Even the walls of the arenas are lined with trampolines so that you can literally let your children “bounce off the walls!”

Red Rock Canyon
Although it is about a 30 minute drive from the Strip, the sights of Red Rock Canyon are more than worth it. Red Rock Canyon can be enjoyed by children on many hiking trails or on a scenic loop drive. One of the best trails for those with small children is in Calico Basin. It is free to visit this area and the trail includes many walkways that are easy for even toddlers to walk through. From the rocks to the wildlife, the beauty of Red Rock will take your breath away.

*Bonus Picks

*These are activities and attractions that I have not personally attended with my own family, yet the reviews are excellent so they are well worth checking out!

Jeff Civillico
As a comedian, juggler, and former entertainer for Disney resorts and The White House, Jeff Civillico is one of the highest-rated new performers in Las Vegas. His shows include juggling fire and bowling balls, riding an extremely tall unicycle, and balancing on a 12-foot ladder. Parents and children say they leave his show with huge smiles on their faces! This show also takes place at a very reasonable hour for families with children: 4:00 pm, five days per week including weekends.

Indoor Skydiving
Vegas Indoor Skydiving is also conveniently located right on the Las Vegas Strip and provides a simulated sky diving experience that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. There is no age limit; however, the minimum weight is 40 lbs. The simulated experience is created via a wind tunnel, mesh trampoline floor, and padded walls. Each flyer must take a brief training class before they take flight. This is a great activity that families can easily squeeze in alongside other activities in the same day since the entire experience only takes about one hour.

Do you have a favorite kid-friendly attraction in Las Vegas? Join in the discussion and let us know.