The state of Nevada is famous for many things, namely, the vibrant city of Las Vegas. But over the past decade or so, the city has seen a turnaround in the demographic that visits, as Las Vegas is now a destination for family vacations, with hidden gems that even some locals don’t know about.
You can spend a full day walking the strip (getting in all that exercise to burn off the calories from the amazing food you’ll be eating) and visiting each hotel, one more grand than the last. And the kids enjoy the art and activities as well. Explore the Venetian hotel and Palazzo as you get a taste of Italy. Walk through Saint Mark’s Square and stop for gelato before hopping into a gondola for a ride down the Grand Canal.
Pop over to Paris Las Vegas and get a small sense of what it would be like to ride the Eiffel Tower after enjoying crepes and croissants at the many cafés and eateries inside. The Bellagio Hotel continues to attract visitors to its stunning Botanical Gardens and Conservatory, whose display changes with the seasons.
Upstairs, guests will find a slew of restaurants and Bellagio Patisserie, a bakery shop that offers gelato, crepes, macarons, chocolates and other sweet treats. And you can’t miss the giant chocolate fountain that flows throughout the store.
As for entertainment, no trip to Las Vegas is complete without a spectacular show of some kind. There’s Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace (her residency ends in June so get your tickets now), Blue Man Group at Luxor Hotel and Casino, singer, comedian and celebrity impersonator Terry Fator at Mirage and many more.
Lady Gaga and Britney Spears are planning on coming to the newly renovated and ultra stunning Park MGM Hotel in 2019 (be sure to stop in for cocktails at Juniper Cocktail Lounge) and across the street from the Park MGM Hotel is the Las Vegas Knights arena, the hockey team taking the NHL by storm.
Catch a magic show at MGM Grand with David Copperfield and if acrobatics and performing arts are your thing, there is literally a dozen Cirque du Soleil shows to choose from that span the Las Vegas strip.
In the mood for something really different? How about going on a construction site for the day and operating a big CAT at Dig This! or treating your taste buds to a fabulous foodie tour of the Las Vegas strip, visiting the stunning art installations and displays in the dozens of hotels that dot Las Vegas Boulevard?
If you want more adventure in the great outdoors, head to Boulder City and join the Flightlinez crew as they zipline across the Mojave Desert.
There is an entire side of Las Vegas that lies beneath the surface of bright lights and gambling and it’s all waiting for you and your family.
Editors Note: a special thank you to the Las Vegas tourism board at LVCVA for the recommendations and itinerary of this trip and to Presidential Limousine for transportation.
Planning a trip to Vegas? Visit www.visitlasvegas.com for questions or tips on what to do and see while there.
