Best Family Tour in Vegas

Family Gondola Ride at The Venetian

Most people think romance when they image a gliding ride piloted by a singing gondolier. But this is Vegas, where there are sights for the entire family. Step into a gondola for a sightseeing tour either indoors along the shops on the Grand Canal, or outside around the hotel. Aspiring gondoliers can even take a few hours to find out what it take to steer a craft of their own at the limited enrollment Gondola University.

Best Live Show for Kids in Vegas

The Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur

Be thrown back in time as soon as your family walks into this 900-seat arena, where sparks will fly from the swords of knights as they battle. The thunder of horse hooves fills the air as visitors dine on an old-world meal, tearing into cornish game hens with no other utensils but their own hands. Based on the story of King Arthur, this spectacle is a thrilling, education, and raucous experience, and one of the more unforgettable things to do with kids in Las Vegas.

Best Zoo in Vegas

Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage

The habitat at is a labor of love for the famous duo, who long dreamed of creating a respite for endangered big cats. Within a flourishing man-made jungle, gleaming white tigers and lions lumber around waterfalls and laze in the sunshine. Siegfried himself is known to drop in to visit with the beautiful beasts, among them panthers and leopards as well.

Best Amusement Ride in Vegas

Big Shot at the Stratosphere

This experience begins with the approach, as a high-speed elevator shoots prospective riders over 100 stories up to the observation deck, where they can then board the Big Shot. Once riders are strapped in, the Big Shot launches them 160 feet into the air at 45 mph, then allows them to freefall back down, then up, then down again. Note that riders must be at least 48 inches tall, so this is one activity in Las Vegas for kids who are in grade school or older.

Best Roller Coaster in Vegas

Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York

Soaring 86 feet above the casino, the Big Apple Coaster takes visitors on a wild ride. As if speeds up to 67 mph aren't enough, its most heart-stopping feature is a "twist and dive maneuver"—thrusting riders into the sky, then doing a barrel roll before plunging back down. If you have any kids who love a trill, this ride is for them.

Best Aquarium in Vegas

Shark Reef Aquarium of Mandalay Bay

The highlight of this 14-exhibit attraction is not its 1.3 million gallon tank, but the acrylic tunnel beneath it. This tunnel gives visitors an underwater view of 15 species of sharks as they dart around a makeshift shipwreck. Dedicated to the more dangerous water species, the aquarium brings guests face to face with golden crocodiles, piranhas, and other aquatic predators.

Best Go Karts in Vegas

Gene Woods Racing Experience

Get behind the wheel of a high-performance (but safe) go kart and zip around the 3/8-mile track at up to 45 mph, which is faster than the average speed. But parents don’t worry: drivers learn to commandeer the speedy karts through an instructional video before they are let loose onto the curving track.

Best Museum Exhibit for Kids in Vegas

Bodies . . . The Exhibition at the Luxor

When diagrams aren't enough, get a peek at our insides at this respectfully presented (read: not that gross) exhibit. On display are 13 whole-body specimens, giving visitors a rare vantage point on their muscular structure and internal organs.

Best Interactive Show for Kids in Vegas

CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand

Older kids enjoy taking on the role of investigator, uncovering whodunit with exhibits inspired by the show. They'll match strands of DNA and analyze bullet casings, even examine strands of hair to discover the culprit.

Best Overall Activity for Kids in Vegas

[H3] Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris

A glass lift escorts visitors 460 feet into the air to the top of the half-scale replica of the famed French landmark. Once in the air, 360-degree views from 46 stories high make the enormous landmarks on the strip look almost miniscule.

Best Circus Act in Vegas

Circus Acts and Carnival Midway; Adventuredome at Circus Circus

What's a circus without a carnival? This hotel's Adventuredome spreads across five acres, all indoors, with old-fashioned family amusements, such as bumper cars, coasters, and even rides for the toddler set. And as you try your skill at the games in the midway, you might come across circus performers, such as acrobats, jugglers, and clowns.

Best Outdoor Activity for Kids in Vegas

The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo

Life on the strip can be a little wild, but at the Flamingo, the encounters with actual wildlife can be pretty calm. In this oasis, the hotel's namesake birds preen on their own man made island, while ducks paddle in the stream nearby. Lush foliage and waterfalls frame this peaceful habitat, home to hummingbirds, koi, and stately turtles. Be sure to catch feeding time, which happens twice daily.