Several suggestions for keeping kids busy and happy in Las Vegas.
In the 1990's, Las Vegas tried to erase its Sin City image and bill itself as a family destination. Topless showgirls covered up, comedians washed their mouths out with soap, and MGM Grand build a lovely amusement park to attract the family market.
Flash forward a few years. The showgirls are topless again, comedians curse a blue streak, and the MGM's amusement park has quietly closed. Sin City is back in business.
However, just because Las Vegas no longer actively woos children doesn't mean that there aren't activities for kids to enjoy. In fact, the only place where children are most emphatically not welcome is on the casino floor.
You can still have a delightful time in Vegas with your family. This article provides a few suggestions to get you started.
KID FRIENDLY NATURE EXHIBITS
1. Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Although Siegfried and Roy are no longer performing, you can still visit their lovely animals at this attraction. Pay special attention to the white lions and tigers, but don't forget to take some time to admire the panthers, elephant, and dolphins as well.
2. Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. A brilliant exhibit of sharks and other sea creatures swimming against the backdrop of a sunken treasure. Towards the end of the tour, your kids will have the chance to gently pet a stingray. Beautiful, eerie, and guaranteed to keep any child enthralled for hours.
3. Lion habitat at the MGM Grand. Watch the lions play with trainers, groom themselves, interact with a naturalistic environment, and--most commonly--sleep. (Lions sleep up to eighteen hours a day.) On weekends, you may be able to have your picture taken with a lion cub.
KID FRIENDLY FREE ATTRACTIONS
1. Fountains of the Bellagio. One thousand fountain nozzles elegantly choreographed to different types of music, everything from opera selections to "Luck Be a Lady Tonight." Shows run every thirty minutes from 3:00 p.m., and every fifteen minutes from 7:00 p.m. until midnight.
2. Circus acts at Circus Circus. Every thirty minutes from 11:00 a.m. to midnight, circus performers display feats of grace and strength under the big top. Look for clowns, acrobats, tightrope walkers, aerial performers, etc.
3. Sirens of the TI. Beautiful sirens and brave soldiers! Expect music, choreographed battle sequences, and spectacular special effects. Performances run every ninety minutes after 5:30 p.m.
KID FRIENDLY CINEMA RIDES
1. Race for Atlantis at Caesar's Palace features a three dimensional adventure taking place on an IMAX screen. The plot has to do with finding a shining ring and helping the gods save Atlantis. The action is so realistic, it's easy to forget that you're watching the whole thing in a theater!
2. In Search of the Obelisk at the Luxor. Good guys race bad guys through a pyramid searching for--what else?--the obelisk. The story doesn't tie together well, but the action sequences make it all worthwhile.
3. Star Trek Experience: Borg Invasion 4D. One of the newest of the cinema rides on the Strip, Borg 4D offers amazing special effects and imagination to whisk guests into a lab in the 24th century where they are set upon by Borg intent on "assimilating" them. This ride is brilliant entertainment, but may be a little intense for some youngsters.
KID FRIENDLY ROLLER COASTERS
1. High Roller at the Stratosphere. By normal standards, this is a fairly tame roller coaster. Place it about 1000 feet above ground, however, and you have a pulse-quickening thrill ride.
2. Manhattan Express at the New York, New York. A true treat for roller coaster aficionados, this ride offers blazing speeds, loops, twists, turns, and corkscrews. Recommended for older and more adventurous kids.
3. Speed--The Ride at the Sahara. Experience a thrilling, if slightly standard roller coaster ride forwards. Then take a deep breath, grasp the safety guards, and get ready to experience the whole thing backwards as well. Children love this one, but fair warning to parents--it is not a good after-lunch activity.
KID FRIENDLY HOTELS
1. Excalibur. There's plenty for kids to do in this magical castle. Below the casino lies the Fantasy Faire Midway with a mind-boggling assortment of games of chance and skill. Let Merlin's Magic Motion Machine Rides propel your youngster along a racetrack or a haunted roller coaster. Two flights above the Fantasy Faire Midway, you'll find a unique collection of stores, many of which are geared to the interests of young shoppers. The dinner show, Tournament of Kings, is a real treat for the entire family.
2. Luxor. The Luxor is built like a pyramid, and it's Egyptian theme is evident both inside and out. It offers a two-story arcade, a motion simulator ride, an IMAX theater, and a reproduction of King Tut's tomb. The popular Blue Man Group will appeal to older children and teens. The Luxor is connected by walkway to the Excalibur.
3. Circus Circus. Built in the 1960's, Circus Circus has always been a family destination. The Circus Circus Carnival Midway offers fair games, an impressive arcade, and carnival food. The Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park, offers rides for all ages and levels of thrill-seeking.
So, there you have it. Las Vegas might not bill itself as a family-friendly town anymore, but there's still plenty for kids to experience. Happy traveling!
