The Other Side of Vegas

I still say that Vegas is a lousy place to bring kids to visit, and for kids to live. However, if the kids are fairly strong, I have always liked the Black Canyon kayak trip, that Lisa wrote about. There are also pontoon boats that do the same trip, which do not require any physical effort, but would also be much less fun. Hoover Dam is very worth the trip, especially after they complete the bridge, which I think is scheduled for November.

Quote: Wizard

I still say that Vegas is a lousy place to bring kids to visit, and for kids to live. However, if the kids are fairly strong, I have always liked the Black Canyon kayak trip, that Lisa wrote about. There are also pontoon boats that do the same trip, which do not require any physical effort, but would also be much less fun. Hoover Dam is very worth the trip, especially after they complete the bridge, which I think is scheduled for November.

agree with Hoover Dam. It just blows my mind they were actually able to build something of that magnitude.

Personally, the last time I went to Vegas (for 5 days) I BARELY gambled at all..there's just so much to see in Vegas, gambling comes second (all the casinos are cool in their own right just to WALK through them, then all the free attractions, then the paid sights like RedRock, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, etc)
I dunno about it being a place for SMALL kids, but I would say 13-21 would be allright. (Although maybe I was just mature for my age?)

I think there is a window for kids (out of diapers - about 11 years old) when the sights, lights, and pools are great for them and their parents. The pool at the Golden Nugget has a tube slide through a tank full of sharks, The pool at Mandalay Bay has a wave generator. You can walk through the tank of tigers at the MGM. The "problem" is if a parent wants to gamble, someone needs to dedicate their time to watching the kids.

From age 12 - 20, Vegas has to be the worst destination for more than a day (or the half day it takes to get through everything at the Circus Circus Adventuredome). If you step out on the strip on a Saturday night, it is filled with bored teens with nothing to do but cruise and get into trouble. The ones with cash and fake ID's all seem to hang out at the Palms. Best to leave this group at home.

Quote: Ayecarumba

I think there is a window for kids (out of diapers - about 11 years old) when the sights, lights, and pools are great for them and their parents. The pool at the Golden Nugget has a tube slide through a tank full of sharks, The pool at Mandalay Bay has a wave generator. You can walk through the tank of tigers at the MGM. The "problem" is if a parent wants to gamble, someone needs to dedicate their time to watching the kids.

From age 12 - 20, Vegas has to be the worst destination for more than a day (or the half day it takes to get through everything at the Circus Circus Adventuredome). If you step out on the strip on a Saturday night, it is filled with bored teens with nothing to do but cruise and get into trouble. The ones with cash and fake ID's all seem to hang out at the Palms. Best to leave this group at home.

The city has a curfew:
Children under 18 may not be out past 10PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends unless accompanied by an adult.

Is it strictly enforced as they claim?

Quote: benbakdoff

The city has a curfew:
Children under 18 may not be out past 10PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends unless accompanied by an adult.

Is it strictly enforced as they claim?

Are there bed bugs in New York?



Any efforts to crack down on this problem are like swatting roaches in your kitchen. You might turn on the lights and stomp a few, but all they do is scatter until you turn off the lights.

I feel sorry for teens in Las Vegas. They are perceived as, and treated like, a nuisance; instead of the future casino patrons that they really are.

Quote: Nareed

isn't there some sort of law requiring all adult vistors to Vegas gamble? :P

There is actually a surprisingly large percentage of visitors who gamble little to nothing. Many of them like to shop, and a few just like the fine dining.

Downtown has mostly gamblers however.

Quote: Nareed

My boss returned from vegas a few days ago. Talking about his trip, it came up neither he nor his wife gambled at all in the five days they spent there. I find that very hard to believe, even if they wasted a day at the Grand Canyon. But I also have no reason to doubt him.

isn't there some sort of law requiring all adult vistors to Vegas gamble? :P

LOL!

Quote: Wizard

I still say that Vegas is a lousy place to bring kids to visit

Wiz:

While I think I understand your point of view.....

I think it all depends on the attitude of the parents. If you want
to have a nice & enjoyable family vacation, and your focus is
on your kids, Las Vegas can be a great destination.

Of course, on the other hand, if the parents just want to drink
and gamble, then it makes no sense to drag the kids to LV.
And there probably are some parents ( any is too many )
that are doing just that.

So, having said that:

We just spent a couple of weeks in and around LV, and we
had a great time. This is what we did AS A FAMILY during this
trip ( with the exception of the *'s, which indicates that my wife
and I didn't actually go in, but we waited outside while the kids
enjoyed it ):

- Arcade Games at Circus Circus

- Adventuredome at CC ( we had discount tix to
come back a 2nd time, but our girls, ages 12 & 14,
didn't like it enough to make a return trip. The lines
weren't too long when we were there, but the whole
place is a bit out-dated ).

- Swimming Pools at the Hotels

- Outlet Mall in Primm

- Outlet Mall near downtown

* CSI Experience at MGM

- Lion Habitat at MGM

- Gameworks on the Strip

- Mystere at TI

- Mac King ( of course - his show is excellent ).

- The Rat Pack is Back at the Plaza, which both
girls enjoyed and thought was very good.

- Lion King at Mandaly Bay

* Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

- Pirate Show at TI ( the kids thought it was "corny"
and didn't want to go back and see it again, even
though we stayed there for a couple of nights ).

- Caesar's Palace Shops / Statues

- Bellagio Fountains

- Imax Movie at Red Rock Casino (Inception)

- Spring Mtn State Park ( just past Red Rock )

- Sky Parade at Rio

- We drove up to Utah for a couple of nights and
saw Bryce Canyon. Well worth the trip. ( We had
done the North Rim of the Grand Canyon a couple
of years ago ).

- I also went jogging several times with my older
daughter in the morning before it got too hot, since
she is running on the Cross Country team at school
this year.

- And I am probably forgetting a couple of things !

I had been planning on also doing the Rides at Buffalo Bill's,
the Pinball Musuem, and Springs Preserve Park but we
weren't able to fit those in this trip !

The kid's favorite buffet's were at TI and RIO, their least
favorites were Imperial Palace and Gold Coast.

Quote: JohnnyQ

Gold Coast.

I think you have to be at least 45 to appreciate the wonder that is Gold Coast buffet. (I am not that age yet but sometimes I feel like I share the same mentality). The Imperial buffet unequivocally sucks.