Kids or grandkids in town? Here are some free and/or frugal activities that might interest them, ones perhaps that are not as well known:
1. Free family Summer Camp workshops at the Bass Pro Shop attached to the Silverton Hotel and Casino. For details go to their Web site. Also, at the same time you can watch mermaids in the aquarium in the casino right by the back Bass Pro shop entrance.
2. Miniature golf – a good article with a list of venues in Vegas and reviews of each one.
3. Michael’s stores offer craft classes for kids and grownups – go to their Web site for a list of locations and call for the class schedules at each.
4. Many more free actitivies – for kids and adults – are listed at the full-of-information Vegas4Locals Web site. And don’t let the name fool you – many of these will be of interest to tourists as well.
Took the kids to a trained parrot show a few weeks ago at the Royal Resort. Cheap and was great fun for all of us.
Town Square shopping mall on las vegas blvd has a small water and playground area. Very nice and upscale shopping, movie theater and dining. Bring your own towel. Its about a mile south of mandalay bay.
I am a father and grandfather who is frequently in a casino but I still don’t think that Las Vegas, is a family vacation destination.
There is a nice playground and water play area for the young children at the Town Square shopping mall right on las vegas bld. It is maybe a mile from mandalay bay (going south i beleive) Its very new and upscale. There is no charge and we had a great time there today while my husband was in the Apple store. Bring your own towel as they sell them for $15. Lots of great snack stores but you cant have any food in the play area other than water. Super nice!
Thanks everyone. I will try those places. Happy 4th
Splash pads:
A Google search turned up this page, from March 2009, which mentions splash pads in two Vegas valley parks (in addition to other kids’ attractions):
http://living-las-vegas.com/2009/03/family-parks-las-vegas/
This blog, from June 2009, lists quite a few area parks with “water features”, presumably some of which have splash pads – since the author titles it “Splash pads open”. Each park is also linked to a map, so you can see where it is.:
http://summerfuninthevegassun.blogspot.com/2009/06/splash-pads-open.html
Hope this helps.
I remember seeing one of those “splash pads” at a city park in Green Valley, just south of 215. Exit Pecos South and then turn left at Paseo Verde Parkway. Park is on the right. I imagine there are others at other city parks in Vegas and Henderson. Perhaps Googling would find you their locations????
Doug:
If you have a car available, try the Southern Nevada Railroad trip in Boulder City, about 20 miles outside Las Vegas. It’s a 45 minute ride covering 7 miles to Railroad Pass and back. It only operates on Saturdays and Sundays, and the fee is $10 adults and ? for children; there’s a coupon for $1 off on Vegas4Locals.com with schedules. My husband and I enjoyed the trip, as did all the children aboard. We road in the open air car where we caught a nice breeze; there are also air conditioned cars. Train songs (“Spirit of New Orleans,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo, etc.) played over the loudspeakers. The station has several old locomotives on display, and a small gift shop. Right down the street are several fast food restaurants.
However, even though it’s just 10 more miles to get to Hoover Dam, don’t attempt turning onto 93/95 to the Dam. I don’t know if there’s another way to get there, but on June 13th, it took us 1-1/2 hours to go 8 miles, then missed the turnoff for the garage, sending us at 10 MPH over the Dam into Arizona until we could find a turn-around.
Hope you have a great trip – we did!
You’re kids can only spend the amount of money in the arcade that you give them or allow them to spend.
We had a set amount and the kids enjoyed the games and then we moved on when they were finished.
It’s all about moderation. You just tell them no.
We are going to be in Las Vegas the week of july 11-18 with our young children. Are there any nice splash pads (sometimes called spraygrounds or splash parks) where we can bring our kids (age 2 and 5), in case we want a change of scene from our hotel pool? Any other interesting ideas to beat the heat with the kids?
The children’s museum is great, and the natural history museum across the street is great too with a baby shark tank where you can pet the sharks. But watch your fingers!
I always thought that one of the most brilliant marketing moves ever was for the locals’ casinos (led by Stations) to provide multiple kid-friendly amusements. Suddenly, the casino is a family destination!–there are movie multiplexes, arcades stuffed with the latest games, KidQuest, bowling, etc. etc. Now, Mommy and Daddy don’t have to feel so guilty about blowing the kids’ college tuition–they take the kids along, and everybody has a good time!!!
The most savvy kids, including some I have observed, latch onto this guilt vibe and extort enough amusement money out of their parents to provide the kids with a TERRIFIC day of fun and games. I remember my nephew losing money at the arcade MUCH more rapidly than I ever could have, even if I was playing $1 8/5 Bonus.
We use to used a state liscensed drop in day care when we came on the 4th of July. It was not connected to a casino. The kids did crafts related to the holiday.
We also took them to the buffet’s they got a thrill out of all the choices of food.They could have anything as it was a Holiday time.
We took them swimming and bowling. It was a fun time for the whole family. it was great because I was not a camping type person.
Never leave your kids in a arcade or just in a lobby while you go gamble or alone in the hotel room.
Always make sure they have adult supervision.