With a tagline like "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," Las Vegas doesn't strike you as the most kid-friendly place. Yet there is so much to do in Vegas with kids...and some of it is even free! Meagan from Mommy Travels joins us this week to share her tips for visiting Vegas with kids.
ON THE PODCAST
:34 Kim is just back from Hawaii
3:03 Hawaiian Airlines
5:02 Hawaiian food
5:20 Hawaii hotels
10:50 Meagan Wristen from Mommy Travels
12:15 Meagan's upcoming trip to Thailand
16:13 Best ages to visit Vegas
17:49 Favorite hotels in Vegas
23:16 Free things to do in Vegas
26:00 Good shows for kids
28:00 Money saving tips
30:20 Favorite restaurants and buffets
32:00 Day trips from Vegas
35:27 Top tips for visiting Vegas with kids
38:43 Favorite place to take a family photo
39:51 Meagan's favorite travel gear
41:20 Follow Meagan on social media
42:25 Tip/app of the week
43:20 Anniversary episode coming up next week
ABOUT MEAGAN WRISTEN
Meagan Wristen is a travel writer and mom to three kids, Noah 16, Eden 13, and Jonah 10. Meagan believes that just because your a single mom doesn't mean you can't take your kids around the world. Meagan blogs about family travel, food, and more at www.MommyTravels.net. (Meagan also writes for Travelocity, USA Today, 10Best, TravelingMom, and SheBuysCars.) Follow Meagan on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest.
TIPS FOR VISITING VEGAS WITH KIDS
- Tivoli Village and Town Square have playgrounds and/or splash pads
- If you have a 6+ month old baby, there are day care facilities around Vegas so you can have a parent's night out
- Good hotels for kids:
- The Golden Nugget has a body slide that goes through a shark tank in the middle of the pool
- Trump Hotel is smoke-free
- Venetian is very kid-friendly
- Cosmopolitan is a nice hotel
- MGM has a good pool with a lazy river
- Mandalay Bay has a wave pool
- Monte Carlo has a lazy river and a wave pool
- New York, New York has a roller coaster
- Circus, Circus -- stay in the newer tower that has been refurbished -- with a fun dome with rides but it is very dated
- Free attractions in Vegas:
- Bellagio fountains
- Conservatory in the Bellagio
- Blue Man Group walks through the Monte Carlo around 6:15
- Volcano at the Mirage
- M&M Store
- Lego Store
- Other attractions & shows:
- Siegfried & Roy Secret Garden
- Mystere by Cirque du Soleil
- Michael Jackson show by Cirque du Soleil
- Blue Man Group
- Recycled Percussion
- David Copperfield
- Nathan Burton Magic Comedy Show at Planet Hollywood
- Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
- Money saving tips -- look at Groupon and Living Social, and look for military and AAA discounts, as well as the half-priced ticket stands near the Coke Bottle at MGM
- Favorite restaurants & buffets
- Flamingo -- the buffet has a chocolate fountain and cotton candy
- Cosmopolitan - great buffet but expensive
- Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel
- Firefly tapas restaurant off the strip for happy hour
- Hash House a Go Go -- great for breakfast but split a plate
- Peppermill Restaurant -- old school restaurant for breakfast
- China Poblano -- Chinese-Mexican in the Cosmopolitan
- Day trips:
- Red Rock State Park & Calico Basin for hiking and rock climbing
- Valley of Fire -- great rock formations
- Hoover Dam -- check threat levels first because it will affect what tours are available
- Grand Canyon is best as an overnight trip, same with Disneyland
- Tips:
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid the strip
- Everyone needs sunglasses and sunscreen
- Hotels no longer offer free valet parking
- Use Lyft or Uber but not that they pick up in a different location than the cabs
BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO
A great family photo is in front of the Bellagio fountains when they are going off, or in the Conservatory at the Bellagio. Meagan also likes to take fun pictures near the huge chocolate fountain in the Bellagio.
FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR
Meagan is a fan of Reef flip flops because they are offer more support, and she also usually wears cowboy boots and travels with a cardigan and jeans.
TIP OF THE WEEK
If you are looking for deals in Vegas, you may want to check out our episode about Priceline, because Bethany describes some great tips for scoring five-star hotel rooms for cheap.
MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST
Las Vegas Guide
Las Vegas with kids
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