Is Vegas a Family Destination Again?

Is Vegas a family destination again? We just returned from a long weekend and were surprised to see so many kids, even toddlers and babies, traipsing through the casinos and out at night. Maybe we started focusing on them after noticing so many, but it seemed more like Stroller City than Sin City.

Las Vegas has been going after the family market to greater and lesser degrees since the early 1990s. Veterans will recall, fondly or not so fondly, MGM Grand Adventures, the short-lived amusement park that opened with MGM Grand in 1993. That debuted at the same time as the pirate battle at Treasure Island and lots of kiddie attractions at Luxor and was followed by the thrill rides atop Stratosphere, the roller coaster at New York-New York, arcades at every casino, irresistible children's discounts at buffets, family-friendly producton shows (Tournament of Kings was the classic -- and still is), and the like.

As you also remember, that phase died out and the Sin was returned to Sin City for a while.

But the pendulum started to swing back again with the arrival of the Vegas Golden Knights. Hockey is traditionally a family affair, with a generational aspect that could be the strongest in pro sports; many families have deep and long-standing ties to the sport and its teams, with a tradition of passing the hockey passion down from one generation to the next. And with so many families traveling to Las Vegas to see their teams play the Knights, then the Aces and Raiders, Las Vegas started to build on the attraction of team sports with more that appeal to all ages.

Toward that end, Sphere is perhaps the epitome, with its interactive lobby exhibits and current Wizard of Oz craze. The new Universal Horror Unleashed is nothing if not aimed at all age groups. Families can spend days at Area15 and not run out of attractions and activities before the vacation budget is shot. Arte Museum (with its kid-favorite Live Sketchbook room) and a half-dozen other immersive museums (not the least of which are Lite-Brite at Illuminarium, Museum of Illusions, and Museum of Ice Cream) are popular with Mom, Dad, Buddy, Sis, and yes, Grandma.

Then you've got Adventuredome at Circus Circus, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, the Wildlife Habitat at Flamingo, Play Playground at Luxor, mini-golf and driving-range attractions at MBay, STRAT, Town Square, and elsewhere, and the High Roller observation wheel. Ziplines are popular at Fremont Street Experience and the LINQ Promenade. Right outside MGM Grand are Flyover, M&M's World, and Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic Show (more kids than adults); Hershey's Chocolate World is across the street at New York-New York. Other kiddie shows include Jabbawockeez, Mystere, and our favorite, Mac King. Even the Bellagio Conservatory is popular for family selfies.

And that's not to mention the Discovery Children's Museum Downtown and Springs Preserve in the 'burbs.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, roughly 18% of visitors to Las Vegas in 2024 came with someone younger than 21 in their group, around three times the number of families that came to Las Vegas before the pandemic.

All that said, it's not Disneyland. Las Vegas is often overwhelming for adults, let alone those with much shorter legs and attention spans. Kids are decidedly not welcome in the casinos. And it ain't the bargain family destination it used to be.

But there's no doubt that Vegas has pivoted once again toward the under-21 market.

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Comments

Doug Miller Nov-12-2025

I agree, and would highlight entertainment

I first started following Las Vegas trends, albeit from a distance, in the early 1980’s.  At that time  the entertainment seemed to be moving towards topless shows, as well as celebrity headliners who appealed more to adults over 40.  But one of the effects of the popularity of the Cirque du Soleil shows was to add something that also appealed to kids as much as adults.  Clearly this is not the only driver of the trends that this Answer discussed, but it’s interesting to note that since the rise of the Cirque and Cirque influenced shows, topless shows seem to be either declining or else stalled.  I also agree with the Answer that Las Vegas options have exploded so much that there are a lot of options these days for families with children.

Edso Nov-12-2025

Grew up in Vegas

Our son pretty much grew up in Vegas.  We'd come 3 to 4 times a year, anywhere from 3 to 5 days.  The Discovery Musueum (Leid's is what it was called back then), the Excalibur arcade, and the NYNY roller coaster and arcade were the favorite spots until he got older and it was Circus Circus for the ticketed games, where he could win prizes.  He also loved to just hang out and swim in the pool. We also hit a lot of the magic shows....Mac, Nathan Burton, Penn and Teller, and Mat Franco.  Son and I even saw Weird Al at the Smith Center. Downtime was spent watching movies at the Orleans or DVDs in our room when we stayed at our HGVC timeshare.  They did away with the DVDs at the Paradise property during Covid. 

Now that our son is over 21 he enjoys playing BJ or roulette at the Southpoint.

Kevin Behrens Nov-12-2025

Springs Preserve is in "the 'burbs?"

It's within the city limits, only 3 miles from Discovery.

Randall Ward Nov-12-2025

changes

partly culture change, many people now take their kids everywhere, even their pets are everywhere

Alan Canellis Nov-12-2025

Escape Plan

Hats off to Circa, Golden Gate, and El Cortez for being 21 and over!

[email protected] Nov-12-2025

Don't forget the Pinball Hall of Fame

There's also the Pinball Hall of Fame, opposite the Welcome to Las Vegas sign on the south side of the strip.

John Nov-12-2025

Leave Them At Home

I am all in favor of family vacations.  
Go to the beach.  
Go to the mountains.  
Visit cultural things and natural wonders.  
Make great memories with Mom and Dad.

But don't take the kids to Sin City.  If you absolutely, positively must take those adorable moppets Buffy and Jody to Las Vegas, DO NOT take them into a casino!  Children have absolutely no place in a casino.  
Casinos are places filled with degenerate gamblers and drunks (I know that because I am both).  It is not an environment to take youngsters into.  
Kids get enough garbage packed into their brains courtesy of the internet and the media.  They don’t need to experience a Las Vegas casino in their youth.
If they want to find their way here when they are above the age of consent, no problem with that whatsoever.  But not when underage and DEFINITELY not if the poor kid is in a stroller!  If you as an *ahem* adult take a child in a stroller into a casino, there is something very, very, VERY wrong with you.

Donzack Nov-12-2025

Also

It teaches kids who already have too much screen time on their hands and shows them the future as adults

Richard Nov-12-2025

Strip cesspool

Just my opinion. I don't care how many things kids can do in Lv if you bring them, they should take your kids away.

Scott Miller Nov-12-2025

MGM

We went to the MGM "park" years ago (95?). As we were paying to get in, in knew this was a bad idea. I was right.

steven Runyon Nov-13-2025

WOZ

MGM had the whole wizard of Oz theme and now its at the Sphere . Nothing personal but I hate Kids and Dogs in my casino

steven Runyon Nov-13-2025

Downtown

The worst is seeing those little kids with their parents on Fremont after dark. Some people shouldn't have kids or they could restrict it to 18 and over after a certain time.

Question of the Day - 12 November 2025

Comments