Photo: FlyOver Las Vegas

The Best Family Friendly Things To Do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Insider Guides Family Travel
by Alanna Koritzke Feb 22, 2023

Las Vegas is home to restaurants with over-the-top culinary creations, endless entertainment, and an overflow of delicious cocktail bars that will have you thankful that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. And while the city is most famous for its world-class casinos, there’s fun for the whole family to be had here.

If you haven’t been in awhile, the city has transformed since the start of the pandemic. Businesses have revamped their looks, service, and quality to match and exceed the expectations of eager travelers. Hotels are more accommodating, meals are more lavish, and shows are somehow even more entertaining. This all makes now the perfect time to head to Sin City to seek out the best family things to do in Las Vegas (and even if you have been recently, there is always something new to see even for regular visitors).

To make the most of the revitalized energy in the city in a just a few days, you’ll want to add a few things to your itinerary.

Family friendly things to do in Las Vegas

FlyOver Las Vegas

FlyOver las vegas

Photo: In Color Studios

Take a break from the hustle of the Strip at FlyOver, a mild thrill ride that allows you to take flight over scenic areas of the world. Each show highlighted incredible action sequences, stunning locations, and immersive elements to make you feel like you really were flying over each destination. There are three beautiful shows to choose from:

  • Wonders of the American West: A great choice if you’re looking to see what the Southwest and West Coast look like without leaving the desert.
  • Iceland: Witness the colorful mountains, waterfalls, and beaches of the land of fire and ice.
  • Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies: My favorite of the bunch, this option features Indigenous peoples of Canada showcasing their cultures and reminding riders that our Earth and our lives are gifts to not be taken for granted.

Fly Over Las Vegas: 3771 Las Vegas Blvd S Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Neon Museum

neon museum

Photo: Neon Museum

Witness a piece of Las Vegas history at the Neon Museum, a non-profit that collects, curates, and repairs old Vegas neon signs. You have to visit at night to see the preserved signs lit up of course, and it’s truly a spectacle. Take a guided tour to learn more about individual signs. Don’t skip Brilliant!, an incredible audiovisual show by Craig Winslow, where he digitally recreated each non-working sign in order to precisely align and project lights to make it appear that the signs are illuminated.

Neon Museum: 770 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Mob Museum

mob museum las vegas

Photo: Mob Museum

There’s a number of Las Vegas museums, but the Mob Museum is a must-see. It tells the stories of mob families and operations from perspectives of those within the mob and the law enforcement agents who work against them. Go behind the movies and stories of big names like El Chapo, Genovese, Al Capone, Frank Costello, and so many more! Before you leave, visit The Speakeasy in the basement to try one of the historic cocktails like Giggle Water from the 1920s or The Underground Daiquiri from the early 1900s made with four different rums. You’ll need the rotating weekly password to enter, so check their website before you go.

Mob Museum: 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Meow Wolf’s AREA15 and Omega Mart

area15 las vegas

Photo: Peter Ruprecht

An experience unlike any other, Omega Mart is an interactive art installation that will have you captivated for hours. Start in the whacky grocery store where you’ll find products like dehydrated water, mammoth chunks, and nut-free salted peanuts (spoiler: it’s just a can of salt). Soon you’ll discover portals that lead to out-of-this-world immersive exhibits. For the ultimate experience, add on the Omega Access Experience where with an RFID card you can participate in the story that Omega Mart creates.

Omega Mart: 3215 S Rancho Dr #100, Las Vegas, NV 89102

See a show

las vegas show

Photo: Matt Beard

Las Vegas is known for over-the-top nightly shows, and there’s no shortage depending which hotel you’re staying at and what’s nearby. If you’re near New York New York, Mad Apple at New York New York is perfect for families with 16-and-older kids (yes, there’s an age restriction) who want a little bit of everything – comedy, magic, cirque du soleil, and music. The show celebrates New York with popular New York anthems performed by a live band and uber-talented singers. Plus, the comedy really will have you laughing out of your seat and the cirque du soleil will captivate you.

light dance show

Photo: America’s Got Talent presents Superstars Live

At the Luxor, there’s America’s Got Talent presents Superstars Live, which brings together an ensemble of acts to keep you entertained all night. A recent visit included Light Balance, where dancers who performed in the dark lit up only by the lights on their clothes, The Pack Drumline, who performed with such high energy you couldn’t help but dance along, and Mervant Vera, the rapping magician who performed one of the most unique and unbelievable magic acts I’ve ever seen.

Where to eat and drink in Las Vegas

There are too many quality Las Vegas restaurants to list, but these are a good place to start.

Eataly

eataly las vegas

Photo: Eataly Las Vegas

Located inside Park MGM, Eataly is an Italian marketplace with groceries items, vendors with fresh Italian fare, and restaurants and bars sprinkled throughout the open space. You can try fresh pasta, sandwiches on daily-made bread, or even choose your own meat or fish from the counter to be cooked immediately. For traditional restaurant service, Le Pizza e La Pasta is the go-to. You can also take cooking classes or participate in an event to expand your Italian culinary chops.

Eataly: Park MGM, 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Proper Eats

proper eats

Photo: Jeff Green

This new addition to the Aria hotel is a food hall that houses an eclectic collection of food, including bagels from Wexler’s Deli, sushi at Temaki Bar, pizza from Steve Aoki’s Pizzaoki, bao buns from Laughing Buddha, Korean street food from Seoul Bird, Mediterranean options from Shalom Y’all, burgers at Lola’s Burgers, and breakfast sandwiches from Egghead. The ordering style is simple and modern as it’s entirely contactless. Be sure to give the food hall a proper walk around to see the open concept restaurants before deciding.

Expertly curated cocktails are also available at Proper Bar and for a more exclusive experience, visit Easy’s Cocktail Lounge hidden behind Easy’s Donuts, where you’ll find an intimate lounge with beautifully crafted cocktails and live music.

Proper Eats: 3730 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158

Stripsteak

StripSteak Las Vegas

Photo: StripSteak

Located in Mandalay Bay, Stripsteak will satisfy your desire for the decadent with chef Michael Mina’s elegant menu. Try the caviar jelly doughnuts with yuzu curd for a fusion of flavors and don’t miss the American wagyu rib cap, which is the chef’s favorite.

Stripsteak: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

NoMad Library

nomad library in las vegas

Photo: NoMad Library

NoMad Library is the upscale restaurant for all book lovers. Dine among shelves holding some 25,000 books from David Rockefeller’s collection. The menu is just as impressive as the ambience with tomahawk steaks, ridiculous mac and cheese (yes, that’s actually what it’s called), and flavorful baked Alaska.

NoMad Library: 3772 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Saginaw’s Deli

paul saginaw of saginaw delicatessen

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Circa Resort and Casino

Saginaw’s Delicatessen is located inside Circa Resort in downtown Las Vegas. This unassuming 24-hour deli has menu items that truly pack a punch like their to-die-for dynamite shrimp, incredibly flavorful meatloaf, and decadent brownie sundae. Come hungry: the spot is famous for its sandwiches so big, you need two hands to eat them.

Saginaw’s Delicatessen: 8 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

The Lost Cactus Bar

smoking cocktail

Photo: In Color Studios

Located inside FlyOver Las Vegas is The Lost Cactus Bar, which has some of the tastiest cocktails on the Strip. The Lost Cactus features drinks that you can match with your FlyOver ride experience like Iceland’s Fire and Ice, a smoky blue concoction that perfectly captures the volcanoes and northern lights of Iceland. For the Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies, elevate your experience with Canadian Sky, a cotton candy drink with Smooth Empress Gin straight from Canada. Finally, for flyers over the Wonders of the American West, the Desert Sunset drink matches the gorgeous sunsets witnessed on the ride.

The Lost Cactus Bar: 3771 Las Vegas Blvd S Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Where to stay in Las Vegas

We hope you love the places we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

From the Strip to Downtown to Las Vegas airport hotels and Las Vegas Airbnbs, there’s no shortage of places to stay in Sin City.

Park MGM

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What was once the Monte Carlo is now Park MGM, a revitalized non-smoking hotel in a great location for Las Vegas residencies at Dolby Live and for events at T-Mobile Arena. The rooms are comfortable with stand-out Strip views. Inside the casino, you’ll find some top restaurants including Best Friend by Roy Choi, a delightful mix of Korean, LA, and Vegas inspired cuisine in a fun bodega-style restaurant that comes highly recommended by Las Vegas locals. Eataly is also located in Park MGM, making it too easy to grab fresh Italian gelato at all hours of the day.

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New York New York

For budget-travelers, New York New York has fun theming so you feel like you’re in the city. You’ll stay in a “skyscraper” and can try New York staples on property including steak and seafood from Gallagher’s Steakhouse, which has been around in New York since 1927. At Nine Fine Irishmen, sing and dance the night away at the dueling pianos show or ride the Big Apple Coaster for a thrill ride with some incredible views of the Las Vegas Strip.

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How to get around Las Vegas

Walkability: The Las Vegas Strip is walkable, although it is longer than you may think spanning around 4 miles. You can spend the majority of your time on one end of the Strip and if needed, take a ride share or cab to the opposite end. There are walkways to direct foot traffic across the street as well traveling east and west in relation to Las Vegas Blvd.

Some resorts are internally connected so you don’t even need to brace yourself for the sweltering summer heat to get from place to place. For example, you can walk from Park MGM to Aria entirely via indoor connections.

Cab rides: It’s easy to catch a cab in Las Vegas, especially to and from your hotel. Each property has designated cab areas so you usually can hop right in, rather than call and wait.

Rideshares: Uber and Lyft are by far the easiest way to get around Las Vegas. The major sights are all within a 10-15 minute ride from each other including historic downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip, and off-Strip attractions like Area 15.

Monorail and free trams: Some resorts are connected via a free monorail. The monorail travels on the east side of the Strip and connects MGM Grand, Horseshoe and Paris, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Las Vegas Convention Center, and Sahara.

Free trams travel a few pathways. One connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur and another travels between MGM Grand and Bellagio.

Downtown shuttle: To easily get around downtown Las Vegas, there is a convenient, free shuttle bus called the Las Vegas Downtown Loop that stops at Fremont Street, Circa, Mob Museum, and the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.

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