A:
The list of shows suitable for children your kids' age is a very short one. The majority of shows are at night and are not suitable for, nor open to, under-twelves (and up); there are a few daytime shows and some productions stage matinee performances, but even of these, the majority are not appropriate for a five-year-old.
Las Vegas shifted from an unsuccessful experiment with family-friendliness a good few years ago and is now back to being a distinctly adult playground. However, that's not to say that kids are unwelcome or that there's nothing for them to do, especially during pool season (click the link for our Cool Pools section, where you'll find the option to sort the list according to pools open to non-hotel guests, just in case your's isn't up to par.)
Here are some other suggestions:
- Show-wise, you're in luck, as Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater is back for a limited summer run at the V Theater, and this fun show is suitable for animal lovers of any age.
- Mac King's Comedy Magic Show at Harrah's is also family-friendly fun and welcomes audience members aged five and upwards.
That's about it as far as production shows go, but there are plenty of other family-friendly diversions we can recommend:
- Las Vegas has lots of cool stuff to see for free, including the ever-popular dancing Fountain Show at Bellagio, that wows everyone, no matter what age, while the aquarium at the Silverton is really cool and even has mermaids in it! Plan your visit to coincide with feeding time. Click for a complete list of Free Spectacles, with times and other details.
- Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay charges admission fees (click the link for details), but it's a cool attraction and features a "petting pool" that's fun for little ones. Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is another option, if you don't mind parting with a few dollars.
- If your kids like fairground rides, you'll find some tame ones suitable for five to seven year olds at Circus Circus' Adventuredome and out at Buffalo Bill's.
- Las Vegas Springs Preserve is an eco-oriented attraction and botanical garden that's all about being family-friendly and regularly hosts fun events and activities for kids. Check their calendar for the specific schedule during your stay, but there's plenty to do and look at even if there's nothing special going on.
- For the sweet-toothed, M & M's World on the Strip in the Showcase Mall (by MGM Grand) is a good way to kill some time and pick up some fun souvenirs.
We hope that's given you a few ideas. One last word, just in case mom and dad want a night off to go do something more adult-oriented: Here's a link to the list of casino childcare services in our "Visitor Guide" section. Those LVA staffers with kids can vouch for the fact that Kids Quest et al are popular options with young children, who might just want a break from their parents, too!
Update 28 June 2011
One reader wrote in to say what we'd "forgotten" Disney's
The Lion King at Mandalay Bay. True, there's no age restriction on this show, but at 2 1/2 hours running time, we figure that's asking a lot of the attention span of any five-to-seven-year-old child. But if you think your kids can handle it, it's another option (although hardly a cheap one, with tickets starting at $66).
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