Vegas with Teens - Would you splurge?

[kymom99]

We are going for 5 days to Vegas as part of our "trip out West" in August. Yes, I know it's going to be sweltering. We are staying at the Pallazzo. We are a family of 5, husband, myself, 16, 16 and 10 year old children. We are going to take day trips to hoover dam and Red Rock Canyon. What are some other fun things for the kids to do? I am really interested in going to the Mob Museum but doubt the kids will like it, so maybe we will let them hang in the room for a few hours while my husband and I go. Of course we will do the big ferris wheel. How are the gondolas in the Venetian? Worth doing? It seems like some of the activities are super expensive. I don't feel like paying Over $100 for a quick activity. Any suggestions for things to do?

Five days just in Vegas? That’s a long time. Honestly as much as I like Vegas, 3 days is plenty for me. After that it feels like overload. I would spend a night at Zion national park. It’s about a 4 hour drive.

 

[kandb]

Five days just in Vegas? That’s a long time. Honestly as much as I like Vegas, 3 days is plenty for me. After that it feels like overload. I would spend a night at Zion national park. It’s about a 4 hour drive.

I appreciate the suggestion but we are going on a 2 week trip. Five-six days in San Diego, 2 days in Grand Canyon and then 5 days in Vegas. We are going to do a lot of day trips. I know what you mean about Vegas But we are they type of family that can do a little something during the day and then hang out in the room for a few hours, go out for a nice dinner, spend a little time at the pool. We aren't going to be going all the time. I just want some suggestions for some activities while we are there.

 

[kymom99]

I appreciate the suggestion but we are going on a 2 week trip. Five-six days in San Diego, 2 days in Grand Canyon and then 5 days in Vegas. We are going to do a lot of day trips. I know what you mean about Vegas But we are they type of family that can do a little something during the day and then hang out in the room for a few hours, go out for a nice dinner, spend a little time at the pool. We aren't going to be going all the time. I just want some suggestions for some activities while we are there.

Oh you will love San Diego! Do much to do, beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery!

My husband and son like to hang out in the room some. It drives me nuts!

Most hotels on the strip have things to see. Many are free. The flamingo has live flamingos, the bellagio has a beautiful botanic display that changes each season. Plus the fountains outside. I love walking through the Venetian but have never ridden the gondola. They have a living statue inside where the shops and such are. Go to the south end for fun, kid friendly themes. NYNY is cool, and Excalibur and Luxor are fun to walk through. My son chickened out before riding the sky wheel. The mgm has a thing where you could screen a new tv show. You watch a pilot episode and answer questions to give feedback about it. My friends watched 2 broke girls. I watched Angel from Hell.

The coke store is fun. Also the m&m store. Lots to see and lots of walking. Fremont street has a great vibe but seriously you will see people basically naked there.

 

[Monykalyn]

Check out some of the museums too. We did the mob museum last time we went- fun to hear how mobsters and prohibition built Vegas, history can be fun, we saw kids there too.
Definitely do the Lynq.

 

[BamaBoy]

Five days just in Vegas? That’s a long time. Honestly as much as I like Vegas, 3 days is plenty for me. After that it feels like overload. I would spend a night at Zion national park. It’s about a 4 hour drive.

Could not agree with this more. Go hike The Narrows at Zion. It will be on of the greatest experiences of your life.

 

[WVMomof3]

Could not agree with this more. Go hike The Narrows at Zion. It will be on of the greatest experiences of your life.

We loved the Narrows hike. It was one of the best parts of our 2 week trip.

 

[kandb]

We loved the Narrows hike. It was one of the best parts of our 2 week trip.

My youngest son is 10 years old. It will be August and very hot. Do you still recommend this? It is a long hike?

 

[BamaBoy]

My youngest son is 10 years old. It will be August and very hot. Do you still recommend this? It is a long hike?[/QUOTE

Can be as long or short as you would like. A 10 year old should be able to handle it okay. One thing-this is a hike totally in the water. You are walking in a river, ranging from ankle to over knee deep. It is the most beautiful and unique place you will ever visit. It is like something not of this planet.

Also, and this is very important, go early in the day. Can not emphasize how important this is. You will have the river basically to yourself early in the morning and it will be a much better experience and you will be cold and not hot in the water!

 

[kymom99]

You can rent water shoes for this at the park entrance. We did not do the narrows but I wish we had. If you stay the night, consider the driftwood lodge. Super big rooms with balconies. Free shuttle runs through town to the park entrance. Lots of great places to eat along the Main Street.

 

[WVMomof3]

My youngest son is 10 years old. It will be August and very hot. Do you still recommend this? It is a long hike?

As @BamaBoy said, the hike is as long as you make it. It is out and back, so at whatever point you turn around is up to you. Definitely saw plenty of young kids doing the hike. It will depend on the water flow how hard the hike is. We did in early June and just the week before it was closed because the water was flowing too fast. The deepest it got on me was probably high thighs, I did fall at one point, so I did get pretty wet. Make sure phones are in waterproof bags. We rented the gear at the park entrance but I would say maybe half the people had rented gear and the other half just went in their own shoes. I personally was happy for the pole with the rented gear. You definitely want to spend the night at Zion, 2 nights would be best, and not try to make it a day trip from Vegas.

 

[BamaBoy]

As @BamaBoy said, the hike is as long as you make it. It is out and back, so at whatever point you turn around is up to you. Definitely saw plenty of young kids doing the hike. It will depend on the water flow how hard the hike is. We did in early June and just the week before it was closed because the water was flowing too fast. The deepest it got on me was probably high thighs, I did fall at one point, so I did get pretty wet. Make sure phones are in waterproof bags. We rented the gear at the park entrance but I would say maybe half the people had rented gear and the other half just went in their own shoes. I personally was happy for the pole with the rented gear. You definitely want to spend the night at Zion, 2 nights would be best, and not try to make it a day trip from Vegas.

Totally agree with all of this.

 

[elaine amj]

Another hiking suggestion is Valley of Fire about an hour away from Vegas. It's hot out there though - bare rocks. We went about 8am in May and were glad to be done by 11am. I enjoyed Red Rocks but Valley of Fire was more dramatic and I was glad we made the drive out.

For teens, New York New York was quite fun to walk through. The Bellagio fountains are a must. I'd even suggest making time to see it a couple of times. It's so cool and deserves more than a walkpast. The Palazzo is beautiful - I definitely would love to stay there some day. We didn't spring for a gondola ride though, just enjoyed strolling by the canal. Walking through all the different casino resorts can easily take up a chunk of time. I'd even break it up over 2-3 afternoon/evenings.

 

[Ngwira]

Could not agree with this more. Go hike The Narrows at Zion. It will be on of the greatest experiences of your life.

We’re doing this next month...can’t wait.

 

[Ngwira]

Another hiking suggestion is Valley of Fire about an hour away from Vegas. It's hot out there though - bare rocks. We went about 8am in May and were glad to be done by 11am. I enjoyed Red Rocks but Valley of Fire was more dramatic and I was glad we made the drive out.

For teens, New York New York was quite fun to walk through. The Bellagio fountains are a must. I'd even suggest making time to see it a couple of times. It's so cool and deserves more than a walkpast. The Palazzo is beautiful - I definitely would love to stay there some day. We didn't spring for a gondola ride though, just enjoyed strolling by the canal. Walking through all the different casino resorts can easily take up a chunk of time. I'd even break it up over 2-3 afternoon/evenings.

We are hiking valley of fire next month too. Cannot wait.