Las Vegas Concierges

We always try to keep our information up to date. But if you happen to know of any great Las Vegas adventures or activities for families that we don't have listed, be sure to let us know. We hope this will be an excellent resource for the best family rated activities in Las Vegas.

Adventuredome

Only in Vegas could you find America's largest indoor theme park encased beneath a five-and-a-half-acre glass dome, complete with pink trim. The Adventuredome is exactly what its name suggests -- a thrill-seeker's delight.

Hours of operation: Hours vary, but generally open Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. 

Cost: $5-8 per ride. All-day passes to the Adventuredome are $26.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 33-47 inches tall (free for toddlers under 33 inches with a paying adult).

Location: Located at the Circus Circus hotel-casino, at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Circus Circus Drive.

The Aquarium at the Silverton

Located within the cozy Silverton Hotel, a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium provides entertainment on a scale one can enjoy only in Las Vegas.

Hours of operation: Friday - Sunday, 12:15 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Closed Monday - Thursday.

Cost: $8, or included in a wristband, which is $30 for a full day, $22 for half day. Also available are Little Wrangler passes at $12 for children 48 inches tall and under.

Location: Located at Buffalo Bill's, about 40 miles south of Vegas on I-15 in Primm.

CSI: The Experience

Calling all wannabe crime scene investigators: now's your chance to crack crimes like the ones seen on the hit TV show. The exhibit includes three crime scenes, two state-of-the-art labs and much more.

Hours of operation: Experiences run every 10 minutes, from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., with last entry at 8 p.m. Guests must arrive on time for their scheduled tour or they must wait for the next available tour. The experience lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

Cost: $31.50.

Location: Located in Studio Walk inside MGM Grand.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour and Cactus Garden

Ethel M Chocolates panders to the sweet tooth in all of us. After the tour, visitors can stroll through the ocotillo, prickly pear and saguaros in the cactus garden.

Hours of operation: Open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Live chocolate production hours vary, but are generally Monday - Friday until 4:30 p.m. Chocolate factory workers are not available on Saturdays and Sundays. Please call for more details.

Cost: Free.

Location: Roughly 10 miles from the Strip. Take Tropicana Avenue to Mountain Vista Ave. Turn Right (south) on Mountain Vista. Take Mountain Vista until you reach the intersection with Sunset Road. Turn left (east). Follow the signs to Ethel M.

Floyd Lamb State Park

Floyd Lamb State Park has four stocked ponds, picnic areas, barbecues, scenic paths and volleyball and horseshoe facilities on 2,040 acres northwest of Las Vegas.

Hours of operation: Summer (May - August): Open daily, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Winter (September - April): Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cost: $6 per vehicle or $1 per person, which ever is greater. Annual passes that can be purchased for $45 are good from the day of purchase until the end of December.

Location: Located about 20 miles from the Strip. Take U.S. Highway 95 north past Ann Road. Follow signs to park.

Frog Hopper

A mini version of the Turbo Drop, Frog Hopper allows children to experience the fun in a seven-seat car that contains one adult seat.

Hours of operation: Friday - Sunday, 12:15 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Closed Monday - Thursday.

Cost: $3, or included in a wristband, which is $30 for a full day ($22 for half day). Also available are Little Wrangler passes at $12 for children 48 inches tall and under.

Location: About 40 miles south of Vegas on I-15 in Primm.

Gondola

Located in St. Mark's Square, the open-market portion of the Grand Canal Shoppes, the gondola ride is the Venetian's most popular attraction. So popular, in fact, that the Venetian had to hire more gondoliers to meet demand -- and it still sells out every day.

Hours of operation: Indoor gondola: Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - midnight. Outdoor gondola: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. (operates seasonally, weather permitting). The last boat leaves the dock 15 minutes prior to closing each night. Tickets for the indoor gondola ride go on sale at 9 a.m.

Cost: $16 per person. Children 2 years old and younger are free. A private, two-passenger gondola ride is available for $64. Prices apply for both indoor and outdoor gondola rides. Reservations may be made at the Emporio D'Gondola located inside the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Location: Located at the Venetian hotel-casino at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Spring Mountain Road.

Ice Skating

Go ice skating at the Las Vegas Ice Center, figure skating classes, public hockey and much more

Hours of Operation: Depending on schedule, open skating could only be available for couple hours a day due to hockey classed.

Cost: $9 for adults, $6 for toddlers.

Location: Off of Flamingo and 215 west. Address is 9295 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV

Lake Mead

Lake Mead, the 16th largest man-made lake in the world and the largest man-made lake in the Western Hemisphere, offers year-round recreation: everything from boating to swimming to hiking to wildlife viewing.

Hours of operation: Recreation area open daily, 24 hours. Visitor Center is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cost: Entrance fee (1-5 days): $5 per vehicle; $3 per individual (motorcycle, bicycles, hikers) $20 for annual passes; $10 for Golden Age Passport (62 or older) $50 for National Parks Pass. Lake use (1-5 days): $10 first vessel; $5 each additional vessel.Location: Take U.S. 93 south through Boulder City toward Phoenix, approximately 30 miles.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Marine life, Nevada's wildlife and animated dinosaurs are featured, plus a children's hands-on learning room.

Hours of operation: Open daily, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.

Cost: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, military and students 12 and over, $5 for children 3-11, free for children two and younger.

Location: From the Vegas Strip it is about 6.5 miles. The Museum is located just south of the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Washington Ave. next to Cashman Field.

Lied Discovery Children's Museum

More than 100 hands-on exhibits in the arts, humanities and sciences at one of the country's largest children's museums.

Hours of operation: Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for kids 1-17 for seniors and military. Admission is free for children 1 year and younger.

Location: At the north end of the Strip where Las Vegas Boulevard meets Washington Avenue. It is a six-mile drive and takes about 10 minutes.

M&M's World

M&M's World delivers four stories of colorful fun to the Showcase Mall, offering a brilliant spectrum of the candy-coated treats and various items, including everything from T-shirts and caps to limited-edition lithographs.

Hours of operation: Open daily, 9 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Cost: Free.

Location: Near the corner of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue. Next door to the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Madame Tussauds features more than 100 exquisite wax figures of the world's most famous stars.

Hours of operation: Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. On select days, attraction may close early for special events.

Cost:  General admission (13-59): $25.95. Students/military with ID: $18.95. Children (7-12): $15.95. Children (6 and under): Free.

Location: Located inside the Venetian hotel-casino at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Spring Mountain Road.

Mob Attraction Las Vegas

Mob Attraction Las Vegas takes you into the world of the mob with character actors, hologram celebrity guides and unusual artifacts.

Hours of operation: Open daily, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Cost: $28. $22 for locals, seniors and those in military. $18 for children ages six through 11. Children fives years and younger are free.

Location: Inside the Tropicana

Mount Charleston

Mount Charleston (also known as Spring Mountain) is about 12,000 feet high, Nevada'a third-highest mountain peak. Its ski resorts and hiking trials make it a year-round getaway from Las Vegas.

Hours of operation: Varies depending on campsite/picnic area/trail.

Cost: Varies depending on campsite/picnic area/trail.

Location / Distance from Las Vegas: Take U.S. Highway 95 north about 15 miles outside of Las Vegas. Follow signs to Lee Canyon.

Nevada Southern Railway

Fun for all ages, visitors can ride an authentic train along the same tracks that once carried the cargo for the construction of Hoover Dam. The narration during the train ride offers fun facts about Boulder City and the Southwest desert.

Hours of operation: The train operates on weekends only and is closed for the month of January. Departure times are as follows: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays only). Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure.

Dec. 3 - 4, 10 - 11, 17 - 18: Visitors can enjoy the Santa Train. During the ride, Santa and Mrs. Claus hang out with all the kids on the train. Make sure to bring your camera as well as a letter to mail in Santa's mailbox.

Cost: $10 and $5 for children ages 4 - 11. Locomotive cab ride (with engineer's permission) is $35. Engineer for an hour is $250.

Location: Located in Boulder City. Take US-93 south toward Boulder City. After passing the traffic light at Veterans Memorial Drive, drive about half a mile. Turn left on Yucca Street. The train station for the Nevada Southern Railway is on the right.

Nevada State Museum

The museum depicts Southern Nevada's plants, animals, fossils and history from the Ice Age to modern times.

Hours of operation: Friday - Monday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cost: Admission to the Nevada State Museum is included with paid admission to the Springs Presere ($18.95 for adults, $17.05 for seniors 65 and older, students 18 and older and $10.95 for children 5-17 years old. Children 5 and younger are free).

Location: Located inside Springs Preserve. 

Pinball Hall of Fame

At Pinball Hall of Fame, all you'll need to bring is a pocket full of quarters -- this attraction provides all the fun. Featuring a total of 141 pinball machines, Pinball Hall of Fame features popular games from the 1950s through the 1990s. You'll also find popular retro arcade games like Tetris and Super Mario Brothers.

Hours of operation: Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - midnight.

Cost: 25 cents and up.

Location: Located near Tropicana Avenue and Spencer Street, approximately 10 minutes southeast from the Las Vegas Strip.

Red Rock Canyon

At Red Rock Canyon, visitors can hike, picnic and view plant and animal life under 3,000-foot-high red rock formations.

Hours of operation: Open daily at 6 a.m. Closing time varies by season. The visitors center is open daily, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $7 per car, $5 for commercial vehicles (tour buses and limousines, for example), $3 for motorcyclists and tour bus riders, free for bicyclist and hikers who park at the loop entrance; an annual pass is available for $30.

Payment options: Cash or check (out of state checks are accepted).

Location / Distance from Las Vegas: 20 miles west of Las Vegas.

Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat

The Secret Garden at the Mirage is home to some of the world's rarest and most exotic animals. The Dolphin Habitat features adult bottlenose dolphins, which reside in a special marine facility that contains more than 1 million gallons of man-made sea water.

Hours of operation: Hours vary. Please call for specific times.

Cost: Admission to both exhibits can be had for $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 4-12 and free for children under 3. Nevada residents and guests at the Mirage receive discounted rates.

Location: At the Mirage hotel-casino located on the Strip between Flamingo and Spring Mountain Road.

Shark Reef

Ranging in size from a 12-foot nurse shark to 1 1/2-foot baby zebra sharks -- which are in a small "touch tank" -- the Shark Reef pleases patrons big and small.

Hours of operation: Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Last admission to the exhibit is sold one hour prior to closing.

Cost: $18 for adults, $12 for children 5-12. Children age 4 and under are admitted free. Nevada residents with proper identification get a discount on the price of admission. Price includes a self-guided audio tour. Group rates are also available for parties of 20 or more.

Location: Located at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino near the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Hacienda Avenue.

Springs Preserve

From interactive children's exhibits to a number of outdoor activities, kids taking a trip to the Springs Preserve can discover the fun elements of science and nature.

Hours of operation: Open daily,10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Visitors may also check out the Springs Café, open Friday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Every Thursday, the restaurant features Café Concerts.

Cost: $18.95 for adults, $17.05 for seniors 65 and older and $10.95 for children 5-17 years old. Children 4 and younger are free. Nevada residents receive discounted rates.

Location: Located on S. Valley View Boulevard between U.S. 95 and Alta Drive. From the Strip, take I-15 North, and merge onto US 95 North (Reno). Take the Valley View Boulevard exit. Turn left onto South Valley View Boulevard. Continue south to Meadows Lane. Turn left (east) into the Springs Preserve.

Stratosphere Tower

View the city in 360-degree panorama at the Stratosphere Tower.

Hours of operation: Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. In cases of extreme weather conditions, schedule is subject to change.

Cost: Admission is $16 for adults and $12 for hotel guests, Nevada residents and guests 55 and over. Children 4 - 12 are $10. Children younger than 4 are free, but they cannot ride any of the rides. Various packages are also available: Tower admission plus all-day pass: $34; three rides, $31; two rides, $26; one ride, $22. Express pass is an additional $10.

Location: Located at the Stratosphere hotel-casino, just north of the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Sahara Avenue.

Zoological-Botanical Park

Exhibits of endangered cats, the last family of Barbary apes, chimpanzee, eagles, ostriches, emus, parrots, wallabies, flamingos, exotic and venomous reptiles.

Hours of operation: Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65 and older and for children 2-12. Children younger than 2 are free. Group rates are available, please call for details.

Location: The distance from the Vegas Strip is about six miles. To reach the Zoological Park take I-15 north; take the U.S. 95 North exit and stay in the right lane; the first exit is for Rancho Drive North -- take this exit. The Zoological Park is on Rancho Drive past the intersection of Sunset Drive and Rancho Drive.