Vegas with kids is very different from what we were accustomed to. When it was just my husband and me, Vegas meant nightclubs, a little gambling, and very late nights. This time we came back with all three kids, and it was a different trip. Still fun. Maybe even more fun.
Before we booked anything, we asked each child one question: what do you want to do in Vegas? This was their trip too. One wanted arcades. One wanted the aquarium. One wanted a buffet (a kid after my own heart). We did all three, and a whole lot more.
Here is how we did Las Vegas with kids, where we stayed, and what I would tell any family planning their first trip. Vegas isn't only for adults. You can make it family friendly.
Where We Stayed: Tahiti Village Resort
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: stay off the Strip. We stayed at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa, and it is probably the most family-friendly place to sleep in Las Vegas.
It sits at the south end of Las Vegas Blvd, about two miles past Mandalay Bay, so you are close to everything without being in the middle of it. Here is why it worked for us:
No casino, no smoke. No walking the kids through a slot floor to get to the elevator.
Room for a bigger family. One- and two-bedroom suites with a full kitchen or kitchenette, so we made easy breakfasts for the kids every morning: bagels, toast, and eggs. It saved money and kept our mornings slow.
A lazy river and a sand-entry pool. The pool slopes in like a beach, which is perfect for little ones. Note: the lazy river typically closes for winter, check for actual date on website if this is a dealbreaker.
Plenty to eat on site, including pizza and a pool bar. And yes, we had their Dole Whip every single day.
A short shuttle to the Strip, so no parking fees or long walks in the heat.
What We Did in Las Vegas with Kids
1. The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere
My daughters and I caught The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, and it was pure magic. This isn't a movie you sit back and watch. The wind machines kick on during the twister, your seat rumbles with the thunder, and foam apples rain down when the trees get grumpy. We took a couple of those apples home as souvenirs.
Good to know: The show runs about 75 minutes, and ticket sites suggest it for ages 5 and up. Kids who startle easily may find the storm intense.
2. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
The aquarium was my son’s pick, and it delivered. Shark Reef is tucked inside Mandalay Bay, and the walk-through shark tunnel alone is worth the visit. But the moment we'll remember is the touch pool. Our son was brave enough to reach in and touch a stingray, and the look on his face afterward said it all.
Good to know: Staff teach the one-finger rule before anyone touches, and the rays' barbs are trimmed. It's a gentle, built-in lesson in respecting animals. Kids under 5 get in free.
3. The Fun Dungeon Arcade at Excalibur
For the arcade loving daughter, we headed to the Fun Dungeon at Excalibur, down on the lower level beneath the casino. With 200+ arcade and carnival-style games, the kids were so excited they didn't know where to start. Games run on a swipe card, so set a budget before you load it.
4. The Buffet at Wynn
The buffet was my other daughter’s pick, and we made it the main event right after the Sphere. The Buffet at Wynn is as pretty as it is delicious, with fresh flowers everywhere. The kids' favorite part? The s'mores, torched right in front of you. Dessert and a show.
Good to know: Kids under 3 eat free, and ages 3 to 9 are about half price. Brunch is cheaper than the seafood dinner service, which starts at 1 p.m., so time your visit accordingly.
5. Hershey's Chocolate World
Hershey's Chocolate World at New York-New York is two floors of chocolate, with a candy-bar facade you walk right through. We left with a giant 5-pound Hershey's bar and a giant Kiss, then spent the night taste-testing back at the room. You can also put your own photo on a custom wrapper, which makes a fun keepsake. Go early, right after opening, to beat the crowds.
6. Beanie's First Ear Piercing at Rowan
Beanie decided this was the trip to get her ears pierced for the very first time. She was so brave, and she picked the cutest pink flower studs. We went to Rowan, off the Strip, where every piercing is done by a licensed nurse with hypoallergenic earrings. As a nurse myself, that gave me real peace of mind. It was her idea, her moment, and now a Vegas memory she wears every day.
Good to know: Rowan has two Vegas-area studios, in Downtown Summerlin and Henderson. Piercing starts at $35, plus the earrings.
7. Dinner at Weera Thai
On our first night, we took the kids to Weera Thai, my husband's favorite restaurant since long before we had kids. We went to the Town Square location on South Las Vegas Blvd, the closest one to Tahiti Village. The ambiance is elevated, with a full bar, but it still felt welcoming with kids.
This was the meal that opened our kids' palates to Thai food. They dove into the crispy noodles and the appetizer sampler. Sharing a place that meant something to us as a couple, now with all three kids at the table, was one of my favorite moments of the trip.
Good to know: Walk-ins are welcomed but reservations are recommended
8. Juan's Flaming Fajitas in Henderson
This one surprised us. Juan's Flaming Fajitas & Cantina is off the Strip in Henderson's Water Street District. The tortillas are the freshest you can get. There's a viewing window where you can watch them being pressed and cooked, and the kids were glued to it. I'd go back just for the tortillas.
And yes, the fajitas arrive at your table with actual flames. Kids love it.
9. The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
You can't leave without the photo. We went first thing in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds, and there was still a line at 8:30 a.m. It moves quickly, though.
Good to know: The sign is free. Its small free parking lot is only reachable from the southbound lanes of Las Vegas Blvd. Aim to arrive before 8 a.m. for the shortest line.
Tips for Doing Vegas with Kids
Let each child pick one thing. It gives them ownership of the trip and takes the guesswork out of planning.
Stay somewhere without a casino. No smoke, no slot-floor shortcuts, and a pool that feels like a vacation on its own.
Know the curfew. Clark County has a curfew for anyone under 18 who isn't with a parent. On the Strip it starts at 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays. With you, they're fine.
Kids can't linger on casino floors. They can walk through to get somewhere, but security will move you along if you stop.
Plan around the heat. Do outdoor things in the morning, then pool, nap, and indoor attractions in the afternoon.
Use the shuttle or rideshare. The Strip looks walkable on a map, but distances between resorts are long for little legs.
Vegas, Our Way
We traded late nights for lazy river afternoons, and blackjack tables for Dole Whip and foam apples. The city didn't change; we did. And it turns out Vegas has plenty of room for a family of five who asked their kids what they wanted, and then said yes.
The world is our classroom, even in Las Vegas.
Planning your own family trip? Save this post for later, and follow along @twoplusone_mama for more family travel the way we do it.
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