Question of the Day - 04 August 2017

When this writer’s older son was three, he thought Halloween meant you got dressed up in a costume, opened the front door when the bell rang, and handed out candy to the weirdly dressed people around his height on the doorstep. It worked like a charm for the parents: We didn’t have to go out on Halloween and all the candy was gone at the end of the night!

However, by the time he was five and more discriminating, he’d learned that the actual holiday procedure was the other way around (and he was pissed that we’d been ripping him off the past few years).

Correct us if we’re wrong, but Las Vegas won’t mean much, if anything, to a three-year-old; we’d say your younger niece will be happy just about anywhere her big sister and mom are.

However, the five-year-old might also be too young to go some places that she’ll better appreciate in a few years. For example, the Circus Circus midway seems to us to be geared toward bigger kids and might be somewhat overwhelming for the younger girl; the older one probably wouldn’t get too much out of the skill games, but would probably enjoy the circus acts.

Beyond Circus, in the casinos, we’d bet both girls would really enjoy Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef; even a three-year-old knows what colorful darting fish are. We’ve seen two-year-olds held in rapt attention by this immersive experience of more than 2,000 creatures large and small, including 15 species of sharks. The Touch Pool is a delight for kids of all ages. The three-year-old gets in for free; the five-year-old is $19 and adults are $25.

A couple other possibilities on the Strip are Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage and the High Roller ferris wheel at the back of the LINQ Promenade. Downtown, there's the Discovery Children’s Museum, located at 360 Promenade Place across from the Smith Center, with three floors of activities and attractions for children, including nine themed exhibition halls with interactive hands-on exhibits. It's $14.50 for ages 1 to 99.

When you and your sister are ready to put the kids in daycare and go and do Vegas for adults, we recommend the Kids Quest facilities at Red Rock and Boulder, Texas, Green Valley Ranch, Sunset, and Santa Fe Stations (if one of those isn’t too far out of your way). They’re large, clean, and open long hours, and offer dozens of activities for kids six weeks to 12. And at least both girls will have the experience of walking through a casino to get to the play center, probably something they haven’t done that often, if ever. Prices are comparable to in-home babysitting. Best of all, you leave your kids there and go off on your own. At many of the other indoor playgrounds, the parents have to stick around.

Kangamoo, 1525 E. Sunset Rd., is a good example. This place gets great reviews from local parents, particularly because it offers adult amenities: The waiting lounge has complimentary tea and coffee, massage chairs, an elliptical machine, even a walking track with weights.  

Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center, at 4005 W. Reno Ave., is the original location (2012) of a franchise that’s expanding in Arizona and California. It features inflatable houses and obstacles, super slides, jungle bouncers, a climbing wall, and games, something for all ages of kids. No shoes allowed; socks mandatory.

There are plenty of other similar toddler-friendly businesses: Gymboree, Fidget’s Indoor Playground, Treehouse Playground, Adventure Indoor Playground, Kinderland Café, Fun Dungeon, Giggles and Tots, etc.

Children’s Park at Town Square on Las Vegas Blvd. south of the Strip has a splash pad, slides, tree house, hedge maze, playhouses, and more, but keep a close eye on the kids; it’s easy to lose them in all the different adventures.

The Farm is a Vegas landmark; it’s been here since 1961, open to the public since ’68. It’s a petting zoo, with chickens, peacocks, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, pigs, horses, cows, a mule, a llama, rabbits, cats, tortoises, and more. The Farm produces eggs and honey; there’s also a farmer’s market here in the summer. Admission is $5 adults, $3 for children; it’s open weekends 9-4, plus most of October during the Harvest Festival. It’s located at the corner of W. Grand Teton and N. Tenaya Way.

Another petting zoo is at Bonnie Springs, out a couple miles past Red Rock Canyon on NV 159 (the extension of West Charleston Blvd.). There’s a little choo-choo ride from the parking lot to the ranch both girls will definitely enjoy. Chickens follow you around the petting zoo, which also sports rabbits, burros, emus, wallabies, and lots of animals in between; the zoo also just received an African serval cat. It’s open 10:30-6 and costs $7 adults and children Mon.-Tues. and $10 adults Wed.-Sunday.

Closer to the city — and now that we think of it, perhaps your best bet — is Springs Preserve. This major indoor-outdoor attraction features a slow-moving open-air train ride through the desert landscape, performances geared for children, story time, craft and animal exhibits, and an imaginatively designed playground. You could easily spend a full day here. It’s located at 333 S Valley View Blvd. just north of Alta Dr. across from Meadoww Mall; the three-year-old is free, the five-year-old will cost $10.95, and adults are $18.95. 

One more tip. Buffets are great for kids for a number of reasons: Sixty seconds after you sit down, you can have food in them; there are so many choices, even the pickiest kids will find something to eat; and most are free for kids three and under, while the five-year-old will eat at a big discount.

Good luck, have fun, and please let us know where you went and how the girls liked your choices.