ITINERARIES
Arziona Road Trip
One Week Trip - Tucson, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon, end in Las Vegas
See saguaros in Tucson, beautiful desert landscapes around Phoenix/Scottsdale, red rock formations in Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, and end in Las Vegas. This one-week road trip is great for all ages, but may be easiest with kids who are no longer napping and can hike on their own.
Deciding when to go
The shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit for temperate weather. It’s a perfect Spring Break trip! But this can also be a great summer trip if that works better for your schedule. If going during summer, make sure you are prepared to handle the heat. See our packing list for tips.
Flights
We recommend flying into Tucson (TUS) and out of Las Vegas (LAS) for this trip to save time driving. You can also reverse the itinerary and fly into Las Vegas and out of Tucson. If you can drive to one of these places – even better! Rent a car and do a one-way flight home. If doing one-way flights is too expensive, you may want to forego Vegas and drive back down to Tucson after the Grand Canyon.
Car Rental
This trip will require a car rental unless you have an RV or want to do a lot of driving in your own car. I recommend comparing prices on Expedia and Booking.com – both usually have great prices. If you have kids who still need a car seat or booster, you can rent these through car rental places, or pack your own.
Lodging
This trip involves hopping around to multiple locations, so we recommend using hotels over rentals. The hotels below are ones we recommend. You can also consider using an RV and staying in campgrounds. Contact us for our list of recommended campgrounds.
(Please consider using our links below to book your lodging. It is no extra cost to you, but we earn a small commission which is what keeps this site alive. Thank you!)
Tucson (1 night)
Most of what we recommend exploring during this short stay in Tucson is in the south or west part of the city, so staying in one of the affordable hotels near the airport will be a convenient location. You also won’t spend a lot of time at this hotel, so we recommend keeping it simple. These are both good options:
- Home2Suites by Hilton Tucson Airport – rooms with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed, and free breakfast
- Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport – rooms with 2 queen beds and free breakfast
Scottsdale (2 nights)
You’ll have more time to enjoy your hotel in Scottsdale, so try one of these options with multi-bedroom villas and nice pools:
- Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas – they have 1-2 bedroom villas, 3 pools, and it’s in a good location. Check rates >
- Boulders Resort & Spa – they have 1-3 bedroom villas, 4 pools, 2 golf courses, a spa, restaurants, and the whole place is built to fit in with the desert landscape and it’s beautiful! Check rates >
Sedona (2 nights)
Los Abrigados Resort & Spa – this resort has huge 2-bedroom suites with a full kitchen, jetted tubs, a fireplace, and a balcony. The resort itself has a huge pool and hot tub, mini-golf, a spa, a restaurant, and is next to a really cute shopping area. It is also centrally located, so you can get out and about easily or use public transportation (Sedona traffic can get really bad!) Best of all, it’s actually well priced! We have found deals under $300/night for a 2-bedroom suite on booking.com, and even cheaper for smaller rooms.
Grand Canyon (1 night)
We recommend staying at any of the Grand Canyon lodges in Grand Canyon Village. We typically stay at Maswik Lodge because it offers rooms with 2 queen beds plus a rollaway, so a family of 5 can fit in one room. Maswik is not right on the rim, but is a short walk away and has a convenient bus stop and a food court on site.
Las Vegas (1 or 2 nights)
There are SO many great places to stay in Las Vegas! We recommend staying in one of the big hotels on the strip so you can easily walk to most places of interest. A few favorites based on beauty and location:
- Bellagio – a gorgeous hotel in a perfect location! The pools are great, it’s easy to walk around to other areas of interest, and the fountain show is right outside your hotel. They have suites that can fit a family of 5, but sometimes it’s cheaper to get 2 standard rooms. It’s also connected to Marriott if you want to use Bonvoy points.
- The Venetian – another gorgeous hotel with spacious suites for families. A great location with the Grand Canal shops and The Sphere attached to the hotel, plus it’s within walking distance to everything else on the strip.
Other Reservations and Tickets Needed in Advance:
America the Beautiful Pass – You’ll be visiting multiple National Parks so getting an annual pass will be best. Ordering online in advance and having the pass shipped to you will save time and avoid you having to visit a Visitor’s Center to purchase the pass (hours and staffing are sometimes limited.) Buy the America the Beautiful Pass online >
Possible Outdoor Adventure around Scottsdale – Check out our Day 3 ideas below. Depending on interest and weather, you may want to make a registration for floating or rafting the Salt River, or doing a horseback ride.
Shows in Vegas – You can enjoy Vegas without seeing a show, but if you’d like to see one, you’ll want to buy tickets in advance. See ideas below on Day 7.
- Clothes that match the season. Check the 10-day weather forecast for the locations you’ll be visiting and plan to pack layers.
- Comfortable shoes with good traction that you can hike in
- Sandals or water shoes if you’re traveling during hot months and you plan to do water activities
- Bathing suits
- All Toiletries
- Backpack, fanny pack, or cross-shoulder bag to carry around essentials during the day and on hikes
- A water backpack like this can be very helpful for days you will be hiking and don’t want to carry water bottles
- All chargers – phones, watches, tablets, etc.
- Sunscreen. This is our favorite sunscreen that is very water and sweat-proof and really lasts all day.
- Sunglasses
- Medicines
- Jacket/sweatshirt – even if the weather is hot, you may want a jacket or sweatshirt for your evening at the Grand Canyon. And if traveling during Spring Break – you may need full-blown coats, hats, and gloves. We have seen it snow in Sedona and Grand Canyon in April.
- Ponchos or rain coats if there’s rain in the forecast
- Sound machine (if you’re sharing a hotel room with your whole family a sound machine really helps block out noises!)
- Car seats and/or boosters if needed, or you can rent them from the car rental company.
Prices are always going to vary! But here are some ranges/estimates to help you budget:
- Flights – $300-700 per person (consider using points if you have them!)
- 7-8 hotel nights – $150-800 per night based on our recommended places to stay. A few of our recommendations are more expensive (like in Vegas), but there are also cheaper options.
- Food (estimates based on averages and assuming free breakfasts at hotels) – $30-80/adult or teen per day, $20-40/kid per day
- Shopping – this can vary a lot depending on your shopping habits, but it’s hard not to shop at some of the National Park Visitor’s Centers and in Las Vegas. It’s best to have a shopping budget in mind to stick to.
- Activity costs:
– America the Beautiful Pass – $80 (covers the whole family
– Arizona-Senora Desert Museum – $30/adult, $25/kid
– There is a day in Scottsdale where there are several activity options that have an extra cost. You can tube down a river for $28/person, go rafting for around $115/person, horseback riding for $95-150/person, or explore an aquarium and other indoor attractions for $60-100/person for an activity bundle. See Day 3 for more details.
– Hoover Dam Visitor’s Center (more interesting for adults than kids) – $15/person
– Vegas shows or activities. There is a wide range of options and prices to fit any budget.
Possible Budget Range for a family of 4: $5,000-7,000
If you need to bring that total down, you can:
- Drive your car to the destinations and don’t fly
- Use miles for flights
- Use hotel points for hotels
- Stay at cheaper hotels/motels
- Don’t do the extra activities that cost more
- Eat cheaply and shop less
Jump to a Day
Day 1
Arrive in Tucson
Depending on where you live, fly or drive to Tucson. Try to get a flight that arrives in the morning or early afternoon. If flying in late, you’ll need to do the things below the next morning.
Pick up your rental car and head toward Saguaro National Park. There are two parts of the park, so make sure you are going to the Rincon Mountain District/East part of the park.
Map >
Depending on the time, you may want to stop for food before you go to the park. There are no restaurants in the park, but there are picnic areas.
There are two parts of Saguaro National Park in two different locations. We are starting with the the Rincon Mountain District/East side because it is closest to the airport. This side also has a paved loop rope and more mountain views. Use this address: 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730
When you arrive, you can stop at the Visitor’s Center to see exhibits that teach you about saguaros and use the restrooms. Either buy water or fill up your water bottles before you head out.
Get back in your car and drive the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive, an 8-mile drive with multiple pullouts and short trails off the drive that will give you great views of the cacti and desert landscape.
Trails you may want to stop for, depending on time and interest:
- Mica View Trail and Cactus Forest Trail (About an hour) – You can do just a part of the Mica View Trail (it has the most saguaros) or make it into a loop by taking the Cactus Forest Trail back. The full loop is 2 miles. To get to this trailhead, follow the signs for Mica View Picnic Area (it’s a short spur off the main loop). There is not a lot of parking. This is the first trail you come to, so if you can’t find parking you could continue the loop and come back to it at the end of the day when crowds are less.
- Desert Ecology Trail (About 15-20 minutes) – A quick .25-mile loop with signs that tell you about the plant life.
- Freeman Homestead Trail (About 30-45 minutes) – This is an easy, 1-mile trail that takes you to an old homestead foundation, a grove of large saguaros, and a cool desert wash. There are signs on the trail about the history and plant life, as well as special exploration activities for kids.
After a day of travel and exploring the National Park, you will probably be ready for dinner and sleep!
There are plenty of options in Tucson for dinner depending on what you prefer. We just ate quick food with our picky children so we don’t have a great recommendation to share.
Saguaros in Saguaro National Park
Day 2
Explore Tucson and Drive to Scottsdale
Eat breakfast at your hotel if they offer free breakfast. Get ready for the day by dressing for the weather and wearing good shoes for walking.
Pack up and check out of your hotel.
If you didn’t get your fill of saguaros the day before, check out the other side of the park first thing in the morning! The West side has more densely populated saguaros and is less rugged, but the loop road is unpaved.
The loop drive is lovely 6-mile gravel loop that won’t take much time to drive through. If you’d like to get out for short hikes, we recommend:
- Signal Hill Trail – .3 miles (15 minutes) – a short walk to view petroglyphs
- Valley View Overlook Trail – .8 miles (30-60 minutes) – great views and saguaros
This place is not just a museum. It’s a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum and more all in one! It’s very highly rated by both locals and tourists and is worth a visit!
Tickets are $30/adult and $25/kid.
There is food on site so you can have lunch here. You’ll probably want to spend a good 3-5 hours here to explore everything.
Pima Air and Space Museum – see over 400 aircrafts in 6 indoor carriers! Some planes are outdoors though and you’ll have to walk outside between some buildings.
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures – see a lot of impressive miniature scenes
The drive to Scottsdale will take about 2 hours. Check into your hotel when you arrive.
Saguaros in Saguaro National Park
Day 3
Scottsdale
The Pinnacle Peak Trail is a beautiful trail with great views of the desert landscape and the Scottsdale area. It’s an out-and-back trail that is 4 miles long, but you can turn back early to make it shorter if needed. It is a popular trail and can get crowded so it’s best to get there early.
On hot days, floating down the salt river and looking for wild horses can be a fun activity! Access to the river is in a few places, but will probably take about 45-60 minutes to drive out to the river from Scottsdale.
You have several options:
Tubing: Rent tubes from Salt River Tubing and enjoy a relaxing float. Kids must be 4 feet tall and kids under 12 must wear a life jacket. It’s fun and relaxing, but be warned that some groups tubing the river can get a little rowdy. Tube rental and shuttle cost is $28/person.
Guided Rafting: There are several companies that do guided rafting trips down the river. Many allow younger kids since the rapids are usually small. This is a great option because you’ll have a knowledgeable guide with you, but these tours are obviously more expensive than tubing. Check out this rafting option >
There are also places that rent kayaks and stand-up paddle boards in the area, but they do not have a shuttle service. Since you’ll most likely be using a rental car, you may not want to transport these items on your rental car and have to deal with figuring out a pick-up after you paddle.
Preparing for the river:
- You will get wet, so a good option is to wear a bathing suit with shorts and a t-shirt or tank over it that can be taken off if needed, but are also ok to get wet.
- Wear water shoes or athletic sandals (Tevas, Chacos, etc.)
- You’ll want to put on a good waterproof sunscreen before you get on the river that you won’t have to reapply. This is our favorite long-lasting waterproof sunscreen.
- You will want to take pictures, but you don’t want your phone to end up at the bottom of the river, so a waterproof phone case with a neck strap is a good idea. These simple ones work >
Enjoy the desert landscape while riding a horse! There are several places that offer horseback riding such as MacDonald’s Ranch, which offers 1 or 2-hour rides for ages 6 and up. Prices range from $97-168/person which is a bit pricey, so it’s best if you know your kids enjoy horses.
There are also often Groupon deals for horseback riding, like this one for a 90-minute horseback ride for a family of 4 for $315.
The Arizona Boardwalk is an outdoor mall full of indoor attractions. Attractions include:
- OdySea (top recommendation)
- Butterfly Wonderland
- UFO Experience
- Laser and Mirror Maze
- Museum of Illusions
- Pangea: Land of the Dinosaurs
- Cluville: Kids Escape Room
You can buy ticket bundles that include OdySea along with 1-3 other attractions. Check out the bundles here >
If you booked one of the hotels we recommended in the Advanced Prep tab above, you will probably want to enjoy some time at the hotel pool or just relax after a busy day!
Day 4
Montezuma Castle and Sedona
Dress for the weather and to hike. You’ll be climbing a rock later so wear shoes with good tread.
Pack up and check out of your hotel. Try to leave by 9am. The drive to Montezuma Castle will take about an hour and a half.
Head into the visitor’s center when you arrive and show your National Park pass to get your pass. Then you’ll follow the paved path to walk up toward a well-preserved cliff dwelling that Native Americans used to inhabit.
There are often rangers around that will teach you about the cliff dwelling and its inhabitants and answer your questions. There are also informational markers for you to read.
You can continue along the paved trail to complete a .3 mile loop that will also show you the remnants of a cliff dwelling that burned down, and views of Beaver Creek.
Get lunch before you hike! There is a Sonic Drive-In near the interstate as you’re leaving Montezuma Castle, or drive on to the southern part of Sedona and there are many great restaurant options!
Drive toward Sonoma and enjoy the views! Before you get to the city center, you will come upon Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte off Highway 179. There are two parking lots to access the trails. Both can fill up quickly, but drive around and keep trying and you should find a spot as others leave. (See the map below)
There are two hiking options, and you can do one or both or part of both!
- Climb Bell Rock. There is a trail that leads you to the rock, and then you’ll most likely loose the trail as you get onto the rock itself. Part of the fun is finding your own way up the rock. You don’t have to go all the way to the top to get a great view, and going part of the way may be easier and safer to do if you have kids with you.
- Courthouse Butte Loop. The loop trail will take you all the way around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte and provide gorgeous views without having to hike or climb up up the rocks. The full loop is 3.7 miles but you could do just a portion of it if you prefer. Learn about the trail >
Drive further north on 179 and look for the right turn up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The parking is limited, so during crowded times you may have to park along the road and walk up to the chapel.
The Chapel was built into the side of the mountain by a student of Frank Loyd Wright and offers gorgeous views both inside and outside the chapel. If you go inside, please be respectful. If you are a religious person, you may enter a pew to pray. There is a gift shop/Catholic store in the basement you can visit.
Once you have visited the chapel, walk down the hill and look for a marker for the start of the Chapel Trail. We recommend using the AllTrails app to guide you.
The Chapel Trail is a 1.3-mile trail that is great for families. It doesn’t have a lot of elevation gain, is a beautiful trail, and is surprisingly less crowded than most trails in the area. It will take you close to several beautiful rock formations – East Twin Butte and Christianity Spire. You can continue on a bit further into the beauty if you’d like by continuing on the Little Horse Trail. When you’ve hiked and explored enough, turn around and head back the same way to your car.
There are several great dining options in the area that have red rock views if the sun hasn’t set yet:
If you are staying at the hotel we recommended, Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, there is also a restaurant at the resort and some in the adjacent shopping area.
The shopping area near Los Abrigados Resort is full of art galleries and unique shops that are fun to explore if the shops are still open. The resort also has a huge pool and hot tub you can enjoy.
Day 5
Sedona
Devil’s Bridge
- Destination: A gorgeous natural sandstone arch bridge
- Length: Just shy of 4 miles, out and back
- Trail description: The first part if pretty easy and flat, then you have to do a bit of rock scrambling to climb up as you get toward the natural bridge.
- Parent warning: You are allowed to walk across the natural bridge which is really cool but also a bit dangerous since it’s natural and there are no railings. If you have smaller kids you may just want to enjoy the view of the bridge but not let them walk onto it.
- Location: You can actually get to the Devil’s Bridge trail in two ways – one via Dry Creek Road, which is an unpaved road and quite bumpy, or via the Mescal Trail. Both are about the same length and take you to the same place. We personally prefer the Mescal Trail route and have more easily found parking there. The parking lots at both will fill up! Get there before 10am or take one of the FREE Sedona shuttles.
Seven Sacred Pools and Soldier’s Pass Cave
- Destination: A really cool red rock cave
- Length: 3 miles, out and back
- Trail description: This trail is fairly easy and takes you past several cool features like a sink hole named Devil’s Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools which are small pools in the rock. The whole trail is beautiful and has open rock areas and forests. There is a fork in the trail at one point and you stay right to go to the cave. Follow a map with AllTrails to stay on track. The trail gets rockier and steeper as you get close to the cave. Once you reach the cave, you can go inside it but the path is narrow and rocky. It’s pretty easy to get up but tough to get down (but kids can do it, it’s the older people and people with knee or mobility issues that will struggle).
- Parent warning: There are some cool but dangerous places to climb in the cave. Make sure all kids have shoes with good traction and are mature enough to watch where they are going and listen to adults.
- Location: If the FREE Sedona shuttles are running while you are there, you will need to park at Posse Grounds Park and take the shuttle. If the shuttle is not running, you will need to get to the trailhead early because the parking lot only has 14 spots.
Shopping:
You’ll be hungry after your hike! Stop for a delicious lunch with a view. These are all good options and are casual enough for you to come in hiking clothes. Our favorite is the back deck at Hideaway House:
If it’s hot, you can head to your hotel to put on bathing suits and then head to Slide Rock State Park. This park has a creek that is popular for swimming and wading in. There is an area you can jump off a ledge into deeper water, but most of the creek is shallow and has areas where you can slide down through the water over the smooth rocks to create a natural water slide.
It gets very crowded when it’s hot and especially on weekends. Be patient with parking and other people and you’ll still have a great time!
You can also visit the area without swimming if it’s too cold. It will be much less crowded and still a beautiful area to visit.
Or you can do whichever hike you didn’t do in the tab above for the morning.
After a long and fun-filled day, you’ll be ready for dinner, maybe a dip in the pool or hot tub, and relaxing in your hotel.
Day 6
Grand Canyon
Time to pack up and leave Sedona!
The drive is part of the fun! As you drive north on 89A, you can stop at the Oak Creek Vista Point. They have bathrooms and you can walk out to an overlook that gives a lovely view of the canyon.
You will drive through Flagstaff and up US Hwy 180 and see lovely views of Humphrey’s Peak, which is often snow-capped. You’ll also drive through the Kaibab National Forest.
As you reach the entrance of Grand Canyon National Park, there could be a line to get in, but it moves quickly. Once inside the park, follow the signs to your lodge and park in the lodge parking lot.
You can stop by registration to see if your room is ready, but it may not be ready yet.
You may want to get some lunch at the Maswik Lodge Food Court before you walk to the rim.
Walk to the rim or catch one of the free shuttles to one of the spots along the rim. You can walk along the Rim Trail in either direction. Below is a map of some of the places you may want to visit –
See Kolb Studio, Verkamp’s Visitor Center, Yavapai Point and Geology Museum, Main Visitor’s Center, etc. If you walk all the way from the Bright Angel Trailhead (a rim point near Maswik Lodge) to the main Visitor’s Center/Mather Point it will be about 2.5 miles. Along the route near the Geology Museum is the Trail of Time that showcases different types of rock found in the layers of the Grand Canyon and their ages. Take your time and enjoy the views as you walk the rim trail! Take all the photos, but know that the photos don’t do it justice! It’s just SO vast and beautiful..
If you only want to walk one way, you can take a shuttle back to your lodge, or to wherever you would like to eat for dinner.
Optional: Bright Angel Trail
ONLY HIKE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS TRAIL IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT AT ALL. This is the trail that goes down into the canyon. If you actually wanted to reach the bottom of the canyon, you would need to be prepared to hike for multiple days and camp in the canyon. That’s probably not what you’re planning to do on a trip like this. You CAN choose to hike a small portion of it. Just remember that the amount you go down is the amount you have to go back up. Also note that the views do not get better as you go down, just a little different. The best views are from the top of the rim.
Check what time the sun sets and plan to be around the rim during the last hour of daylight. The colors change as the low light hits the canyon and it’s beautiful to watch!
These are the dinner options in Grand Canyon National Park Village:
- El Tovar Dining Room – this is the fancy place to dine and you have to be dressed nicely and get a reservation 60 days in advance. This is not the most kid-friendly option. Menu >
- Harvey House Cafe (top choice for families) – this one is family-friendly and has a kid’s menu. It’s located at the Bright Angel Lodge which is a good location along the rim, so you can get out and see the stars afterward and still be close to the lodges. The food is good enough and more affordable than others, plus you don’t need a reservation (although you may have to put your name on a list and wait a bit depending on the time of year). Menu >
- Arizona Steakhouse – located right next to Harvey House Cafe at Bright Angel Lodge, this restaurant is a little more upscale than Harvey’s but not as fancy as El Tovar. Not as kid-friendly, but I have seen kids there. It’s only worth going to if you like steak. No reservations are needed, but there could be a wait for tables during peak season. Menu >
- Maswik Food Court and Pizza Pub – offers a variety of choices and is the best choice if you don’t want a table-service meal. It is in Maswik Lodge which is not as close to the rim as the options above.
Once it is dark, go back out to the rim and look up at the stars if it is a clear night. Make sure you are away from any artificial light and give your eyes time to adjust. You will see many more stars than you usually do!
Then it’s time for bed!
Day 7
Hoover Dam and Las Vegas
You can get breakfast at the Maswik Lodge Food Court or Harvey House Cafe has breakfast.
Pack up and check out of your hotel.
You may have gotten enough of the Grand Canyon the day before, but if you want more before you leave, here are a few ideas:
Hike A LITTLE BIT of the Bright Angel Trail
This is the trail that goes down into the canyon. If you actually wanted to reach the bottom of the canyon, you would need to be prepared to hike for multiple days and camp in the canyon. That’s probably not what you’re planning to do on a trip like this. You CAN choose to hike a small portion of it. Just remember that the amount you go down is the amount you have to go back up. Also note that the views do not get better as you go down, just a little different. The best views are from the top of the rim.
Bus or bike to other viewpoints
You only got to see a portion of the Grand Canyon when exploring the village portion of the park the day before. You can take the Hermit Road Shuttle (Red Line) to other viewpoints such as Maricopa Point, Powell Point, the Abyss, or all the way to Hermit’s Rest.
You can also rent a bike to travel to these other stops. You can rent bikes from Canyon Adventures Bike Tours & Café located in the Visitor Center Plaza (you can take a bus to the Visitor’s Center or move your car there). If you bike all the way to Hermit’s Rest from the Visitor’s Center it’s about 9 miles.
Leave the Grand Canyon and head toward Las Vegas, but before you get to the city, stop to see the Hoover Dam, an engineering marvel built during the Great Depression era.
If you just want a nice view of the Dam, you can turn into the Memorial Bridge Plaza and walk up the ramp to the bridge where you can look down at the dam.
If you are interested in learning more about how the dam was made or going behind the scenes, there is a visitor’s center for $15/person and guided tours available.
Drive into Las Vegas and check into your hotel!
There is plenty of family-friendly fun in Las Vegas! Depending on the time, you can do some of these things on this day and some the next day. Here is a short list of just SOME of the things you can do in Vegas with kids –
Free activities:
- Swim at your hotel pool – Many of the hotels on the strip have awesome pools!
- Watch the Bellagio fountain show – This iconic show occurs every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the day/time, and each show is different so you can stay and watch several! Schedule >
- Bellagoio Conservatory – Each season, the conservatory is beautifully designed with flowers and art installations. Walk into the main Bellagio entrance and continue straight and you will find it.
- Walk through the Venetian – The hotel and shopping areas are designed to look like you’re walking through Venice with canals.
- The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace – it’s a beautiful mall and there’s a show at the main fountain/aquarium called The Fall of Atlantis that’s fun to watch!
- Walk through other hotels/casinos like Paris (looks like you’re in Paris) or New York, New York which looks like New York and has a roller coaster (but it has a 54″ height requirement and is $25/person so you may want to avoid it if you have smaller kids or don’t won’t to pay that much).
Ticketed activities:
- Concerts and Shows – there are always shows in Vegas and some may appeal to your whole family! Check Ticketmaster or other ticket sellers for schedules.
- Cirque du Soleil – ‘O’ at the Bellagio combines circus and water tricks in an awesome show. Mystére at Treasure Island is a classic acrobatic show. KÀ at MGM Grand combines acrobatics and martial arts. And the Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay is acrobatics and dance to MJ music.
- Sphere – this is the world’s largest spherical structure and inside is a giant immersive screen with incredible sound. They have concerts and movies here, and although the tickets are pricey, it’s a really cool experience.
- Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart – I’m not sure how best to describe this interactive museum/art installation, so visit their website or check out photos and reviews on TripAdvisor. It’s different and makes for great photo opportunities!
- High Roller Ferris Wheel – it’s one of those giant wheels where you stand inside a big glass pod as you slowly go around. It takes 30 minutes to complete a full circle, so it’s more about the views than the thrill. You can buy individual tickets for $28 or combine with a multi-attraction pass to save.
- Recommended Deal: If you want to do multiple attractions, you will save money by buying the Go City Pass.
Restaurants:
There are so many and we’ve only eaten at a handfull of them and new ones open all the time…
But on our last trip our casual, kid-friendly favorite was Flights. It’s nothing fancy and is inside the Miracle Mile Mall. It serves flights of things so you can order several flights of food and drink and share them. Like flights of tacos, skewers, sliders, mac n cheese, ceviche, ahi tuna, etc., and great drink flights like margaritas, beers, wines, and our personal favorite, the old-fashioned flight. They also have a kid’s menu.
Our kids also like cheesy places like Rainforest Cafe, which has a fun jungle-theme with animatronic animals and aquariums.
Other good options when visiting with kids:
Day 8
Las Vegas
If you have time before your flight, or if you can stay an extra day, do some more things from the Vegas Fun tab above!
Fly home with memories of a great trip!
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