Over-the-Top Swimming Pools

If you travel to Las Vegas during the spring and summer, you will absolutely need a pool for the kids to splash around and cool off. Just like with most things in Las Vegas, even the pools can be over-the-top entertainment with waterfalls, waterslides and even exotic fish! Don’t forget that not all pools in Las Vegas are open year-round, so check with your property if having a pool is a deal-breaker.

The Beach at Mandalay Bay: This massive pool complex features a wave pool, a lazy river, a sandy beach, and several different sized pools for adults and children. There are also plenty of cabanas and daybeds available for rent.

The Grand Pool at MGM Grand: This is a large pool complex with three pools, a lazy river and three whirlpool spas. There is also a kids' area with a water playground and a shallow pool.

The Tank at Golden Nugget: The highlight of this pool is a water slide that passes through a shark tank. Kids can slide down while observing marine life up close. There's also a poolside aquarium with various exotic fish.

Explore AREA 15

If you’re looking for a day’s worth of entertainment in one place for the whole family, this a great place to start. Area 15 is an immersive entertainment and events district located just west of the Las Vegas Strip. It is home to a variety of attractions, including: LIFTOFF, a panoramic skyline experience that allows visitors to soar 77 feet above the ground in a glass-enclosed capsule.

VooDoo Zipline, a 1,000-foot zipline that takes riders over the top of Area 15.

The best known and most popular attraction at Area15 is the Omega Mart. A large-scale, immersive art installation, Omega Mart is a mind-bending experience that combines art, technology and interactivity. None of the “products” in the store are quite right or seem to be of this world and each part of the installation gives clues to the mysterious beings behind the store. Whether you’re up to solving the mystery or just want to see the art and design of fake supermarket products, you could spend hours wandering the multiple rooms and floors with plenty to keep kids interested. Touching and testing is not discouraged in this immersive experience!

Watch a Las Vegas Show

From gravity defying acrobatics to jaw dropping magic to spectacular dancing, there’s something for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Cirque du Soleil has three shows that are suitable for all ages: Mystere at Treasure Island, O at the Bellagio and Beatles LOVE at The Mirage. The combination of music, acrobatics and dramatic lights will keep kids engaged and delighted.

Jabbawockeez: This is a hip-hop dance crew that performs a high-energy show that is sure to get your kids moving. The Jabbawockeez are known for their intricate choreography and their unique masks.

Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly at The LINQ Hotel & Casino. Mat Franco is a former America's Got Talent winner who is known for his interactive magic shows. This show is perfect for kids of all ages and it is sure to leave them amazed.

Arcades and Thrill Rides

Bright lights, games of chance, and plenty of buttons to push — arcades provide an air-conditioned, fun-filled environment truly catering to kids.

The Arcade at Horseshoe has more than 80 games throughout its 7,000 square feet layout, conveniently located next to their food court if the kids work up an appetite while playing.

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is an indoor entertainment heaven for kids, with carnival and arcade games interspersed between rollercoasters and rides for all ages. If they need a break from rides and games, slow it down with a game of mini-golf.

My personal favorite that my kids didn’t want to leave is the Pinball Hall of Fame. The non-profit passion project of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, you’ll be in awe of the rows upon rows of classic and modern pinball games and their artwork, many of which you can play for just 25 cents. Although there are no prizes or ticket exchanges, kids will nevertheless have fun getting to play over and over without breaking the bank.

Dazzling Photo-Ops

If a family goes on vacation but no one takes a video or picture of the fun for TikTok or Instagram, did it really happen? Check out these photo-op worthy spectacles your kids will actually smile for:

The Welcome to Las Vegas sign has that classic retro Las Vegas style, even more impressive when lit against desert sky. Pro-Tip: You do NOT need to use or pay the often present “photographers” at the site to take your picture with the sign. You don’t even necessarily need to wait in the queue to take a picture in front of the sign by yourself. Feel free to find a good angle off to the side if you’re tight on time and snap away!

Everything at the Neon Museum is a larger than life, glowing photo-op – and the docents giving you the tour know it and provide plenty of time for you to take pictures. Make sure to book evening tours to get the full effect of these pieces.

The Fountains of Bellagio and Volcano Show at The Mirage: Technically these are two different shows but are within such close proximity that your kids can easily make the walk from one to the other! The Fountains of Bellagio is a musical water and light show that plays every 15 minutes, shooting water as high as 460 feet. If the orchestrated fountain show is too cool for the kids, the red hot Volcano Show at the Mirage takes place on the hour from 7pm until 11:00pm. Special effects and music make this volcano seem very real, with fire and smoke sizzling through the air. The show is only five minutes long but will hold a young one’s attention the whole time.

Gordon Ramsay Burger at Planet Hollywood - They serve up classic kid favorites such as burgers, fries, and milkshakes from the kids menu so you don’t have to worry about a plate of leftovers!

Yardbird Southern Table and Bar at The Venetian - A great sit-down restaurant with a kids’ menu full of southern comfort dishes such as Macaroni & Cheese and Crispy Chicken Biscuit, which also includes a sweet tea or lemonade and a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer - A bright neon experience to match the Vegas strip with a variety of burgers and sandwiches, the real highlight for kids will be the milkshakes filled with candy, whole cookies and even cake!

Holsteins at the Cosmopolitan - Part of the Block16 food hall at The Cosmopolitan, Holsteins has a fairly large corner of the floor with plenty of seating. Their kids’ menu items all include french fries and a mini vanilla ice cream sundae, at a very reasonable price of $15.