I enjoy all your advice and opinions. I have heard many times that Vegas is not a good vacation for kids and have to agree with a lot that is being said. Unfortunately my husband is convinced it will be a great vacation. I do not think there will be any talking him out of it. He will need to see it for himself. The suggestions are very helpful. I would also appreciate any info on accommodations as I am looking to exchange our 2 bedroom at Vistana villages in Orlando.
My thoughts on whether vacations are good or not is that it's largely due to the participants' expectations, attitudes, and determination to have a good vacation. If you plan well and go in with the attitude that it will be a good vacation then you're far more likely to make it a reality than if you go wishing you'd gone somewhere else.
Like I said earlier, there is plenty for kids and teens to do here in Vegas. If there weren't, I wouldn't be raising my son here. Some more suggestions, if you visit during nice weather:
- Red Rock Canyon (go hiking, rock climbing, or just drive through). Be sure to check out the visitor's center.
- Springs Preserve
- Wetlands Park (for a flat hike or walk). Be sure to visit the museum and/or go on a tour to learn about things you might not notice otherwise.
- Hoover Dam
- Maybe take a day tour to the Grand Canyon. There are lots of them. Definitely worth it if you've never been to the west.
- Rent a boat at Lake Mead
- Go paddle boarding at Lake Las Vegas
- If you're here in Winter go up to Mt Charleston to play in the snow or go skiing/ snowboarding
- Go golfing (Vegas has some of the best golf courses in the world. And BTW they're watered with "used" water so it's environmentally responsible)
- Catch a minor league game at
Cashman Field
- Floyd Lamb Park to learn some history of Vegas and see peacocks
- visit First Friday (if you're hear during the 1st Friday of the month). It's an art festival that attracts a lot of teens. Live music and entertainment too.
More indoor stuff:
-
Ice skating
- indoor rock climbing (we have a lot of places for that)
- Bellagio fine art museum and other
galleries
-
SkateCity: we have one indoor skate park if your teens ride skateboards or scooters
Also, some tips:
- Don't plan to do a lot of walking on The Strip. Maybe do it once or do it in the AM. Everything looks closer than it is so you end up walking more than you expect. Plus, as others have mentioned if you walk around at night you'll run into some unpleasant people. I would also avoid Fremont St Experience if you want to avoid the drunks. But time of day is also important. Everything is less busy and more polite in the AM.
- Research how to get to spots without going through a casino if that bothers you. For example, you can do the Miracle Mile without going in the casino. There's shopping between the Luxor and Mandalay Bay that's also accessible without going through a casino. I avoid the casinos as much as possible just to avoid second-hand smoke. But it's also a good idea if you have kids.
- The newer, most expensive, upscale casino/hotels have the best air filtration and fewer rude drunks so maybe plan to visit those. I'm thinking Wynn, Bellagio, Aria, etc.
- Don't forget sunscreen and water, even in Winter. It's bright and arid even when the temp. is a fantastic 80 degrees.
