Quick Escape: Las Vegas (for Families)
- May 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Need to get away and want something with a little bit of everything? Look no further than Las Vegas. Popularly known for its casinos, shows, and showgirls, this Nevada hotspot has a little bit for everyone. Better yet, it can be conquered in 3 days for a quick escape if you don't have a ton of time.
Over the years I've visited Las Vegas at least 10+ times and have been gathering lots of information on the best things to do and how best to plan them out to maximize your time here.
Have kids but still want to visit? Don't worry, Las Vegas also has a lot of great options for kids as well. My family and I recently took a spring break trip to Las Vegas and, to my surprise, they had so much fun they are constantly begging to go back! Let's explore Las Vegas for families.
Underrated for Families
When you think of Las Vegas, a family vacation (especially with younger kids) isn't the first thing that comes to mind. You usually think of gambling, racy shows, and alcohol. But what most people don't realize is that despite all the adult-themed items practically everywhere, there's still plenty for families to do.
When my family and I recently visited Las Vegas, we planned way in advance for most of the things we wanted to do. We stayed for about 5 days and used Las Vegas as our main stomping grounds and home base to explore beyond the strip.
Our Preferred Hotel
Although there's plenty of hotels and things to do in each, with kids our preference was The Venetian. It's one of the largest hotels in the world and the entire complex is setup with tons of shopping, pools, and more that kept everyone entertained.
Great Restaurants
Let's be honest: there's no shortage of good (and even great) restaurants in Las Vegas. So you can probably just point somewhere and get a good meal. During our stay, we ate at a few pretty cool places. Here's my recommendations of where to go with your family.
Donatique – An amazing donut and breakfast (or snack) place in the Shoppes at the Venetian. The donuts are
Buddy V's – This is an italian restaurant inside the Shoppes at the Venetian. My kids (7, 10, 12) loved the food here. So did my wife and I. It was a good atmosphere as well.
Howlin' Rays – If you love spicy food, I found this to be one of the best I've had. It's in the dining hall at the Venetian. I had chicken tenders (which were massive). I did their "hot" level, but it ended up being so hot that I couldn't eat more than 1.5 of the tenders. And I'm someone who loves hot/spicy food!
Minzon – This Mediterranean restaurant is on the Palazzo side. The food is so good you'll be going back over and over again.
Fun Things To Do
No matter where you go in and around Vegas, there's a lot to do. Here's a few of the things we enjoyed the most.
Arte Museum at the Crystal Shoppes – this was a modern art exhibit that we were initially reluctant to visit with kids. But once we got in, it was incredible. We ended up spending about 2.5+ hours there.
Titanic Exhibit at the Luxor – my son loves the Titanic and although we've gone to other exhibits, this one has the distinction of having the largest section ever recovered.
Gondola Ride at the Venetian
The Sphere at the Venetian [ Article ]
Visit the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops (a little cheesy, but the kids enjoyed it)
Explore the lobby's at Wynn & Encore
Get Crepes at Paris Las Vegas
Reese's Store at New York New York
Explore the Crystal Shops (even if you're like us and can't afford anything there)
Watch the fountains at Bellagio
Outside of Las Vegas, here are a few great things to do with families that my family loved:
Hoover Dam (~35 minute drive)
Red Rock Canyon (~30 minute drive)
