Before I ever turned 21 I had already gone to Las Vegas 3 times as a child for a family vacation. My family drove from Alberta, Canada down to Las Vegas in 2001, 2006, and 2011 which took approximately three days there and back (depending on how fast we were driving). Known as Sin City, many wouldn’t dream of taking their kids to the depraved sinners paradise. Depends on where you go, who you ask, and what you do there, but Las Vegas is not inappropriate for a family vacation. Personally, I have some of my fondest memories from Las Vegas and as the years go on, Vegas is turning more and more into a family fun zone. In my opinion, the first signs of Vegas turning over a new leaf was in the 90’s when they began creating heavily themed hotels like Luxor, Circus Circus, Excalibur, and the like. With activities like dinner theater jousting, the Treasure Island pirate show, taking photos with baby lions at MGM Grand, and riding the rides at Adventure Dome, it is overwhelming the amount of activities for families to take part in. Of course, you have to be comfortable taking your kids around the outskirts of various casinos. Vegas continues to change and has taken away some of the more kid centered attractions, and yet, it has replaced them with even better things to do. Now you can zipline down Fremont Street, visit the Hersey Store and ride the New York New York rollercoaster, and many of the buskers are strictly kept off the strip.

 

I haven’t even mentioned the family friendly pools where kids can explore lazy rivers, wave pools, and cool off before family dinner. One of my favourite parts of visiting Vegas is that it can be as affordable or as luxury as you’d like to have it. Visiting Disneyland will likely break the bank if you eat out every day, but Las Vegas offers endless choices for good quality buffets that are valuable and unique. Not into buffets? Good thing there are world renowned restaurants from the likes of Gordon Ramsey to Guy Fieri and all the kinds of fast food you could ever want. 

 

Some parents may be worried about the constant barrage of drunk people filling the Vegas streets. Avoid any of the bigger holidays like Memorial Day and you’ll be fine. Plus, half of them sleep in from their wild nights, anyways! It can take a bit of research and planning, but luckily there is an entire industry of Youtube and TikTok influencers dedicated to Las Vegas experiences, from reviews, tips & tricks, to family centred suggestions. 

 

As we all know money and gambling makes Vegas run. That means the casinos, hotels, and other venues have intense security measures with millions of cameras everywhere you step. This is good. These heightened security measures are in place to keep their patrons safe as well. Recently, as an adult, I was in Las Vegas with my boyfriend and there was a man sleeping at a slot machine and we let the bartender know, so that he wouldn’t get robbed or worse. The bartender simply said, “there are cameras everywhere, he is safe.” 

 

I don’t have kids, but if I did would I take my family to Las Vegas? A million times yes. Is there a risk of them seeing questionable behaviour? Yes. However, that risk is everywhere in life from TV, to school, to the mall, to any location on a family trip. Live a little and enjoy all the wildly amusing sights that Vegas has to offer!

 

-Alexandria King (February 18th, 2024)