Las Vegas may be known as the city that never sleeps. However, did you know that it can be a fabulous destination for a family vacation? Yes, Las Vegas is a wonderful place to take the kids! There are so many things to do in Las Vegas. And the day trips you can take will make your family vacation even more magical. Today, I am going to share the best things to do in Las Vegas. As well as a side trip or two that will allow you to make memories together as a family.  

Best Things to Do in Las Vegas 

Take Family Pictures at the Las Vegas Sign 

On your way into Las Vegas, stop at the Las Vegas Sign. This is a wonderful place to take your first family pictures on vacation.  

There are usually professional photographers at this sign. They will use your camera to take pictures of you. And since they are professionals, they know the best poses to make these pictures perfect.  

Walk Up and Down the Strip 

Do you love wearing your kids out while on family vacations? Well, in Las Vegas, one of the easiest ways to do that is by walking up and down the Strip.  

This four and a quarter mile walkway will take you from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere. You can check out all the iconic landmarks in between. A couple of those landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, Bellagio Fountains, and the Grand Canal at the Venetian.  

Oh, and if you walk to each and every casino and resort along the way, you will add many more miles to this family adventure!  

Check Out the Bellagio 

One of the best things to do in Las Vegas is to watch the fountains in front of the Bellagio. This water show is set to music. And at night, lights make the water look even more magical as it dances to the music.  

The water show at the Bellagio begins at three o’clock during the week and noon on weekends. It ends at midnight.  

Of course, there is so much more to see inside the Bellagio. Check out the conservatory, which is decked out for each season of the year. There is also a chocolate shop with a massive chocolate fountain inside the Bellagio. That alone is worth the long walk inside from the Strip.  

Take a Ride to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 

One of the best day trips from Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This beautiful area is only about seventeen miles from the Strip. Take a drive along the thirteen miles of scenic landscape. Or hike one of the trails in the Mojave Desert.  

I recommend doing the hikes early in the morning and staying in your air-conditioned car in the afternoons. Especially if you are visiting Las Vegas during the summer months when the temperatures can be brutally hot.  

Ride the High Roller Observation Wheel 

Kids and adults love riding on Ferris wheels. You can ride one right on the Strip in Las Vegas. The High Roller can be found at the LINQ. This observation wheel is five hundred fifty feet tall. There are twenty-eight pods that are enclosed.  

Your ride will take approximately thirty minutes. During this time, you can see the entire Strip. It is a fabulous time to take pictures of the area from a different vantage point.  

Head Over to Fremont Street 

Fremont Street offers five blocks of fun on pedestrian only streets. It is best to visit at night, so you can watch the Viva Vision Light Show. Although, the kids may be more interested in the zipline, which is eleven stories above the pedestrian area.  

Check Out the Mob Museum 

Everyone knows the mob played a huge part in making Las Vegas the city it is today. If you have older kids, one of the best things to do in Las Vegas is visiting the Mob Museum. Inside this museum, your family can learn about gangsters like Bugsy Siegel, John Gotti, and Al Capone.  

See the Signs at the Neon Museum 

One of the more child-friendly museums in Las Vegas is the Neon Museum. This is where old neon signs are taken to spend their days in the Neon Boneyard. There are more than two hundred and fifty old neon signs in the boneyard.  

You can take a guided tour of the boneyard during the day or a guided tour at night. The signs in the boneyard are not lit up, but ground lights do illuminate them once the sun sets.  

Watch a Show 

There are too many shows to count in Las Vegas. One of the more popular options for families is Cirque du Soleil. These acrobatic performances will keep the entire family on the edge of the seats until the very end.  

Of course, you could also go watch a magic show or attend a concert by your favorite musician.  

Take a Day Trip to the Hoover Dam 

The Hoover Dam is approximately thirty-five miles from Las Vegas. This dam confines Lake Mead and provides power to three states.  

You can easily drive to the Hoover Dam on your own. Or I can arrange for a bus tour as part of your Las Vegas vacation.  

Watch the Volcano Erupt Outside the Mirage 

Outside the Mirage is a volcano that will rumble and erupt a few times each night. During each eruption, lit magma shoots towards the sky.  

This volcano will only be in front of the Mirage until the end of 2023. After that time, the Mirage will be turned into a Hard Rock hotel and a guitar, or other object, will take the place of the volcano. Check out this volcano now while you still can!  

Take a Gondola Ride at the Venetian 

You may not be able to travel to Venice this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a gondola ride down the Grand Canal with your family. Over at the Venetian, you can climb into a gondola and ride down the Grand Canal. You can choose the inside route or the outside route.  

Head to the Top of the Eiffel Tower 

Okay, and you may not see Paris this summer either. But you can still head to the top of the Eiffel Tower during your family vacation in Las Vegas. I recommend heading up to the top at night, so you can see the Strip lit up. The best part is you can see the Bellagio water fountains from the top of the Eiffel Tower. What a spectacular way to see the dancing water show! 

Head to the Beach at Mandalay Bay 

Mandalay Bay has the best beach and pool area on the Strip. If you are not a guest of this hotel, you can rent a cabana for the day to gain access to the beach. It is a wonderful way to give the kids a beach day in the middle of a city.  

Have Fun at the Adventuredome at Circus Circus 

Yes, Las Vegas has its own theme park right on the Strip. Behind Circus Circus, you will find the Adventuredome. This indoor amusement park has twenty-five rides and attractions. There is also a miniature golf course, rock climbing wall, and arcade.  

Spending the day at Circus Circus is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas with kids.  

Take a Tour of Death Valley 

Another fascinating day trip from Las Vegas will have you heading to Death Valley. I recommend taking a tour of Death Valley, because the guides know how incredibly hot this desert can be. And what can go wrong if you are not prepared.  

Plus, while on this tour, you will get to stop at Mule Team Canyon, Badwater, and Zabriskie Point.  

Play in Dirt at Dig This 

Who said that adults can’t play in the dirt?? Over at Dig This, your family can dig trenches, stack huge tires, and so much more. You won’t know how much fun using a bulldozer can be until you spend a little time at Dig This.  

These are some of the best things to do in Las Vegas during a family vacation. As you can see, Las Vegas is quite family friendly. And honestly, I didn’t even cover all the different things your family can do together while on vacation in Las Vegas. Don’t worry though, because I can share many of those ideas with you, as I am personalizing your family trip.  

So, are you ready to have me create a personalized family vacation itinerary for your trip to Las Vegas or another destination?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click the link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  

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