The Las Vegas Strip is renown for its casinos and adult-sized entertainment, but there’s plenty for kids to do, too, that the whole family can enjoy. Downtown Vegas is far from average and is full of history, lights and distinctive experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Take a break from the casinos and head out for a day of family fun with these 14 family friendly things for you to do in Downtown Vegas.
Slotzilla Zip Line
Slotzilla is a 12 story slot machine on Fremont Street that you can zip line right off of and soar over the heartbeat of downtown. There are two adrenaline pumping levels to Slotzilla. The first level boasts the ZipLine teetering about 77 feet from the ground, and the Zoomline rises about 114 feet off the ground. Kids will reach up to 40 mph while gliding above the crowd below. This one is for the fearless big kid and grown-ups alike, and there is a minimum weight requirement of 80 pounds.
The Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget
Has your kid ever wanted to get up close and personal with sea life? How about doing it while sliding down a 30 foot water slide? The Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget an experience unlike any other. With a secured water slide going through a tank filled with sharks and fish you can safely swim with the sharks. The pool surrounding the tank offers amazing opportunities to view the marine life and displays a series of playful waterfalls you can swim under and enjoy. You can also take a Tank Tour where a marine biologist will take you through the inner workings of the tank, talk to you about how they take care of the marine life and how feeding time works.
Want more ideas, discounts and deals around Las Vegas for your family? Get Las Vegas show and hotel discounts here….
The Toy Shack
You may have seen the owner of this store pop up on an episode or two of Pawn Stars a their go-to toy expert. Get a glimpse of his world at The Toy Shack and let your children experience the nostalgia of old toys and new all under one roof. Located near Slotzilla this fun store is easy to get to from Fremont Street. For store hours and location click here Toy Shack.
Fremont Street Experience
As a (nearly) lifelong Las Vegas local, I think Fremont Street is one of the most underrated places in Vegas. There are shops, street entertainers and food galore. Deep fried Oreos anyone? There is also live entertainment every night, and the famous Viva Visions show which playfully display amazing light shows on a 1,500 foot-long video screen overhead to the likes of Bon Jovi, The Doors and more.
Neon Experience
The Neon Museum is like a live photo gallery of the history of Vegas. The museum includes over 200 signs ranging in year from the 1930s all the way up to present day. Founded in 1996, the museum dedicates itself to preserving and protecting iconic Las Vegas signs and rescuing history. It would probably be long forgotten and lost without this museum. Fun fact: The Visitor’s Center of the museum was once a lobby of the historic La Concha Motel. The outside exhibition space housing most of the signs is known as the Neon Boneyard. You may enter the Neon Boneyard by purchasing tickets for a guided tour. Tours are 7 days a week during the day or at night when the signs are lit up. Just be aware that there is broken glass, rust and other fragments around the signs. A daytime tour may be a better choice with kids.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The Las Vegas Natural History Museum opened in 1991 and has proven popular with locals ever since. Take your kids into the depths of their imagination and explore world history and world climates by way of different exhibits. The exhibits include Treasures of Egypt, Prehistoric Life Gallery (Dinosaurs), Marine Life Gallery (includes live sea life), African Savanna Gallery, African Rainforest, International Wildlife Gallery, Wild Nevada, Prehistoric Mammals, and Geology Gallery. But perhaps the best part of all is the Young Scientist Center with hands-on activities to help your children discover the world around them. You can also take your family to the shark feedings and critter connection events, calendar here LVNHM Schedule.
Need ideas for kid-friendly hotels in Las Vegas? We’ve got 10 of them.
The MOB Museum
The battle between law enforcement and organized crime has never been displayed in a way like this before at the MOB Museum. This 501 (c) 3 non-profit three story interactive museum chronicles the history of the ongoing epic battle of the police force and the MOB. Take the journey through true stories, personal accounts of people involved first hand on both sides and enjoy learning in a fun and creative environment. With multi-sensory displays you will feel as if you’ve been thrown into another dimension and immersed in the clash that has impacted our society even today.
Discovery Children’s Museum
This is one that even the parents will enjoy. The Discovery Children’s Museum is 58,000 square feet of hands-on interactive fun your child will never forget. With nine permanent exhibitions and some traveling ones (for a list of current exhibitions click here Traveling Exhibitions) the hours of fun are priceless. Kids will learn about the movement and power of water, the excitement of being a detective and solving mysteries and more!
The Old Mormon Fort
The State Park encompassing Old Mormon Fort serves as a time capsule for the birth of Las Vegas as we know it today. The area was the first permanent, non-native settlement of Las Vegas founded by Mormon missionaries. Through displays, original buildings, artifacts and hands on activities kids will discover and explore what life was like in 1855 when the settlement was founded and how people survived in the desert climate. Old Mormon Fort Website.
The Smith Center
The Smith Center is the main vicinity for performing arts in Las Vegas. They host various events from Broadway shows to blockbuster concerts. They also frequently host kid friendly plays, such as “Matilda the Musical.” Ask about a free tours to help discover the art throughout the property, the architecture of the Smith Center and the history of the building.
The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop
This little Gold and Silver Pawn Shop has become world famous thanks to the popular TV show PawnStars. You can walk around and see cool historical pieces of our culture and modern ones as well. It’s probably one of the only pawn shops kids would want to go in if nothing more than to hopefully get a glimpse of Rick Harrison and Chumlee themselves.
Eclipse Theaters
This is a luxury experience every kid wants to have but doesn’t know it! The Eclipse Theaters has a restaurant on site you can dine in or you can have your order brought to you while lounging in the theater watching your movie in a VIP luxury chair. Just press the call button and the waiter will come take your food and drink order and bring it to you. Kids are not allowed in after 6:00 p.m. so make sure you catch an early movie!
Want Kid-Friendly Ideas, Attractions and Hotels for Your Las Vegas Vacation? Sign-up and Get Our FREE Las Vegas Chapter from Our Book, “America’s Most Popular Family Vacations”!
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
