Las Vegas is the city that never sleeps, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy it with your kids. While it has long been known as a playground for adults, there is plenty of fun to be had by people of all ages along the strip...and it has actually become more family friendly in recent years. 

How to Get There

Virgin Australia offer direct flights from Australia to LA and have recently cemented themselves as Australia's most family friendly airline by approving sleep devices such as the Kooshy Kids Kooshion - making long haul travel more comfortable for families. 

Other family friendly airlines that will take you direct from AU to LAX include: 

• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Delta Airways

Flights from LA to Vegas (LAX/LAS) take just over an hour and the following airlines will take you there cheaply and comfortably (and we support them because they support us!)

• Virgin America
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Alaska Airlines 

Where to Stay as a Family

There are quite a few hotels along the strip, and while any of them will do for a few nights, some of them cater to families better than others. 

Circus Circus

This family friendly hotel is at the North End of the strip, which puts it further away from a lot of the action, but you will still find it worthwhile.  Children stay for free and there are two pools for you all to swim in for hours. 

Jockey Club Suites

If you prefer an apartment style suite for your stay, complete with a kitchen, then you will want to consider the Jockey Club Suites. This hotel is closer to the center of the strip, which makes it easier to reach many of the attractions.

Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay is on the South End of the strip and closer to the action. There are spacious rooms that you can enjoy when you are actually in them, although we believe that most of your time at the hotel will be spent at the three pools, wave pool, or the lazy river. 

Where to Dine as a Family

When you dine as a family in Las Vegas, you can choose from chain restaurants, buffets, or restaurants owned by some famous chefs.  The options are endless, and you could spend hours trying to decide on where you should eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here are Kooshy Kids' Las Vegas favourites. 

Hash House a Go Go at the Linq

You can choose Hash House for any meal, and you will never be disappointed, however, we prefer to go there for breakfast. We love their freshly squeezed orange juice to get our day started and their Snickers pancakes are amazing too! We’re pretty sure your kids won’t be able to resist a little chocolate with their breakfast!

Le Village Buffet at the Paris Hotel and Casino

This buffet has enough food that even your pickiest eater will find enough to fill their plate. Our weakness is always their croissant and pastry section, but their made to order crepes are dangerous as well.  You may want to keep everyone away from those areas until they’ve eaten some real food first!

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

Kooshy Kids loves Lazy Dog where there are two different menus for kids. One is for ages 8 and younger with items such as chicken tenders or noodles with a variety of sauces including alfredo, marinara or even plain for fussy eaters. The other kids menu, for kids aged 12 and younger  includes dishes that let kids build their own pizza and or get chicken teriyaki with steamed rice. Each dish comes with a drink and a choice of a side such as fresh fruit, carrots, French fries or mashed potatoes.

Things to Do as a Family

As we mentioned above, there are more things than ever to do as a family in Las Vegas. That means that you will need to plan carefully to fit everything into your time there. If you haven’t started your itinerary yet, or even if you have, you will want to add in these Kooshy Kids recommended activities. 

• Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – This won’t take you that long to do as the gardens are inside and not that big. However, they change the gardens according to the seasons and we are always amazed at what we see. To entice your kids to stay longer, you might want to promise them a trip to the chocolate store that is not too far away inside the Bellagio. 
• Bellagio Fountains – Watching the fountains is wonderful during the day but try to be out in front of them at night when they are lit up, because that is when the experience is even better. The fountain shows runs every half hour from 3-8pm and every 15min from 8pm-midnight, and on Saturdays and holidays shows start at midday.

• The Adventuredome – This indoor theme park is right next to Circus Circus, and your entire family will love riding the roller coasters, bumper cars, and more. You can pay for an all-day ride pass or choose to pay per ride if you’re giving your kids a special treat. 
• Watch the circus – Inside Circus Circus is a midway that offers free circus performances throughout the day. You can walk in and watch whenever you want, just be prepared to have your children want to play the midway games when they are there.
• Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat – This animal sanctuary is absolutely breathtaking, and you are never going to want to leave once you go inside. You can watch and learn about the panthers, lions, tigers, and leopards before going out to watch the dolphins swim and play. 
• M&M’s World – Chocolate plus children equals lots of energy, but they will run it off going through the four floors of this store! Besides chocolate, you can look at clothes, stuffed animals, and other M&M themed items. 

• Jeff Civillico – Jeff Civillico performs comedy at The Paris Hotel, currently on Wednesday evenings, and his shows are always family friendly. He does juggling, of all objects, and there is even a unicycle involved.  You will find yourself laughing from the time you walk in the doors until the show ends and your kids will be laughing harder than you!

 As always, Kooshy Kids wishes you happy and safe travels  x