Las Vegas, Nevada lures visitors with freebies. FTF's no-budget columnist takes a closer look at the ones that strike gold with families.
If you think Las Vegas is one of the last places on earth to take your kids, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. This desert city, built by mobsters, offers the young and the restless an eclectic mix of child-friendly sights and sounds.
[Editor’s Note: Get great savings with the Las Vegas Explorer’s Pass: It saves you up to 50% on regular ticket prices. Choose up to 7 shows, attractions, tours and nightlife tickets for one low price!]
Many of thee sights and sounds I list are on the house. Free fun in the place where the “urge to splurge” is encouraged? You bet. So go ahead — indulge and entertain your family without opening the wallet. And without having to have a birds-and-the-bees talk afterwards.
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/785-5555
I must begin with one of my favorite cheap eats that just opened in Vegas. Pink’s, the famous hot dog joint from downtown Los Angeles, has opened a branch in the Planet Hollywood Hotel. Almost 70 years ago, Pink’s originated in Los Angeles as a family-owned hot dog stand and evolved into the “Home of the World’s Best Chili Dog,” a title earned for the recipe specially developed by founder, Betty Pink. The hot dogs are all beef with natural casing — healthy for the kids — and Hollywood celebrities ranging from Robert Goulet to Snoop Dog have dined out there for years. Look for 14 varieties of dog here, plus alcohol served indoors or at the al fresco cafe.
M & M World
3785 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/736-7611
Practice idolatry in this 28,000-square-foot, four-story temple to the tasty treat. Take part in “I Lost My M in Vegas” movie at M&M Academy. Be dazzled by dozens of different M&M colors. Browse through an array of M&M memorabilia. Kids will love it too. Open 9am-11pm Sun-Thurs and 9am-12am Fri-Sat. Free: entrance, movie. The movie runs 10am-6pm Sun-Thur; 10am-8pm Fri-Sat.
Ethel M. Chocolate Factory & Botanical Cactus Garden
2 Cactus Garden Drive
Henderson, NV 89104
702/435-2655
Forrest Mars, the candy magnate behind Mars bars and M&Ms, built this desert factory to honor his mother Ethel. Visitors are welcome to wonder around, watch the candy-making process, and indulge in complimentary samples afterwards. Outside, there’s a two-acre cactus garden containing over 300 assorted prickly plants. Kids, please note the sign: “Be careful. Cactus bite.” Ouch. Henderson is just 10 miles from the Strip. Hours: 8:30am-6pm Free: factory tour (on weekdays), samples, and cactus garden.
Pirate Battle in Sirens Cove
Treasure Island
3300 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800/944-7444
The city’s most spectacular outdoor show, “The Sirens of TI,” is the Treasure Island’s latest production. Here, Vegas meets Disneyland: adventure, music, dance, fire, acrobatics, and the shining eyes of children when the battle starts. Go early to get a good spot. Although the show involves much action, the attire matches the rest of the strip and may be a little too risque for some audiences. Free: 20-minute shows nightly at 5:30 pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm, and 11:30pm in Sirens’ Cove, with VIP viewing for hotel guests. Call 702/288-7206 for room reservations.
World’s Largest Permanent Circus
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino
2880 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/734-0410
Looking for a clean, old-fashioned family fun in the Sin City? Step right up, folks. The circus is in town, forever. The Big Top tent, over this hotel’s main casino, presents the internationally renowned trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, jugglers, clowns and animal acts. The acts alternate at each performance so the kids of all ages can stick around for more without getting bored. And after a day spent pounding Vegas’ pavements, you get to rest your feet! Free: live circus acts performed each half-hour from 11am- midnight.
The Aquarium at the Silverton Hotel
3333 Blue Diamond Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89139
866/946-4373
Located in the Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, the octagonal aquarium at Silverton Hotel has over 4,000 different types of tropical fish, as well as a few species of sting rays and three types of sharks. Passerbys can watch either the fish feeding times complete with a Q&A with the marine biologists or the aquarium’s daily mermaid shows. Beyond the 117,000 gallon main tank, there are a series of other aquariums mimicking the Nevada landscapes, like the final exhibit, a canyon display of 28,000 gallons, home to seven species of ducks, channel catfish, bluegills, turtles and even a sturgeon. Free: Daily fish feeding from 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The mermaid show usually runs between 2:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., every 15 minutes (excluding fish feeding times).
Mirage Volcano
Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800/963-9634
Las Vegas’ only active volcano erupts nightly in a peaceful lagoon filled with waterfalls and crowds of stunned spectators. Recently revamped by WET Water Features, this Las Vegas landmark was completed in December 2008. The earth shakes and flames shoot into the sky 60 feet above the water creating its own ring of fire. The spectacular performance is accompanied by music, which only intensifies the dramatic show, composed by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and tabla player Zakir Hussain. The best spots are on the Strip side, but arrive early. This is as close as you can get to an active volcano without flying lava fragments hitting you on the head. Free: shows every hour from 8pm-midnight, weather permitting.
Bellagio Fountains
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702/693-7111
The Bellagio Fountains, another WET creation positioned in the 8-acre lake in front of the hotel, is a water display that will entice visitors young and old or set the ultimate mood with the romantic lighting. With over 1,000 water displays, 4,000 individually programmed white lights, and music, this is one of the premiere locations in Las Vegas. Free: Shows Mon-Fri3pm-8pm every half hour, and from 8pm-12am every 15 minutes. On Holidays and Sat-Sun shows are every half hour from 12pm-8pm, and every 15 minutes between 8pm-12am. Weather permitting.
For more free and family friendly attractions visit: www.vegas.com.
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P.E. Island was amazing! If you ever have the chance to go there take it! It was so beautiful and all of the places in the books were fun to visit.
your picture of the horses on the beach remind me of Sweden. Thanks for bringing back the memories
You wrote a really good article on such an interesting & sad topic!
I’ve always wanted to go to P.E. Island! I loved those books. Luuuucky
nicely written 🙂
This is a wonderful story, you will be a great doctor.
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Hello, Ralph. An email voice from the past. Would like to catch up some time. I left Amtrak in '95 and have been living in the Boston area since '97. Have wonderful wife and 3 daughters (the oldest a senior at Barnard). Hope you and Fran are well. Send me a note some time.
Peter
Its really informative. Thank you Goldenberg.In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions. Thank you .
Its really informative. Thank you Arrien .In Australia I like Sydney more because of its added attractions.
thanks for the information. I can use this for my child, since i do not like ANY thing that moves!!!
http://www.orlando4holidays.com
Parents and guardians with questions about transporting minors between countries other than the U.S. should ask the Visa Division of each country's Embassy for exact regulations. Canada, for example, can be very strict about granting children visas and may require a health exam.
The paperwork for vacations and short stay visits can be found at this link:
http://www.familytravelforum.com/how/advice/10545-Required-Documents-For-Travel-With-Minors.html?p=4
Would appreciate a copy of the sample formpermission letter for minor traveling with other than parent situation.
Yoga today is very important in people’s life. Yoga is gaining more and more importance as there is a lot of stress at workplaces. Yoga is the best and easy way to reduce the stress. And I have some good yoga tips at http://www.jiyohealthy.com/category/stress/
Playground Safety Common-sense rules. We are getting parents and professionals to pool together to create a kid-friendly understanding of how to have fun safely on any playground.
Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze is so much fun, and clean for an outdoor facility. Pumpkins arriving in one week!
hi looking for a quote for a pick up from newark airport on the 22/10/09 for four people to east 88st
i had a report to do on martinique, and before my teacher told me what i had to write about, i had know clue about martinique. now i want to go there. this site helped me do my project,and hopfully i will get an A
Looking for what ever we need for my Fiance to bring his daughter from Jamaica to Canada. He is a single parent and has primary custody, but I'm sure travelling internationally, that he will need a letter from her birth mother.
Thanks
Pattii
The mother of my daughter left her with out my consent to D.r and left her there with her mother returning to the United State abondoning my child for 5 years and just to go visit her every year a 1 year old little girl ..Wjat u think is dat
love the pix, you really capture what’s so beautiful about all these places. thanks for bringing those thoughts to my screen.
I had the best family reunion ever with primo events beach homes in virginia Beach. They gave me a beautifyl resort house and provided family games which made it fun for everybody.
Dennis Carini
New Jersey
Eva, the document is available on page 4 of this story. Thanks!
Please send me Permission to Travel Form
THanks for this resource!
Hello,
I would like to introduce a famous restaurant in Budapest, Liszt Ferenc square 9. Café Miró Grande restaurant is located in the heart of Budapest.
I think Café Miró Grande's chef prepared the best Hungarian dishes in Budapest, for example Goulas soup, 'Lecsó', etc.
Don't miss it, when you visit the beautiful city of Budapest.
Another attraction of note is taking a canopy tour. When we filmed the pilot episode for our TV series "Paradise Hunter" we filmed with The Original Canopy Tour. They were excellent and provided some great knowledge of the bio-diversity in the cloud forest.
I would like to obtain a sample form or letter to authorize my mother in-law (my daughters grand mother) to travel to orlando florida where they will be meeting up with the other parent & then in a few days travel on a domestic flight to miami
please email me. Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.
read the instructions first
We've book a number of trips to Phuket for beginners and more advanced divers. The've all had a great time. Although is a bit further than the Caribbean. If you stay longer it's worth the flight time.
I need sinple form traveling with my step daughter, her mother is deceased. Her Father will not be traveling with us to the Bahamas
Hi to parents and grandparents traveling with minors, in need of this Permission Letter.
You can get a free sample of this blank form by filling out the email request at the end of this story. We ask everyone to sign up this way so that we can send you email updates as these regulations change, which is often!
Please read the story through to the end so that you understand the issue in full. Thanks for your interest in family travel!
FTF Editors
please send me the Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent form.
This resort is totally top notch. It's great there. And Amelia Island is one beautiful relaxing place. Love Fernandina Beach and also visiting Fort Clinch. All the best.
My granddaughter a minor,is travelling out of the country with me for two weeks, and I need a permission form for her parents to sign, in case of emergency, so that I can make medical decisions for her. Thank you.
This is really interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way.
Thanks for the comment, Paola! Fun story and glad you took the time to write.
Here's to roses and wine!
Can you please send me a standard document for a minor travelling with one parent.
Thanks
Javier,
You can request a sample Permission to Travel letter by using the form at the end of this story. For information on a temporary resident visa, please check with the Canadian High Commission at this webpage: http://www.visabureau.com/canada/canadian-high-commission.aspx
good luck!
Hello there i am looking for a letter sample of the one paren tarvel with child,the one Canadian Embassy requiring to extend temporary resident visa. Thanks for your kindly help.
What a great story, you were so lucky to be home at that time of year and your pictures are beautiful… Wish I could see it too.
This is soooooo right for all of us, not only Americans.
Anyway,about the roses, he is right especially about the odd number….
I liked hearing about Verona, I never knew there really was a balcony there and that any of that R&J story was true!
The legend of H? Long has it that, “Once upon a time, soon after the Vi?t people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Vi?t people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders’ boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders’ boats. The fast boats couldn’t manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.
Diane:
Please go to the last page of this story and fill out a request form. Then the documents will be e-mailed to you.
Jillian
Need a sample Permission to Travel letter for International Travel with one parent.