Advice for family friendly Vegas

[dibs0901]

We've booked a trip from England next year to visit San Francisco, LA & Vegas. We have DS who will be 5 then and after reading recent posts I'm worried whether we're doing the right thing taking him to Vegas.

We'll be there for 3 days, one of which we'll go to the Grand Canyon. We'll also spend lots of time by the pool - we're going April when hopefully it won't be too hot.

DH & I are not interested in gambling so we won't be spending time in the casinos. We went to Vegas once before about 17 years ago and we're interested to go back to see all the new hotels. We won't be staying out late, just a wander round a few hotels in the evening, a meal and bed!

We obviously don't want DS exposed to all the adult stuff but I really don't remember it being that bad last time we went so I wasn't worried until I read these posts.

I suppose what I really want to know is are there any places we should really avoid?

Thanks for your help, Debbie

 

[LadyyRedd]

What part of the Grand Canyon are you going to? If it's the South Rim (which has the BEST views of the canyon), that's a 5 hour drive each way, so more than a 1 day trip, in my opinion - an overnight one at the very least. Plus sunrise and sunset over the canyon are such breathtaking experiences, I'm really glad I did both.



Kimya

 

[dibs0901]

Yes we're going to the south rim but we've got a day tour booked through our holiday operator and we're flying to the Grand Canyon from Vegas. The sunrise/sunset does sound good though - maybe another time!

 

[hydster]

In my opinion *fwiw* I think your son will be ok as he is still so young. The adult stuff is cards about the size of a credit card with naked women on them BUT the "exciting parts* are starred out so you get the "idea" without seeing the whole story KWIM?

We go at least 6 times a year and sometimes we take the kids with us and stop on the way to Disneyland. We just warned them what was going on and they were ok with it. Thought it was really gross and never looked down at them again. After that the "adult" parts your son shouldn't even understand.

Another thing is they now have the Monorail which goes behind the casinos so if you take that you will miss quite a few "adult" things with your son.

Places to avoid....personally I wouldn't take a child that young to Freemont street. It's just a personal choice however. Other than that I can't think of anywhere really "seedy" to avoid. Circus Circus is very scummy though!

Things to do with him that would be fun though can include

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef
MGM Grand Lion Habitat
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Mirage Dolphin Show
M&M World

It CAN be hot there in April. We were just there this past April and it was 90+ then.

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks so much, that's great, really helpful information. You've made me feel a lot better!! Thanks for the list of places to go too, just one question -where are the flamingos? For some reason DS has been talking about flamingos lately (I really don't know why!) so I think he'd enjoy seeing them.

 

[hydster]

Thanks so much, that's great, really helpful information. You've made me feel a lot better!! Thanks for the list of places to go too, just one question -where are the flamingos? For some reason DS has been talking about flamingos lately (I really don't know why!) so I think he'd enjoy seeing them.

Glad to be able to help. It's a short 5 hour drive or 45 min flight for us so it's just a little too close LOL!!

The Flamingos are at the Flamingo Hotel which is across from Caesars Palace. They have penguins, flamingos, swans, ducks, quail, peacocks. It's totally free to go to and look around at the animals. They have some great viewing areas and they have a breakfast buffet that you can look out onto the grounds and watch the flamingos and swans.

A lot of the attractions are free and will probably enthrall your child. Some of them are

Bellagio fountains
Mirage Volcano
Caesars Palace Fountain Show
Mirage White Tiger Habitat
Treasure Island has the big Pirate ship but they've changed the show to a little more "risque" though nothing totally inappropriate and your son probably wouldn't even notice it but it's kind of neat to watch


Also if you go here
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/

You can see all the attractions, prices, hours, age limits.

Here is the monorail map too
http://www.lvmonorail.com/

And if you have more ?'s feel free to PM me or ask here too. We go enough LOL and we've never gambled in Vegas once in all the times we've been there!

 

[dibs0901]

Wow that is brilliant, thank you! DS would love the things you've listed - I'll be very busy checking out those links later on! Seems like the monorail will be good for us, both to avoid adult stuff and also the heat. I didn't think it would be as hot as you mentioned!

Thanks for the offer of more help too - I'm sure I'll have more questions!

 

[hydster]

Glad to be of some help. If you have any other questions or whatever feel free to PM me. I don't frequent this board very often so a PM is probably the best way to get in touch with me here.

It's a crap shoot *no pun intended* for weather in April down there. We've been when it's been chilly chilly and hot hot. Either way you'll be ok though. There is plenty of places to heat or cool yourself along the way.

Also remember that ALL of these casinos look way closer than they really are. Your little one may tire out very easily. What looks to be "just down the street a ways" is really 2 blocks. Even as many times as we've been there some trips we get fooled.

Also make sure if it is starting to be hot to drink lots of water. The lack of humidity in the air makes it very necessary.

Also I don't know if you have a rental car or not but if you do you can drive the rental car to ANY hotel and use their valet service which will help you avoid the porn slappers and the heat or cold.

Margaritaville at the Flamingo has their volcano where a girl goes down a waterslide into a big shot glass on the side. Kind of neat for kids to watch.

What hotel are you staying in? Some have way better pools than others....just so you know that too!

 

[jlima]

The Flamingos are at the Flamingo Hotel which is across from Caesars Palace. They have penguins, flamingos, swans, ducks, quail, peacocks.

The penguins are no longer there; I read they were gifted to the aquarium in Monterey Bay. But they still have most of the other wildlife.

My recommendation to avoid most of the scummy areas on the Strip is not to walk anywhere, unless it's the property right next door. If you leave your hotel, take a taxi to wherever you're going. You will avoid crowds of people on the sidewalks and all of the people that hand out flyers for escort services.

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks for the advice. I think we'll definitely use the monorail and taxis and save our walking for Disneyland!

 

[ZekeKelso]

The penguins are no longer there; I read they were gifted to the aquarium in Monterey Bay.

Actually they went to the Dallas Zoo. I miss those guys and may have to pay them a visit in Texas:

http://www.dallas-zoo.org/whatsnew/whats_1.htm

 

[missstcroix]

We were there Spring Break last year with kids 9 and 11. We stayed at Luxor and the kids LOVED the pool, game room, IMAX movies and King Tut walk thru museum there. We did take the monorail, and We did walk the strip, and they did get some adult exposure in the handouts laying on the ground and also the billboards that drive by on trucks...but they laughed about it.Like the other poster said, the risque parts aren't shown... I think at 5 he wouldn't even understand. We went to NY NY (there is a roller coaster there and another HUGE gameroom), Bellagio, Mirage...each hotel is themed and has something to offer that kids would enjoy. We had a rental convertible so we drove up and down too. We did go to Circus Circus because I had awesome childhood memories of the place, but man in 40 years it has REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY gone downhill and I would NOT recommend it! Take a ride to Hoover Dam that is an easy and nice day trip. My kids can't wait to go again! Have fun!

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks very much. I feel much happier after all your responses! Can't wait to go now!

 

[wishspirit]

Personally, just walking round places such as the Bellagio and Mirage was amazing! (i am 18 therefore too young to gamble, not that i would anyway!) I wouldnt walk out on the strip though, lots of seedyness which isnt appropriate, take a cab or monorail.

The animal habitats are good, but the lions at the mirage look a bit bored! If you are feeling a bit daring, a gondella ride at the Venitian could be a laugh, as well as a great way to look around!

Hope this helps

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks very much, the gondola ride does look fun, I think we'll definitely try it. Hopefully it'll be cheaper than the actual Venice version! I'll try not to start singing the Cornetto song - you're probably too young to remember those adverts though!

Our list of things to do is quite long now and looking good thanks to everyone's suggestions so thanks again.

 

[wishspirit]

oh no my dad with humming that song to himself the whole time we where there. We didnt do the gondella cause my mom was too embarrsed, and my dad may have started full blown singing at any moment

It looks like a right laugh though!

 

[dibs0901]

It's just too tempting!! DS doesn't embarrass easily but I think DH would be traumatised!!

 

[ZekeKelso]

Hopefully it'll be cheaper than the actual Venice version!

FYI: The price is $15/person indoors and $12/person outdoors. Canoodling couples can get a gondola to themselves for $60. Tips not included.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

There are also several non "vegas " things that he might enjoy. The Leid Discovery Museum is alot of fun. The new Springs Preserve is also very interesting. We love to hike in Red Rock Canyon or at the Valley of Fire. Mt Charelston is also very nice in April. You could go ice skating at the Las Vegas Ice Center. The car collection at the Imperial Palace is quite impressive too if he's into cars. I have pricelined rental cars here for as little as $11.00 a day. I second the Imax theater at the Luxor it has 6 differn't movies , some are 3-D and all are educational but also fun and interesting.

If he likes trains you can ride the Train in Boulder City ( Nevada State railroad Museum) and then go see the Hoover Dam.
www.springspreserve.org
www.ldcm.org

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks again for all your suggestions and for the info about gondola prices.

DS loves cars, trains, fiddling with things in museums - all the usual boy things! - so he'll be very pleased to know about all this stuff!