Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin
Let us give you the lay of the land and some ideas on how to use the site so you get the most out of it.
Start with the RESOURCES and click on Activities & Family Fun to see all the things to do.
You can find babysitters on our Classifieds and under Childcare . Click here for a list of Parks and Water Parks. If you are in need of baby equipment check out Shopping.
There are so many fun, family friendly activities happening all of the time, all over the Valley. Don't miss the Annual Events page where you can find details on free storytimes, free movies and other unique activities.
Throughout the 1990's and now into the 21st century, Las Vegas has been the fastest growing metro area in the nation. Each month, 2.5 million visitors and 6,000 new residents come to Las Vegas for the wonderful climate, amazing entertainment, southwestern lifestyle and economic prosperity.
When mentioning Las Vegas, the first thing many people think of is the famous Las Vegas Strip. There are many fun, family friendly things to do on the Strip; almost every hotel/casino offers an activity or attraction for families. If you are interested in water experiences, be sure to see the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, observe the dolphins at the Mirage, check-out the fish tank at Caesars, enjoy the aquarium at the Silverton, experience a gondola ride at the Venetian and watch the famous fountains outside the Bellagio. Each of these hotels have their own websites, so if something sounds intriguing, please visit their sites for more information and schedules.
Also on the Strip, you can find King Tut's Museum, rides and an IMAX theater at the Luxor; jousting at Excalibur; lions at the MGM; white tigers at the Mirage; M&M World and GameWorks at the Showcase Mall; or games and circus attractions at Circus-Circus. There are roller coasters at New York-New York, the Sahara, the Stratosphere and Circus-Circus.
If shopping is your passion, or you are looking for something special, you can probably find it in Las Vegas! Many of the hotel/casinos have shops ranging from Gap Kids to specialty boutiques. Be sure to spend some time at FAO Schwarz in Caesars where the kids can have fun exploring the latest in toys; FAO Schwarz also has a wonderful ice cream parlor that offers great treats. There are two outlet malls, one on each end of the Strip. Speaking of malls, the Fashion Show Mall is also on the Strip and features seven department stores and over 250 shops and restaurants. They also have daily fashion shows - the kids love the shows!
Continuing down Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip), you will find the Fremont Street Experience. With a free lightshow that operates daily, this is a very popular Las Vegas attraction. The lightshow takes place on a large screen above your head with 12 million lights!
Further North down Las Vegas Boulevard is the Lied Discovery Children's Museum. The Lied Museum is fun for all ages with hands-on exhibits in the arts, sciences and humanities. Across the street you will find the Natural History Museum which is home to replicas of dinosaurs, lions, bears and more. Finally, don't miss the Nevada State Museum where you can learn about the history, the pre-history and the natural history of Nevada.
More family fun ideas include the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix if you are looking for fast driving, arcade games and rides. The Planetarium and Observatory offers year-round star-gazing. The Las Vegas 51's Triple-A baseball team plays April through September at Cashman Field.
Henderson is located 7 miles from the Las Vegas Strip and, in addition to being a great place to live, it also offers many recreational activities such as golfing, fishing, skiing, hiking, biking, camping and sight-seeing.
Henderson has more parks and recreation facilities per capita than any other community in Southern Nevada. In fact, there are more than 40 parks that are home to ball fields, tennis courts, and swimming pools. There are more than 57 linear miles of trails within the City, including the River Mountains Loop, Pittman Wash, and Boulder Highway Trails, with more planned.
The City of Henderson provides a variety of cultural events throughout year. From ArtFest to the Henderson Civic Symphony; Missoula Children's Theatre to Concerts in the Park; and from the Made in Nevada Art Fair to the Annual Shakespeare in the Park; there's something for all ages. The Henderson Pavilion at Liberty Pointe is an outdoor performing arts facility and is the largest outdoor amphitheater in Nevada. The Civic Center Plaza, now under construction in downtown Henderson, will provide another venue for Henderson residents to enjoy the arts.
Lake Mead, the largest manmade lake in the world, is just a mile from Henderson and consists of 500 miles of shoreline. If you are interested in boating, swimming, fishing or hiking, this is a great place to go.
The Bird Viewing Preserve is home to more than 200 species of birds, including water fowl, wading, and birds of prey. It is open daily for self-guided tours and admission is free.
The Clark County Museum offers something for all ages and gives visitors the opportunity to explore the history of Southern Nevada.
The District at Green Valley Ranch is a unique mix of retail shops, restaurants, condominiums and office space. The District presents free entertainment and special events throughout the year. It is a great place to gather and meet friends!
Don’t miss the Ethel M Factory tour. In addition to seeing the chocolate making process and sampling the wonderful treats, you can also explore their gardens. It is one of the most beautiful and extensive desert gardens in the country; it covers three acres and boasts over 350 different species of cactus. During the holiday season, make sure to see the Ethel M lights - it is an incredible display!
The Lake Las Vegas Resort is 10 miles from Henderson, nestled in the desert mountainside. This beautiful resort community includes hotels, golf courses, shopping and dining. In addition to swimming, fishing, kayaking and sailing, Lake Las Vegas presents various concert series', "Jazz on the Lake" and "Movies al Fresco". Thoughout the year they also host many art, wine and food festivals. This is a fun destination for the whole family!
City of Henderson Parks & Rec Dept.
Henderson Convention Center & Visitors Bureau
Boulder City has the distinction of being the only community in Nevada where gaming is not legal. On either end of town, outside the city limits are casinos and hotels. The Gold Strike Casino is on the edge of The Lake Mead Recreation Area just as you enter the canyon that leads to Boulder Dam (as it is called by locals), also known as Hoover Dam. The Gold Strike has a movie theatre that offers a special family fares on specific days of the week. Hoover Dam is located 7 miles east of Boulder City and is considered one of our country's "seven modern engineering wonders". The new Visitor Center includes audiovisual presentations and an interactive media exhibits. The views of Lake Mead and Black Canyon are "awe-inspiring"! There are many other attractions in Boulder City that include The Hoover Dam Museum, The Boulder Dam Hotel, Lake Mead Recreation Area, Skydiving, festivals, parades and so much more! Boulder City is the epitomy of a family friendly town!
Official Website of Boulder City
Located at the northern tip of the Las Vegas Valley, North Las Vegas is one of Nevada's fastest growing cities. It is located in Clark County and is 82.1 square-miles surrounded by majestic mountains, desert valleys and an underlying current of dynamic growth. North Las Vegas has something for everyone including vacation, recreational, cultural and historical attractions.
With two recreation centers, and 28 parks totaling 345 acres, North Las Vegas offers recreational activities for the entire family. The Aliante Development will include more than 400 additional acres of parks and open space, including trail systems, when it is completed.
For more information regarding North Las Vegas go to the city website.
Summerlin is a 23,400 acre planned community on the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley. It is near the Spring Mountains, where Mt. Charleston is the tallest of these, and Red Rock Conservation Area. There are many hiking and bike trails to be explored in these areas. The winter brings wonderful opportunities for skiing, snowboarding and sledding with the family. The northern part of Summerlin (north of Charleston Blvd.) is considered part of the city of Las Vegas (south of Charleston Blvd. is unincorporated Clark County). Summerlin has MANY neighborhoods and villages. Most major roads have bicycle lanes and all of the communities have small pocket parks. There's much to do and see in the community of Summerlin.
When you are done exploring the Valley, you may be interested in taking a day or weekend trip. Check out some fun ideas on our Day/Overnight Trip page. If you have other ideas, please submit them to us at info@vegasparent.com.
