Las Vegas - Pitstops for Kids

Guide to Las Vegas with kids: family-friendly Las Vegas vacation

June 1, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

There was a time when I didn’t think of Las Vegas as a family-friendly trip idea, but in the past few years, Vegas hotels and attractions have made strides to be more kid-oriented. Whether your family trip focuses on Las Vegas entertainment, outdoor recreation, or dining (or all of the above), the following advice can help make your trip to Sin City much more wholesome.

During this time of uncertainty, outdoor activities offer the best ability to safely social distance. Hotels.com asked me to share my favorite activities and tips for exploring Las Vegas, so start here as you plan a safe and responsible vacation.

Where to stay:

Families will want to compare hotel prices in Las Vegas, but to find Las Vegas hotels that focus on kids, you’ll also want to look closely at amenities. Sure, Circus Circus is known for their big-top attraction, but families can easily visit their AdventureDome during a day trip. Better to find a hotel with a great pool, family-friendly dining, and preferably, no smoking. Think a family-friendly oasis is impossible to find in Vegas? It’s not! Our picks: the Westgate Las Vegas, or the Four Seasons Las Vegas and the Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau, both non-gaming luxury hotels.

Take day trips off the Strip:

Many parents (myself included, our first stay) make the mistake of walking along the Strip during the daytime. They believe it will be ‘tamer’, with less drinking and drunken people during the daylight hours. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and instead, families are subjected to the same number of drunken individuals, made worse by the fact that it’s only 11 am. In fact, seeing so much day drinking is downright depressing. Instead, take a day trip outside the Strip during the day.

Our picks:

Red Rock Canyon
Grand Canyon
Hoover Dam

Come back to your hotel by around 5 pm, clean up, and head out with the kids from 6 pm to 10 pm. You’ll see all the neon and lights, the glitz and the glamour of the Strip, but before it gets truly rowdy. This is a great opportunity to eat out at an innovative, fun restaurant before its most crowded time period, then take in a kid-friendly show or attraction, like the Bellagio water show or a ride on the New York New York roller coaster.

Where to eat:

Las Vegas has experienced a culinary renaissance of sorts in the past five years. Families can find top tier dining all over the city, but if you’re not looking for a four-diamond experience with kids, we recommend something different: the Tournament of Kings located in Excalibur. Families enjoy entertainment along with their meal (which is kid-friendly meat and potatoes fare) and adults will have fun, too. For something less extensive, try the Rainforest Cafe in the MGM Grand.

Need casual food options? Check these out:

Bobby’s Burger Palace: on the South Strip, near Aria
Snack Shack, outside New York New York
Miracle Mile shops (Chipotle, Earl of Sandwich, more)
Town Square (south of Mandalay Bay)

What to see:

Entertainment abounds in Vegas, but what to see with kids? Our top picks are the Comedy Pet Theater at Planet Hollywood or sea-life viewing at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium. If in doubt, treat kids to an evening at any number of high-end, extensive video game arcades along the strip. Some shops along the Strip are kid-friendly, like the World of M&Ms and Adidas store. Learn more about things to do in Vegas with kids.

Shows to catch while in town:

Blue Man Group: art, music, non-verbal performing…it’s hard to describe but stunning.
Penn and Teller: We love that these magicians are also funny…very funny.
Ka by Cirque du Soleil: the ultimate in circus performing arts, martial arts, acrobatics, and puppetry. In other words, something for everyone.
Tournament of Kings: Located in the Excalibur, this dinner theater showcases dueling knights and lots of action.
Recycled Percussion: this ‘junk rock’ performance allows the audience to play along on pots, pans, sinks, etc.

Arcades and attractions for older kids:

The arcade at New York New York is extensive, as is the Midway arcade in Circus Circus. GameWorks Las Vegas is located next to the MGM Grand. The Luxor’s Games of the Gods arcade is one of the best for virtual rides and interactive gaming experiences. Want an old-fashioned midway instead? Head to Circus Circus, the Excalibur Fantasy Fair Midway, or the Strat-o-Fair at the Stratosphere Hotel.

We really enjoyed the New York New York roller coaster, but be warned: you have to walk all the way through the extensive arcade to get to the ride entrance. If you don’t like heights, the location of the coaster, with the rail suspended outside the hotel’s skyscraper, might just do you in before the vertical drops and inverted loops do!

The Stratosphere Sky Wheel is tamer, or on the opposite end of the scale, the hotel hosts a whole slew of terrifying-looking rides on the tower. For families with older kids, the Vegas Indoor Skydiving allows families to ‘fly’ together in wind tunnels. (Except to pay dearly, however).

If you want to make an entire afternoon of it, head to the AdventureDome at Circus Circus (you may want to take a cab to this very North Strip hotel). Inside, you’ll find roller coasters, kiddie rides, a midway experience…basically a theme park inside a dome. Check ticketing options to get the best deal for your group…paying a la carte would add up!

Photo credit: Aigle Dore.

We worked in conjunction with hotels.com to bring you the best of Las Vegas. All opinions are our own.

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Grown-Up Getaway: Downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street

January 10, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

If your usual Las Vegas stomping grounds include only the Strip, or if, like me, you think ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to a Las Vegas getaway, a stay (or even just a day) in historic downtown Las Vegas may be just what you need to see this city from a different perspective.

Downtown Las Vegas is located toward the ‘top’ of the Strip, above the Stratosphere, and retains some of the original roots that made Vegas such a glittering, fun-loving city in the 1950s and 60s. We recommend spending time here only during an adults-only Las Vegas getaway, as its authenticity includes more than a dash of grittiness.

What to do during the day:

You’ll want to center your downtown Las Vegas day on and around Fremont Street. Head to the Downtown Container Park, located at 707 Fremont, and check out this artsy and interesting outdoor shopping and dining area created out of shipping containers and box cars. You’ll see a huge praying mantis at the entrance (an art piece, perhaps?) and layers of fun boutiques, coffee houses, and bistros in the area surrounding shaded seating. Expect good music, a clean, friendly atmosphere, and even a big playground for kids.

Next, go to the Mob Museum, located at 300 Stewart, just a few blocks from the Container Park. Built as a nod to Vegas’ mobster past, the Mob Museum includes true stories of organized crime, including crimes in Vegas history. It’s put together in an interactive, immersive way, with several levels of exhibits and displays.

Where to eat:

In the daytime, head to the Commissary, located at the bottom of the Downtown Grand, for great breakfast burritos, espresso, and sandwiches. Do yourself a favor and skip the hotel buffets at old-school casinos like the Golden Nugget or the Fremont. In the evening, try Itsy Bitsy, located at 150 Las Vegas Blvd. This ramen house offers up steaming bowls of ramen noodles and rice dishes, served alongside amazing sake. Try the cucumber sake for a refreshing, light drink.

For an after-dinner cocktail or two, avoid the ‘street’ drinks in plastic cups found along Fremont in favor of the Griffin bar, which surprises with a cozy English pub interior (with a pretty bare bones exterior). As an alternative, the Downtown Grand’s Art Bar, located on the ground floor, has great drink specials and a bright, tasteful, and airy atmosphere.

What to do at night:

You won’t find world-class shows or impressive hotel interiors downtown, but you will find a slice of Vegas culture unlike even that you see on the Strip. The Fremont Street Experience includes the massive, bright, neon-canopied pedestrian-only street where zip-liners fly overhead, bands play live, and casinos beckon on every corner. In the street, the people watching is fantastic; expect to see everything from half-naked people to open drunkenness to beggars and street performers (both talented and untalented). As noted above, this is not an atmosphere for children, but can certainly be a fun culture shock for an adult getaway.

Zip-lining above the crowd will set you back $20 per person for the lower, slower line and $40 for the high line. Plan to buy tickets at the start of the Fremont Street (where the covered area starts) well before you want to zip…the wait time tends to be about an hour. You don’t have to wait in line; rather, you’re issued a time to return.

Live music is generally fun and loud, and on the hour, the entire neon ceiling of the Fremont Street Experience comes alive with images and video to coordinate with music. For a non-gaming, non-partying crowd, one evening (or even one hour) on Fremont will be enough, but I can certainly see the authentic appeal for the wilder set.

Heading to Vegas with the kids? Check out our guide to Las Vegas with kids, our top kid-friendly attractions, and where we think you should stay.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

November 9, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Just 20 minutes from the bright and bustling Las Vegas strip, Red Rock Canyon can be a welcome respite from the crowds, especially in the spring or fall. (If visiting in summer, try to make it a morning expedition.)

Start at the visitor’s center, located at the start of the scenic loop drive. The Canyon Interpretive Association puts on occasional classes and programs, so check when you arrive. After orienting yourself to this large conservation area, hop in the car and start the loop drive, which takes you through red rock formations and canyon vistas. Families will find numerous locations to stop and take a trail. For young children, your best bet is the Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail.

Families with school-aged kids may want to try our favorite trail, Pine Creek. Located just two miles from the end of the scenic loop, Pine Creek starts with a decline into the canyon bottom and past the site of a historic settler’s cabin (just the foundation remains). After about a mile, the trail starts to incline, taking hikers along shaded Pine Creek. This creek is flowing year-round, and is lined with greenery including trees and ferns. It’s truly a special grotto in the heart of the desert! The entire trail is about three miles out-and-back, or there are numerous additional trails that stem from the same trailhead for more options.

Tip: be sure to look up…this canyon is well-known by rock climbers, and families may spot a few on the cliffs above.

Date last visited: October 2015

Distance off the interstate: 15 minutes from I-15.

Hours and Admission Prices: Hours are from dawn to dusk. Fees are by vehicle ($20 for an annual pass).

Bathrooms: Several along the Children’s Discovery Trail, pit toilets at trailheads

Website: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Directions: From I-15, take exit 34 to merge onto Bruce Woodbury Beltway/Clark County 215 W. Take exit 26 for Charleston Blvd, then turn left at W Charleston Blvd. Continue onto Charleston Bl/NV-159 W. Turn right.

Family-friendly Vegas hotel: Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau

March 13, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Is Las Vegas a family-friendly destination? While I believe there are better vacation choices for families, there are plenty of reasons families find themselves here, from conventions to shows to sport tournaments. And when you do go, you’ll need a family-friendly Vegas hotel.

We just returned from Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau, and let me tell you: we’ll never stay anywhere else in Vegas. This non-gaming, non-smoking hotel right in the heart of the action felt like an oasis for our family, with a quiet ambiance, high-end decor, and excellent customer service. Even better, the value is unparalleled.

What you get when you stay at Marriott Vacation Club Grand Chateau:

a family-friendly suite, with real rooms (not just ‘areas’) and a full kitchen
complimentary valet parking
free wifi
two outdoor pools and hot tubs
the best exercise facility I’ve seen in a hotel in a long time

We stayed in a two-bedroom suite, which could have slept 8. We had two complete bedrooms and two bathrooms (one of which had a jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower, the other of which had a walk-in shower). Our living space (in a third room) consisted of a living/sitting area with couch, a full dining room table, and a full kitchen, with oven, stovetop, dishwasher, and all kitchenware needed. There was nothing we were lacking; we had pots and pans, dishes, plates, silverware, utensils, bottle openers…even a tiny salt and pepper shaker.

Every unit at Grand Chateau includes a full washer and dryer (yay!) and free wifi connection. Parking is free and very convenient.

We were one block from the South Strip, which meant we were a five minute walk from the pedestrian paths up and down the Strip and a 10-minute walk to New York New York and the Aria. The Miracle Mile shops (with good fast food options) are a two minute walk away, at best.

Hotel amenities:

Upon check-in, families receive a full page of activities scheduled during their stay. Buckle up…there’s a lot on there, from arts and crafts to tequila tasting. In addition, there are two pool complexes at Grand Chateau. The first is on level 5, with a larger outdoor pool, lounge areas, hot tubs, and a bar and grill open during daytime hours. The second pool is on the rooftop, adjacent to Sky Bar 38. This pool is also kid-friendly, and there’s an additional hot tub here. Both have towels and changing rooms on-hand. Even if you don’t grab a cocktail at the bar, take a peek at the amazing views of the Strip!

The exercise facility is located on level 1, and is the largest I’ve seen in a long while. You have the full range of cardio equipment here, as well as extensive weight training and stretching areas. I worked out during the ever-popular 7 am-8 am time period, and had no trouble getting the machines I needed.

The valet parking is located right out front, of course, and there are ample valets on-hand to take your car immediately. Getting your car out is easy too: just hang onto your slip and have the valet desk scan it. We never waited more than five minutes for our car (and we visited during the busy Valentine’s Day weekend). We tipped our valets daily, but parking is complimentary.

Dining at Grand Chateau:

Grand Chateau does not offer a full restaurant. Rather, you’ll find a lobby bar, Sky Bar 38, and the Pool Bar and Grill. There’s a marketplace with convenience foods, which also serves as a coffee bar in the morning and has treats and ice cream available any time. We utilized this amenity quite a bit. If you plan to prepare most your meals in your kitchen (by far the most economical way to visit Vegas with kids), stop en route at a grocery store and stock up. However, we easily grabbed a carton of milk and a box of cereal, plus snacks and drinks, at the Marketplace.

From the hotel, the Miracle Mile shops are directly across the street, where you’ll find plenty of healthy fast food options, like Chipotle and Earl of Sandwich.

Room rates:

You’ll probably be surprised at how affordable full suites for your family can be at Grand Chateau. While this hotel is a Marriott Vacation Club, you don’t have to be a member to stay here. At the time of our visit, our two-bedroom unit was listed at just over $200/night. Single room units were well below this. Check for current rates.

Overall, it’s hard to define the worth of being able to step inside your Vegas hotel lobby and not be accosted by the smell of lingering cigarette smoke or hear the buzz and clang of gaming machines. To me and my family, this is priceless. Of course, gaming can be found within easy walking distance of the hotel, but you’ll be isolated from it once ‘home’. We valued this ‘amenity’ above all else, and we’ll be back!

For another hotel pick that may fit your family, check out our review of Desert Club Resort.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we stayed at Grand Chateau as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own. After three Marriott Vacation Club location reviews to date, we were not surprised to love Grand Chateau!

Family friendly Las Vegas: Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Desert Club Resort

August 23, 2013 By Sharlene Earnshaw

Guest post written by Sisily Calvert.

While most think of Vegas as Sin City, my family loves to take the challenge of finding family friendly Las Vegas Nevada experiences, as the city is our home away from home. We recently tallied up our trips to Las Vegas and in just the last four years since my daughter was born, we came up with a staggering 30 plus times. Believe it or not that is a decline from the 12 times a year we visited up until I gave birth in ’08.

“What does Vegas possibly have that is family friendly?” That is the usual question I get when other families learn about our obsession with this desert town. While there are several things that fill up our days while in Vegas, I want to talk about a recent gem that my family and I were so lucky to experience.

Our last six years have been spent in luxurious hotels in rooms that are bigger than our house, which of course makes mom and dad happy. What I’m about to let you in on is happiness for the entire family. The Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Desert Club Resort is nothing less than family vacation perfection. What started out as “how bad could it be,” turned into both my husband and me saying that hands-down, this was the best Vegas vacation we have had. Let me remind you we are not amateurs at the Vegas vacation thing. The Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort exceeded our expectations and completely undermined our previous stays.

Villas:

The minute we walked in we felt the comforts of home. What immediately caught this mom’s eye was the full kitchen: no kitchenette here. What I had wished I’d known is how comprehensive this kitchen was. So I will do my best to list everything I can remember: full size refrigerator, full size stove, full size dishwasher with soap, coffee maker with coffee, microwave, toaster, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, tea kettle and tea, wine opener, can opener, sharp knives, dish soap, dish towels, and paper towels. If I would have known there was a toaster and full size coffee maker, I would have been more prepared. Another huge bonus is the full washer and dryer in every villa. It was so wonderful to come home with a suitcase full of clean laundry; this was a first! Our villa seemed newly upgraded, with beautiful furniture, flat screen T.V., the biggest bathtub I have ever seen, plus updated kitchen and bathrooms. There is one thing that needs improvement and it’s the pillows, they are so hard and thick it was more comfortable to sleep without one.

Service:

Checking in was almost fun! That might sound weird, but from the moment we arrived it really felt different than other hotels in Vegas (not to mention other hotels in general). Other hotels should take notice; the Holiday Inn Club Vacations staff is trained and hired for customer service. What I found to be even more astounding is when a small problem arose, from phone call to door knock was less than five minutes. That has never happened anywhere I have stayed. Bravo to you, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, for hiring and or training people correctly.

Restaurant:

Prospector Joe’s Gold Mind Bar & Grill is their on-sight restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is reasonably priced and tasty. My husband enjoyed a chicken pesto Panini while I enjoyed an amazing beet veggie burger. Remember the incredible service that I was talking about; expect the same from the incredibly friendly and fun restaurant staff. It was 119 degrees the weekend we went and they threw in a complimentary frozen lemon-aid for my daughter!

Pool:

The pool is where we spent most of our time. The property has five pools spread out between the villas. We liked the pool closest to the restaurant because it had the waterfall and was a bit livelier. We also loved that if we got hungry or thirsty that we didn’t need to go far to get a quick bite or a cool drink.

Game room:

The Game Room was a really well equipped to entertain children and adults alike. Make sure you bring your quarters (they also have a change machine) and rack up a game of pool, air hockey, or video games. This was a great place to beat the heat and have a little friendly family competition.

Bottom line:

I would absolutely recommend Holiday Inn Club Vacations when traveling with kids. The atmosphere was so family friendly and fun. In some of the major hotels in Vegas people give you snarky looks when children tag along; not everyone loves the sound of children splashing in the pool when they’re nursing their hangover! Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a smart family choice considering all the amenities in the room as well.

Date last visited: June 2013

Distance from the interstate: near I-15

Room rates: Villas started at just $109 at the time of visit.

Directions: From I-15 North or South: Take the Flamingo Road East exit. Travel past the Strip (Las Vegas Blvd.) to Koval Lane. Turn left (north) on Koval Lane and the resort will be on your right.

Disclosure: My family and I received a complimentary stay to facilitate this write up. I was not told to express a certain point of view. All views are my own.

Photo credit: Sean McEntee, Sisily Calvert, Holiday Inn Club Vacations