Learn what to do in Las Vegas with kids if you only have one day.
Las Vegas isn’t usually the first place people think of when they imagine their next family vacation. But if you happen to be passing through Las Vegas with kids – on a road trip to Zion National Park or the Grand Canyon – there are definitely some fun stops worth checking out.
Because Bryan and I have been to the city many, many times (it’s only a 4-hour drive from Southern California, where we grew up), we already had in mind some fun, free things to do with kids in Las Vegas. But with a little digging, I found a few more and came up with a plan to maximize our 24 hours there.
Here are all the fun things we did that I think you and your family would enjoy, too:
Eat Crepes
Mon Ami Gabi (in the Paris Hotel) has a lovely patio and delicious crepes for breakfast and lunch. Go for dinner and you can watch the Bellagio Hotel’s water fountain show from your patio seat – it’s right across the street. The restaurant also offers steak, fish, salads and kid-friendly sides like mac and cheese and French fries.
Stroll Through a Fantasy Garden
Inside the Bellagio Hotel is the most fantastical botanical garden. Huge sculptures are made from flowers, petals and leaves and kids love the tropical birds and koi fish.
If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to hang around outside the hotel too for their water fountain show choreographed to music (click here to see show times). Note: The water show is more spectacular after dark when it’s lit up.
Sip Sodas From Around the World
At the Coca-Cola Store, you can sample 16 sodas they sell around the globe – flavors like pine nut, pineapple and mint – and rate them from best to worst. It’s a super fun thing to do with the family!
You can also buy all kinds of Coca-Cola trinkets and take pictures with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear (but you have to pay to take the pictures home). Stopping here was our favorite experience of the day!
See a 3D Movie
At the M&M Store, you can catch a free 10-minute animation that’s actually pretty entertaining and it’s a great excuse to sit down and take a short break. You’ll especially appreciate this if you’re there on a scorching hot day!
Watch Statues Come to Life
Caesars Palace hotel is home to the Shops at The Forum, a really cool mall. Besides stores, there are fountains to throw pennies into, a 50,000-gallon aquarium and a free special-effects show where animatronic statues talk and move as they tell a story. The show starts at the top of every hour starting at 11 a.m.
Eat at a Buffet
Las Vegas is famous for its buffets. Bacchanal at Caesars Palace is rumored to be the best, but it’s pricy. Nearly every hotel on the strip will have a buffet restaurant you can check out though and going to one is a fun experience for kids who’ve never done a buffet before.
Don’t Miss the Erupting Volcano
A walk down The Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) isn’t complete without watching the Mirage Hotel’s volcano erupt. It’s out in front of their hotel and it explodes at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. every night.
Stay on Las Vegas Boulevard (“The Strip”)
Bally’s Hotel has a great location in the middle of the strip and a cute promenade in front of the hotel with small shops and little sidewalk restaurants serving favorites like tacos and fried chicken. Ask for a room in the Resort Tower, which was newly renovated and has big rooms for spreading out.
A Word of Caution About Las Vegas With Kids
Let’s be honest: There’s a seedy side to Las Vegas and you need to be prepared for that when you’re going there with kids. Some street performers on Las Vegas Boulevard/The Strip wear nothing more than a G-string and paint to entice people passing by to take pictures with them. My girls were shocked and asked, “Why would she want everyone to see her naked?” So, we had a little conversation about that. Also, avoid people handing out “cards” on the sidewalk. These are pornographic cards advertising adult venues.
While I wouldn’t recommend spending an entire family vacation in Las Vegas, the city does have some unique experiences that are fun to do with kids. Dedicate a day to see the sights, maybe take in a kid-friendly show and enjoy your hotel’s pool before moving on.
Happy travels,
P.S. If you want to explore the Southwest, take an epic road trip from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. It’s an easy and short drive with lots of beautiful stops and outdoor adventure that you and your family will love!
DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE ONE PERFECT DAY IN LAS VEGAS WITH KIDS TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
