My husband and I have been to Las Vegas multiple times. Neither of us gamble, drink alcohol, or go to clubs, so you'd think there was nothing for us to do, right? But finding activities outside of the norm was a challenge I was eager to accept! Here's what we found that are also child and family friendly.
ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
You might be surprised to discover that the Las Vegas Strip has multiple wildlife encounters, some of them free!
The wildlife habitat behind the Flamingo Hotel & Casino is free and open to the public. They host daily wildlife keeper talks at 8:30am and 2:00pm, and have Chilean flamingos, multiple species of exotic waterfowl, and brown pelicans. You’ll also find sturgeon, Koi, catfish and turtles.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay showcases sharks, giant rays, green sea turtles, piranha and a Komodo dragon! They also host an undersea virtual reality theater. You can even feed their stingrays, sea turtles, and sharks!
THE BELLAGIO
The Conservatory & Botanical Garden at The Bellagio is free and open to the public. It has beautiful seasonal displays and is located adjacent to their fabulous hotel lobby. Don't forget the amazing, free Fountains of Bellagio show in front of the casino as well!
The fountain show display begins every 15 minutes (weekend evenings only) or 30 minutes throughout the day and into the night. The fountains dance, and sometimes even explode, to one song each show. And the show is different each time, so stay and enjoy another show or two if you're still in the area.
SHOPPING EXPERIENCES
Every casino along the Strip has shops. If you're a true shopper, you can't go wrong in Las Vegas. We enjoy the themes and decor outside of the actual shops themselves. In Las Vegas, these are some of our favorites.
Are you a fan of Coca-Cola , M&Ms, or Hershey's Chocolate? If so, stop by their stores on the Strip for some refreshments and serious brand swag.
The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace offer over 160 indoor shops and restaurants at the heart of the Strip. They also have the Fountain of the Gods there. And there's the Atlantis Show, which runs every Thursday through Monday from noon until 8 pm. Behind the Atlantis Show exhibit is an aquarium.
Le Boulevard shopping district inside the Paris Hotel & Casino has beautiful Parisian-themed shops and restaurants.
The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood have a North African theme in the back with an artificial sky ceiling. This is where the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is located.
FROM UP HIGH & OTHER AMUSEMENTS
The High Roller ferris wheel, which rises 550 feet above the Strip, is a slow moving, 30 minute ride in spacious indoor cabins. It's best experienced at night, with all of the lights on the Strip lit in glowing color!
The Strat has quite a few high altitude attractions to choose from, whether it's the Skypod observation deck at almost 1000 feet, Skyjump your way from the top to the ground, or the Big Shot tower, Insanity spin, or X-Scream coaster. You definitely can't be afraid of heights here!
The indoor observation deck offers refreshments and also includes lounge seating and a full bar. The outdoor deck up above is where all of the thrill rides are located. A wet or windy day may cancel the ride activities.
The Eiffel Tower Experience at the Paris casino takes you 46 stories up to a commanding view of the Strip and the Bellagio fountains show across the street. Or take an indoor gondola ride at the Venetian.
The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade, located at the New York, New York casino, is a little slice of Coney Island right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip! Enjoy a rollercoaster ride, or compete for a prize in family friendly arcade games.
The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is an indoor amusement park with rides and attractions such as mini-golf, mini-bowling, indoor rock climbing, bungee jumping, roller skating, arcades, as well as roller coasters and carnival rides! From pre-schoolers to pre-teens, this is a great place to enjoy the day. It's also good when there are inclement weather conditions outside.
There's also a Fun Dungeon at the Excalibur, where you can enjoy a variety of arcade games.
The MSG Sphere, behind the Venetian, is an indoor music and entertainment arena. The exterior is covered with a full LED light display. In the interior, you can enjoy an immersive, full surround experience with one of their daily shows.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
There's no need to rent a car when you go to the Las Vegas Strip. The Las Vegas Monorail will take you 4 miles along the Strip, from MGM Grand to the Sahara Las Vegas. This route map shows where the monorail runs and stops. They have single ride tickets all the way up to a 7 day pass. You can walk along the Strip as much as you like, then hop on the monorail to get back to your hotel or your next location.
Another transportation option along the Strip is the double-decker Deuce bus! The Deuce runs 24 hours a day, stopping at almost every major resort along Las Vegas Blvd.
There are also a number of free public trams running along the West side of Las Vegas Boulevard, from Treasure Island to The Mirage, Bellagio to Park MGM, and Excalibur to Mandalay Bay.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
To be honest, we go to Vegas primarily for the shows. From live music, to magic, to comedy, to Cirque du Soleil, there's always plenty to keep us entertained.
Some family-friendly shows along the Strip include Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic Show, Jabbawockeez, Blue Man Group, and Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater. For a complete listing you can go to family friendly shows in Las Vegas.
We highly recommend checking out a Cirque du Soleil show while you're in town! We've seen Beatles LOVE, a psychedelic high energy show, and "O", which is a hauntingly beautiful water show, and loved them both! They also have Mystere, Ka, Mad Apple, and Michael Jackson ONE currently playing in Las Vegas. Our goal is to see them all!
Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun") is one of the most successful theatrical producers worldwide. Formed in Quebec, Canada in 1984, they are a hybrid of circus, acrobatics, and dance performance. No animals are used in any of their productions.
There is so much to see and do in Las Vegas. You could spend weeks there and see something new every day! We've never touched a slot machine and never sat at a bar or a blackjack table. We go to the casinos for their restaurants, shopping, and shows.
Although Las Vegas is known as Sin City, you'll find plenty to do outside of gambling, drinking, or smoking. We guarantee it!
