Why We Keep Taking Our Kids to Las Vegas Every Year

How Vegas unexpectedly became one of our favorite family destinations—even with toddlers

Before 2022, taking our kids to Las Vegas had never even crossed my mind.

Vegas, to me, was for casinos, restaurants, nightclubs, cocktails, and staying out far later than any parent of a toddler should reasonably be awake. It was definitely not where I would have thought to take a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old.

Then one day, a good friend of ours suggested that we try Vegas with our kids.

Her son is almost exactly the same age as my older son—literally, their birthdays are only two weeks apart—and she told me something I wasn't expecting to hear:

        

        “There are actually SO many things to do with kids in Vegas.”

Pools. Museums. Shows. Free attractions. Arcades. And all the crazy, over-the-top entertainment that Vegas is famous for.

I was skeptical.

She was absolutely right.

Our first family trip to Las Vegas with kids was in April 2022, when our boys were barely 3 and 1. Since then, Vegas has somehow become one of those destinations our family feels like we have to visit every year. Some years we've gone once, some years twice, and one particularly Vegas-loving year, we went FOUR times.

At this point, my boys ask if we can go to Vegas for their birthdays.

So if you're wondering whether Las Vegas is a good destination for families with young kids, my answer is a very enthusiastic: heck yeah.

Our First Vegas Trip With a 1- and 3-Year-Old

When our boys were just 3 and 1, our Vegas trips looked very different from what they look like now.

We spent most of our time at the pool and at Adventuredome inside Circus Circus. The boys were still too little for many of the rides, but they had plenty to keep them entertained.

We also visited the M&M's store, which turned out to be much more entertaining for the kids than we expected. There was also an Avengers exhibit at the time, and my boys were beyond excited about it.

The grown-ups? Not so much.

The four of us ended up playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who would take the kids while the rest of us enjoyed a little peace and quiet. My sweet husband lost—and off he went with the boys to the exhibit.

A couple of hours later, the boys came back all smiles and full of excitement. My husband, on the other hand, looked like those two hours had aged him about five years. 😂Our 1-year-old obviously couldn't participate in everything his big brother wanted to do, but he was perfectly happy splashing around in the pool and riding the gondola at The Venetian.

Oh, the gondola ride.

This was more than four years ago, so I can't remember exactly how much we paid, but I believe it was around $100 for the four of us. At the time, it felt expensive. Very expensive, actually, for what was essentially a ride along a tiny canal inside and around the hotel.

But now that I've been to Venice, Italy and experienced the real thing, I have to take that back:

$100 was not expensive at all.

Two years later, we took the boys on a gondola ride in Venice, and it cost us about the same. But surprisingly, the experience at The Venetian was much more memorable.

The gondoliers in Venice—not just ours, but many of the ones we saw—were busy texting, chatting with each other, or looking at their phones. They didn't seem particularly interested in entertaining the passengers.

Our gondolier at The Venetian, on the other hand, was in full entertainer mode from the moment we stepped onto the boat. He talked to us throughout the entire ride, told us stories, and even sang a couple of beautiful songs.

Looking back, I realize we got much more than just a ride around a fake canal—we got an experience.

So if you ask me now whether that $100 was too much?

Nope. Not at all. It was worth every penny.

And the best part? My then-1-year-old was so mesmerized by the whole experience that when the ride was over, he absolutely refused to get off the gondola. I guess he wasn't ready for his first Vegas vacation to end just yet.

And that's one thing I've learned from traveling with very young kids: they don't need a packed itinerary.

Sometimes a pool, a snack, and a ride on something they normally don't get to ride are enough to make them feel like they're having the greatest vacation of their lives.

We actually went to Vegas twice that first year, once in April and again at the end of October. Both times, we brought a small umbrella stroller for our 1-year-old, and I was very glad we did.

Then the Kids Got a Little Older—and Vegas Got Even Better

The following year, when the boys were 4 and 2, we somehow went to Vegas four times.

Three of those trips were with the same friends who originally convinced us to try Vegas with kids, and another was with my father-in-law.

By then, the boys were tall enough to enjoy more of Adventuredome, and suddenly there were more rides they could go on. Their favorites were the Frog Hopper and the spinning car ride, which they could ride over and over without getting bored.

But that year also brought one of our biggest discoveries: the DISCOVERY Children's Museum.

And when I say my kids loved this place, I mean they REALLY loved it.

We spent almost five hours there.

Five. 

Hours.

With a 2-year-old.

Honestly, we were only able to stay that long because we came prepared with enough snacks and drinks to survive what had essentially become a full workday at the children's museum.

The museum has hands-on areas where kids can play with water, pretend, create art, explore science, play sports, and experience different careers. It was the kind of place where my kids weren't asking, “When are we leaving?” They were asking, “What's next?”

Actually, they didn't even have time to ask us that—they were too busy disappearing around corners in search of the next activity. At some point, our job basically became following two tiny people around and making sure we didn't lose them.

Even our 2-year-old was so busy exploring that he didn't seem tired until we were practically being forced out at closing time.

We loved it enough that we bought an annual membership and went back whenever we were in the area.

The museum remains one of my favorite recommendations for families visiting Las Vegas. If you go, bring snacks and drinks and don't make other plans immediately afterward. Your kids may want to stay there all day.

The Midway: My Boys' Favorite Place in Vegas

That same year, we discovered another place that would become my boys' absolute favorite: the Midway at Circus Circus.

My kids had never been to an arcade or played any video games before this. So imagine their excitement when their first real arcade experience was a giant Vegas arcade filled with games, lights, prizes, and everything else designed to make children completely lose their minds.

They loved Mario Kart, Minecraft Dungeons, and the claw machines.

And yes, they were terrible at most of the games.

But they didn't care!

What's funny is that the Midway is probably the thing my boys talk about most when they think about Vegas. But when I look back at our actual vacations, we usually spent only about two or three hours there during a two- or three-night stay.

And that's something I love about Vegas with kids: you don't actually need to build your entire trip around kid activities.

A few hours at the arcade, a few hours at the pool, a museum day, some sightseeing, and a good meal can fill a trip surprisingly easily.

The Midway also has free circus performances throughout the day, which became another favorite. The aerial trapeze, clown performances, and other acts are impressive enough that the adults were just as entertained as the kids.

One practical tip: don't sit too close to the stage for the aerial performances.

You want to be close enough to see what's happening, but not so close that you're staring straight up at the ceiling for the entire show. Your neck will thank you.

Check the performance schedule when you arrive and find a comfortable viewing spot around the stage.

Why We Keep Going Back to The Cosmopolitan

We've stayed at several hotels over the years, including The Cosmopolitan, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Bellagio, but Cosmo has remained our favorite by far.

For us, it's the combination of three things: the restaurants, the cleanliness, and the pool.

The location is convenient, the rooms have consistently felt clean and comfortable, and the restaurant choices are fantastic. And then there's that incredible view of the Bellagio fountains and the Sphere.

Having a fountain view from your room is basically free entertainment for the whole family. The fountain shows run every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day, and you'll often find your kids—and yourself—pressed against the window, mesmerized by the fountains and trying to guess which song is playing.

It somehow never gets old.

And now there's the famous Sphere, right across the Strip! Kids seem to be fascinated by it, especially when the giant screen starts changing its displays. My boys can literally spend an hour just watching the Sphere change, which is honestly some of the easiest entertainment we've ever gotten on a family vacation.

The pool strategy that saved us from the Vegas sun

With little kids, pool time was a major part of almost every Vegas trip.

We learned pretty quickly that we didn't want to spend the hottest part of the day sitting in the sun with two little kids.

Instead, we usually saved pool time for late afternoon or early evening.

This worked especially well at Cosmo. We usually choose the Chelsea Pool because it has a quieter, more relaxing vibe and tends to feel less crowded.

But the biggest bonus for us was the shade.

In the late afternoon, the hotel building creates substantial shade around the pool area, making it much more comfortable for the kids—and making me much less worried about sunburn.

We did try Mandalay Bay once, mainly because we wanted to experience the lazy river and wave pool. At the time, the boys were simply too young to fully appreciate the experience.

Now that they're 7 and 5, we're planning to give Mandalay Bay another try.

We've also stayed at Bellagio. The hotel itself is beautiful, but the rooms definitely felt a little dated compared to Cosmo. And I wasn't a huge fan of the pool setup with little kids.

There were several pools right next to one another, and while the boys thought it was fantastic to jump from one pool to another to another, I found myself following them around constantly.

“Don't run!”

“Careful, it's slippery!”

“Stay where I can see you!”

Repeat approximately 47 times.

Sometimes fewer choices are better for parents.

A few things I don't love about Cosmo

Cosmo isn't perfect, especially when you're looking at it through the eyes of a mom with young kids.

First, it's not a smoke-free hotel, and the casino level can get very smoky. If you're traveling with young kids and are sensitive to cigarette smoke, that's definitely something to consider.

There's also usually a fairly long line for check-in, which can be challenging when you're standing there with two extremely excited children and discovering that there aren't nearly enough places to sit.

And then there are the lobby screens.

When I first saw the screens showing what appear to be naked silhouettes moving around inside them, my immediate thought was, “Oh boy. What questions am I going to have to answer?”

Thankfully, my boys were either too young to notice or simply didn't care.

Still, it's one of those little details that makes me think, “Yep. This is definitely Vegas.”

And then there's the food

For a family trip, having lots of good food options inside the hotel is a surprisingly big deal.

We've always made a point of eating at Wicked Spoon at least once during our stay. Their breakfast buffet was particularly convenient when the kids were younger, and it worked really well for our family because everyone could find something they wanted.

And the great food doesn't stop at the Strip.

Don't Stay on the Strip for Every Meal

One of the things I love about Vegas is that there's an entire food scene outside the Strip.

As an Asian family, this is especially exciting for us.

We usually try to have at least a couple of meals away from the Strip during every trip. There are so many Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai restaurants in the Las Vegas area, and we've consistently been surprised by the quality of the food.

It's also a nice way to take a break from the resort food and the Strip atmosphere.

And let's be honest: kids are usually much happier eating a bowl of noodles or Korean barbecue than sitting through a fancy restaurant meal.

Don't Overlook the Free Stuff

Another thing I love about bringing kids to Vegas is that you don't have to spend money every time you want to entertain them.

There are surprisingly many free attractions scattered around the Strip.

Our favorites have included the Bellagio fountains, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the Eiffel Tower light show, the Flamingo's wildlife habitat, and the short theatrical show at Caesars Palace, “Fall of Atlantis.”

The Bellagio fountains are particularly easy because you can combine them with a walk around the Strip, and the Conservatory is a nice break from all the sensory overload of Vegas.

And if you have boys like mine—who apparently think that fire, fighting, and giant winged monsters are the perfect ingredients for entertainment—Fall of Atlantis will be a hit.

The free attractions are part of what makes Vegas so easy for families. You can spend the morning doing something that costs money, grab lunch, walk around, and then suddenly have another hour of entertainment without opening your wallet.

Just don't expect everything to be a hit.

The Flamingo habitat, for example, was a one-and-done experience for our family. The flamingos were interesting. The smell? Less interesting.

Not Everything “Family-Friendly” Is Toddler-Friendly

Of course, not everything we tried was a success.

One of our biggest Vegas parenting lessons came from trying to take three little kids to a Cirque du Soleil show.

We chose Mystère because it was supposed to be suitable for all ages.

It was a disaster.

The darkness, loud sounds, and jokes were simply too much for our three little ones. As soon as we walked into the theater and found our seats, we noticed a couple of strollers parked right in front of the stage.

Then came the sound of a baby crying.

Except it wasn't a real baby—it was part of the show, created by an actor on stage. The sound was so eerie and almost weeping-like that it immediately set a creepy tone for the entire theater.

Needless to say, it wasn't exactly what our toddlers were looking for in a night of entertainment.

Within about 30 minutes, my youngest had had enough and came out with me.

Eventually, we all walked out.

It was one of those parenting moments where you have to laugh because otherwise you're going to cry.

So if you're traveling to Vegas with toddlers, don't assume that something labeled “family-friendly” automatically means your particular toddler will enjoy it.

Know your kids.

If they're sensitive to darkness, loud noises, or overstimulation, you may want to skip certain shows until they're older.

And Yes, the Adults Can Still Have Fun

And perhaps the biggest surprise of all?

We didn't have to give up Vegas just because we had kids.

Before kids, our Vegas trips looked very different.

Casinos. Nightclubs. Staying out late.

You know... Vegas.

Now we've basically traded the nightclubs for pools and arcades.

But that doesn't mean the adults have to give up everything.

When we're traveling with friends, the adults take turns watching the kids. One couple might stay with the kids while the others go play in the casino, and then we switch.

Luckily, after a full day of swimming, arcades, rides, and running around Vegas, the kids are usually exhausted enough to pass out pretty quickly.

And once they're asleep, it's our turn to have a little grown-up Vegas time.

Everybody wins. 😊

It's not exactly the Vegas experience we had before children, but it works.

And that's one of the reasons I actually prefer Vegas for a family trip over some other destinations. There are enough things happening around you that the adults can still have moments that feel like a vacation for grown-ups.

So, Should You Take Your Little Kids to Las Vegas?

If you had asked me before 2022 whether I'd recommend taking a 1- or 2-year-old to Las Vegas, I probably would have looked at you like you had lost your mind.

Now?

Absolutely.

If someone asked me whether they should take their 2- and 4-year-old to Vegas, I'd say, heck yeah.

Vegas doesn't have to mean drinking until you can't remember what happened the night before. It doesn't have to mean nightclubs, gambling, and waking up with a regretful headache.

It can mean watching your toddler's face light up during a gondola ride.

It can mean spending five hours at a children's museum.

It can mean watching your kids go completely wild over their first arcade.

It can mean swimming in a hotel pool at sunset, eating an enormous breakfast buffet, watching the Bellagio fountains, and wandering around the Strip looking at all the ridiculous things Vegas has to offer.

And maybe that's what I love most about traveling with kids: they have a way of making you see familiar places completely differently.

Vegas used to be a place we went for ourselves.

Now it's a place our kids ask to go for their birthdays.

And honestly?

I never would have expected it, but I think that's even more fun.