Have you ever considered a trip to Vegas with kids? Las Vegas is not somewhere most people would equate with a family vacation, but when my husband suggested we book a trip to celebrate my 40th birthday I just assumed we would be bringing the kids along. It was not his original intention, but since we are not big into drinking or partying, my thought process was that they might as well come along since most of the things I would want to see and do are kid friendly anyway!
Our Top 10 Experiences in Vegas with Kids:
1. The Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget
Our day at The Tank Pool was the biggest splurge of our trip, but after seeing the amazing waterslide running through 200,000-gallon shark and ray-filled tank, I knew it would make for a memorable experience for all of us. Since I did not want to chance being turned away at the door, we decided to treat ourselves and book a Cabana ahead of time.
It was one of those perfect days. The kids got along magically and we all enjoyed being served slushy drinks and nachos in our cozy cabana, then being able to jump in the slide right back down into the pool. Up until that point my husband and I also hadn’t gotten a chance to gamble and the poolside tables offered up the perfect solution for us to have some fun together while the kids were entertained and within eyesight.
2. Rugrats: Search For the Losted Toys at The Escape Game (Forum Shops)
This was another splurge, this time completely unplanned and last minute. On our last day we ended up with a few extra hours to kill before our flight so my son suggested this Rugrats themed escape room that had caught his eye walking through The Forums Shops earlier in the week.
The theming of the escape room transported us right back to childhood and was so much fun! We ended up grouped with a pair of 20-something fellows from England and the adults and kids alike all had a blast working to figure out the puzzles and discover what surprises they unlocked. We managed to make it out just in time (with several hints) and it made for the perfect end to our trip.
3. Tournament of Kings at Excalibur Hotel & Casino
The Tournament of Kings was the very first thing I booked for the trip. This live-action show inspired by the tale King Arthur was something my husband and I enjoyed on our first trip many moons ago, and I knew the live horses, jousting, and pyrotechnics would all be something the kids would love. I purposely chose our seats in the “Dragon” section, knowing my son would get a kick out of cheering for the villain’s, and anxiously waited for our feast to arrive to see the kids reaction to eating a whole cornish hen with their hands! The food and the show were both spectacular and we all had a lot of fun.
4. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Next to being in Disney, aquariums are my happy place – I even painted fish and other sea creatures all over the walls of my childhood bedroom to make it feel like I was living under the ocean. Naturally the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is probably my favourite spot in Vegas, especially since it is a nice, quiet escape from all the lights and noise of the casinos. This experience is perfect for all ages with it’s interactive touch pools, fish-filled tunnel, and massive shark viewing tank.
5. FlyOver Las Vegas
FlyOver Las Vegas was by far our 10 year old daughter’s favourite experience. She is not a ride person, but this seemed to offer up the perfect level of thrill with its moving seats timed to amazing high definition video footage. If you have experienced Soarin’ in a Disney park, this is very similar. It also helped that dad was beside her in an extra silly mood offering running joke-filled commentary as we soared through the fjords of Iceland, over waterfalls, and through quaint towns. My original plan was to do the Wonders of the American West show, but due to timing we ended up choosing Iceland and the landscape was absolutely incredible.
6. Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage
The Secret Garden was another Vegas staple I was excited to share with the kids. Upon writing this article I have discovered it is now permanently closed. I am glad we were able to see the dolphins, lions, leopards and tigers up close, but am also happy to see that they are being moved to a more suitable environment. *If you are looking for a similar animal viewing experience, I recommend the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo. Bonus, it is FREE!*
7. The High Roller Las Vegas Strip Observation Wheel
The Linq Promenade is all new since the last time we have been to Vegas (it had been a while!) so I was very excited to take a ride on the High Roller Observation Wheel. The round trip takes about 30 minutes in a comfortable air-conditioned pod, and offers up some pretty amazing 360 degree views from its crest at 550 feet above the strip. We experienced it during the day and I would imagine it would be even more spectacular at night!
8. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Another fantastic free activity for all ages is a stroll through the 14,000-square-foot Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio. This stunning floral showcase offers an array of sights, sounds, scents and colours in a new and interesting theme for each season – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. During our visit we got to enjoy an array of larger-then-life floral animal sculptures swinging and playing in the conservatory.
9. Meow Wolf Omega Mart at Area 15
Much like the Tank Pool, Instagram photos largely influenced my desire to add Area 15 to our itinerary. There is a lot packed under one roof, but the highlight is definitely the quirky Omega Mart, filled with secret doors and visual surprises at every turn! This immersive art exhibit is decribed as “an extraordinary supermarket that bursts into surreal worlds and unexpected landscapes” and is something you truly have to see to believe.
Area 15 offers a variety of experiences including a fun indoor zipline the kids went on and an immersive Space themed exhibit we saw in Illuminarium.
10. Fountains of Bellagio
Watching the Bellagio Fountains is an essential part of any Las Vegas experience! Best of all, it is entirely free to watch the water erupt and “dance” in time with the music. We enjoyed watching different songs/shows from both the street level and from the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel & Casino.
We had a great trip and I love that we managed to pack even more family fun into our 5 days then I originally had planned for! A family trip to Vegas with kids is not what you typically think of when you hear someone is headed to celebrate a milestone birthday, but it ended up being a fantastic way to celebrate my 40th with my 3 favourite people.
