{"id":934,"date":"2009-07-23T08:58:47","date_gmt":"2009-07-23T13:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=934"},"modified":"2016-12-17T03:40:41","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T09:40:41","slug":"las-vegas-has-fun-for-the-whole-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/07\/las-vegas-has-fun-for-the-whole-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas has fun for the whole family"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LasBy E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

Las Vegas may be \u201cSin City,\u201d but it\u2019s also \u201cFun City,\u201d and while our Las Vegas hotels<\/a><\/strong> may not promote it, there are so many elements of a great family vacation here, you can take your pick and still not do everything you want to.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t try to find them all by yourself\u2014that\u2019s what I\u2019m here for!<\/p>\n

Start with my previous blogs on Top 10 free activities<\/a><\/strong>, Family-friendly resorts<\/a><\/strong>, and Cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip<\/a><\/strong>. Buffets might seem like a good option, but check their kids pricing first (some allow under-5s free, but others charge full price for everyone) Click here for my Top 10 Las Vegas buffets<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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White sand beach at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas (Courtesy: Ritz-Carlton)<\/p><\/div>\n

Lake Las Vegas<\/strong><\/p>\n

All things being equal, I think the resorts at Lake Las Vegas, 20 minutes from the Strip, would have to be the most family-friendly options in town. In particular, Loews Lake LV<\/strong><\/a> is easily navigable, pet-friendly, has a fantastic gated pool area with activities, a water slide, sandy beach, water craft, kiddie pool<\/strong>, and does s’mores at the patio fire pit<\/strong> on Saturdays — all without sacrificing elegance. They greet all kids with Fischer Price goodies and even offer a cool SushiSkool most weekends. The Ritz-Carlton<\/strong><\/a> has a Ritz Kids \u201cday camp\u201d<\/strong> that includes tours of the hotel bakery, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and a lot more.<\/p>\n

Strip Resorts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more excitement? While virtually all the Strip resorts have something to offer (even Wynn<\/strong><\/a> and Encore<\/strong><\/a>, the least family-oriented, have gorgeous gardens and fanciful design), my strongest recommendations for Las Vegas hotels for families would be Mandalay Bay<\/strong><\/a> (The Beach, Shark Reef, Lion King\u2026with Luxor<\/strong><\/a> and Excalibur<\/strong><\/a> a free tram ride away), Flamingo<\/strong><\/a> (gardens, pool area, and central location) and Silverton Lodge<\/strong> (did someone say Mermaids?) MGM Grand<\/strong><\/a> and Monte Carlo<\/strong><\/a> also have good kid-friendly pools.<\/p>\n

Shows<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thinking about a show? You couldn\u2019t do better than the Lion King<\/strong>, a, explosion of color, texture, movement and music that\u2019s new in Vegas (go to the 4 p.m. matinee, and even though the premier seating is fantastic, the production is grand enough to reach the back row)\u2026 though old favorite Blue Man Group<\/strong> stays as contemporary, crowd-pleasing and yet provocative as ever — a good pick for early teens just starting to form their worldviews.<\/p>\n

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Terry Fator (Courtesy: MGM MIRAGE)<\/p><\/div>\n

Astounding ventriloquist\/singer Terry Fator<\/strong> may slip a few adult jokes over the kids\u2019 heads, but most should love his high energy set\u2026Human Nature<\/strong>\u2019s Motown tribute would put a smile on almost any face, young or old\u2026and of course, Cirque du Soleil<\/strong> shows are nearly all fine choices (Ka, Love and Mystere would be my first choices for teens and kids).<\/p>\n

The Hawaiian Luau at Imperial Palace<\/a><\/strong> is just as authentic as any one I\u2019ve seen in the island, and a full evening\u2019s clean entertainment, while Excalibur\u2019s Tournament of Kings<\/strong> brings you inside a fantasy middle ages (both include dinner).<\/p>\n

On the budget end, Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre<\/strong> should delight the younger ones, a cute review of trained house pets with some juggling tossed in (\u201csplurge\u201d on the Golden Circle tickets here for the best stage view).<\/p>\n

Of course, there are many magicians to choose from here, too (a full top ten is coming in a few weeks); to cut to the chase, I\u2019d point families with kids under 10 to Mac King\u2019s offbeat matinees<\/strong> (Harrah\u2019s<\/strong><\/a>) or Lance Burton<\/strong>\u2019s more traditional shows at Monte Carlo<\/strong> (coincidently, those two used to work together).<\/p>\n

Activities<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A gondola ride at the Venetian.<\/p><\/div>\n

Want to get outside? From Red Rock Canyon<\/strong> to Boulder Dam Valley of Fire<\/strong> and even the Grand Canyon, there\u2019s plenty of scenery around, and many ways to see it\u2026though I lean towards the Pink Jeep tours<\/strong> — prices might be slightly higher, but with their custom off-roading smaller vehicles, you get to \u201crough it\u201d in well-attended comfort. Siegfried & Roy Secret Garden<\/strong> (Mirage<\/a>) features cool dolphins, tigers and their ilk.<\/p>\n

Want tostay indoors? The Venetian<\/a>\u2019s Gondola rides<\/strong> and Madame Tussauds<\/strong> experience are worthy options. GameWorks<\/strong> next to MGM Grand is the biggest video arcade you might ever see, though ESPN Zone<\/strong> (New York, New York<\/a>) also has a good arcade upstairs.<\/p>\n

Pole Position indoor kart races<\/strong> allows anyone 48\u201d or taller to try their intense electric go-karts, <\/strong>and Imperial Palace\u2019s auto collection<\/strong> will captivate any true car nut (cool gift shop, too).<\/p>\n

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A ride at Circus Circus.<\/p><\/div>\n

Academic teens should like Luxor\u2019s\u00a0 Titanic<\/strong> and Bodies<\/strong> exhibits,and for old school fun, the Midway at Circus Circus<\/a><\/strong> can\u2019t be beat (Excalibur has a smaller mini-midway on their lower level).<\/p>\n

Incredibly, Vegas even has plenty of amusement rides, from high atop the Stratosphere<\/strong><\/a> (if you dare) to the Sahara<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s numbing SPEED the ride<\/strong>, New York New York\u2019s world-class coaster, and even Circus Circus Adventurdome, a full indoor amusement park!\u2014which, hint hint, hosts birthday parties.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget an incredible number of bowling alleys<\/strong> (Red Rock Resort<\/a>, Gold Coast<\/a>, Suncoast<\/a>, Orleans<\/a>, South Point<\/a>, Sam\u2019s Town<\/a>, Sunset Station<\/a>, Texas Station<\/a>), Multiplex movie theatres<\/strong> (Green Valley Ranch<\/a>, Palms<\/a>, South Point, Suncoast, Orleans, Santa Fe Station<\/a>, Sam\u2019s Town), and, when you need a break, kidsquest activity centers (five Stations casinos and Red Rock).<\/p>\n

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BLT Burger (Courtesy: MGM MIRAGE)<\/p><\/div>\n

Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

Along with my previous recommendations, kids of all ages should enjoy a trip to ice cream-obsessed Serendipity 3<\/strong> (Caesars Palace<\/a>), funky First Food<\/strong> (The Palazzo<\/a>) or perhaps the Rainforest Caf\u00e9<\/strong> (MGM Grand). Vegas has become hamburger obsessed lately — there\u2019s another blog coming just on that topic — but BLT Burger<\/strong> (Mirage) and Strip Burger<\/strong> (Fashion Show Mall) ought to satisfy your little picky ones and you the same.<\/p>\n

So if you bring your kids and they say they\u2019re bored\u2026just look at them, shake your head and laugh. Or better yet, print this out.<\/p>\n

Some Tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n