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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Vegas with DC

41 replies

ChickPhilA · 14/03/2022 15:30

We are heading to Vegas in a few weeks with the DC aged 15 and 13.

Any recommendations? So far we have the Heart Attack Grill and Stratosphere rides so we're lacking inspiration.

Any recommendations for a helicopter tour/grand canyon activity?

In fact anything that the DC can do with us!

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MoodySky · 14/03/2022 15:38

The Heart Attack Grill sounds lovely Hmm

slalomsuki · 14/03/2022 15:45

We did a Circ de Soleil show when we went which my teenagers like. Some great outlet shopping malls in Vegas and we did Rainforest Cafe and MGM swimming pool one day

We rented a car and drove to Arizona for the Gran Canyon which took in the Hoover Dam also. As there was 5 of us the helicopter ride was too expensive although DH and I had done it before.

unfortunateevents · 14/03/2022 15:46

How long will you be there? And where are you staying? More than a few days in Las Vegas would send me around the bend!

aSofaNearYou · 14/03/2022 15:49

I went at that age and mainly just ate at buffets and looked at the sights along the strip, so I think you're doing pretty well already.

Fuzzy303 · 14/03/2022 15:54

we did a helicopter landing in the grand canyon, having breakfast then taking off again. It's definitely worth doing, especially landing & being able to wander about , it's eerily quiet in the canyon. We used a company called Sundance Helicopters & would recommend.

Twilight zone crazy golf was fun - located in Bally's hotel. Other than that we mostly did adult activities, sorry

elp30 · 14/03/2022 16:22

Loads of people call Las Vegas home and hardly venture to the Strip. Why don't you venture a bit outside of it?

When the landscape is so different from what you find in the UK, I would suggest going to the Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Springs Preserve Garden with southwestern flora.

There's museums like the Atomic Testing Museum, the Mob Museum or the Aviation Museum.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 14/03/2022 16:23

How long will you be there?

Night over at South Rim of Grand Canyon via Hoover Dam.

If into May, mini 3 day tour of Grand Canyon North rim, Zion and Bryce canyons.

Day trips into Death Valley and Valley of Fire.

Walk round all the hotels - Venice, and Caesar's Palace are impressive for teens. There's a water show thing in Caesar's palace every hour.

New York rollercoaster.

Outlet mall and a visit to the Cheesecake Factory.

Penn and Teller's magic show (or any number of other shows). Have a look and see if any of your DCs favourite bands are playing too.

Don't miss the Bellagio fountains.

Wavypurple · 14/03/2022 16:23

Don’t really think heart attack grill is appropriate with two teenage boys to be honest. Waitresses dressed in nurse costumes meant for sex and spanking people and loudly calling them ‘bad boys’ when they don’t finish their food. Are you being serious?

BackToWhereItAllBegan · 14/03/2022 16:46

We went to the David Copperfield show which was fun, if Vegas Golden Knights (ice hockey) have a home game during your visit then that's worth checking out too.
We enjoyed the gondolas in the Venetian and had 'crazy shakes' at The Black Tap in there.
The Ferris wheel was really good (clamors to be the worlds biggest, along with most other things in Vegas!), and there is zip lining alongside it if that's your cup of tea.

Original poster
ChickPhilA · 14/03/2022 20:55

Thank you for your suggestions...I have a lot to google - they sound great.

We are there for only 2, possibly 3 nights as its forming part of our road trip. The hotels we have in mind are the MGM or Luxor but I'm open to suggestions.

For those that helicoptered, was it worth it?

Yes @Wavypurple, completely serious. Its Las Vegas. We are full prepared for the DCs to be exposed to more than they would be during our usual two weeks in Spain. We'll be there for lunch - I'm sure it will be quite tame then.

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unfortunateevents · 14/03/2022 21:55

There really isn't a tame time of day in Las Vegas! Yes I think if you can afford it a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon is well worth it but depending on where your road trip is taking you, you might do it from elsewhere. We stayed at the Grand Canyon and did the trip there on the way to Las Vegas.

RusholmeRuffian · 15/03/2022 11:32

Neon Boneyard and the Mob Museum are both worth a visit. Also the Kiss mini golf.

chipsandpeas · 15/03/2022 11:39

theres a zip line called slotzilla in the freemont street area beside the heart attack grill

AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/03/2022 14:59

I would not readily go to the Heart attack grill for lunch either, its really a bit of a dive and its a bit of a way from where you could be staying on the Strip. On the Strip there are better placed and more family oriented restaurants to eat in.

What sort of things do you like to do as a family?. What sort of food do you all like?.

The High Roller Wheel at the Linq is worth going on and the views are good.

Out of the two hotels I'd go for the MGM Grand as its a bit more central and also has a monorail. BTW your children will be able to walk through the casino floor areas but with an adult present at all times; they cannot be on their own. They will also have to keep moving and not linger.

Daisydoesnt · 15/03/2022 15:26

If you're only in Vegas for a couple of nights and as part of a road trip, I would have thought you'd want to be staying on the main strip, not on the outskirts of it (which Luxor is). That way you can soak up the atmosphere and wander around (it's one of the few cities in America Ive been to where that's actually a thing!) You'll probably also be glad to ditch the car for a few days and walk.

For the same reason there are a million places to eat, can't think why you'd want to get in a taxi for heart attack grill of all places!!

Soffit · 15/03/2022 15:34

Personally, I would stay at the new Hard Rock Hotel on the strip. Even new Vegas hotels probably feel dirty quite quickly!

Soffit · 15/03/2022 15:36

I think you can buy a helicopter experience to the Grand Canyon with dinner which goes directly from Vegas. It would be a long day out but One Day In LA is a popular tour if you want to do LA but not in any great detail.

pinkcattydude · 15/03/2022 15:42

Helicopter is completely worth it you can’t get the scale of the canyon or the dam. They are huge and my photos never did it justice. The one I regret not doing was the helicopter along the strip at nighttime. But we did have a limo drive and he took us to the Vegas sign for photos. Don’t forget Fremont street with the overhead shows and the lucky stripe cowboy. So jealous.

Soffit · 15/03/2022 15:43

serenityhelicopters.com

pinkcattydude · 15/03/2022 15:43

Oh and we stayed at mgm and it was great very central although everything is still miles take blister plasters

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 15/03/2022 15:59

The Excalibur has an arcade that is oerfect for kids. You cannot even stop to tie a shoelace when you walk through the casinos with under 21's. They are very strict on this.
Neon graveyard or the plane graveyard
Funfair at Circus circus.
Do an pool afternoon if weather is nice.
A few roller coasters about too.

rainforestfriends · 15/03/2022 16:17

I'm just back with an 8 month old baby

Heart Attack Grill is a joke. It's a novelty.. plenty of better places to eat

Go see the animals at Secret Garden

Flamingos at The Flamingo

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Golden Nugget Pool

There are rides at NYNY for teenagers

Shopping at the Outlets

Red Rock Canyon (big fave of mine)

High Roller at Linq

Gondola ride at the Venetian

Lots to do - but get off strip. Hire a car and go for a big drive. Highly recommend Mr Mamas for breakfast

Fuzzy303 · 17/03/2022 10:00

The garden inside the Bellagio is worth a visit.

High roller was also very good, thought it was much better than the London Eye (certainly felt more sturdy)

NoSleepTil · 18/03/2022 20:55

OmegaMart at Area15 is very cool. An interactive art installation

Original poster
ChickPhilA · 22/03/2022 10:12

Thank you to everyone - I really appreciate your suggestions.

Based upon suggestions to stay more centrally we are looking to stay at The Flamingo. Is anyone familiar with that hotel?

The helicopter experience and Mob Museum are on the list.

As for food - we're not fussy eaters and are open to ideas...just as long as it's not gourmet because that'll be completely wasted on the DC. Smile

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