Family Fun in the City

You can start your trip with a big splash by taking your family to see real mermaids join schools of tropical fish, and stingrays. They swim together in a massive 117,000-gallon aquarium for a bubbly playdate under the sea. The Silverton Las Vegas Mermaid Show is free and runs Thursday through Sunday.

After you set the bar high, head over to Hershey’s Chocolate World on the Strip. At this two-story factory of fun, your children can send virtual kisses to friends, customize their own chocolate bars and wrappers, star in a commercial, and even create a unique peanut butter cup combination. Admission is completely free.

If you need to cool down after that sugar rush, check out the Fountains of Bellagio^®. Every 15 to 30 minutes, depending upon the time of day, more than 1,200 lighted fountains spring to life and sway to a rotating playlist of hits. While you are there, step inside to experience the Bellagio^® Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Four times a year, this space blossoms into a fresh, new floral fantasy that is totally over the top and akin to a winning Rose Parade^® entry. The best part is that it requires no budget at all, just wonderful scents.

Las Vegas Strip Activities

When you wonder what to do next, challenge your family to find the Secret Pizza at The Cosmopolitan™. Once you discover it, you will soon know why this popular grab-and-go spot has social media raving, why it made the city’s list of best pizza by the slice, and why it is well worth the hunt. A slice costs just three dollars.

You should also plan a visit to the Pinball Hall of Fame just off the Strip. This wall-to-wall collection of 150 coin-operated machines will make your family's faces light up. You can enjoy old-school electro-mechanical marvels, 1990s solid-state classics, and even modern games like Stern Pinball^® Batman to flip over. Just like the arcades of old, you simply change your dollars for quarters and pay as you play.

Your family will love flocking to the Flamingo^® Wildlife Habitat. This free-to-visit, four-acre hideaway filled with tropical birds, meandering streams, waterfalls, turtles, and fish offers a perfect spot for a relaxing break. You can stop by between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to catch one of the Keeper Talks.

More Entertaining Ideas

When you are ready to venture away from the Strip, drive 10 miles south to the Seven Magic Mountains. Created by the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone in 2016, this popular installation features seven stacked towers of locally sourced boulders painted in playful day-glo hues that soar 30 feet into the air. It is wonderful to look at and even harder to pass up.

You can also head to the Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson. With more than 20 majestic lions, you are sure to get a roaring response from your family. Stop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday through Monday to get up close with the big cats. You can also meet, feed, and even score a painting by Ozzie, the only brush-painting giraffe in the world, while checking out the other exotic animals.

After an exciting day out with your family in Las Vegas, nothing beats a dip in one of our cool pools to revive tired feet. Grab your towels—and your family—and head over to experience the Desert Club Resort Tiki Tide Pool.

There you have it, proof that big fun does not have to come with a massive price tag. This is only the start, as you will find countless ways to make priceless vacation memories in Las Vegas.