Arcade and Amusement Fun
When you think of Vegas, you don't think of arcades and amusement parks. But there are a few Vegas hotels that keep families entertained.
Excalibur Hotel has a large midway with games and a large arcade. A SpongeBob SquarePants 4D thrill ride is part of the experience, plus carnival favorites including basketball, the crane game, Skee-Ball and pinball machines. Circus Circus Hotel & Casino offers arcade games and a bevy of carnival games. Also, there is an amusement park behind Circus Circus that features Canyon Blaster, an indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster; Rim Runner, a water ride: and Frog Hopper and Miner Mike, two junior rides.
The Stratosphere also has thrill rides at the top of its tall structure. The Big Shot propels passengers 1,000 feet into the air, and the X factor serves as a giant teeter-totter. Insanity spins riders at a force of 3Gs. The hotel is also good for kids because it's off the Vegas Strip.
Water Fun
Spending time in the hot Vegas sun with the family is a bit more enjoyable in the water. Some Vegas hotels offer swimming pools, but some aren't kid-friendly.
Others, like Mandalay Bay, have a swim area that offers a wave pool, lazy river and sandy beach. And there's a shark attraction for the kids.
The Golden Nugget, on historic Fremont Street, is another fun water location for kids. Off the Strip, the hotel offers a three-story water slide. There's also a shark tank to visit. And, the two combine because the slide tunnels through the shark tank.
A bigger challenge may be at the MGM Grand. Set on nearly seven acres, this water complex boasts five pools. Three whirlpools, a fountain, a lazy river and water volleyball also are available.
Practical Locations
If the Strip's hustle and bustle isn't for you, try the well-known chain hotels around town. Hotels near the airport, like Knights Inn, and off the Strip, such as the Clarion Inn, provide a family environment.
Many of these hotels don't have casinos to walk through. In addition, generally you don't have to worry about adult shows and drinking around the casinos and pools, whereas it's prevalent on the Strip.
About The Author
Tim Bodamer is a freelance writer based in Seminole, Florida. He attended Edinboro Univerity of Pennsylvania where he studied journalism. He has 15 years of writing experience and specializes in sports, business and general interest topics.
