2006-07-03 19:38:29 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Las Vegas
The usual things you will want to see for FREE in Vegas are:
1. Number one on my list is to watch the fountains displays in from of the Bellagio hotel. It usually runs every 15 minutes in summers starting at 3:00 PM; runs continuously until about midnight. Each show is different (there are more than 20 different tunes choreographed) so stay and watch at least 2 or 3. ALSO, go inside the Bellagio hotel to its lobby and view the beautiful glass sculptured ceiling AND the seasonal floral arrangements in the Atrium.
2. The “Sirens of TI” show (spectacular) in from of the Treasure Island Hotel; it runs every 90 minutes starting at about 4:30 PM.
3. The volcano erupt in from of the Mirage Hotel; starting at dark until midnight.
4. Go down to Freemont Street and see the light show. There are usually 3 or 4 different shows, starting after dark (about 8:30PM) and lasting about 5 or 10 minutes each.
5. Go to the RIO hotel to see the Masquerade in the Sky show. It runs every 60 minutes starting about 3:00 PM; the last show starts at 9:30 PM..
6. Go to the MGM Grand hotel to see the Lion habitat.
7. Go to the Mirage hotel to see the white tigers that Siegfried and Roy used.
8. Go in Caesars Palace and walk through the Forum shops to the first fountain (its spectacular) then take the first fork to the left to go see the aquarium. Then continue on through the shops to the second fountain and wait for the show to start.
9. Go into the Flamingo hotel to see their animal habitat with flamingos and penguins.
10 The Excalibur hotel also has a free show starting at 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
11. If you are a Star Trek Fan, go to the Hilton (off the strip) for "Star Trek The Experience"; it cost about $25.
In the summer you probably want to spend some time at the pool areas which in Vegas are fabulous. All of the big hotels have great pool areas. But the Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo and MGM hotels have wave pools, and lazy rivers for tubing or body floating. The Flamingo has a water slide (not big but nice and refreshing) and also a water fall. So consider staying at one of these hotels.
You can probably get lower priced rooms at the Circus Circus, Sahara and Rivera on the north end of the Strip and also at the hotels on Fremont Street. But you will be a long way from the center of action and have to take a bus or taxi to Strip action. In addition, if you need to run to the room for a little R&R, it’s a long ways.
WHAT ELSE TO DO:
People go to Vegas to sightsee as well as gamble. You can see most of the stuff on the Strip by walking, so you don't need a rental car. There is a free monorail between Bellagio and the Monte Carlo Hotel and also another free one between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. The one on the opposite side of the street you have to pay to ride. There is a free bus between Harrahs Hotel to the RIO Hotel that runs every half hour. There is also a free bus that you can get outside the Barbery Coast Casino that will take you to the Orleans and some other off strip casinos.
Plan which hotels/casinos you want to visit each day so you can make the most of your walking and the free monorails and scuttles. When you get there you will probably have in your hotel room a free guide to the city called either "What's ON" , “Showbiz”or "Las Vegas Today". These are helpful guises as they have a map of the Strip and city with the hotels marked, plus useful coupons. Some coupons will give you a free souvenir from certain hotels; you just have to take the coupon to the hotel.
SHOPPING: There's shopping at Fashion show mall right next to Treasure Island, or you can drive or take a taxi or the bus south of the Strip (just past the airport) to the outlet mall. For more shopping, drive south on I-15 to Primm, NV (at the Calif border ... about 45 miles) and there is a big outlet mall and some casinos.
DINING: The hotel coffee shops and buffets are now much more expensive than they were years ago. So, if you want to eat for less try one of the Denny's for meals (one in the Casino Royal hotel/casino and another across from the Monte Carlo hotel/casino). There are also McDonald and Burger King on the Stip near Harrahs. You can get breakfast and dinner buffets a few dollars less at the Imperial Palace hotel/casino and at the Gold Coast hotel/casino. Buffets cost less at the Circus Circus hotel/casino and in Freemont St hotel/casinos. Some hotels have food courts. There is a food court in the Monte Carlo hotel/casino, one in the NY, NY hotel/casino, and in the Palms Hotel (across the street from the RIO.
MOVIES: There are movie theaters in the Palms (multiplex) and also another on the Strip across the street from the Monte Carlo hotel, near the MGM hotel.
BOWLING: If you like to bowl, there are alley's in The Gold Coast Hotel/Casino (beside the RIO) and in the Orleans Hotel Casino. .
There are roller coaster rides at the NY, NY hotel/casino, at the Sahara Hotel/Casino, and rides for those with a strong heart at the top of the Stratosphere Casino/hotel. The Circus Circus Hotel/casino has arcades and an indoor amusement park. There is a place called Game Works below the Coke World experience that has all type video games
OTHER THINGS:
RED ROCK CANYON: Its about 20 miles West of Las Vegas out Charleston Blvd (you can pick up that street at the north end of the Strip) Its a scenic drive-through park. Go early, not in the heat of the day; there's no shade.
HOOVER DAM: Drive about 30 miles southeast of Vegas and go to Hoover Dam; the National Park Service offers tours there (@ $15.) and its interesting stuff. Go on past Hoover dam to Boulder City and then to Lake Meade for a swim and/or to visit the new casino there. Also, there are tour companies that will take you on a cruise of the river below Hoover Dam. Check the web sites below.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK: Drive about 35 miles north of Vegas on I-15 and go to Valley of Fire State Park, another scenic park area.
ZION NATION PARK: It’s a long drive (about 2-3 hours), but you can drive North on I-15 to Zion National Park and back in one day.
DEATH VALLEY: If you like to visit National Parks, drive about an hour and a half south of Vegas on I-15 and take RT-127 to Death Valley National Park (total drive may be 3 hrs each way).
GRAND CANYON: The drive to the Grand Canyon is 5 long hard hours on mostly two lane roads with trucks and campers (only a short way on I-40). You can drive there and back in one day if you leave early morning, like 6:00-7:00 AM. That will put you there about noon and you will have 4 or 5 hrs before starting back and getting back to Vegas about 11:00PM. I recommend staying overnight at the Canyon (there are plenty of motels near there, like Best Western, Ramada, Quality inns) and drive back the next day.
2006-07-04 16:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many hotels in Vegas have rides. I believe it's New York, New York that has the roller coaster and indoor Boardwalk, with video games and other fun activities for kids. Of course Circus, Circus is themed after a circus. Stratosphere has the roller coaster on top and some other activities indoors. Mandalay Bay's pool is like a beach. I don't know if you can access it without staying there, but it's worth a try. The Sahara (I believe) has the NASCAR museum and The Mirage may still have the tigers in the terrarium. That's just a few things to do with the kiddos. I'm sure there's plenty more, but that's what came to mind.
Have fun!
Sorry, I had to add this after reading others' comments.
Why in the hell would they offer things for kids if they didn't want them there? Money is money whether it is brought in by just adults or by adults with children. Believe me, I took my son to Disney last summer. He would much rather go to Vegas!
2006-07-05 11:54:39 · answer #2 · answered by annabelle75 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the other posters answered your question very good. I just wanted to say a big F.U to all the ppl that are downing you for taking your kids to Vegas. There is lots to do here with kids. As everyone that WORKS and LIVES in Vegas has families and kids. But those attitudes of all the negative posters is that it's just a playground for older people and they treat it that way disrepcting not only or city but everyone that has children here.
I have two kids born and raised in this city...so umm it's not just for kids GET A CLUE!!
You will have fun Shark Reef is our favorite we have been there so many time (just had my son's 6th bday party there saturday!) and our other top thing is the Secret Garden. We also love outdoors hiking at Red Rock (kinda to hot right now) and Mt Charleston. We also try to get to the Mini GrandPri and Circus circus adventerdome when we can. I am sure you will have lots of fun!! Just be prepared for lots of walking!
2006-07-04 18:30:55 · answer #3 · answered by MaryJaneD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our kids loved Circus Circus (the big top and the theme park out back), the attractions inside Luxor, going up the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Star Trek stuff at Las Vegas Hilton, going up the Stratosphere tower, going on the monorail, but most of all playing in the pool in the Flamingo Hilton.
2006-07-04 03:02:07 · answer #4 · answered by UK_2_USA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aside from the obvious question of why did you bring kids to Vegas because it's getting less and less family oriented. (Familes don't bring in the bucks in the casino, which is what they want.) Take them to the Mirage, to Sigfreid & Roy's secret garden and dolphin habitat. There's an arcade on the strip near MGM called Gameworks. NYNY has a big arcade.
2006-07-04 09:07:54 · answer #5 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many things to do for kids! Here's the list:
*Circus acts at CircusCircus - free
*AdventureDome at CircusCircus
*Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
*Mirage White Tiger Habitat
*Stratosphere Tower Las Vegas - game rooms/thrill rides
*3-D Cinema Ride at Caesar's Palace
*Eiffel Tower at Paris
*Mahattan Express at New York, New York - game rooms/coaster
*Cyber Speedway NASCAR at Sahara
*Outdoor Fountain show at Bellagio
*Masquerade Show in the Sky at Rio - free Mardi Gras indoor
*Gondola ride at Venetian
*Las Vegas Grand Prix Family Center
*Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
*Laser Quest
*Lion Habitat at MGM Grands
*In Search of the Obelisk motion ride at Luxor
*Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at Mirage
*Fremont Street Experience
*GameWorks at MGM Grands
*Mirage Aquarium
*Mirage Volcano
*Star Trek: The Experience at Las Vegas Hilton
*Pirates Show at Treasure Island
*Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour
*Nevada Zoological & Botanical Park
*Wet n' Wild Park
*Grand Canyon
*Kid-friendly pools at Flamingo (Kid's Top Pick), Aladdin, Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Tropicana, Bellagio, MGM
*Kids' Top Pick Hotel - Excalibur
*Kids' Top Pick Show - Tournament of Kings at Excalibur and Blue Man Group at Luxor
2006-07-04 10:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by surfergina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vegas is for Adults.Sin city.Take them to Disneyland next time.
2006-07-04 02:45:39 · answer #7 · answered by Dark Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well....ballys has a theme park...therers circus circus......the show at excaliber is awsome and comes with dinner........every place has a pool......vegas is becoming more family oriented in the last 5 yrs.
2006-07-04 04:39:54 · answer #8 · answered by Big Daddy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a vacation somewhere besides Vegas....nobody held a gun to your head, did they?
2006-07-04 02:42:07 · answer #9 · answered by wildraft1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take 'em geocaching. (www.geocaching.com), go to redrock, go to the lake, go carting, batting cages.. etc. there is plenty to do.
2006-07-04 02:43:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anh_Thang 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋