How to Enjoy a Family Vacation in Las Vegas

A world of fun awaits for families visiting Las Vegas.

It may be called "Sin City," but Las Vegas offers tons of fun and wholesome activities for families if you plan ahead and hit the right spots. Here are some tips for navigating your next visit to Vegas with the kids.

Instructions

1. Choose your hotel accommodations wisely! Just like anywhere you go, some hotels in Las Vegas cater to families more than others. Choosing a hotel featuring-above all, a pool-and other kid-friendly attractions will be sure to set off the family fun-o-meter. Circus Circus, Luxor, Mandalay Bay and New York New York are top choices, as is the MGM Grand, which offers a massive pool complex complete with a 1,000-foot-long lazy river pool that your kids are sure to love.

2. Make your munch-time meals memorable! A perennial kid favorite, the Rainforest Café will transport your family to another continent, complete with saltwater aquarium and exotic robo-animals galore. At the Desert Passage Mall, Cheeseburger at the Oasis offers family-friendly fare in a tropical setting that won't empty your wallet. Planet Hollywood, the Hard Rock Café, Roxy's Diner and the Elephant Bar Restaurant are other great choices overflowing with atmosphere. Quick stops to satisfy your sweet tooth include M&M's World and Luv-It Frozen Custard, a Vegas institution.

3. Ride Sally ride! Las Vegas is home to some of the best thrill rides around. The looping rollercoaster at New York New York is a crowd pleaser for the over 54-inch-tall set, as is X-Scream atop the Stratosphere. Older children will also love the Stratosphere's other heart-pounders, Big Shot and Insanity-The Ride, all perched atop the 1,141-foot tower. And be sure to check out Adventuredome at Circus Circus, a theme park with rides the whole family will enjoy.

4. Lions and tigers and flamingos-oh my! If you think vacationing in a desert means forgoing encounters with wildlife, think again. Las Vegas has plenty of exotic animals to go around, with aquatic life thrown in to boot. A visit to the Mirage's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat will reveal tigers, panthers, dolphins and the like, while the MGM Lion Habitat and the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park are also sure to thrill the family. The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is a must-see, as are the aquariums at Caesar's Forum Shops and the Silverton Hotel. And lest we forget to take in the pink flamingos at the Flamingo's gardens!

5. There's no business like show business! When in Vegas with the family, make it your business to take in some kid-friendly shows. There's Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theatre, a circus-style show with adorable animals as the star attractions. And where else but Circus Circus are you going to find The World's Largest Permanent Circus, complete with acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers and the like? Vegas is also home to many incredible magicians, and one the whole family can enjoy is Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo. For more unorthodox experiences, check out Cirque du Soleil or the Blue Man Group. And after 6 p.m. consider stopping by the Mirage Lagoon to take in Mirage Volcano eruption-a show-stopper in itself.

6. Darling, can you pass me the Grey Poupon? A visit to Vegas with the family offers up ripe opportunity for a great dose of culture. Transport your family to Venice with an enchanting gondola ride at the Venetian, or Egypt with a visit to King Tut's Tomb at the Luxor, or Paris by enjoying exhilarating views atop the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Las Vegas. Art lovers of all ages will love Dale Chihuly's glass sculpture in the Bellagio's lobby ceiling, followed by a stop at the hotel's Gallery of Fine Art. And the Lied Discovery Children's Museum provides interactive art, science and humanity stations everyone will enjoy.

7. In Las Vegas, gaming isn't just for the adults. Beat the heat with some arcade fun at some of the city's indoor entertainment centers. Top of the list is GameWorks, boasting enough state-of-the-art games and attractions to keep the family occupied for hours. At the Pole Position Raceway, indoor race carts will get your heart racing. And for an out-of-this-world experience, check out Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, which will take you where no man has gone before-with the help of motion simulators, that is.

Tips & Warnings

• As can be expected, those under 21 years old are not permitted in casinos or nightclubs.

• Also, local law dictates that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent after 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays.