Visiting Vegas with kids used to be easy in the 90's when demographers said that Vegas should be kid friendly...they even had a full amusement park at the MGM Grand, where the MGM Grand Signature Towers are now.
Thankfully for those traveling with kids, there are still a few things left over on the strip that are still kid-friendly. Plus there are other fun things off the strip - believe it or not, there are people raising familiies here, and the kids like to do stuff besides practice Blackjack dealing in their basements :).
One thing you should do if you can get away from the strip:
Las Vegas Springs Preserve get it's own category, because it's not quite a museum and not quite a park and not exactly an attraction, but it's fun for the whole family and has special events all the time. If you want to take the family to see one thing off the strip, I'd pick Springs Preserve. You and your kids will have fun and learn a little about our Desert valley.
Free things to do:
-Bellagio Fountain and conservatory, and the chocolate fountain behind the conservatory
-MGM Grand Lion Habitat - Watch them sleep or eat hamburger, or occasionally try to eat an attendant.
-The Aquarium at the Silverton - Fish for the kids, mermaids for the dads. at Christmas, they confuse the little ones with an underwater Santa. Right next to Bass Pro Shops.
-Weird little robotic show outside the Cheesecake factory in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops (Vegas for Mall)
-Wynn hotel's free water show - best at night
-Browsing rock memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel
-The Volcano at the Mirage - recently renovated. 100% solar powered and eco-friendly. Just kidding.
-Gondola rides at the Venetian. And Streetmosphere. Fair Warning.
-Las Vegas pays a lot of money to import culture. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Wynn Museum are good bets, also there's a new row of Art galleries, cool fountains, and other new installations at CityCenter.
-Free evening "Sirens" Show at Treasure Island
-Just walking up and down the strip and taking it all in. Oh, and yes, taking a picture of one of those guys in the costumes costs money.
-Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston - Where Vegas locals go to get away from you. Did you know we have a ski hill?
Kinda (could be) Free things:
Free to get in, plus plus to get out. You know what I mean.
-Experiment with juvenile blood sugar limits at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour and Cactus Garden, M&M World and Coca-Cola world
-GameWorks - Same games as at home just bigger and more expensive!
-Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace - Charges admission if you somehow ignore the gauntlet of free coupons all over the place out front. Amazing Cars and all for sale.
-Spend hours of fun and millions of quarters at the Pinball Hall of Fame
Definitely not free things:
Check the little coupon books (the coupon books Dad, not the cards) all over the place on the strip for discount and buy one get one coupons.
-Ride to the top of the Paris Hotel Eiffel tower replica
-Shark Reef is very cool, and they have special events and changing displays all the time
-AdventureDome indoor theme park at Circus Circus - great in the hot summer and cold winter, plus fun at haloween
Rides on top if the Stratosphere, plus the view of course.
-Visit CSI: The Experience or the Vegas Mob Experience to give your kids months of uncomfortable dinner table questions!
-Madame Tussauds Las Vegas - This is actually more fun than it sounds - statues of your favorite stars that you can interact with.
-See Tigers and Dolphins living to gether in harmony at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
-For diehard railway fans, sweat it out on the Nevada Southern Railway
-The Roller Coaster at New York-New York - It's state of the art, whatever that means. DO NOT stand anywhere underneath it with out proper vomit-repelling clothing. You have been warned.
Museums:
I know you probably won't go but I'm listing them anyway:
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Lied Discovery Children's Museum
Nevada State Museum
Have fun! Add more in the comments if I missed anything.
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