Family Fun In Las Vegas

Just a decade or two ago Vegas was was making a very big effort to become more family oriented, but today that image seems to have faded. If you are planning on visiting Las Vegas with your children though, you haven't got a thing to worry about. With only a little planning, you can take a Las Vegas vacation that will entertain the whole family without breaking the bank or missing out on some personal time. Don't think it's possible? Here are a few ideas for family-friendly activities, and suggestions for keeping the cost down.

Food For Thought

Las Vegas is full of luxurious five star restaurants that serve great food, have wonderful service, and are horrible for children. If you've got older children, who aren't too picky, then these places might be nice for a night or two, but don't expect any price breaks in these places.

With the construction of the Fremont Street Experience, the Las Vegas Downtown region has a ton of great, affordable food options for you and your family. Just walking down the road you'll see vendors with dollar hotdogs and other simple, cheap, carnival-style food. When it's time to sit down and have a real meal, the FSE is still your best option with reasonably priced venues like the Plaza Coffee Shop, which offers real entrees (ribs, steak, lobster...) for under $10 a plate.

Uncle Joe's Pizza Specials - Located On Fremont Street

$3.99 - Two HUGE slices of pizza with a fountain drink.
$3.95 - Heaping Plate of Spaghetti with some authentic garlic bread.

For decades, Las Vegas was famous for its buffet's but today some of these all-you-can-eat establishments are going a bit more upscale. You'll be lucky to find anything that costs less than $10 a person, and some of the prices are sky high. For instance, the buffet at the Rio Suites is $38 per person!

Activities For The Kids

Obviously your children won't be taking part in any of the adult-only activities that have made Las Vegas, but there are still plenty of things for them to do. Some of the best places to keep them entertained for hours are the arcades. These gaming centers can be found in most of the major Las Vegas resorts, particularly those on the south strip. For only a few bucks each, your kids can run wild in the most impressive arcades in the world and win enough prizes to justify the cost.

The MGM Grand is the perfect place to stay if you have kids, but still want to take part in the Las Vegas trip of your dreams. It has kid-friendly attractions like movie theaters, and it is right next store to New York/New York's arcades and rollercoaster! When you are looking for a little alone time, or if you're hitting the craps tables, then the major resorts can offer great child-care services. Some of these even include clubs for teenagers where they can have fun in a safe, kid-friendly environment.