Las Vegas may be famous for casinos and nightlife, but families have plenty of ways to keep children entertained without spending the entire trip around adult attractions.
From indoor amusement rides and aquariums to desert adventures and Grand Canyon sightseeing, Las Vegas can be a surprisingly easy destination to enjoy with kids.
Here are some of the best family-friendly activities to consider while planning your trip.
1. Spend a few hours at Adventuredome
Adventuredome at Circus Circus is one of the easiest family attractions to add to a Las Vegas itinerary because the entire amusement park is indoors.
Families can find roller coasters, family rides, arcade games, miniature golf and other attractions for a range of ages.
The indoor setting also makes Adventuredome particularly useful during the hottest parts of the Las Vegas summer.
2. Explore Downtown Container Park
Downtown Container Park combines shops, restaurants and entertainment with a play area for children.
Its unusual shipping-container design makes the destination interesting for adults while the play area gives younger travelers somewhere to burn off energy.
Families visiting Downtown Las Vegas can easily combine it with other nearby sightseeing.
3. Visit Shark Reef Aquarium
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay gives families a chance to see sharks, rays, sea turtles and other marine animals without leaving the Las Vegas Strip.
For families with younger children, an aquarium can provide a welcome change of pace from walking through large resorts and outdoor attractions.
4. Visit Discovery Children’s Museum
Discovery Children’s Museum in Downtown Las Vegas is designed around hands-on learning and interactive play.
Its exhibits combine science, creativity, problem-solving and physical activity, making it especially useful for families traveling with younger children.
5. Enjoy the free Las Vegas sights
Not every family activity needs another ticket.
The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and the Fountains of Bellagio are two of the best-known free attractions on the Strip.
Walking through themed resorts, seeing the lights along Las Vegas Boulevard and exploring different hotel displays can also be entertaining for children when built into a relaxed itinerary.
6. Get outside the Strip
Las Vegas is surrounded by spectacular desert scenery.
Red Rock Canyon offers sandstone cliffs, scenic overlooks and opportunities to experience the Mojave Desert just outside the city.
Families interested in outdoor sightseeing should plan around the weather, particularly during the hottest summer months.
7. See Las Vegas from the air
For families looking for something more memorable than another attraction on the Strip, a helicopter sightseeing flight provides a completely different view of Las Vegas.
Depending on the tour selected, families can fly over the Las Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead or continue toward the Grand Canyon.
Compare current Las Vegas Strip helicopter tours to see the available experiences.
Passenger age, weight and identification requirements vary by tour, so review the individual tour details before booking for your family.
8. Make the Grand Canyon part of your family vacation
The Grand Canyon can turn a Las Vegas family vacation into an experience children remember long after the trip is over.
Families can compare Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas or explore Grand Canyon airplane tours for another way to see the canyon from above.
When comparing options, pay attention to total tour time, departure location, transportation arrangements and whether the experience includes a landing or is an air-only sightseeing flight.
Is Las Vegas a good destination for families?
It can be.
The best family trips usually combine a few major attractions with downtime, outdoor sightseeing and activities chosen for the ages and interests of your children.
Individual attractions can change their age, height and admission requirements, so confirm the current rules before visiting.
For help choosing a Las Vegas or Grand Canyon flight for your family, call GC Flight at 1-800-871-1030.