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Las Vegas with kids? Really? Trust us, it’s not as crazy as it sounds. We had the chance to tag along for my partner’s work conference, and weren’t sure if it would be fun for an elementary school-aged kiddo from the burbs. We were pleasantly surprised that it was awesome for everyone.
Sure, you’ll still navigate smoky casinos and billboard ads for magic shows and adults-only activities, but Sin City has evolved into a surprisingly family-friendly destination over the past few decades. In fact, behind the slot machines lies a treasure trove of kid-approved fun. From toddlers to tweens, there’s something for everyone on the Strip nowadays.
M&M’s World - Las Vegas
If your kids (or let’s be real, you) love chocolate, start at M&M’s World – a four-story temple of all things M&M’s. This colorful wonderland offers a sensory overload of bright candy displays at every turn. Little ones will be wide-eyed at the rainbow wall of candies, while older kids can dive into interactive exhibits and personalize their M&M’s. Yes, in just minutes, you can print a custom message or even your face on these little chocolates with the personal M&M printer.
Kids will love having a photo opportunity with each of the M&M characters’ sculptures scattered throughout the store (ours did). See if you can find all of them.
It’s part shop, part attraction, and entry is free, though good luck getting out without a bag of candy souvenirs!
Pro tip: The M&M’s World 3D movie (starring Red & Yellow on a quirky Vegas adventure) is a cute, air-conditioned break for tired feet, and the whole place is stroller-friendly.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Right across the street from the M&M’s World, choco-holics can continue the sugar rush at Hershey’s Chocolate World in the New York-New York Hotel. This two-story flagship store is 13,000 sq ft of sweetness. The star attraction? A towering Statue of Liberty sculpture made from nearly 800 pounds of solid chocolate – it’s a mandatory photo-op (just warn the toddlers they can’t take a bite!). There’s even one Statue of Liberty made of Twizzlers.
Kids can mix and match over 800 varieties of Hershey candies, sample unusual Kiss flavors from the Kisses Flavor Wall, and, of course, navigate walls of fun Hershey-branded merchandising.
For a memorable (if messy) souvenir, let your school-age kiddos pick a treat from the pseudo bakery. At the checkout counter, there are cookies and baked goods galore, all chocolate-themed. Our kid absolutely loved the milkshake bar, where Hershey’s chocolate and Oreo cookies make for a great twist on a classic favorite.
This stop is essentially a mini theme park for chocolate lovers – and a delicious way to prove Vegas isn’t all about cocktails.
Dinner & Show at Excalibur Hotel
The Excalibur Hotel literally looks like a castle, so of course it’s a hit with kids. By evening, it hosts the Tournament of Kings, an epic medieval-themed dinner show that lets your family cheer and feast like royalty. Imagine knights in armor jousting on horseback, swords clanging, and even a fire-breathing dragon (don’t worry, it’s all staged fun) – all while you dig into a hearty dinner with your hands. That’s right: no utensils here! Soup is slurped straight from the bowl, and everyone tears into roast chicken with their fingers, which might be every toddler’s dream come true. Even little ones can attend (children three and under are free if they sit on your lap and share your meal).
Parents will appreciate that it’s good, raucous fun you can enjoy together – how often do we tell our kids to make more noise at the dinner table? Just be aware there are loud moments and a brief “dark” scene when the evil Dragon knight appears, but most kids, even as young as one, end up clapping and dancing along happily.
Excalibur’s Fun Dungeon Arcade
Before or after the dinner show, take your mini knights downstairs to Excalibur’s “Fun Dungeon.” Don’t let the mildly menacing name fool you – this “dungeon” is a large arcade and carnival midway that’s 100% kid-friendly (and teen-friendly… and parent-friendly if you spent your youth at arcades). It’s a bit of retro fun in the middle of Vegas – and a nice break from the heat.
Remember, you’ll need to purchase game credits or tokens, so set a budget with the kids (good luck). And if the family competition gets heated over Skee-Ball or air hockey, you can always call for a rematch – the arcade is open late, perfect for post-dinner energy burning.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Magic shows and Cirque du Soleil are great, but consider the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater for a kid-approved Vegas show. This afternoon show at the V Theater features a troop of talented rescue animals – yes, cats and dogs performing tricks on stage! It’s a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy, juggling, and amazing pet stunts that has younger children wide-eyed and giggling. Dozens of pets (from a pig to parrots, even a mini pony) get in on the act. The humor is gentle and slapstick, perfect for kiddos, and you’ll hear plenty of “awww!” from the audience.
The show runs about 60 minutes – short enough for squirmy kids’ attention spans – and usually takes place in the afternoon, making it a nice break between sightseeing. Tickets are relatively affordable (budget about $30 - $50 per person), ensuring the whole animal-loving gang has fun.
Rainforest Café - Las Vegas
When it’s time to refuel, skip the buffet and take the kiddos to the Rainforest Café in the MGM Grand. Yes, it’s a themed chain restaurant – but it’s so effectively done that your kids will be enchanted. The whole place is a tropical jungle inside a restaurant: lush greenery, animatronic elephants, gorillas, talking parrots, and a starry nighttime sky overhead. Every 15 minutes or so, a “thunderstorm” rumbles through – complete with flashing lightning and drumming rain sound effects (don’t worry, you won’t get wet). Toddlers might cling to you for a second during the thunder, but they’ll soon be pointing at the moving animals in awe. School-age kids love scanning the trees for hidden critters, and even jaded tweens crack a smile when the 800-pound gorilla by the salad bar springs to life.
The kids’ menu is standard but crowd-pleasing (like nuggets, pizza, and dinosaur-shaped chicken Quesadillas), and adults will find decent burgers, pastas, and tropical drinks. Let’s be honest: you’re here for the atmosphere, not a Michelin star meal. But you'll be grateful for this little oasis when your kids’ eyes light up as the robot tiger snarls or the elephants trumpet.
Pro tip: Wednesday evenings, kids eat for $0.99 with an adult entrée, a nice Vegas bargain.
VR Shark Dive Adventure at Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas is always on the cutting edge, including family attractions. Older kids and parents can try the Undersea Explorer VR Experience at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium. This virtual reality adventure lets you swim with sharks and whales without getting wet! Strap on high-tech VR headsets and suddenly plunge into the deep ocean, coming face-to-face with great hammerheads and humpback whales in a 360° underwater world. The experience even incorporates motion and sensory effects so that you might feel the rumble of a whale’s call or the whoosh of a shark passing by.
Note: The VR is only for ages five and up, so your littlest ones will have to sit this out. However, they can still enjoy the Shark Reef Aquarium, which houses 2,000+ sea creatures, including rays, sea turtles, piranhas, and a massive komodo dragon. The VR dive is an add-on to the aquarium admission and has an extra fee, but it’s a memorable tech-meets-nature experience for curious grade-schoolers and tweens.
Bellagio Fountain Show
Here’s a Vegas classic that never gets old – and it’s completely free. The Bellagio Fountains are a must for all. Every afternoon and evening, this artificial lake in front of the Bellagio Hotel erupts into a dancing water show choreographed to music and lights. Toddlers will be mesmerized by the swaying water jets and booming sounds, and older kids might recognize some of the tunes (one moment it’s opera, the next it’s Michael Jackson). Each show is only a few minutes long, but totally captivating.
Best of all, shows are frequent – every 30 minutes in the afternoon, and every 15 minutes after dark – so you’ll have plenty of chances to catch one.
Pro tip: Get there a few minutes early to snag a front-row spot along the lake railing (kids can wiggle up front for a clear view).
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
After the fountain show, pop inside Bellagio’s lobby to visit another free attraction that’s surprisingly kid-friendly: the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This gigantic glass-domed garden features displays that change with each season (and for Lunar New Year) in the most over-the-top way imaginable. Think colossal floral sculptures, fantasy creatures made of plants, and thousands upon thousands of blooming flowers, creating an immersive scene.
One season, you might wander through a jungle temple with orchid waterfalls; another, you’re in a whimsical fairyland with giant mushrooms and animated ladybugs. It’s like walking into a storybook illustration. Stroller access is easy, and there’s plenty of security to keep everyone from touching the fragile blooms. Toddlers will plod around pointing at the colorful figures (just watch them around the flower beds), and older kids will be amazed at the creativity – it might even inspire some artsy ideas for that next science project.
Expect to spend 20-30 minutes here snapping photos and letting the kids play “I spy” with the hidden details (butterflies, ladybugs, and more). If you need a bribery treat afterward, there’s a world-famous chocolate fountain at the Patisserie around the corner – because in Vegas, even dessert is an attraction.
BattleBots Live (Robot Combat Arena)
Have a kid who’s into robots, science, or just smashing stuff? Take them to BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon, a live robot-combat show exclusive to Las Vegas. Yes, this is the same BattleBots from TV – only here you can watch 250-pound remote-controlled robots duke it out in an arena, right in front of your eyes. It’s loud, wild, and utterly entertaining in a “I can’t believe we’re doing this in Vegas” way. The show features multiple fights with spinning saw-blade bots, flame-throwing bots, and lots of clanging metal mayhem. Don’t worry, everyone’s behind protective glass – you won’t have rogue robot parts flying at you.
There’s no age restriction (use your judgment – the noise and intensity might be too much for preschoolers), and you might be surprised to see even moms, dads, and grandparents in the crowd cheering like it’s a football game. Shows usually run about 75 minutes.
Pro tip: Bring ear protection for younger kids or anyone sensitive to noise – those bots can get loud when they hit!
Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York
If your kids are adrenaline junkies (or aspire to be), head to the New York-New York Hotel for the Big Apple Coaster. This isn’t a kiddie coaster – it’s a full-on thrill ride that twists and loops outside the hotel’s skyline facade, giving you insane views of the Strip (if you dare open your eyes). You’ll zoom up to 67 mph and plunge down a 203-foot drop, all while barreling through a wild 180-degree “heartline” twist.
The coaster does have a 54-inch height requirement, so it’s typically for older kids (around 10 and up, depending on height). Those tall (and brave) enough will have an absolute blast—it’s like a mini theme park ride in the middle of the city.
Meanwhile, if you have younger ones who can’t ride, not to worry: the adjacent arcade (Big Apple Arcade) is packed with enough games and Skee-Ball to keep them busy while the big kids ride.
One more perk – the coaster runs late into the night, so an evening ride gives a sparkling night-time view of Vegas (just maybe do it before dinner, not after!). It can be a bit pricey per ride for every family member, but look for bundle deals.
Arcades Across the Strip
Surprise – the Strip still has a soft spot for old-school arcades and carnival games, remnants of a 1990s push to make Vegas more family-friendly! Many of those kid zones are still around, quietly amusing new generations of kids while the grown-ups hit the blackjack tables.
For example, you can find arcade corners in several resorts: we already mentioned the Fun Dungeon at Excalibur and the Big Apple Arcade at New York-New York. Venture further and you’ll hit the Midway at Circus Circus, an entire floor of carnival and arcade games under the big top. Circus Circus might be a bit vintage (read: it hasn’t changed much since your own childhood), but that’s part of the charm. The Midway offers ring tosses, balloon darts, whack-a-mole, and more – and on the center stage, actual circus acts like jugglers or trapeze artists perform for free throughout the day. Just beyond is the Adventuredome, a 5-acre indoor amusement park with rides ranging from gentle kiddie carousels to a double-loop roller coaster.
Pro Tip: If you need a break from the sensory overload of the Strip’s arcades, consider a trip to the Pinball Hall of Fame (just a mile or so off-strip). It’s a warehouse of playable vintage pinball machines and classic arcade games. It’s a nice, inexpensive change of pace, proving once again that Vegas has something for everyone, even outside the casinos.
Embrace the (Family-Friendly) Vegas Vibe
Las Vegas may never top the traditional family vacation spots list, but that’s precisely what makes it fun. Where else can you go from watching a fountain ballet set to Frank Sinatra, to meeting a green M&M in sunglasses, to cheering on a jousting knight – all in one day? The city of neon now happily double-tasks as a playground for both grown-ups and kids. With a mix of free attractions and splurge-worthy experiences, high-tech thrills and good old-fashioned fun, Las Vegas can absolutely work for families.
So pack the stroller, some snacks, and a sense of humor, and get ready to see a whole new side of the “Entertainment Capital of the World” through the wide-eyed wonder of your kids. Vegas might not have been built for children, but as any mom will tell you, kids have a way of finding the fun anywhere.
In Vegas, it’s waiting around every glittering corner. Enjoy the adventure, and remember: what happens in Vegas… will make for great show-and-tell back at school!
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