8 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas: Museums, Mountains & More!

Looking for fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas? You’re in the right place! While Vegas might be famous for its adult entertainment, our city is packed with incredible family adventures your kids will absolutely love. From climbing through the 12 level Summit Exhibit at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum to watching sharks glide overhead at Mandalay Bay, we’ve found the most exciting kid-friendly spots in town. Whether you’re a local family seeking weekend activities or visitors looking for fun beyond the Strip, we’ve got your ultimate guide to Las Vegas’s most entertaining family destinations. Get ready to explore 8 amazing places where your kids won’t just have fun – they’ll have the time of their lives!

Interactive Museums and Educational Centers

 

1. DISCOVERY Children’s Museum

When it comes to pure fun for kids in Las Vegas, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is where the excitement begins! Our three stories of hands-on adventures will keep your kids entertained for hours. Here’s what makes us the go-to spot for family fun:

The Summit – Your Kids’ Ultimate Climbing Adventure!

Imagine your kids’ faces lighting up as they conquer our massive 70-foot-tall climbing structure! The Summit features 12 levels of exciting challenges that’ll have them scaling, crawling, and exploring their way to the top. Every level brings new surprises and achievements – it’s like a vertical playground that keeps them coming back for more!

Eco City – Where Kids Run the Show

Welcome to every kid’s dream playground! In Eco City, your children can step into grown-up shoes and run their own mini-world. They can play doctor at the hospital, handle money at the bank, or go shopping in their mini DISCOVERY Market. It’s a blast for kids and hilarious fun for parents watching their little ones take charge!

Toddler Town – Where Little Ones Have Big Adventures

Got tiny explorers? Toddler Town is their perfect play space! This safe, colorful wonderland is packed with activities just for kids under five. Watch them climb, crawl, create, and giggle their way through adventures sized just for them!

Why Families Love DISCOVERY Children’s Museum

DISCOVERY Children’s Museum isn’t just a place for kids—it’s a destination for families to bond and learn together. Our exhibits are designed to engage visitors of all ages, ensuring that parents have just as much fun as their little ones.

Whether your family is looking for an exciting outing or a unique way to learn and make memories! DISCOVERY Children’s Museum offers something for everyone. Make us a part of your Las Vegas adventure and discover why we’re the ultimate spot for family fun!

Hours & Location

Open Tues – Saturday : 10 AM to 5 PM | Sunday Noon – 5pm

Open on Monday’s during summer break

360 Promenade Place

Las Vegas, NV 89106

(Just north of downtown near Symphony Park)

Admission

• General Admission: $20
• Local Admission: $14.50
• Members: Free
• Military & Other Admission Discounts Available
• Save time – buy tickets online!

Pro tip: Check out our memberships for the best value if you’re planning multiple visits!

 

2. Nevada State Museum

Get ready for some jaw-dropping prehistoric fun! Your kids won’t believe their eyes when they come face-to-face with our massive 13-foot mammoth skeleton. But that’s just the beginning of your family’s time-traveling adventure!

Want to see your kids’ eyes light up? Watch them discover real fossils, explore ancient caves, and dig like real paleontologists. Our hands-on exhibits let them touch actual artifacts and uncover Nevada’s wild history. It’s like a prehistoric playground where learning happens naturally through pure fun!

Hours & Location

Thursday to Monday: 9 AM to 4 PM

Located at Springs Preserve

309 S Valley View Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89107

Admission

Nevada Residents:

• Adults: $9.95
• Children (ages 3-17): $4.95

Non-Residents:

• Adults: $18.95
• Children (ages 3-17): $10.95
• Members and children under 3: Free

What You’ll Discover

• Ancient Nevada Gallery featuring prehistoric life
• Geological wonders and mineral displays
• Native American cultural exhibits
• Interactive learning stations
• Rotating special exhibitions
• Educational programs and workshops

Outdoor Adventures

 

3. Red Rock Canyon

Just 17 miles from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon is where your family’s outdoor adventures come alive! Picture your kids exploring like real desert adventurers, discovering hidden waterfalls, and spotting wild animals in their natural habitat. It’s like stepping into a real-life nature documentary – but way more fun!

Hours & Location

Scenic Drive:

November through February: 6 AM to 5 PM

March: 6 AM to 7 PM

April through September: 6 AM to 8 PM

October: 6 AM to 7 PM

 

13375 State Highway 159

Las Vegas, NV 89161

Admission

• Private Vehicle: $20
• Bicycle/Pedestrian: $5 per person
• Annual Pass: $50

Family-Friendly Trails

• Calico Tanks Trail (2.4 miles) – Scenic views and natural pools
• Lost Creek Trail (0.7 miles) – Seasonal waterfall
• Moenkopi Loop (2 miles) – Desert flora and fauna
• Red Springs Boardwalk (0.2 miles) – Accessible for all ages
• Pine Creek Canyon Trail (3 miles) – Shaded path with diverse scenery

4. Springs Preserve

Get ready for an amazing outdoor adventure that’s unlike anything else in Vegas! At Springs Preserve, your kids can splash through a flash flood (don’t worry, it’s totally safe!), meet desert critters up close, and explore winding trails full of surprises. With 180 acres of fun, it’s like having a nature park, science center, and playground all rolled into one!

Kids love watching butterflies dance around them in their seasonal Butterfly Habitat, getting their hands dirty in the desert gardens, and discovering how our city grew from a tiny spring to the amazing place it is today. Every visit brings new adventures!

Hours & Location

Daily: 9 AM to 5 PM

333 S Valley View Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89107

Admission

Nevada Residents:

• Adults (18-64): $9.95
• Children (5-17): $4.95
• Seniors (65+): $8.95

Non-Residents:

• Adults (18-64): $18.95
• Children (5-17): $10.95
• Children 4 and under: Free

Featured Attractions

• Botanical Gardens with native desert plants
• Origen Museum with live animal exhibits
• Sustainable living demonstrations
• Desert wetlands habitat
• Seasonal Butterfly Habitat
• 1.8 miles of themed trails

5. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Want to see your kids’ jaws drop? Wait until they walk through our underwater tunnel with sharks swimming right over their heads! At Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay, your family can come face-to-face with over 2,000 amazing sea creatures.

The real crowd-pleaser? Their touch pool where kids can actually feel gentle stingrays glide under their fingers! From rare golden crocodiles to endangered sea turtles, every turn brings a new “wow” moment your kids won’t forget.

Hours & Location

Daily: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Last admission at 7:00 PM) Mandalay Bay Resort, 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Admission

Timed Entry Tickets:

• Adults: $29.00
• Seniors (65+): $27.00
• Children (5-12): $24.00
• Children 4 & under: Free

Anytime Tickets:

• Adults: $36.00
• Seniors (65+): $34.00
• Children (5-12): $31.00
• Children 4 & under: Free

Nevada residents receive $3.00 off with a valid ID

Featured Exhibits

• Shark Tunnel – 360-degree viewing experience
• Touch Pool – Interactive marine life encounters
• Piranha Tank – Rare freshwater species
• Komodo Dragon display
• Conservation Center – Educational presentations
• Marine biology learning stations

6. The Lion Habitat Ranch

Ready for some roarsome fun? At The Lion Habitat Ranch, your kids can get amazingly close to real lions! Watch these magnificent cats play with their favorite toys, splash in their pools, and show off their mighty roars. It’s like an African safari right here in Vegas!

The best part? Their expert animal handlers share super cool facts about each lion’s personality and daily life. Plus, your little ones can meet our friendly resident tortoises and birds for extra animal adventures!

Hours & Location

Friday to Monday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM 382 Bruner Ave, Henderson, NV 89044

Admission

• Adults (14+): $25
• Children (4-14): $10
• Children under 4: Free
• Seniors (60+), Military, and Locals: $20

Featured Experiences

• Behind-the-scenes tours
• Feeding demonstrations
• Educational presentations
• Wildlife photography opportunities
• Interactive learning stations
• Meet resident tortoises and birds

Thrilling Attractions

 

7. Adventuredome

Step into America’s largest indoor theme park, where the fun never stops – rain or shine! Under our iconic pink glass dome, your kids can zoom on roller coasters, challenge themselves on the rock climbing wall, and play arcade games until their hearts’ content.

From mild to wild, they got rides for every brave explorer in your family. Little thrill-seekers will love the Canyon Blaster, while younger adventurers can enjoy our gentle family rides that are just their speed.

Hours & Location

Daily: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Hours may vary by season)

 

Circus Circus Hotel

2880 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Admission

All-Day Ride Pass:

• Adults (48 inches & above): $60
• Children (Under 48 inches): $30
• Individual ride tickets also available

Featured Attractions

• Canyon Blaster roller coaster
• El Loco extreme coaster
• Midway games arcade
• Rock climbing wall
• 4D Special FX Theater
• Family rides and attractions

8.High Roller Observation Wheel

Want to give your kids a view they’ll never forget? Take them on the world’s tallest observation wheel! During your 30-minute ride, your family will soar 550 feet above the glittering Las Vegas Strip in your own private pod.

Pro tip: Take a sunset ride to watch the city transform from day to night – it’s pure magic! Kids love spotting famous buildings, tracking airplanes, and watching the desert mountains change colors as the sun sets.

Hours & Location

Daily: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM (2:00 AM on weekends) The LINQ Promenade, 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Admission

Daytime Tickets (12 PM – 4:59 PM):

• Adults: $23.50
• Youth (Ages 7-17): $8.50
• Children 6 and under: Free

Nighttime Tickets (5 PM – 12 AM):

• Adults: $34.75
• Youth (Ages 7-17): $17.50
• Children 6 and under: Free

Experience Highlights

• 30-minute rotation time
• Climate-controlled cabins
• Audio tour of Vegas landmarks
• Special youth programming
• Photo opportunities

Start Your Family Adventure at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum

With so many exciting things to do, your kids will never want to leave Las Vegas! Start your family adventure at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, where our interactive exhibits, towering Summit, and endless hands-on fun await. Book your tickets online today and kick off your ultimate Vegas family adventure – your kids will thank you for it!

Want to make the fun last all year long? Check out our membership options for unlimited access to all our amazing exhibits. The next great family adventure is just around the corner!