Las Vegas, Nevada Attractions

We’ll roll the dice on this and guarantee fun on your next Nevada vacation with our Las Vegas, Nevada family attractions guide. Pack our age-appropriate rundown of the best attractions for kids, teens and families in adult-oriented Las Vegas. Plus, save on rental cars, as Vegas has some cool rides!

Las Vegas, Nevada Attractions That Are Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

Circus Circus Adventuredome
2880 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/794-3939

Situated just behind the family-friendly Circus Circus Hotel (and accessible via a “green zone” for minors across the voluminous Casino), the five-acre Adventuredome indoor theme park is a good place to bring kids to let them burn off a little energy. It’s clean and air-conditioned, with seating beside most of the 25 rides making it popular with local grandparents, too. (Note that kids under 33″ in height can ride three attractions free with paying adults.) The small indoor theme park has several rollercoasters, toddler-friendly rides, face painters and balloon blowers, motion simulators, the wild “el Loco” coaster and Hot Shots Laser Tag for teens, food vendors and roaming clowns. There’s no admission fee, clown shows are free, and ride tickets begin at $19.95 for an all-you-can-ride Junior Wristband.

Palazzo Atrium and Venetian Shops
Venetian Hotel and Casino
3355 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/607-7777

The Strip’s enormous themed indoor shopping malls have become big family destinations, with free window shopping, exotic decor and moderately priced food courts the main attractions. We like the Palazzo, with its two-story waterfall in a frescoed Italian style atrium filled with flowers. Keep walking and you’ll flow into the Venetian Resort shops where gondolas ($29 per person for a 15-minute ride) ply the canals while cute gondoliers in striped shirts (think Venice!) serenade passengers. Great fun to watch.

Discovery Children’s Museum
Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center
360 Promenade Place
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
702/382-3445

Located downtown, this vast kids’ museum is all about play, from the 13-level climbing structure to the many interactive learning areas focused on healthy eating, inventions, science, the environment and more. The diverse choices in the Water Play area are especially popular with visitors in the 7 to 10-year-old range. For the littler ones, the Toddler Tower designed for under-5s is an endless source of activity and entertainment. Closed Monday.

Mystic Falls
Mystic Falls Park at Sam’s Town Hotel
5111 Boulder Hwy
Las Vegas, NV 89122
702/456-7777

This free 10-minute exhibition, a big hit with kids and sentimental adults, is performed four times a day in Mystic Park Falls at 6, 8, and 10 pm with extra weekend shows. The show performed in the casino atrium includes detailed audio effects, water geysers and laser-light animals that stampede across the prairie. Visitors say the whole illusion is more effective at night, and that the Christmas-themed show done at the holidays, is the best of all. It’s off the beaten path so review their website before committing to taking the kids!

Las Vegas Attractions Are Fun for Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

Zappos Insights Tours
400 Stewart Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89101
877/513-7424 or 702/943-7879

Treat your schoolage kids and anyone interested in the future of e-commerce (guests 18+ must carry Government-issued ID with them)  to the 90-minute tour of the Zappos.com world headquarters in downtown Vegas. This staff-led tour is an insightful and fun look behind-the-scenes at the corporate culture that turned an online shoe shop into a prized customer service machine purchased by Amazon.com for $900 million. Really worthwhile afternoon – though they have broadened their offering a lot since we did our wonderful Zappos Insights Tour.

Ethel M. Chocolate’s Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden Tour
2 Cactus Garden Drive
Henderson, NV 89014
702/458-8864

Little chocolate lovers will love the chance to visit the Ethel M. factory where the local chocolatier produces many styles that you can sample at the end. Self-guided tours – updated in 2019 to celebrate their 35^th anniversary –visit each stage in the making of these candies and are augmented by video presentations to explain the process. Afterwards, roam their 3-acre cactus garden to really understand what a desert environment this is. It’s free and decorated by theme for each major holiday.

Madame Tussauds
The Venetian
3377 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
866/659-9643

Grab an autograph book and a selfie stick for your visit to Madame Tussaud’s. Among the 100 wax celebrity figures, discover Queen Bey, Dwayne Johnson, and dress to impress RuPaul. As their website proclaims, “Party with your favorite A-listers, fight alongside MARVEL’s greatest Superheroes, and live among Las Vegas legends.”

Dig This!
800 W. Roban Avenue
Las Vegas NV 89044
702/222-4344

It’s a crazy splurge starting at $269 for a 90-minute session, but here’s a unique outdoor playground where your family members ages 8+ can actually drive tractors, excavators, backhoes and heavy earth movers over and around huge sand dunes, to their heart’s content. This is for those avid Bob-the-Builder kids who want to recall that time in their lives.

Marvel: Avenger’s Station
Treasure Island
3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/986-0922

We loved this super-themed Marvel Hero Gallery full of props and sets. The kids explored an amazing gift shop and a very interactive space where participants ages 3+ can dive into the history, science, engineering, genetics, technology and profiles of Captain America, Hulk, Thor and Iron Man. It just closed but a new Marvel Superhero Universe is coming to Treasure Island in summer 2024.

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition
MGM Grand
3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
877/880-0880

Based on the blockbuster film franchise, “The Hunger Games,” this is a cool interactive exhibit in The District. The Exhibition celebrates and explores the epic journey of Katniss Everdeen from her humble beginnings in District 12 to her emergence as the Mockingjay. The MGM Resorts have a variety of other exhibits in Vegas; check their websites for multi-attractions packages.

The Sphere
255 Sands Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89169
725/258-0001

One can’t-miss Las Vegas experience you really can’t miss is The Sphere. The enormous silver-clad spherical theater blanketed in light projections and stories is widely visible. Some premium rooms at The Venetian and The Palazzo overlook it. There are also tremendous views from the adjacent Hughes Parking Lot (for a fee). If you aren’t interested in the concerts or special events scheduled inside during your visit, sign up for The Sphere Experience. The premium event includes the Darren Aronofsky film, “Postcard from Earth,” projected on part of the interior dome. Play with robots and get a behind-the-scenes look at the complex’s technology to round out your 90-minute visit. It will set family members back $100 each (children ages 4+ only) but — keep in mind — there are several other options that cost more.

Las Vegas Attractions Which Are Fun for the Whole Family

Cirque du Soleil’s “O”
The Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/796-9999

Featuring one of the most celebrated circus troupes of all time, “O” is the show that many consider to be their most visionary project, but it does compete with five other wildly popular (but not all kid-appropriate) Cirque du Soleil productions in town. Inspired by such concepts as the circle of life and infinity, “O” uses 1.5 million gallons of water as its stage. Remarkably agile acrobats in brightly patterned bodysuits dive in and out of the water effortlessly, blurring the lines between swimming, ballet and gymnastics to delightful effect. This revolutionary aqua-theater is our pick for your one show (unless you’re a diehard Beatles or Michael Jackson fan), because every seat in the house has a good view. Be sure to look for discount tickets online and book ahead. It shows Wednesday through Saturday in rotation with three other Cirque du Soleil shows.

The Bellagio Fountains
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
888/987-6667

At 900 feet long with 1,200 nozzles and 4,500 white lights, this nightly outdoor display is impressive from any direction. The water literally dances in five different choreographed shows and begins every 15 minutes 8pm to midnight; every 30 minutes from 3pm-8pm. Viewing is free and well worthwhile.  If it’s too hot to stand outside, restaurants such as the Italian Circo in the Bellagio Hotel (where house-made pizzas are good value) give you ringside seats to this amazing spectacle. And if you go inside, don’t miss the Bellagio’s quiet conservatory garden, where more than 7,500 flowers and plants are on display; free entry.

Stratosphere Tower
2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89104
800/998-6937, 702/380-7777

At 1,149 feet, it’s said to be the tallest free-standing observation tower in America. An indoor/outdoor observation deck offers up beautiful panoramic views of the expansive desert and the world-famous sparkling Vegas Strip. The most impressive view is at night. Too boring? Additional tickets for X-Scream (shoot 30 feet over the tower’s rim at 30mph) and Big Shot (over 48″ height), other thrill rides at the Stratosphere Tower, and the super-high-adrenaline, 855-feet-long SkyJump attraction can be purchased separately. Want additional savings? Look for discounts up to 25% at BestofVegas.com.

The Beatles’ LOVE
Mirage Hotel, A Hard Rock Casino Hotel
3400 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/791-7111

This five-block-long region is enclosed under a canopy of more than 2.1 million lights. Streets are closed to automobile traffic to make a large pedestrian mall kids will love. Even better, there’s great high-tech air-conditioning and mega audio speakers for live shows and free concerts. Every casino along Fremont Street turns off their outdoor lights at appointed times immediately followed by the canopy’s “Sky Parade,” a free light and sound show that will go over big with the kids. There’s live music on stage nightly, tons of street performers and buskers, and great people watching; all free. It’s also considered a bargain neighborhood for hotels, many of which advertise on the website.

ARTE Museum Las Vegas
3716 LV Boulevard South, Suite 208
Las Vegas, Nevada 89158
702/725-7200

ARTE Museum in the CityCenter complex is one of Las Vegas’ many new immersive experiences, a technology-infused ticketed show of intense video and light projections. Typically, sound plus 4D effects such as wind and scent contribute to the sensory bombardment. It can be engrossing, entertaining, disorienting or all of the above. Therefore, your family will likely invest in only one show. The new ARTE Museum is a good option because it has several galleries which immerse participants in different environments, from flowers to the sea, to space and the sunset. A gallery of particular interest to younger visitors is Live Sketchbook, in which you can draw and animate fantastic animals moving in their own Night Safari. As author Matt Vilano notes in a report on the new Las Vegas for Families, being able to exert control over your surroundings is very empowering.

The Fremont Street Experience
425 Freemont Street at Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Downtown Las Vegas
702/678-5777

Nearly 20 years ago, the notable circus and gymnastics troupe, Cirque du Soleil, set their talented cast against a nostalgic backdrop of Beatles’ greatest hits. This timeless show will appeal to all ages with its wizardry in special and lighting effects, gravity-defying performances and wonderful orchestra. The Mirage features magic shows, comedians and more. Each show has their age restrictions so do your homework. On the positive side, several attractions at the different Hard Rock owned resorts can be bundled for great savings on family entertainment.

The Neon Museum Las Vegas
770 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas, NV 89101
702/387-6366

The Neon Museum has an unusual collection of the city’s iconic signs and light displays. With its outdoor exhibition space known as Neon Boneyard, the museum also has a visitors’ center in the former La Concha Motel lobby. This museum is a fun place for kids to see all kinds of neon lights and signs that used to signify Vegas, while adults can also enjoy the nostalgia and history. Book ahead for the very popular guided nighttime tours. Check the schedule for two-hour STEAM Saturdays family events if you’re traveling with schoolagers. Kids 7+ pay an extra $5 and younger sibs are free.

The Top Family Daytrips from Las Vegas

Hoover Dam
30 miles SE of Las Vegas on US Hwy 93
702/494-2517; 866/730-9097

The largest artificial reservoir in the country, Hoover Dam is one of the most popular daytrip options from Las Vegas. The dam’s construction began in 1931 when it was decided that the Colorado River must be tamed. This engineering marvel tops out at 726.4 feet in height (221m). It is 1,244 feet wide (379 m), 660 feet (203 m) thick at the base, 45 feet (13 m) thick at the top and cost $165 million Depression-era dollars to build. We’ve heard it currently holds back 50 trillion gallons of water in Lake Mead. Touring the dam provides unique glimpses of its awesome functions, including a chance to see the largest water pipes ever built and 17 turbines that provide electricity for the entire Southwestern United States. Note that constant maintenance may affect the Visitors Center or cause a reduction in tour options.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
1000 Scenic Loop Drive at Highway 159
Las Vegas, NV 891616
702/515-5350

Take highway 159 west from the city until you reach the Bureau of Land Management Visitor Center. The conservation area is on the west side of Red Rock Canyon in the heart of the Spring Mountains. The well-known destination attracts hikers and mountain climbers alike. Although they get snow in winter, it’s usually sunny and relatively warm for taking guided hikes. (If you have more time, review our Desert Hikes in Las Vegas for other ideas in the beautiful Southwest desert landscape.) Even non-hikers will appreciate the beautiful scenery en route.