A Few Things to Do in Las Vegas with Children
We’ve taken it pretty easy while we’ve been in Vegas since early December.
First we were dealing with jet lag and then Ella came down with a pretty nasty illness, but we’ve managed to get out and do several fun things while we’ve been here.
Some of them are Christmas related and others are year-round things.
fun things to do in las vegas with kids
- Bellagio Conservatory. You can’t go to Vegas and not visit the Bellagio Conservatory. We’d gone in the summer when it was all decked out for that season, and now that it was decorated for Christmas, we had to make another trip. It was spectacular, of course, and there was live music playing, and basically it was just magical. We stopped in at Cafe Gelato afterward for the world’s best cinnamon roll and a really amazing panini.
- Bass Pro Shop. I’d never been to any Bass Pro Shop, but I’m guessing this is one of the better ones. We spent at least an hour checking out all the animals and the giant fish tanks and then waited in line for a while to see Santa (happily, they had some games and crafts to keep kids entertained while my parents held our place in line). I’d love to go back again when Bart can go with us. Who needs a zoo?
- Ethel M Chocolates. You can do the free factory tour (with a free chocolate sample at the end) and the cactus gardens are also beautiful. During December, they light them like crazy for Christmas and it is pretty magical at night.
- Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. You really have to go to this with the mindset that your money is going to charity. It’s very expensive just to get in and the wristbands for unlimited rides are another $9 a person. Plus, there aren’t actually that many rides. We bought single tickets to ride the train ($3 a person) and then went home. I think Winter Wonderland ruined us.
- The High Roller at the Linq. This is absolutely my favorite thing we’ve done. I wasn’t sure it’d be all that exciting after riding the London Eye, but I actually liked the Linq MORE. For one, we went on the Linq right around 4:45 p.m., so it was dark by the time we got up and the city looked spectacular all lit up around us. Also, the London Eye is a lovely view, but the Linq has video monitors with a guy who makes occasional comments and jokes as you go up and it really was amusing. And they did a big countdown as you reached the top and there was cheering. And then music played the rest of the time and my girls were dancing and. . . it just felt like a party. We were all pretty impressed.
These three weeks have flown by. On the day after Christmas, we set out on our cross-country drive back to North Carolina. Guaranteed to be way less fun than riding the Linq.
Merry Christmas! 🙂
Merry Christmas to all of you. Has Bart arrived yet? Although the ride will surely be awful, it will be good to get back to a place of your own. Have you found a place on the Internet? I can't imagine all the hunting you've had to do over the past couple of years.
Wow, a cross country drive! I actually did a similar drive with my family this summer (from San Diego- though North Carolina- to NYC) and depending on your route (and how much you are planning on stopping) I would love to share couple suggestions of things that we loved on the way.
1. Amarillo, Texas: Cadillac Ranch
2. Shreveport, Louisiana:
Marilynn's Place
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee: Uncle Larry's
4. Birmingham, Alabama: The Vulcan Statue
Anyways, I would love to hear how you survive your drive, what route you take and what stops you do make! GOOD LUCK!
Yay for kid-friendly activities in Vegas! We go at least once a year. I'm not a gambler so it seemed like a boring place for me. How many time can you watch the Bellagio fountain show, anyway? I'm excited to actually go and check some of these things out!
All Bass Pro Shops are like that one you went to, with the fish tanks and all. Did yours have the (real) stuffed reindeer staring out from behind Santa? I thought that was kind of in poor taste. "Hey kids! Here's Santa! And Rudolph! Except he's, um, dead. And taxidermied." My children are redneck enough to be into that sort of thing, but I should think it might be traumatic for the average kid.
We wish you a Merry Christmas! !
I pray a lot of "happiness".
And for the children of the world. . . .
Ryoma