Vegas with a toddler

[katerkat]

Is it totally crazy to go to Vegas with a toddler for a week? My husband is going on a trip there and I found plane tickets and a car for $350 for the week. However, DH will be working most days, so it would be just me and the dude. Assuming a nice long afternoon nap, is there enough to see to occupy us in the mornings and early evenings? Russ loves the pool so we can do that, and it seems many of the hotels have "mini" attractions that would be interesting to walk around and see. (We'd have the stroller with its on mini-AC.) DH will probably have two days to spend with us, so we'd do the Hoover Dam or something big on those days.

 

[mommytotwo]

We took our daughter to Vegas twice while she was a toddler. We were lucky to stay with relatives most of the time who had a park right next to their house, so she enjoyed that.
But there are things for kids to do in Vegas. Chuck E Cheese, the play around at Circus Circus, you can go shopping while they walk around with you or you can put your son in the stroller, .... and like you mentioned the pool.
Bring some crafts and books for him that will occupy him in the room while you get some rest.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

The pools are all so nice if you are staying on the Strip. If you and your adorable little fellow like to swim and hang out by the pool I say go for it. My husband and I went to Las Vegas about 1 1/2 years ago. There were kids everywhere. I saw a show on the Travel Channel and it said Vegas was either 2nd or 3rd after Disney for family vacations. Have fun.

 

[va32h]

I used to live in Las Vegas, but we only go back to visit family.

Vegas tried to be "family friendly" a few years back, but they've pretty much given that up now. There are some arcades and attractions for kids, but geared more toward school-age and high school, IMO.

The hotels are very crowded, very loud, and very smoky. There is no such thing as a non-smoking casino, and even if you just walk through the casino to the restaurants or shops, it still stinks!

It is also really hot. I don't know what the climate is like where you live, but it's consistently at or over 100 degrees in the summer. The plus side is, every building is air conditioned!

There's a M&M store on the strip, some interesting malls to walk through, an Ethel M chocolate factory with a mini-tour.

Everything is just really crowded. We don't go near the strip when visiting our relatives. Wall-to-wall people, which I know you get at Disney too, but at least at WDW there aren't people walking around with drinks in their hands, or passing out advertisements for strip clubs. I'd want to keep a toddler in the stroller most of the time, and my kids would go crazy cooped up like that every day.

Although they may have changed the laws about drinking on the Strip and passing out that stuff. There are some questionable billboards though - for the strip clubs and cabaret acts. Now that my oldest can read, we get some really embarrassing questions "Mom, why does that sign say 'Live Nude Girls XXX?"

A long weekend, maybe, but I do think a whole week in Vegas would be boring for a toddler.

 

[kpm76]

Sorry, I would never bring a toddler to Vegas. In fact, I probably would not bring anyone under 14 or so depending on maturity. DH and I were just there a few weeks ago and we were shocked at the number of kids. It is not family friendly. There are busses and billboards advertising nude women all over the place and there are people trying to hand you stuff about strip clubs every 10 feet. I realize a toddler would not have any understanding of this, but my point is it's adult oriented. I love Vegas but people act crazy. Most of the hotels are pretty strict about kids on casino floors and even to get to some of the attractions in the hotels you have to walk through the casino floors. I would not pick Vegas as a place to bring my child. Too many other choices that are really family friendly.

 

[noodleknitter]

He is so young that none of the questionable crap will affect him! Now, the heat might, but you would know best about that! i'd say take it as a chance to get away, and enjoy yourselves!

eta: Of course, you'll have to watch the billboards with the nekkid women, if he is a nursing guy...

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

It isn't wall to wall people and not all the casinos and hotels are smokey. Most of the newer hotels have amazing vent systems and you can barely smell smoke. There are things to do, you'll just have to look. I normally say no to Vegas with small children but your son is so small that you could fnd things to do.

There is a water park behind the Hilton (I think it's called Wet n Wild)
The hotels all have pools
There is a huge aquarium in Mandalay Bay
MGM has lions and tigers
Ceasers has a huge mall
There is a monorail that goes around the strip

 

[sunlver]

I would say go for it. When my oldest was 2, I brought him there for a week. My parents had a week at a timeshare there. They flew into LasVegas with my aunt from Chicago. I flew in from Norfolk,VA with my 2 yr old son. My husband was in the Navy at the time, and wasnt around anyways. Apart from the really long flight, we had a lot of fun that week. We went the first week of November and it was too chilly to use the pool. I am not quite sure what we did for the week, but we had fun and stayed busy. I know we did a lot of walking, going out to eat, sight seeing at the different hotels. Just walking from one hotel to another hotel and look inside is amazing in itself. Now, if it wasnt for my parents having their timeshare there, that would not be my first choice for a vacation. But, I think now if you take your child when you can use the pool, and pool time in between naptime, in between meal time, I think the days will fly by.

 

[va32h]

I forgot about the aquarium at Mandalay Bay - that really is very interesting. They also have dolphins at the Mirage. And Bally's used to have a dancing fountain show.

I do still stand behind my feelings about the crowds and the smoke, although I suppose those things are subjective.

Another thing to consider is the cost, although anyone who's been to WDW, won't even blink at the cost of attractions in Vegas.

Like I said, I just don't think there would be 7 days worth of fun for a toddler. And the things that are fun (like the pool, Chuck E Cheese, an aquarium) you could probably find in your hometown.

I never really found the Hoover Dam all that interesting either, I have to say. A day trip to Mt. Charleston would be more interesting than the dam, IMO.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

We just got back from my first trip to Vegas and it was hot, hot, hot. The last day we were there it was 101 degrees so if you are going in the next few months you won't be able to spend much time by the pool with a toddler IMO. I would not take children to Vegas as a family vacation under most circumstances. Granted, I would probably be more inclined to take a toddler than an older child because as another poster mentioned.. he won't know what all the "attractions" are about. But saying that... the sidewalks were very busy and there was very little shade to walk under (if you don't count the casinos So although there are attractions such as lion exhibits etc. you still have to be outside a lot to get from one to another. During the day it was easier to manuveur, at night it was really crowded but then again you wouldn't have him out at night.

A week is a long time for anyone to stay in Vegas... we were there for only four nights and we were exhausted when we came home,but, we had a blast!

Let us know what you decide and if you want to PM me, I'll be glad to share what limited information I have from our trip.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Me again... BTW you CAN still drink openly, bottles whatever, while walking down the strip, and they are lined up handing out the porn info. They are even 4-5 deep together and it is littered all over the street. You just have to ignore it. That's one reason I don't see how Vegas can advertise as a family vacation spot.

 

[Beth76]

Just because your DH will be there for a week doesn't mean you have to. Why not consider going for 3 nights? I personally got bored after 3 nights in Vegas. I can't imagine having a toddler with me for a whole week.

 

[noodleknitter]

We enjoyed Lake Mead when we were there, as well as the Dam. You can take the monorail, and run around and explore in the mornings, when it is cooler, too. You seem to enjoy your little man, so I doubt you would be bored with his company.

 

[Jpgirl]

I'm not sure if I'd take a toddler but I do know we opted not to take our teens 6 years ago. I was back there last July and going this July. There are open bottles as one poster mentioned and the porn pushers were unbelievable. I saw quite a bit of public intoxication mostly from the younger crowd-21-25. It's very crowded outside, and even in the Shops at the Foruum and the mall at Aladin's. I'm not a huge Vegas fan so I did touristy things very early in the AM (we're talking 5-10 AM). If you did that and then the pool in the afternoon-you'd probably be ok. Vegas is neat but definitely not family type entertainment.

 

[katerkat]

Thanks for the opinions! I know it'll be hot (it's next week) but we are used to very dry weather. When I searched online (http://www.lasvegaskids.net/ ) there seemed to be a decent amount of stuff to do, but I don't know about the street "scene". So that's something to think about. Oh, but there's outlet shopping - including a Disney one - I could do a whole day there...

eta: Of course, you'll have to watch the billboards with the nekkid women, if he is a nursing guy...

He's only been weaned for a couple weeks so he's still a fan of the nekkid women.

 

[katerkat]

Oh, and the only reason I'd do a week is because the only decent airfare is Wednesday-Wednesday - all the other days are too expensive.

 

[denisenh]

I think that there is enough to do just walking the strip. I am not sure if I'd want to go with a toddler (and not have DH around) though.

Me, DH, and DD's 10 and 13 were there last year in August and the dry heat was much more tolerable that the muggies here on the east coast.

As far as the "nasty stuff", I explained to the kids that it is not an acceptable way to behave (for us). We just don't pay attention to it. They have already been spoken to about the fact that "sex sells" in videos, movies, clothing etc. and they seem to understand.

All the lights and water features on the strip are just beautiful to look at and the mountains esp. as you fly in over them....WOW!

We preferred the nature attractions like red rock canyon and just sightseeing around Hoover dam.

We are going to Las Vegas the second weekend of June just for 2 days (yes, 2, ugh!) to see a show and I know that we will have fun.
Will you be there then? (8th -10th)

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I'm not sure if the outlets you are talking about are Primm or not...

But if they aren't, Primm Outlet Mall is about 30 minutes away. It is also called state line. Half the area is in NV and half is in CA. If you've never been to CA I recommend driving out there and "visiting". I wouldn't say the outlets are very good, and the last time I was in the Disney one it had a ton of WB stuff too. But it's air conditioned and something to do.

 

[katerkat]

We are going to Las Vegas the second weekend of June just for 2 days (yes, 2, ugh!) to see a show and I know that we will have fun.
Will you be there then? (8th -10th)

Nope, if we go, we'll be heading home on the 7th.

I'm not sure if the outlets you are talking about are Primm or not...

Online, I've found the Las Vegas Outlet Center - it says it's at the end of the Strip.

We'll have a car and a GPS, so I'm up for some driving. I also think the Ethel M. chocolate factory would be fun (it's my mom's name!), and we could always go to Nellis AFB if Vegas gets to be too much.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Nope, if we go, we'll be heading home on the 7th.



Online, I've found the Las Vegas Outlet Center - it says it's at the end of the Strip.

We'll have a car and a GPS, so I'm up for some driving. I also think the Ethel M. chocolate factory would be fun (it's my mom's name!), and we could always go to Nellis AFB if Vegas gets to be too much.

That is a different mall. I haven't been there.