Las Vegas

Family Vacations: Skirting Las Vegas

Our Adventures

For several years my husband has had the opportunity to work with students from around the world. One thing they all have in common is an overwhelming desire to see Las Vegas. Common wisdom is that if you visit the United States, you must visit Vegas. Having discovered many magnificent places across the United States as a family, we are often baffled by the almost universal draw to Las Vegas.

However, with all of these students wanting to see Vegas, we have felt compelled to show our very own family Sin City–except without the “Sin”. Here are our results. For someone looking to see the “family” side of Vegas, I would recommend beginning with a tour of the outskirts where you will find many hidden gems.  Some of our favorites include:

• Red Rock Canyon–located west of Las Vegas, this area is a fabulous place to explore, hike, and climb. If you are lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of the wild mustangs that have populated the area in the past.
• the Las Vegas LDS Temple–a beautiful piece of architecture surrounded by lovely grounds where you can take a minute to reflect on what is really important in life.
• the Clark County Museumt–ever wonder about Las Vegas’s beginnings and history? Then, you are in for a treat at this amazing open air museum. Original homes spanning generations of Las Vegans dot the museum grounds and offer an opportunity to step back in time and explore the past. Loved it!
• the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory— where did M&M’s originally come from? Come see the real roots of an American favorite! There is also a pretty impressive Cactus garden outside to explore as well. As a side note, there is a M&M World on the strip if you are interested.
• Hoover Dam–though last on our favorite’s list, it is definitely not the least. A relatively short drive from Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is more than worth the effort. A testament to what humankind can accomplish, the dam is breathtaking. Constructed between 1931 and 1936, the Art Deco architectural style remains today to awe and inspire.

This is just a small list of interesting things to explore in and around Las Vegas. With a little discernment you can discover the many fun and worthwhile family adventures available. As a side note though, do not be lured into any shows labelled “family-friendly”. The term “Family-friendly” appears to be relative, and our experience has been that “family-friendly” Vegas style only means no one is actually naked. Other than that you have no guarantees.

Places to Stay

Las Vegas abounds in places to stay with many bargains in the mix. However, what you save in money may cost you in other ways. For example, most casino/hotels require that your family thread its way through the convoluted casino in order to reach the hotel portion of the building. If your family can ignore the allure of gambling, the smoke, the drinking, and the general debauchery, it can be a very cheap way to stay in Vegas. While there are some hotels without casinos, you may have to look for that specifically. Again proving the periphery can truly be better, there are many affordable family hotels in the outlying communities like Summerlin South and Henderson. When we visited Las Vegas as a family, we stayed in a family suite at Hyatt Place Las Vegas. The price and location were great! We very much enjoyed the pool, the breakfast, the comfy beds for everyone, and the proximity to food and shopping. As a last note, be sure to consider what events are taking place in Vegas when planning your family trip. Convention can really inflate the price of a hotel.

Places to Eat

If you can think of it, chances are it is available in Las Vegas. This truth applies to the food in Vegas as well. There are all the kids’ favorite fast food places, most national food chains, some local startups, and even ultra fancy cuisine. Food choices from across the world with fusion mixed in as well are readily available. For our family trips, breakfast generally comes from our hotel, lunch comes from our supplies or a fast food place, and dinner can be from many sources: a grocery store; a fast food place; a sit down restaurant we haven’t visited in a long while; and, at least one dinner, somewhere special to the area we are visiting. In Vegas our somewhere special dinner ended up being an easy walk from our hotel at the Daug Haus Biergarten. Though not entirely German, the food was good and filling and the atmosphere was fun!

In the final analysis, Las Vegas really does have something to offer families. You will have to sort through its many other choices, but with a little planning and preparation Las Vegas can be a very affordable family vacation full of adventure, discovery, and lasting family memories!