29 Fun Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids

Gwen Kleist Avatar

Mom and child looking at the lighted indoor garden at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.
The magical indoor gardens of the Bellagio. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

It’s called Sin City for a reason. So you may be wondering whether it’s wise to take the kids to Las Vegas. It turns out, there are tons of fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids.

Easily one of the most vibrant cities in the world, just strolling down Las Vegas Boulevard can be an adventure. There are bright lights, sights and sounds everywhere – from the Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York hotel on the south end of the Strip, to the volcano at the Mirage to the north.

And while there is no shortage of ways to spend money on fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids, there are also plenty of inexpensive activities and a whole bunch of free things to do in Las Vegas!

Here are 27 fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids on your next family vacation.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Book one of these family-friendly Las Vegas hotels!

1. Las Vegas High Roller Observation Wheel

Get a bird’s eye view of Las Vegas on the High Roller Observation Wheel, a huge Ferris wheel located at The LINQ Promenade + Experience in the heart of the Vegas Strip.

At 550 feet high and 520 feet in diameter, the High Roller has 28 transparent (and air-conditioned) pods that can hold up to 40 people. The experience takes about an hour.

Visit during daytime hours and tickets are cheaper than the price after 6 pm. And kids 6 and younger ride free any time!

2. Shark Reef Aquarium

This is one of the most kid-friendly attractions in Las Vegas!

Shark Reef Aquarium will take you under the sea through 14 shark habitats including a shipwreck with 360-degree views of sharks and other fish. Attractions at Shark Reef Aquarium include the Touch Pool where kids can dip their fingers into the water and touch stingrays, sharks, or horseshoe crabs to name a few of the oceanic creatures that rotate into this exhibit.

Shark Reef Aquarium is located at the Mandalay Bay Resort. Admission to Shark Reef Aquarium is $29. Additional tickets can be purchased for turtle feeding, stingray feeding or shark feeding experiences.

3. Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Visit Treasure Island for a true superhero experience at Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. S.T.A.T.I.O.N. stands for Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network.

This attraction is an interactive and educational exhibit that will bring you into the world of The Avengers. You can even check out a huge range of props and costumes from the Avengers movies.

4. The Big Apple Roller Coaster

Do your kids love a good thrill ride? Then don’t miss the Big Apple Roller Coaster at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino.

If you’ve ever visited the Vegas Strip you’ve likely already seen this roller coaster. It stands at over 200 feet high and includes an upside-down loop as it winds around the hotel’s towers at 67 miles per hour.

Rides on the Big Apple coaster cost $19 per person during the day or $23 after 6 pm, but you can purchase all-day ride passes or family packages at a discount. Arcade and coaster packages are also available.

5. Fly Linq Zipline

Want to zipline over the Vegas Strip? Fly Linq Las Vegas is the Strip’s only zipline, Launch from a 12-story tower and soar 1,121 feet from Las Vegas Boulevard, down The LINQ Promenade and finish at the High Roller at speeds up to 35 mph.

Circus acts at Circus Circus hotel in Las Vegas.
The free circus at Circus Circus. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

6. The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

The Circus Circus Hotel and Casino is all about kid-friendly circus acts and entertainment. Circus Circus is home to the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park with thrill rides, arcade games, miniature golf and more.

The great thing about Adventuredome is its indoor, air-conditioned location. You can enjoy theme park games and rides without worrying about the desert heat.

The Carnival Midway is located above the casino and offers a large selection of classic carnival-style games, an arcade and free circus acts. Even if you don’t want to spend a ton of money on rides, kids will love their free Circus Show, featuring jugglers, trapeze artists, acrobats and more.

The Adventuredome has roller coasters, bumper cars, and lots of other fun attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Entry is free, and you can either pay for the rides you want to go on or purchase an all-day pass.

Read More: Find the Best Food at the Las Vegas Airport

7. Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas

Most resorts in Las Vegas have fantastic pools, but if you are looking for extreme fun that the whole family will enjoy, plan to spend a day at Wet n Wild Las Vegas.

Escape the Vegas heat at this fantastic water park with over 25 water slides, a wave pool, lazy river and fun kids’ splash area. Wet ‘n’ Wild is open most of the year except for winter months.

8. Fun Dungeon

Located on the lower level of the Excalibur, Fun Dungeon is an arcade featuring over 200 video and carnival games. The arcade is open from 10 am to 10 pm every day.

9. DISCOVERY Children’s Museum

The DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is a favorite for local families and the only children’s museum in the area.

This 3-story, 26,000-square-foot museum features numerous exhibits covering art, science, culture and more. Popular exhibits include Eco City, Toddler Town, Water World, and Young at Art. The museum is also home to DISCOVERY Lab, an innovative maker space, a first of its kind in Nevada!

DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is conveniently located off the 15 freeway, just a few exits north of the Las Vegas Strip near downtown.

Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids - Venetian Gondolas
Las Vegas Venetian Gondolas, Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

10. Gondola Rides at the Venetian

Treat your family to a gondola ride at the Venetian. It is like visiting Italy in Las Vegas (although some teenagers might argue it’s a little cheesy!).

No trip to Las Vegas would be complete without experiencing a gondola ride through the Grand Canal. Float beneath bridges and past cafes while a singing gondolier pilots your boat.

There is an indoor and outdoor Venetian gondola ride. Each offers its own unique views, both equally full of wonderful moments and photo opps.

Gondola rides cost $34 per person Tuesday and Wednesday, and $39.00 per person Thursday through Monday.

11. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

The Venetian is also home to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. With more than 100 celebrity wax statues, you can stand right next to the life-size replicas of movie stars, sports stars, musicians and even superheroes!

12. Lion Habitat Ranch

Venture down to Henderson, just a few miles south of the Strip, to check out Lion Habitat Ranch, an African lion sanctuary offering Behind the Scenes tours, a painting giraffe, and the opportunity to feed the animals. Lion Habitat Ranch is a non-profit sanctuary.

Many of the lions that call Lion Habitat Ranch home are descendants of the original MGM lion.

things to do in las vegas - Atomic Testing Museum
Las Vegas Atomic Testing Museum. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

13. The National Atomic Testing Museum

For many years in the mid-20th century, the Nevada desert was home to nuclear testing, so it is only fitting that there is an Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas.

My teenage son and I recently visited and we both enjoyed it very much! The museum does an excellent job of making this part of Vegas’s history educational as well as entertaining.

With more than 12,000 artifacts, the museum is packed with information and displays about atomic energy and the Cold War race for nuclear arms. A highlight is the atomic explosion simulator, where you’ll feel the blast.

14. Pinball Hall of Fame

Located on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Pinball Hall of Fame is home to 10,000 square feet of classic pinball machine games – more than 200 to be precise.

Best of all, it is completely free to enter, making this one of many unique fun and free things to do in Las Vegas with kids! You just have to pay if you want to play, and even then, the games are only 25 or 50 cents each. The Pinball Hall of fame is a fun, inexpensive, and family-friendly way to kill a few hours in Vegas.

All the pinball machines, some dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, are owned by Tim Arnold, a former arcade operator and member of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club. Proceeds from the museum go to charity.

4 flamingos at the Flaming Hotel, one of the fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids
Flamingos, koi fish & other exotic animals live at the Flamingo Hotel’s 15-acre Wildlife Habitat. It’s free to visit. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

15. The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Wander outside behind the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and you will find The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. This little wildlife sanctuary is an idyllic 15-acre paradise, complete with gardens, streams, waterfalls, exotic birds, turtles, fish, ducks, and a flock of Chilean flamingos.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is totally free, and open daily from 8 am to dusk. If you’re schedule permits, shoot to be there for one of the two live feedings every day, at 8:30 am and 2 pm.

Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids - Bellagio Fountains
Las Vegas Bellagio Fountains. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

16. Bellagio Fountains

One of the most iconic attractions in Las Vegas, the Fountain Show at the Bellagio Resort & Casino is a must-see for anyone visiting the Strip. Best of all, the Bellagio Fountain Show is totally free!

Combining music, dancing water and light, the Bellagio delivers beautiful performances daily with its majestic fountains. The show is set to everything from classical music to Broadway show tunes to popular hits.

The fountain show takes place every half hour until 8 pm and then every 15 minutes until midnight. For the best view, find a spot along the front rail on Las Vegas Boulevard in the center of the lake! Or, stand on the side or facing the street from the hotel side and catch the show with the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas twinkling in the background.

Las Vegas Bellagio Conservatory
Las Vegas Bellagio Conservatory. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

17. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Another family-friendly attraction at this resort is the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

Open 24 hours a day, the Conservatory features gorgeous displays of trees, flowers, and other plants set around a seasonal theme. Some of them even move! This is a fantastic spot for family photos.

The Conservatory is redesigned several times a year to reflect each of the four seasons, plus a special display for Chinese New Year. It is located right off the lobby and is completely free to enter.

18. The Downtown Container Park & Treehouse Playground

Swing by for lunch, shopping, or just the chance to let kids run around and play at the Downtown Container Park. This unique kid-friendly venue in Downtown Las Vegas is literally made from shipping containers.

At the center of the Container Park is the Treehouse Playground, which includes a 33-foot slide, bridges, and an interactive NEOS play system. There are also free live concerts, family-friendly events, movie nights and holiday celebrations.

The Downtown Container Park is located just a few blocks away from the Fremont Street Experience.

Fremont Street is a romantic spot because of the lights, sounds, people and hidden intimate spots!
Wacky, wild Fremont Street! Photo credit: Susie Kellogg

19. Fremont Street Experience

If you are looking for a uniquely Vegas experience and your kids love a good light show, come on downtown to the Freemont Street Experience and check out the Viva Vision Light Show.

Viva Vision is the largest video screen in the world, with 12.5 LED million lights stretching 1,375 feet long, 90 feet wide, and suspended 90 feet above Fremont Street’s famous pedestrian mall. Every night, the screen lights up with dazzling displays synchronized to rocking music. The show lasts about six minutes and runs on the hour, from 6 pm to 2 am.

The area can get a little wild and it is not the best neighborhood, so keep your kids close and go on the early side of the evening if you want to catch the light show.

20. Ethel M Chocolate Factory

Love chocolate? Visit the Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Henderson, just ten minutes away from the Vegas Strip, where you can take a free tour, sample free chocolates, and watch chocolate being made at the factory.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory is also home to a three-acre Botanical Cactus Garden. It is free to enter, and you can stroll through to see 300 species of cacti, succulents, trees and shrubs.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory is located at 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson.

21. Fall of Atlantis Show & Aquarium

The Fall of Atlantis is an 11-minute animatronic show set in the kingdom of Atlantis and tells the story of King Atlas. It runs every hour on the hour. The show features fireballs, special effects, water fountains and 9-foot statues. In addition to the show, there is a beautiful 50,000-gallon aquarium filled with over 300 saltwater fish.

Exterior of the M&M store, one of the fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids
M&Ms store on the Las Vegas Strip. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

22. M&Ms World

Located right next to the MGM Grand Casino & Hotel, on the Las Vegas Strip, M&M World is a four-story giant store celebrating all things M&M’s candy.

Kids will love the giant wall showcasing tubes filled with different colored M&Ms you won’t find anywhere else. Shop for candy and souvenirs, including clothes, stuffed animals, housewares, accessories, and so much more!

23. Hershey’s Chocolate World

Located in the New York, New York Hotel & Casino, Hershey’s Chocolate World is a 2-story, 13,000-square-foot flagship store that showcases hundreds of Hershey’s candy products, along with clothing, gifts and souvenirs. The store features a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty made entirely of chocolate!

Kids can customize their own candy bars. Adults will want to swing by the adjacent Chocolate Bar for some specialty cocktails.

Coca Cola sign outside the store in the Las Vegas Strip, one of the fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids
Photo credit: Cindy Richards

24. The Coca-Cola Store

Located on the Strip just north of the MGM Grand Hotel, the Coca-Cola Store celebrates all things Coke. Of course you can shop and check out all the fun soda-themed gear, but you’ll want to stop by their beverage bar on the second floor for an Around the World Tray. You’ll get 16 different 4-ounce sodas from different countries around the world. Share the sips and you’ve got a fun family activity, and a bit of a cultural experience, too!

25. Eataly Las Vegas

Does your family love Italian food? Be sure to stop by Eataly Las Vegas, located inside the Park MGM Hotel and Casino.

Comprised of more than a dozen authentic Italian eateries and hundreds of high-quality products, Eataly Las Vegas is a 40,000-square-foot Italian marketplace where you can eat, sip, shop, watch and learn. They have stations for pizza, pasta, wine, cheese, gelato and even Nutella.

Eataly is totally free to enter, but of course you need to purchase food if you want to try anything. Regardless, kids will love walking around watching pasta being made fresh, and other food demonstrations.

FlyOver Las Vegas entrance
The entrance from Las Vegas Boulevard. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

26. FlyOver Las Vegas

This virtual reality indoor ride will send you soaring around the world on an experience created by created by Rick Rothschild, the retired Disney Imagineer who created Soarin’ rides at Disneyland’s California Adventure in Anaheim California and EPCOT at Disney World in Orlando Florida. The 8K film and 6D experience (the rides move front and back, and twist side to side while you’re buffeted by wind and misted by spray and scents) is an upgraded version of Soarin’.

There are three experiences from which to choose.

Public art is everywhere and one of the fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids
Public art is everywhere in Las Vegas. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

27. Public Art

Public art is everywhere in Las Vegas! Stroll along The Strip but also take the side streets to find hidden spots showcasing the artwork.

28. Family-Friendly Las Vegas Shows

Las Vegas is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, so don’t let the fact that you are visiting with kids stop you from seeing a show!

There are a number of Cirque du Soleil shows on the Vegas Strip that are both fabulous and family-friendly, including Mystere, O, The Beatles Love and Michael Jackson One. The Blue Man Group at the Luxor is always a hit and one of our favorites!

Enjoy a fun dinner as you cheer on your knight at the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur. There are also a number of comedy acts and magic shows in Las Vegas.

Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids - Red Rock Canyon
Las Vegas Red Rock Canyon. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

29. Day Trips from Las Vegas

If you’ve got a day to spare, there are some amazing destinations in Nevada just a short drive away from the Vegas Strip.

Hoover Dam is located less than an hour east of Las Vegas. Take a guided tour to learn the history and importance of Hoover Dam. There is an observation deck where you can get an up-close view of the dam and how it works.

Lake Mead National Recreational Area is also nearby. It offers hiking, bike trails, boating, fishing and other water sports.

Our favorite day trip from Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon. Don’t miss your chance to see the stunning red rock formations and natural beauty of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. If your family likes to hike, there are a number of trails for various levels of fitness. If hiking or rock climbing isn’t your thing you can enjoy the scenic drive, viewpoints, and the visitor’s center.

You can also visit the Grand Canyon!

Grand Canyon National Park is about two hours away from Las Vegas, so it can be done in a day either by car or via a bus tour. But for the ultimate experience, splurge on a helicopter tour! There are a number of tour companies that prov


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *