Las Vegas is known as the happiest place on earth for adults and is filled with fun and excitement. There is plenty to do as a family if you travel to Las Vegas with your children. The most famous attraction is the Las Vegas Strip, but you will find a wide variety of other things to do, such as shows, rides, and even museums. Many hotels are attractions in themselves and include exciting architecture, shows, fountains, rides, and even dolphin shows.
The Las Vegas Strip is what most people associate with the city of Las Vegas. Best viewed at night when the city comes alive with thousands of illuminated neon lights. Plan to spend a few hours wandering along the strip, taking in the sights, including the enormous entertainment places that house hotels, shows, and dining options. To truly experience all that Las Vegas has to offer, you should stay in the heart of everything on The Strip.
At 1,149 feet tall, the SkyPod at the Stratosphere offers expansive views of Las Vegas. A well-known feature of the Las Vegas skyline, KkyPod boasts the tallest observation tower in the United States, a restaurant and bar, a selfie spot, and a wedding chapel. The adventurous can choose from several thrill-seeking rides. Fly 160 feet in the air at 45 mph on Big Shot. Spin at 3 Gs while dangling from SkyPod on Insanity. Or brave the X-Scream, a roller coaster that teeters off the edge of SkyPod at 866 feet.
Get ready for an undersea adventure at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Aquarium. The exhibit houses over 2,000 sea animals, including sharks, giant rays, endangered sea turtles, and even a Komodo dragon. Experience the life of an Aquarist with the Animal Encounters program, where you can feed the stingrays and crabs. Feeling more adventurous? Take a virtual, 3-D journey to the South Pacific, where you can and swim with humpback whales and dive with exotic sharks in the Bahamas.
In the older part of Las Vegas, known as Downtown, you will find the pedestrian-only Fremont Street. The area is home to many unique attractions, such as a five-block section that has overhead LED lights that illuminate the sky with different patterns as you walk beneath them. At night a music and lights show takes over the street at regular intervals. There are a number of shows and street performers on Fremont Street.
Shaped like an Egyptian pyramid, the Luxor is a well-known resort on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip. The resort features unique pyramid rooms with slanting windows and inclined elevators, which travel up the side of the building on a 30-degree incline. The brilliant and impressive Luxor Sky Beam can be seen hundreds of miles away on a clear evening.
Enjoy an aerial view of Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon from a helicopter ride. There are a number of helicopter tour companies in Las Vegas offering everything from a 15-minute flip over the city of Las Vegas to longer tours that take in the Grand Canyon and the scenery around Las Vegas. This is a great option for people who have limited time in the area.
The Venetian Hotel is one of the grandest resorts in Las Vegas and is very popular with couples on honeymoon or for romantic getaways. Inside the hotel, you will find a shopping arcade that has been designed to resemble the streets of Venice. Some of the top attractions in Venice have been recreated in the hotel, such as the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. One of the most famous features of the hotel is the Gondola Rides along the canals. Enjoy a romantic moment aboard the Gondolas and pretend you are in Venice.
The Paris Hotel is located on the Las Vegas Strip and is one of the best-known hotels in the area, thanks to its iconic replica of the Eiffel Tower that stretches into the Las Vegas skyline. In the resort, you will find a selection of French shops and even a recreation of the Paris Opera house. The Eiffel Tower is forty-six stories high, and the observation deck offers incredible views of the city. On the forty-fifth floor, you will find the romantic Eiffel Tower Restaurant.
Head to the Bellagio Resort to experience this large high-end hotel that is filled with attractions. At the resort, you will find the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, a large spa, and some of the finest restaurants in the city. The most famous feature of the resort is the grand fountain display at the entrance. Visitors can enjoy a fantastic view of the music and water display from the sidewalk.
The gorgeous 14,000-square-foot botanical garden at the Bellagio is a nature lover's dream, but you don't have to be a flower aficionado to be in awe of this stunning display. Every season, it transforms before your eyes with a vibrant rainbow of color in full bloom. Over 10,000 fresh plants adorn the display, and interactive features such as the Tunnel of Love make you one with the flora. This installation also includes fountains, trellises, trees, and winding paths — always with a unique theme.
If you're a fan of punk rock or simply looking for a unique and fascinating attraction in Las Vegas, the Punk Rock Museum is a must-visit destination. Located just off the Strip, this hidden gem showcases the rich history and culture of punk rock through a wide range of exhibits and memorabilia.
Don't miss the chance to see original instruments played by punk legends like The Ramones, and The Clash.
The museum also offers a dynamic and immersive experience, featuring audio and video installations that transport you back to the heyday of punk rock. Enjoy interviews and live performances from the most influential bands of the era as you explore the museum's interactive exhibits.
One of the most iconic hotels on the strip, thanks to the volcano situated next to the sidewalk in front of the hotel. The volcano erupts regularly, but the display is awe-inspiring at night. Inside the hotel, you will find the Secret Garden, that is home to a variety of exotic animals, including a pair of white lions.
Just off the Strip, you will find Linq Promenade, and at the end of that street is one of the most iconic rides in Las Vegas, the High Roller Ferris Wheel. You can see the Ferris Wheel towering over the city in most aerial photographs of Las Vegas. The Ferris Wheel is 550 feet high; a full rotation takes around 30 minutes. Each of the large cabins holds up to forty people.
Tour through the history of Las Vegas through these vintage signs rescued from casinos and businesses over the years. Art lovers and history enthusiasts will appreciate this unique collection of iconic neon signs. Each sign tells the story of its creator, inspiration, and the role it played in Las Vegas culture. The Main collection features over 200 unrestored signs illuminated by ground lighting at sunset and numerous signs that remain lit at all times.
This hotel is visually amazing and is a replica of a section of the Manhattan skyline. Famous replica's in the hotel include the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Inside the hotel, you will find a version of 5th Avenue, complete with high-end stores and restaurants. Thrill-seekers will love the giant roller-coaster that wraps around the hotel.
Caesar's Palace is probably the most famous hotel in Las Vegas, and it features in a number of movies and TV series. The Colosseum is the resorts massive concert venue, and shows here are often sold out months in advance. Famous stars that have performed here for extended periods of time include Celine Dion and Elton John. The resort complex has a vast array of dining options and smaller shows to enjoy.
Discover the fascinating history of the ongoing battle between organized crime and law enforcement at the Mob Museum. Through multi-sensory exhibits and historical artifacts, get an insider's look at some of America's most notorious gangsters, including Al Capone, George "Bugs" Moran, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, and John Gotti, to name a few.
Curious about the real story behind atomic testing? Get an in-depth glimpse at this one-of-a-kind museum. Eight thousand square feet of enticing exhibits guide you through the history and science behind America's nuclear weapons testing program from its earliest beginnings. Discover rare artifacts you won't find anywhere else, such as the Backpack Nuke, an expansive nuclear reactor, and pop culture must-haves from TV and film. You can even experience an immersive simulation of an above-ground test and savor the moment in all its magic.
Located just 30 minutes outside Las Vegas, Hoover Dam tours make an excellent day trip from the strip. Dedicated by President Roosevelt in 1935, the legendary dam draws over one million tourists annually. At the observation deck, immerse yourself in history with panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding area, including Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Take a guided tour through the entire powerplant, including the original construction tunnels, eight commercial generators, an inspection ventilation shaft, and a viewing platform where you can feel the vibration from water rushing through — an experience that's sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
If you're a nature lover, experience the majestic desert landscape in all its glory at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This 15-mile park is home to the area's finest hiking, plus incredible finds in geology and wildlife. You'll catch glimpses of striking species such as hawks, mule deer, desert willows, and antelope ground squirrels. Explore one of 26 scenic trails throughout the park, or explore Native American culture through ancient pictographs and petroglyphs. This isn't your average hike, either. Here, you may find fossilized corals, bacteria, and even the prehistoric footprints of dinosaurs.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, Container Park is an experience unlike any other. The open-air shopping center is an art piece in and of itself, but it's filled to the brim with innovative shops, eateries, and even an interactive playground with a treehouse for little ones. Devour mouth-watering cuisine and cocktails just minutes from historic Fremont Street, or spend the day filling your shopping bags with the latest in fashion, food, art, and gifts. Live music and entertainment are routinely scheduled to keep visitors busy, so you can check out everything from morning yoga sessions to art shows and rock concerts.