Las Vegas as a Vacation Spot With Kids

My spouse and I first visited Las Vegas 11 years ago and had a blast. We gambled once and drank not at all. Weee, sounds fun?

Well, it was fun. At that time it was part of a trip that included the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco and my friend met us in both cities, that always adds an extra dimension for me. We felt that Las Vegas was like an adult’s Disneyworld. Every hotel has a gimmick that affords you a visual cornucopia of wonderful sites, and some offer a myriad of fun activities. We had a blast.

Fast forward to 3 years ago when our son was 6 years old. We thought we would take him to Vegas. I immediately started searching for the best hotel to accommodate a family, which translates to looking for the best pool. That’s how I found the Mandalay Bay.

Mandalay Bay has a wave pool. So does the Monte Carlo, but the Mandalay Bay’s is on a sand beach. The view here is also much more enjoyable. Then we have the lazy river, something we enjoy in our family very much! We race each other through it, thereby getting in our daily exercise. There are also 2 lagoon pools and hot tubs. Anyone with a kid has to love this place!

And we did. We took our son out for half a day of sightseeing and then spent half our day at the pools. He had the best vacation!

Flash forward 3 more years (which is now!). As an ex-salesman, I cannot help but talk like I am selling a property when I enjoy something. Well, my brother-in-law fell for it. He booked Vegas for spring break so we came back as well. The kids are loving it and my son is thrilled to be with his cousins. I even get a few minutes of adult conversation, so I am happy. And yes, we are back at the Mandalay Bay.

So what is so fun you ask? Even though the simple act of walking through some of the gorgeous hotel properties is an adventure, here are some of this trips highlights:

1. The Stratosphere – You go up to the 109th floor and go on a ride that tips over the edge of the building. Yes, you feel like the end is near. My spouse had been wanting to do this for over a decade, he finally got his wish and enjoyed the experience with our brave nephew. Me, I wouldn’t even go up that high in the elevator!

2. The Zoo and Dolphin Exhibit at the Mirage Hotel. The exotic animals here are up close and an amazing site, better than anything at the terrific zoo we have back home. And while I am sad for the caged animals, these get taken back to a ranch to roam every evening, and different animals are brought in on a rotating basis, so they do not all experience caged life daily. At least we get to enjoy them and get reminded why we have to do more to help our planet and all species living here.
And the dolphin exhibit is amazing. 3 different dolphin pools, 2 new babies, an underground viewing area, and constant activities.
This is one of my top 10 things to do in Vegas!

3. The Adventuredome at Circus, Circus. An amusement park for kids. Not the classiest of joints, but with 4 kids, a perfect half day diversion when they need a respite from the sun. It is actually quite large, and we also stopped in at the casino to see their acrobatic show that happens right above the slot machines!

4. The Venetian. It’s all fake, but it’s all Venice! I still can’t get over the indoor canal with gondola ride.

5. The Bellagio Sculptures and the Conservatory – gorgeous!

6. The outdoor Bellagio water show and the volcano next door at the Mirage.

These are just a few of our trip’s highlights. Again, the kids are having a great time, and so are the adults. You may not think of Las Vegas when you think of a family vacation, but I can’t imagine a more fun destination other than Disney.