I don't know if it's all the movies I've watched, or all the bachelor party stories I've heard, but I've never considered Las Vegas a "family friendly" vacation destination. I've heard of other people taking their children there and while I might hold that person in high regard, it always made me question why they would take their children somewhere so dirty... scandalous... gross...
Well, it's also really inexpensive. So it made the list while we were planning our trip across the United States for the simple fact that we wanted to save a little money on lodging. I didn't have high hopes and, frankly, didn't do any research on what to do before we arrived. I assumed we would hunker down in our apartment, work and go to school, and hightail it out of there as soon as the weekend hit.
Spoiler alert: We LOVED Vegas!
We have to fit all of our sightseeing into a lunch hour, in the evenings after work, and on the weekends. Because our time is so precious, we always book our vacation rental for as close to the action as we can get. Sometimes this makes the cost per night a little higher, but our time is our most precious commodity. To save on drive time is always worth that little extra and it allows us to participate in a lot more activities that we would otherwise have to miss in our short visit.
You could write a book about everything to do in Vegas. There are literally hundreds already written so there isn't really much I can tell you that you can't find in other places. I still thought it was worth a few minutes of my time to give you a few ideas to try if you're going to visit with kids and are on a tight budget.
Here's how I would make the most of a weekend in Vegas with kids for zero dollars:
Friday evening- Check out New York New York if you have a sweet tooth. This is home of Hershey's! It has fun activities and little freebies. Plus some yummy desserts for cheap if you are feeling up to it. Take those desserts with you as you head to Circus Circus. This is literally a giant circus or fair in the middle of a casino. It comes complete with fried food, and cheap stuffed animals that you have to win! That sounds like it could get spendy really fast but if you don't want to blow money on games, skip past them and watch the circus acts instead! They're completely free and so fun! Make sure to get pictures with the performers when they're done.
Day 1 Saturday morning- Grab a coffee and watch the sun rise in at the Seven Magic Mountains. Is it a tourist trap? Yes. Is it worth a visit to get away from the strip, enjoy nature, and marvel at the sheer craziness of "build it and they will come"? Yes! What's it going to hurt to check it out? Plus you can get some fun and colorful pictures!
Saturday afternoon- Grab lunch in Paris Las Vegas and get some cute "tourist" pictures with the Eiffel Tower. Then head to the Flamingo for a relaxing self guided tour of the courtyard wildlife habitat. They have ducks, koi fish, turtles, and of course... flamingos! And if you have any spare time (and everyone is in a good mood), I would highly recommend going on an easter egg hunt for hidden murals in your part of town. It's so fun to watch kids make an emotional connection with art. And they love to get pictures with their favorites!
Saturday evening- Every half an hour the Bellagio hosts an incredible choreographed water show. They have a bunch of shows on a rotating schedule so it's unlikely you'll see the same one twice. It is 100% worth your time. But make sure to park your car and walk to a little alcove to watch it in person. There is something truly amazing about how it makes you feel to see and hear all that water in person. And while you're in the area, check out the incredible blown glass art inside! Don't worry, it's on the ceiling so your kids won't break anything.
Day 2 Sunday morning- You HAVE TO visit Wynn Casino. The whole casino has incredible, sun drenched displays full of all things pretty. I would recommend walking around with a warm coffee and just enjoying the peace and quiet. If you're looking for beautiful places to take pictures, this is definitely the spot. Every corner is gorgeous!
Sunday afternoon- You absolutely have to spend an afternoon in the Valley of Fire State Park. It's only a little ways out of Vegas but you feel like you're on another planet. You could spend days out here and still not see it all. I would recommend taking the kids on a few of the hiking trails where you can check out the petroglyphs up close. Climb into some caves. Take pictures and marvel at this wonderful world we get to call ours.
Sunday evening- Spend a night checking out the Venetian Resort. They have a lot of tourist attractions that cost money, but you will get equal enjoyment out of all their free entertainment without having to spend a penny. Watch the violinists play by the canal while people drift by quietly in gondolas. Yes, there is literally a canal running through this entire hotel! Revel in the artwork on literally every surface. Take pictures with the various sculptures and be amazed by the passage of time in St. Marks square. When you're tired of being in this other world, walk over to the Mirage and prepare to be shocked by the live volcano show on the strip. I would recommend you stay a few steps back as it gets pretty warm!
My number one SPLURGE recommendation is the High Roller. It is worth every single dollar! The costs are reasonable and the views of the City are unparalleled. I could pay for this over and over again without ever regretting the money spent.
There is so much more to see and do than this short weekend itinerary but I hope it helps if you're planning a quick trip and don't want to be stressed by making . What is your favorite free activity for a family visiting Vegas?
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