Family Guide to Las Vegas: Where To Stay and Kid-Friendly Activities

Fremont Street

Start your Las Vegas adventure in the historic downtown area along Fremont Street Experience. This part of the city has a completely different feel from the main Strip and is often more relaxed during the day time if you’re visiting with kids. You’ll walk beneath the massive LED canopy where light shows happen in the evenings, street performers entertain crowds, and there’s always something interesting happening.

While you’re here, stop in to see the famous Golden Nugget Las Vegas, one of the most recognizable casinos in downtown Las Vegas. Even if you’re not gambling, it’s fun to walk through and experience the classic Vegas atmosphere.

If you want a quick treat, grab a fancy iced coffee and donut from Dunkin’ nearby. Families will also appreciate that there is a CVS Pharmacy right on Fremont Street in case you need sunscreen, water, snacks, or anything for the kids while you’re out exploring.

For shopping, Fremont Street is one of the best places in Las Vegas to buy souvenirs. Prices are often cheaper than on the Strip, and you’ll find tons of shops selling Vegas shirts, magnets, hats, and fun novelty items.

Downtown Container Park

A short walk away is the unique Downtown Container Park. This family-friendly space has small shops, restaurants, and one of the best playgrounds in downtown Las Vegas. Kids can burn off some energy here while parents relax in the shaded seating areas. At night, the giant praying mantis sculpture at the entrance even shoots flames into the air.

If your family is feeling adventurous, you can also try the SlotZilla Zipline. Riders fly above the crowds down Fremont Street—either seated or superhero-style. This attraction costs money but is a memorable Vegas experience.

When it’s time to eat, there are some fun options nearby. Nacho Daddy is a great casual spot known for loaded nachos and big portions that are easy to share. If you’re looking for something truly over-the-top (and very Vegas), you can also check out Heart Attack Grill, famous for its giant burgers and hospital-themed servers.

If the kids still have energy to burn, consider driving a few minutes away to Sky Zone Trampoline Park, which is a great way for them to jump around and cool off indoors. Nearby, you can also visit La Bonita Supermarkets, a large Mexican grocery store that’s surprisingly fun to explore if you like checking out local food markets while traveling.

The Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip is one of the most famous streets in the world, and even when traveling with kids, it’s worth spending a full day exploring. What many visitors don’t realize is just how far apart the resorts actually are, so expect to do a lot of walking. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is one of the best decisions you can make for this day.

If you’re traveling with younger kids, consider bringing a collapsible wagon. It’s incredibly useful for tired little legs after hours of walking, and it also becomes the perfect place to stash snacks, water bottles, and the souvenirs kids inevitably collect along the way.

If you’re driving, starting your day near Circus Circus Las Vegas is a good option. During our visit, we were able to find free parking here, making it a convenient starting point for exploring the north end of the Strip.

Inside Circus Circus you’ll find the Adventuredome, a large indoor amusement park with roller coasters, carnival rides, and games. While the rides require tickets or wristbands, it’s still fun to walk through and watch the action. Circus Circus also hosts free circus-style performances throughout the day, which are a fun and unexpected treat for kids.

Sweet treats & lunch

From here, begin making your way south along the Strip. A colorful stop that kids always enjoy is M&Ms Las Vegas. This multi-floor store is dedicated entirely to M&Ms, and kids love seeing every color of M&M imaginable along with life-sized M&M characters and photo spots throughout the store. Entry is free, although the candy walls can be very tempting.

Not far away is Hershey’s Chocolate World Las Vegas, which is another fun stop. Inside you’ll find giant chocolate displays and a person-sized Statue of Liberty made entirely out of Twizzlers licorice, which makes a fun and unique photo opportunity.

For a memorable meal along the Strip, consider stopping at Rainforest Cafe Las Vegas. Dining here feels like stepping into a jungle, complete with animatronic animals, rainforest sounds, and occasional indoor thunderstorms. It’s definitely more of a paid attraction than some of the other stops, but it’s a dining experience kids tend to remember.

The Bellagio & beyond

As you continue along the Strip, one of the highlights is the famous Fountains of Bellagio outside Bellagio. The fountain show runs every 30 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes in the evening, with choreographed water jets dancing to music and lights. It’s one of the most impressive free attractions in Las Vegas, and well worth stopping to watch.

• Note: One thing to be aware of while walking the Strip is that sometimes people may approach you and place bracelets or small items directly into your hand—occasionally individuals dressed like monks. They will often expect a donation or payment afterward. If you’re not interested, it’s best to politely decline and keep walking.

Another fun stop for families is Flamingo Las Vegas, where you can visit the Wildlife Habitat. This small garden area is home to live flamingos and other birds, and it’s completely free to visit, making it a nice quiet break from the busy sidewalks.

Further south, kids often enjoy seeing the castle-shaped Excalibur Hotel and Casino, which looks like something straight out of a storybook. Just nearby is the giant pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel & Casino, which is one of the most recognizable buildings in Las Vegas.

After spending time on the Strip, Day three is a great opportunity to get out of the city and explore the natural side of southern Nevada. One of the biggest advantages of renting a car in Las Vegas is that some incredible landscapes are only a short drive away. We turned this into a bit of an adventure day, making frequent stops so the kids could stretch their legs and explore along the way.

Valley of Fire State Park

One of the most impressive places to visit is Valley of Fire State Park, located about an hour northeast of Las Vegas. The park is famous for its bright red sandstone formations and desert scenery that almost looks like another planet. There are several short trails and scenic viewpoints that work well for families, and even just driving through the park offers incredible views. There is an entrance fee, but the scenery makes it well worth the visit.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Another beautiful destination close to the city is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, located just west of Las Vegas. The scenic drive loop makes it easy to experience the landscape without committing to long hikes. If your kids enjoy climbing rocks or short nature walks, there are plenty of safe areas where they can explore.

Boulder City

If you’re heading toward Hoover Dam, it’s worth stopping in Boulder City at Hemenway Park. This park is well-known for frequent visits from desert bighorn sheep, which often wander right through the grassy areas. It’s a completely free stop, and seeing wildlife so close up can be a really fun moment for kids.

Dinosaur House

One of the more unusual stops we made was driving out to Henderson to visit what locals sometimes call the Dinosaur House. This quirky attraction was created by a retired science teacher who built dinosaur displays and science exhibits in his garage and yard. The exhibit operates on donations, and when we visited the kids were invited to play science-themed games where they could win prizes.

What made it especially fun was that the whole family was encouraged to participate. Even mom and dad were invited to try the games and win prizes. It felt less like a typical tourist attraction and more like visiting someone who simply loves sharing science and dinosaurs with kids, which made it a really memorable and unexpected stop during our trip. We actually discovered this spot after chatting with a local shuttle driver who suggested a few lesser-known things to do around Las Vegas.

Silverton Casino Hotel Aquarium

Back closer to the city, another fun stop for families is the large aquarium inside Silverton Casino Hotel. The massive aquarium sits right inside the casino area, and throughout the day they host free mermaid shows, where performers swim inside the tank alongside the fish. Right next door is Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which is worth walking through even if you’re not planning to shop. The store itself feels like an attraction with its giant wildlife displays and indoor wilderness theme.

Playgrounds

While exploring around Las Vegas, we also made frequent stops at local playgrounds to let the kids burn off some energy between activities. If the weather was especially hot, one surprisingly helpful stop was McDonald’s with its indoor play places. They offered air conditioning, inexpensive ice cream, and whatever meal deal happened to be on the menu that day, making it an easy and affordable way to feed the family and cool off.

By the end of the day, you may realize something many visitors don’t expect: Las Vegas with kids isn’t just casinos and neon lights. With a car and a little curiosity, there are plenty of outdoor adventures, quirky local discoveries, and affordable stops that make the trip fun for the whole family.