Las Vegas with kids question

[tvguy]

My brother went about 10 years ago as an adult with no kids and he said he thought there was too MUCH emphasis on family options. My last trip was as a chaperone for a High School baseball tournament in 2004, (from a Catholic High School) and yes the strip was pretty racy, and the smoke was overpowering inside the casinos, but we stayed at Circus Circus and you never had to leave if you were just looking for family options.

 

[Lilsia]

As far as weed, it’s not something I find taboo and not unique to Las Vegas. I’ve walked past kids smoking weed in St. George, Utah and pretty much any city I’ve visited.

For us, it is more how offensive the smell it. It makes us sick giving us an instant headache. But I, and I suspect my daughter also, am allergic to many smells. Cigarettes, weed, perfume are all huge triggers of allergic reaction to us. So for those of you who are not bothered by the smell of these things, consider yourself extremely fortunate because it is beyond miserable to have these things affect us so strongly. Imagine walking through that and having it feel like someone was jabbing something in your brain and down your throat at the same time. That is what it is like for me. And I know that there are plenty of other people out there that have the same issues.

 

[Boopuff]

Took our DDs years ago when both were in high school. During the day it was fine, some stuff to do, but come evening… they were sorta trapped in the room watching movies. On my last trip(March) I saw plenty of “slappers”” and much more “scantly clad” people than I remember, good luck

 

[wenrob]

For us, it is more how offensive the smell it. It makes us sick giving us an instant headache. But I, and I suspect my daughter also, am allergic to many smells. Cigarettes, weed, perfume are all huge triggers of allergic reaction to us. So for those of you who are not bothered by the smell of these things, consider yourself extremely fortunate because it is beyond miserable to have these things affect us so strongly. Imagine walking through that and having it feel like someone was jabbing something in your brain and down your throat at the same time. That is what it is like for me. And I know that there are plenty of other people out there that have the same issues.

I’m not sure how to respond to this. Strong overpowering smells are not unique to the Las Vegas Strip. My original response was that, you *can* find and do things with your kids in Vegas without actually walking the Strip or going anywhere near Fremont Street.

 

[kdonnel]

All the Vegas talk got to me. The next trip is booked for April. Doing 3 nights in Vegas and 3 nights in the Sedona area. Heading up to horseshoe bend and antelope canyon one day Sedona itself for one day and the Grand Canyon for the travel day.

 

[bcla]

I’m not sure how to respond to this. Strong overpowering smells are not unique to the Las Vegas Strip. My original response was that, you *can* find and do things with your kids in Vegas without actually walking the Strip or going anywhere near Fremont Street.

The strange thing is that Fremont Street has been trying to change its image for decades. There was talk that the video for U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For from 1987 changed the reputation enough that many didn't find it as seedy.

 

[wenrob]

The strange thing is that Fremont Street has been trying to change its image for decades. There was talk that the video for U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For from 1987 changed the reputation enough that many didn't find it as seedy.

There are parts of downtown that can be pretty cool but I, personally do not see the appeal of Fremont Street (anymore.) But it’s iconic and as far as I can tell what plenty of people want when they think Vegas. For most it’s the idea that they can do things and act in ways they can’t at home.

I will say if you want an amazing steak Vic and Anthony’s in the Golden Nugget is the place to get it. Just sell a kidney or your firstborn first.

 

[anniemae]

Thanks for all the replies. I have to do some more research/thinking about it. I think I would be okay doing a couple of nights to see the things around Vegas like Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. But I don't think we would do more than 2-3 nights before moving on.

 

[kdonnel]

Thanks for all the replies. I have to do some more research/thinking about it. I think I would be okay doing a couple of nights to see the things around Vegas like Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. But I don't think we would do more than 2-3 nights before moving on.

For us Vegas is a 3-4 night town at most.

 

[bennifer]

My two teens and I took an 8-week road trip this past summer (husband flew in to join us when he could). It was primarily to see the national parks but we also spent a few days in Vegas waiting for my husband to fly in so he could go to the Grand Canyon with us.

Vegas was my 13-year-old son's favorite part of the trip. We saw/did a ton of amazing sights/experiences at 21 incredible national parks, but my son loved the Vegas strip!

Off topic, but do you have a trip report anywhere about this trip? We've decided that in 2023 we'll be taking an at least 3-4 week road trip with our teenager. I know we're going to drive the entirety of Rt 66, but getting back to Pittsburgh from California has so many options!

 

[DisneyHardin]

For us Vegas is a 3-4 night town at most.

I totally agree. We went for 5 nights about 10 years ago and by the end of the trip, I felt like we were out of things to do and I was ready to go home.

 

[kdonnel]

I totally agree. We went for 5 nights about 10 years ago and by the end of the trip, I felt like we were out of things to do and I was ready to go home.

In our case we have usually spent all we want to spend by the end of day 3. There is still a lot that can be done but Las Vegas is no longer cheap.

Once the casinos found out that millennials don’t gamble like prior generations, the cheap food and shows that were loss leaders for gambling were replaced with expensive high end food and shows which the millennials were happy to spend money on and attend.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Vegas gives you every opportunity to gamble, with slot machines everywhere, including the airport. Rumor has it the airport even has slot machines in the men's room. (Can't say I've ever been in the men's room to verify this.)

The hotel where DH and I stayed (almost 3 yrs ago) had its own huge casino that we had to walk through to get to the room elevators. Next time we'll stay outside the city (probably in nearby Henderson.) We saw David Copperfield's magic show which is family friendly, tho pricey, and again we had to hike through a hotel casino to get to his theatre.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Definitely no longer cheap. At least not on the Strip.

Remember minors aren't allowed to stand around on the gaming floors, they can walk through though.

for your teens, try the Pinball Hall of Fame which is on the south strip just past Mandalay Bay, good clean fun for a few quarters. It's just a giant warehouse full of pinball machines of all ages. Can cost from 50 cents-$1 to play games but there are plenty for 50 cents. Plus a Disney-themed mold a rama to make plastic statues for $4

 

[TwoMisfits]

Vegas, like Pigeon Forge TN or Orlando FL, can completely empty your wallet or be a very reasonable vacation - it just depends how you plan and what you do. Deals, especially for family and "unique" tourist trap locations and even some shows, can be had. Food can be gotten as cheaply or expensively as you want it. Yes, the "everything's free if you gamble" stuff isn't there as much, but if you have kids, you aren't gambling much anyway.

I will say, when NYC was closed this summer, going to Vegas where my kids could enjoy live theater and real foodie restaurants and see desert, new terrain, and new tourist traps, was great. We did deals for all our entertainment, even for our Cirque tickets. We drove off strip to eat, and yet also found good reasonable strip food. Again, it reminds me most of Pigeon Forge TN, except your replace desert and a Hoover dam with mountains in TN...and you replace absolutely wholesome with more modern entertainment...

 

[Lumpy1106]

Do you mean pretty far away from the Strip? Red Rock from my house would be about a 20min drive. So maybe a 40-60 min drive from the Strip.

Yes, as in, you are driving to the strip, not staying there. I would prefer that personally (less of the "Vegas" nonsense, and really pretty views from there too).

 

[MillauFr]

Plenty of weed in Zion...

Heck there are plenty of people smoking weed at Disney.

 

[MillauFr]

The Mandalay Bay on the strip is overrun with kids during the Summer. Our family loves it.

 

[Kittyblue]

Valley of Fire is about an hour away and has some gorgeous hikes. There's unique geography and even some petroglyphs. There's also been several scenes from various tv/movies/ads filmed there, including Captain Kirk's death. When we visited we were lucky enough to see a small herd of bighorn sheep right by the road - see the pic in my signature. It was really an amazing experience! You don't want to go in the summer, though.

 

[Skippy918]

In our case we have usually spent all we want to spend by the end of day 3. There is still a lot that can be done but Las Vegas is no longer cheap.

Once the casinos found out that millennials don’t gamble like prior generations, the cheap food and shows that were loss leaders for gambling were replaced with expensive high end food and shows which the millennials were happy to spend money on and attend.

Yes! There’s no more cheap food. We wanted to go to a buffet while there but many of the buffets were still closed and the one that was open was over $50 per person.
When my friends and I went to Vegas in 2002, we went to a buffet for lunch and it was less than $20.