Don't Miss - First Trip to Vegas (Wknd), Family with children

What are the "Don't Miss" suggestions for a first visit weekend in Las Vegas, by a familly with children?

Here are my suggestions:

If you have a toddler, or an infant, don't even bother. You will not have a good time. Strollers are not even allowed in some casinos.

If you have school aged kids:
Cruise the Strip at night
Circus Circus Midway $
Stratosphere Tower $ (rides $$)
See the fountain show at Bellagio
Visit The Venetian
See the Mirage volcano
Visit Caesars Palace
See the Tank O' Lions at MGM
Hoover Dam $

Add Ons:
See a show (Magician - Mac King)$$
Bonanza Gift and Souvenir Shop $$
Circus Circus Adventuredome $$ - Amusement park rides, but not a "Must See"
Ethel M Chocolate Factory (factory is not open on Saturday/Sunday, but if you get there on Friday it would be cool)
Edit* Ocean Spray Cranberry World West (kind of far, but free samples abound) -- Confirmed closed to the public
M&M's World - Lot's of expensive M&M candy $$
Pinball Hall of Fame $

Avoid:
Downtown - nothing much for kids there
Grand Canyon - Not doable in a weekend if you also want to see Las Vegas

If it's still there, Sigfried and Roy's little zoo and dolphin pool at the Mirage.

The Sirens show at TI if the kids are old enough.

The spray-paint sidewalk artists. i usually see them Downtown, but you'll find them at the Carnival Court at/outside Harrah's

Specifically at Caesar's, the 2 anamatronic attractions. (free)
The aquarium at Mandalay Bay $$
The Sam's Town laser-anamatronic show (free). It was way cooler than I expected.

Note, these are just things I like. I'm a bit of a kid-at-heart, but not a kid.

Definitely see Mac King at Harrah's. If you scout around a bit, it seems like you can get coupons for a show for about $ 13, including tax and a drink. I've heard its possible to get really good seats if you fold a $ 5 or $ 10 behind your tickets and do it discretely with the usher who seats you.

I think another fun thing to do at Circus Circus is the Midway attractions. Find the nondescript office, near McDonalds if I recall correctly, break a $100 bill for
change and they'll give you a handful of 2 for 1 game coupons. My favorite is the launching a rubber chicken into the pot game, which isn't too hard to win a little stuffed animal souvenir.

Here are a few more things to do, depending on ages and interests. I copied
it out of an old post I made...

- Arcade Games at Circus Circus

- Adventuredome at CC ( it's a bit outdated, see if the Entertainment
Book still has a 2 for 1 coupon for the rides )

- Swimming Pool at your Hotels

- Outlet Mall near downtown

* CSI Experience at MGM

- Lion Habitat at MGM

- Gameworks on the Strip

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

* Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

- Pirate Show at TI

- Caesar's Palace Shops / Statues

- Bellagio Fountains

- Imax Movie at Red Rock Casino (saw Inception there)

- Sky Parade at Rio (maybe a bit boring)

if your at the fountains of Bellagio, don't forget to go inside to see the conservatory. i think they just changed it to the holiday theme. also, if you have a car and not from a place that has snow, a drive up to mt. charleston would be nice. maybe the sleigh ride is operating.

.

Roller Coaster at NYNY. It's overpriced, short and stupid. Then again, it's still a roller coaster.

Quote: Ayecarumba

What are the "Don't Miss" suggestions for a first visit weekend in Las Vegas, by a familly with children?

Here are my suggestions:
Ocean Spray Cranberry World West (kind of far, but free samples abound)

I'd never heard of this before so I did a search and it appears this is now closed, and has been for a while.

LV Sun article from April 2000

But while a couple of web sites noted it was closed, a couple others still had it listed. If anyone is thinking of visiting you might want to give them a call, and this number was listed in a couple of places:
Phone: (702) 566-7160

Quote: PaulEWog

I'd never heard of this before so I did a search and it appears this is now closed, and has been for a while.

LV Sun article from April 2000

But while a couple of web sites noted it was closed, a couple others still had it listed. If anyone is thinking of visiting you might want to give them a call, and this number was listed in a couple of places:
Phone: (702) 566-7160

Thanks for the info. I had visited there several years ago, and note that it still appears on many websites. I called Ocean Spray's corporate headquarter's and confirmed that the Henderson plant is closed to the public.