by Ray Fauteux

Created on: December 10, 2008   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

It's quite possible to spend anywhere from a few days to a week in Las Vegas and never see any kids. That's mostly because of Nevada gaming laws that forbid children from being in the casino areas of the hotels. On a recent trip to Las Vegas I did see kids with their parents as them made their way from the elevator to the street. There is also a chance you will see families at the hotel buffet.

That doesn't mean there are no kids in Las Vegas or that there is nothing for them to do there. On the contrary, you could easily make Las Vegas a holiday destination for the whole family. You just don't see many kids around because they are probably at one of the many kid's attractions you can find all over town.

First of all there are the attractions that are free. There is a free show on Fremont Street in the downtown area that kids would really enjoy. It runs at the top of the hour during the evenings every day of the week. Downtown is also home to the $1.00 hot dog, Uncle Joe's Pizza at the Plaza, and reduced rate buffets for kids. They might also enjoy the "dancing waters" at the Bellagio, but you have to get there early to find a good viewing spot.

For some other excellent eating spots kids might enjoy try Margarita-ville(where pirates will come around and make balloon animals for the kids), the Monte Carlo because of their inexpensive food court that features MacDonald's and pizza, and the MGM Grand that also offers a variety of fast food outlets that kids prefer.

For games New York New York is a popular choice for their virtual games, extensive arcade, and roller coaster. If your kids enjoy bowling, try the Rio Las Vegas Lucky Strike Lanes.

Older kids might enjoy the auto show at the Imperial Palace, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum that features wildlife native to Nevada and animated dinosaurs, or the Lied Discover Children's Museum that includes over 100 hands-on exhibits and is one of the country's largest children's museums.

Don't forget M&M World that offers four stories of fun for kids and a wide array of souvenir items such as candy-coated treats, caps, lithographs, and T-shirts. There is also the Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour that is popular with kids and they can finish off their tour with a free chocolate shop sample.

There is one absolutely for sure "must see" for kids who are visiting Las Vegas. Believe is or not, Las Vegas is home to one of the most amazing toy stores in the world. The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace is home to FAO Schwartz a toy store that encourages kids to play with the toys. It doesn't get much better than that.

So is Las Vegas just for adults? No way! The city is about much more than casinos and partying and is a great destination for families. It's important to do your homework first and discover all the children friendly attractions the city has to offer. Just a short time on the Internet and you will find the addresses, phone numbers, and prices of a wide variety of attractions all over Las Vegas that your kids are sure to enjoy.

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