Many people make the mistake of thinking that Las Vegas is not a family town. Don’t be that parent! There are so many activities geared exclusively toward families that Four Corners is beginning to resemble both Disneyland and the Entertainment Capital of the World. With attractions like the Adventure Dome located on five and a half acres and is the largest indoor theme park in the United States offering thrill rides, traditional carnival rides, laser tag, miniature golf, bumper cars, mid-booths, an arcade, clown shows and much more! The glass roof allows for natural lighting, the high ceilings and canyon fixtures give it that outdoor amusement park feel. Daily hours give you ample opportunity to partake in this indoor delight. You and your family can also enjoy the more than 4,000 exotic fish that swim in the Silverton Aquarium. You’ll lose hours lazily watching the peaceful sea creatures from a series of comfortable benches that surround the aquarium. There may not be singing crabs like in The Little Mermaid, but there are real “mermaids” swimming around the 117,000-gallon reef aquarium. These mermaids do everything from blowing bubbles at kids to doing full stunts spinning and spinning, dancing, they’re so good you start to think they’re part fish!
One of the newest family attractions in Las Vegas is the Discovery Children’s Museum. Home to nine themed exhibit halls, the 58,000-square-foot museum has something for every child. From the very young to the very young at heart. You can choose from activities like The Summit, a 70-foot, 13-level tower that puts any favorite climbing structure you had as a kid to shame with its gym-like features like the slide and climbing tubes. There is the world of water where you and your kids can make a big splash as you learn about the movement of water and the power of water at play stations with turbines, whirlpools and water wheels.
Toddler Town has art projects, animal noises, a padded baby center, and a double-deck pulley system for beanbags waiting for kids 5 and under on this PlayStation. There’s even a traveling exhibit which is a 5,000-square-foot space for temporary traveling exhibits that come to Las Vegas from some of the nation’s top museums.
What would a trip to Las Vegas be without going to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and the Botanical Cactus Garden? Located on the south side of the city. This Ethel M chocolate factory is the only one in the world. Forrest Mars Sr. opened the location in 1981 and named it after her mother and used the recipe she used to make chocolates from scratch. To this day, the chocolates are still packed by hand into the boxes. And after all that delicious goodness, if you need to leave some of those delicious treats behind, don’t worry. Right next door is the unique three-acre Cactus Botanical Garden. With over 300 types of cacti including spotted aloe, agave plants, Texas prickly pears and yuccas. The flowers bloom from late April to early May.
Don’t come to Las Vegas without visiting the Red Rock Canyon National Conservatory Area. It offers breathtaking views that most would never expect to see near a large metropolitan city. In beautiful contrast to the fast-paced, high-energy bright lights of the Strip, Red Rock offers tranquil desert beauty, towering red cliffs, and is amazingly home to around 200 different mammals, including donkeys, rabbits, coyotes, bighorn sheep, red tailed hawks. , golden eagles, hummingbirds and even some wild horses, bobcats and cougars. The 13-mile scenic drive offers views of the canyon’s geological wonder, history and magnificence. Many photo opportunities at various locations including the colorful sandstone of the Calico Hills, limestone barbecue pits, Indian “handprints” and pictographs at Willow Springs.
300 days a year Las Vegas is sunny and blazing hot, it’s a safe bet to say that if you can, you’d choose to spend every one of those days in a pool if you could. Well here you can! Families and thrill-seekers alike will love Wet-n-Wild. The water-themed amusement park offers more than 25 slides and rides on 33.5 acres and just 25 minutes from the strip. The newest ride is the Tornado, it’s a funnel slide that will catapult you through a 45 foot wide funnel. Don’t stop there, continue as you navigate the twists and turns of The Rattler, descending 360 feet into a splash pool. For sun worshipers, you can enjoy floating down the lazy river, relax and enjoy your family vacation. There won’t be a time when you get stuck thinking of something to bring your family here. Stop thinking about it and book that family vacation to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada today!
