What are the five best things to do with kids in Las Vegas?
Though Las Vegas is known for bawdy adult entertainment, there are a surprising amount of attractions designed for the whole family. Leave the swanky restaurants and gambling for an adults-only night and take your kids on some G-rated thrill rides, an aquarium and more.
1. The Stratosphere. At the north end of the Strip, the top of Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower offers thrill rides you can’t find anywhere else in Las Vegas. With three depth-defying rides to pick from (our personal favorite is Insanity, the Ride, which involves a mechanical arm extending over the edge of the Stratosphere tower and spinning at a force of three Gs), the kids will have plenty to get them revved up. For those less inclined to hang 1,000 feet above the cement, visit the observation deck instead. As the tallest free-standing observation tower in the U.S., it offers quite a view of the Strip.
2. The Adventuredome. If the kids haven’t had enough of the thrill rides, they’re sure to be sated by the Adventuredome in Circus Circus. America’s largest indoor theme park, including the world’s only indoor double-loop roller coaster, lets you escape the desert heat while the kiddies enjoy the rides. Circus Circus also offers free circus performances daily under the big top, and little ones are invited onstage to learn a trick or two of their own.
3. The Mirage. Snatch up the family and head south to the Mirage. Though you may have to pass through the dinging casino, it’s worth it to catch a glimpse of the enormous, 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium behind the front desk in the lobby. Then make your way outside to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat to get face-to-face with lions, white tigers, leopards and bottlenose dolphins. Trainers are on hand to answer questions and show off a litter of white tiger cubs.
4. Spago. When you and your entourage have worked up an appetite, Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars (right next door to the Mirage) is a good bet for the whole family. The food is exceptional and the family-friendly atmosphere means the eye-rolls when a drink spills or a fork is dropped will be at a minimum. Plus, Spago has a children’s menu with all the favorites, including grilled cheese and chicken fingers. Meanwhile, you can nosh on crisp calamari and lamb chorizo pizza with goat cheese.
5. Mac King Comedy Show. Cross Las Vegas Boulevard and enter Harrah’s Las Vegas in time for the Mac King Comedy Show. As one of the only daytime magic shows in Vegas, Mac King’s routine provides the perfect mid-afternoon respite. Quirky jokes and visual tricks are Mac King’s specialty, though his ridiculous plaid suits run a close second.
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On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the hottest upcoming concerts in Las Vegas?
All the great music acts come through Las Vegas, but Vegas really gets bumping when all the acts play in one venue.
This June 21-23 Electric Daisy Carnival returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and 345,000 revelers will rave in the desert. Originally created for those who are into electronic dance music, or EDM, Electric Daisy Carnival has turned into a multi-night, multi-sensory experience that gets bigger and bigger every year.
Since it's the desert, the party starts after the sun goes down, and the neon lights of the carnval begin. Over 200 DJs and performers will take over the six stages each night, with acts from all genres. Modern dance pop lovers will get down on Nicky Romero, Manufactured Superstars and Avicii, but those who are looking for more underground sounds can enjoy Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice and John Digweed.
But not all the action is relegated to the Speedway. Lots of clubs have the acts play in their venues for after parties or pool parties. There's lot of electronic music happening in Vegas that week. EDC is more than just a concert; it's an insane party with almost 350,000 of your closest friends. -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What new dance shows are in Las Vegas?
New dance shows are opening all the time on the Las Vegas Strip. Most recently, original winners of America's Best Dance Crew, Jabbawockeez, just unveiled their newest show at Luxor.
Jabbawockeez, best known for their white masks, precise synchronization and mad acrobatics, features PRiSM, in new custom, 830-seat theater. Audiences can expect music that they love as well as some original tunes produced by the group’s own recording artists, as well as new choreography and athleticism that pushes these hip hop dancers to their limits.
If you've never seen Jabbawockeez before, you're in for a treat. This is a crew of some of the tightest dancers that have ever been seen. You can't see their faces behind the masks, so they look more like a cohesive unit. It may look like they're too serious, but this is a fun show that will get you moving for the night too.
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On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best hotels in Las Vegas?
There's certainly no shortage of hotels in Las Vegas. Depending on how you'd like to spend your stay is how you should determine which hotel is for you.
Feeling rowdy and want to mingle with a young, good looking crowd that seemingly swarms the casino floor in droves? The Cosmopolitan is for you. Poolside you can find great music showcases in the evenings. Bypass that massive line for Marquee on the second floor and head to the third floor for bites from the Secret Pizza joint (down an unmarked hallway) or the club-like environment of STK Steak house.
Feeling like you're in the lap of luxury? Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is center-Strip, non-gaming, and as indulgent as it gets. Guest service is highly lauded at any Mandarin Oriental around the world, and this one is no exception. On the 23rd floor is the Mandarin Bar, offering sweeping views of the Vegas skyline as you sip on one of their signature cocktails, while down the hall Twist by Pierre Gagnaire is an unparalleled fine dining experience.
Feeling like you want a classic Vegas experience with a great location? Look no further than Caesars Palace. Caesars has remained an institution in Las Vegas, and has continued to grow along with the city. Just this year Caesars opened the Nobu Hotel within, along with the largest Nobu restaurant in the world. Also, this is where you can live any version of the film The Hangover you wish (just don't end up on the roof). -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What is Las Vegas’ dining scene like?
The Las Vegas dining scene is exactly like the buffets with which you associate Las Vegas. There's lots of options right in front of you, there's something for everyone, and it's all tempting.
When it comes to Strip dining, while there are still eateries that rock the 99-cent shrimp cocktail or prime rib dinner, dining has become elevated thanks to first, Wolfgang Puck's Spago at Caesars Palace, an influx of celebrity chefs, and finally the invasion of French master chefs such as Joel Robuchon, Guy Savoy and Pierre Gagnaire.
Some people come so they can say they ate at Gordon Ramsay's spots at Paris Las Vegas, some want to say they had the best meals of their lives at Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand or the Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Picasso at Bellagio. But more often than not, visitors still love the buffet (the best ones being the newest Bacchanal at Caesars Palace and Wicked Spoon at The Cosmpolitan) - it's one of the places where you can still have it all in Vegas. -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best attractions in Las Vegas?
There are things to do in Vegas besides gamble, we swear. There's even free things do. The Bellagio, for example, is full of attractions that keep visitors streaming through the property each day. There's the world-famous fountain shows, where every 15 minutes and carefully choreographed water shoots from Lake Bellagio in sync with songs such as "Viva Las Vegas" and "Luck Be a Lady."
Indoors, the Conservatory is an indoor garden under the atrium, fragrant with fresh flowers. The scenery changes with the seasons. Last Spring saw a Dutch influence with a giant windmill and many tulips; every Chinese New Year the animal whose year it is gets a prominent figure in the Asian-inspired garden.
Look up when you get to registration to see the beautiful Chihuly glass flowers on the ceiling. They flowers span across the lobby in front of the desk, as if they're floating above you on a pond. -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best steakhouses in Las Vegas?
The steak dinner is a quintessential dining experience in Las Vegas. Every casino hotel has one, and their offerings range from the $8.99 steak dinner to market price cuts of dry-aged Wagyu.
The point of the steak house, however, shouldn't be purely about the steak. After all, if they can't properly cook a simple steak they shouldn't be a steak house. Rather, steak houses have become about everything but the steak. Side dishes are where steak houses shine, such as SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas with accoutrements of black truffle creamed corn or Brussels sprouts, carrots and pancetta.
If you want to focus on just the meat, there are spots for you to do that too. Brand at Monte Carlo has a fantastic open dining room that looks out onto the casino floor, and a 120-ounce steak if you and six friends are feeling peckish. Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria Resort & Casino features an outstanding beef program focusing on humanely and sustainably raised beef from the U.S., Australia and Japan. -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best steakhouses in Las Vegas?
The steak dinner is a quintessential dining experience in Las Vegas. Every casino hotel has one, and their offerings range from the $8.99 steak dinner to market price cuts of dry-aged Wagyu.
The point of the steak house, however, shouldn't be purely about the steak. After all, if they can't properly cook a simple steak they shouldn't be a steak house. Rather, steak houses have become about everything but the steak. Side dishes are where steak houses shine, such as SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas with accoutrements of black truffle creamed corn or Brussels sprouts, carrots and pancetta.
If you want to focus on just the meat, there are spots for you to do that too. Brand at Monte Carlo has a fantastic open dining that looks out onto the casino floor, and a 120-ounce steak if you and six friends are feeling peckish. Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria Resort & Casino features an outstanding beef program focusing on humanely and sustainably raised beef from the U.S., Australia and Japan. -
On June 1Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best bars in Las Vegas?
Despite being built in a desert, one of the great things about Las Vegas is that you'll never go thirsty.
Beer has become a big player lately for the serious drinking community, so much so that the beer equivalent of sommeliers – cicerones – have been popping up all over town. Public House at The Venetian has built itself a nice little reputation for its beer selection – and the glass wall that allows passers-by to see their massive collection from the hallway doesn’t hurt either. Public House has over 200 beers to choose from, with 24 on tap, and three seasonal cask beers. Keep an eye out for some obscure Belgian brews as well as hipster favorites like Ommegang Hennepin saison.
Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace boasts a beer selection that aficionados have been making it a point to stop there for a pint. There’s some 40 beers on tap at the pub; some usual suspects, some nice surprises. Innis & Gunn, a Scottish craft brew, is a personal favorite of Chef Ramsay’s, and a big seller. t's even become my go-to whenver I stop in. And for it to be Gordon Ramsay’s bar, the food’s got to be good as well. -
On May 31Grace Bascos answered the question:
Where is the best shopping in Las Vegas?
While Las Vegas is filled with temples of retail such as Crystals at CityCenter and the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, that houses the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chanel, I'm not the kind of girl who finds shopping to be a leisurely activity. I am of the school of get-in, scoop up as many clothing items as possible, pile them high for a trip to the dressing room, hate everything, get out.
So on the off chance that I would like to go buy pretty new things for myself, there's nothing better than a marathon shopping session at either of the Premium Outlets, one each located just North and South of Las Vegas Boulevard. There are off-rack outposts of Diesel, Old Navy, Gap, Calvin Klein and Banana Republic at each, so you'll find lots of familiar shops with killer deals. They're about equidistant from their respective ends of the Strip; the main difference between the two is that the one North is an indoor mall while the one South is outdoors. -
On May 31Grace Bascos answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Las Vegas?
Referring to something as the "best" is a tricky when it comes to restaurants. Dining out is one of the most subjective activities to participate in. Most everyone does it, yet everyone's opinion is different. So rather than pick the "best" in Las Vegas in terms of critics darlings or most popular, there's room to call out those restaurants that do good work every day and consistently.
Every hardcore foodie knows that a meal at Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand is life changing, the artichoke and black truffle soup at Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace is transcendent and that Alain Ducasse's MIX atop Mandalay Bay sports both a beautiful room and a breakthtaking view.
But not every knows that Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria Las Vegas has one of the best beef programs on the Strip. They specialize in sourcing some of the finest, humanely raised beef available from the US and Austraila. It was one of the first restaurants to bring in true Wagyu once the embargo on Japanese beef was lifted.
And not everyone knows that Kabuto, located off of Spring Mountain in Chinatown is hands down the best Japanese omakase experience in town. The chefs prepare each piece of sushi, made from fish that comes weekly straight from Tsukiji market in Japan, at the counter, and place it in front of you to eat.
Or that there are chefs who go above and beyond what Las Vegas visitors and diners expect, such as Brian Howard of David Myers' Comme Ca at The Cosmopolitan. While executing Chef Myers' already well-thought brasserie menu at Comme Ca, Howard branches out to with a nightly specials program that runs the gamut from wild game menus to offal nights to a good old fashioned fried chicken platter.
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On May 31Susan Stapleton answered the question:
Where is the best nightlife in Las Vegas?
Most of the major casinos have nightclubs in Las Vegas. Depending on the environment you want to find, you can discover the right place to party for the night. For the hottest deejays, head to Hakkasan at the MGM Grand. The nightclub opened in April with residencies with Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Deadmau5. The Ling Ling Club on the third level has its own deejays and a more relaxed setting. Light Nightclub, a partnership with Cirque du Soleil, opened Memorial Day weekend at Mandalay Bay with entertainment from the Canadian acrobatics troupe and resident deejays such as Skrillex, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Baauer. Head to Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for the top-grossing nightclub in the United States. XS Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas follows, offering an indoor and outdoor scene around a pool along with gaming. Surrender Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas also takes advantage of the Encore Beach Club pool area.
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On May 31Susan Stapleton answered the question:
Where is the best nightlife in Las Vegas?
Most of the major casinos have nightclubs in Las Vegas. Depending on the environment you want to find, you can discover the right place to party for the night. For the hottest deejays, head to Hakkasan at the MGM Grand. The nightclub opened in April with residencies with Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Deadmau5. The Ling Ling Club on the third level has its own deejays and a more relaxed setting. Light Nightclub, a partnership with Cirque du Soleil, opened Memorial Day weekend at Mandalay Bay with entertainment from the Canadian acrobatics troupe and resident deejays such as Skrillex, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Baauer. Head to Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for the top-grossing nightclub in the United States. XS Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas follows, offering an indoor and outdoor scene around a pool along with gaming. Surrender Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas also takes advantage of the Encore Beach Club pool area.
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On May 31Xania Woodman answered the question:
What are the best activities to do in Las Vegas?
Drinking beer is an activity, right? If you’re looking for the ultimate beer-geek experience in Las Vegas, you might already have found your way to the Freakin’ Frog, a deceivingly well-stocked college bar with the largest beer menu in the U.S. If it's not too busy, just ask for a peek inside the beer fridge.
But, wait—where are all those people going?
Once a month, a group of dedicated beer geeks gathers at the Frog. At a pre-prescribed time, and possibly after one or more warm-up brews, they follow proprietor Adam Carmer upstairs to his reservations-only Whisky Attic (also home to the largest whiskey collection in the U.S.). When they descend two hours later, they do so bearing the serene smile of one who has reached enlightenment. So, is Carmer handing out enlightenment up there? (He is a beverage professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas ...) No, but he is doling out some of the rarest beers in the world.
At the monthly Freakin’ Cask Tasting, Carmer taps a firkin (quarter keg) or cask of scarcely imported beer from Italy, France, Germany, Belgium or beyond, sometimes even gems from the Zymatore Project (wherein a sort of mad beer scientist ages rare beers in former spirit casks for utterly unique results). Past beers have included Apostelbraeu Dinkel Bock, Le Brasserie a Vapeur Saison de Pipaix and Square Root 225th Anniversary Sour Historical Saison. The cost is anywhere from $35-$45, and you have to be invited to attend. To be added to the invite list, email Carmer your request at cask@freakinfrog.com, and to increase your chance, make it interesting! -
On May 31Xania Woodman answered the question:
What are the best activities to do in Las Vegas?
Drinking beer is an activity, right? If you’re looking for the ultimate beer-geek experience in Las Vegas, you might already have found your way to the Freakin’ Frog, a deceivingly well-stocked college bar with the largest beer menu in the U.S. If it's not too busy, just ask for a peek inside the beer fridge.
But, wait—where are all those people going?
Once a month, a group of dedicated beer geeks gathers at the Frog. At a pre-prescribed time, and possibly after one or more warm-up brews, they follow proprietor Adam Carmer upstairs to his reservations-only Whisky Attic (also home to the largest whiskey collection in the U.S.). When they descend two hours later, they do so bearing the serene smile of one who has reached enlightenment. So, is Carmer handing out enlightenment up there? He is a beverage professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. No, but he is doling out some of the rarest beers in the world.
At the monthly Freakin’ Cask Tasting, Carmer taps a firkin (quarter keg) or cask of scarcely imported beer from Italy, France, Germany, Belgium or beyond, sometimes even gems from the Zymatore Project (wherein a sort of mad beer scientist ages rare beers in former spirit casks for utterly unique results). Past beers have included Apostelbraeu Dinkel Bock, Le Brasserie a Vapeur Saison de Pipaix and Square Root 225th Anniversary Sour Historical Saison. The cost is anywhere from $35-$45, and you have to be invited to attend. To be added to the invite list, email Carmer your request at cask@freakinfrog.com, and to increase your chance, make it interesting! -
On May 31Xania Woodman answered the question:
What are the best activities to do in Las Vegas?
Drinking beer is an activity, right? If you’re looking for the ultimate beer-geek experience in Las Vegas, you might already have found your way to the Freakin’ Frog, a deceivingly well-stocked college bar with the largest beer menu in the U.S. If it's not too busy, just ask for a peek inside the beer fridge.
But, wait—where are all those people going?
Once a month, a group of dedicated beer geeks gathers at the Frog. At a pre-prescribed time, and possibly after one or more warm-up brews, they follow proprietor Adam Carmer upstairs to his reservations-only Whisky Attic (also home to the largest whiskey collection in the U.S.). When they descend two hours later, they do so bearing the serene smile of one who has reached enlightenment. So, is Carmer handing out enlightenment up there? He is a beverage professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. No, but he is doling out some of the rarest beers in the world.
At the monthly Freakin’ Cask Tasting, Carmer taps a firkin (quarter keg) or cask of scarcely imported beer from Italy, France, Germany, Belgium or beyond, sometimes even gems from the Zymatore Project (wherein a sort of mad beer scientist ages rare beers in former spirit casks for utterly unique results). The cost is anywhere from $35-$45, and you have to be invited to attend. To be added to the invite list, email Carmer your request at cask@freakinfrog.com, and to increase your chance, make it interesting!