Question of the Day - 07 June 2011

Most rides have some kind of restriction, in the main a minimum height requirement, although a few also have maximum weight and/or maximum height restrictions. Here's the lowdown:

Stratosphere Tower:

• Big Shot -- The Daddy of all Vegas thrill rides, this bad boy shoots you 160 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour and back down again. Experience a gut-wrenching four 'G's of force on the way up, and feel negative 'G's on the way down as your legs dangle over the Las Vegas skyline... There is a height requirement of 48 inches for this ride.

• XScream propels you 27 feet over the edge of the tower in a mini roller coaster-type car, while Insanity extends you out over the Strip on a massive mechanical arm, then twists and spins you at speeds of up to three 'G's. There's no stated weight restriction for either of these, but riders must be at least 52" tall.

• Skyjump - The latest addition to the Strat's arsenal of scariness, this allows you to experience 108 storeys of controlled freefall. There is no height restriction, but there's a weight limit of 275 lbs.

Circus Circus Adventuredome:

• This is the world's largest indoor amusement park and features all manner of rides, some of which are family-friendly and some less so. The majority have a height minimum of 48", although there are exceptions -- some of the rides for younger kids have a 36" minimum height requirement, for example. A junior wristband (under 48") Ride-All-Day pass is $16.95, while regular wristbands are $26.95. Click here for a list of all the rides and criteria for riding them.

New York-New York

• The minimum height requirement for riding the Roller Coaster at New York-New York, probably the best in town, now that Speed! at the Sahara is gone, is 54".

Flightlinez:

• The zipline attraction that runs beneath the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience has a minimum weight requirement of 60 lbs and maximum of 250 lbs, since the operation of the ride is dependent upon gravitational force. Anyone wishing to ride must have their weight verified by scale before ticket purchase. There's also a maximum height limit of 6'7", due to the clearance requirements of the ride structure.

• Bootleg Canyon Flightlines -- The original Las Vegas zipline attraction permits a weight spectrum of between 75 and 250 lbs. You also must be capable of a short, steep hike, so this experience is not recommended for children under 12.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving:

Restrictions here are height and weight based:

* Male Over 6'0" 230 lbs max. * Between 5'6" & 6'0" 220 lbs max. * Male Under 5'6" 180 lbs max.

* Women Over 6'0" 200 lbs max. * Between 5'6" & 6'0" 180 lbs max. * Women Under 5'6" 160 lbs max.

There's no age limit in either direction, but there's a weight minimum of 40 lbs.

Buffalo Bill's:

• Bill's is home to the Desperado roller coaster and Turbo Drop, both of which have height minimums of 48 inches and seatbelts that have a maximum length of 44 inches, so girth rather than weight is the issue here.
• There are a number of other tamer, more family-friendly attractions, like the Adventure Canyon Log Flume, for which riders must be 46 inches or taller to ride alone. Smaller children may ride if accompanied by an adult. Some of the other rides here, like The Vault A 3-D Experience, also have a maximum height restriction of 6'6".

Pole Position:

• This indoor go-karting track has two locations in Las Vegas. All drivers need to be at least 48 inches tall and be able to safely operate the karts. Racers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a minor-release liability form.

For details of all these, plus other attractions, see our Rides & Activities feature. For suggestions of other ways to pass the time, check out some of the other features in our Vegas Visitor Guide, where you'll find details of diverse museums and galleries (you might be surprised by some of our lesser-known gems), exhibits, free spectacles, and more.

Have fun!