Family-Friendly Vegas: Amazing Things to Do with Parents

Published: March 20, 2026
middle aged couple enjoying themselves on the vegas strip

Traveling with your parents in Las Vegas is a chance to see the city through fresh eyes—and make memories you’ll be talking about for years. Sure, Vegas can turn up the wild factor, but it’s also packed with activities that delight every generation. Think panoramic city views, retro magic, museums steeped in intrigue, and shows with universal wow. Whether you’re a local hosting family or planning a much-anticipated getaway, Las Vegas has something for every travel style, taste, and energy level. Ready to discover what makes the city sparkle for families? Let’s jump in. 

Our favorite things to do with parents in Las Vegas include: 

High Roller Observation Wheel 

The Mob Museum 

Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour 

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art 

The Neon Museum 

Explore Fremont Street 

KA by Cirque du Soleil 

The Eiffel Tower Experience 

Madame Tussauds 

Sweet Sin Bakery & Cafe at The LINQ Promenade 

High Roller Observation Wheel 

If your parents are fans of city views—and who isn’t?—the High Roller Observation Wheel is an absolute standout. It’s the tallest observation wheel in North America, but don’t let that intimidate anyone: the enclosed pods are spacious, comfortable, and surprisingly calming. This is more than a quick spin; the whole ride lasts 30 minutes, giving everyone plenty of time to spot classic Vegas landmarks, mountain vistas, and the sparkling Strip below. 

One of the best things about the High Roller is its relaxed atmosphere. Even if the Strip feels hectic, up here it’s peaceful, with gentle music and air conditioning to beat the desert heat. Plus, the slow and steady rotation means it’s perfect for all ages—no stomach-dropping surprises! For extra sparkle, go at sunset or after dark when Vegas transforms into a sea of neon. 

We love how the ride sparks conversation. It’s a wonderful place to reminisce, share some family laughs, and snap photos you’ll cherish forever. Whether your family group is two or twenty, the High Roller makes everyone feel like they’re on top of the world. 

The Mob Museum 

For families who appreciate a good story, nothing beats the intrigue of The Mob Museum. Housed in a historic courthouse downtown, this museum explores the fascinating tales of organized crime and law enforcement in America. But don’t worry—you don’t have to be a history buff to have a blast here. 

The exhibits are immersive and interactive, with everything from forensic science labs to a Prohibition-era speakeasy with its own secret entrance. Travel through the infamous days of Las Vegas’ founding, listen to real-life wiretaps, and get a close-up look at artifacts from famous cases. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance: intriguing, fun, and packed with conversation starters. 

Parents tend to appreciate the museum’s detailed storytelling and unique setting, while anyone who loves quirky history will find endless nuggets to discuss afterwards. It’s a great way to mix education with a bit of Vegas drama—plus, that speakeasy serves some of the city’s best mocktails and cocktails. 

Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour

Introduce your parents to the joys of breezy sightseeing with the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour. These classic double-deckers roll past all the city’s best-loved spots, from glittering casinos to artsy corners downtown. With the flexibility to board and disembark at dozens of stops, it’s a stress-free way to sample the Strip, Downtown, and everything in between—no car or map-wrangling required. 

The audio commentary is a highlight, packed with fun facts and stories that give Vegas its colorful reputation. Sit up top for the wind-in-your-hair feeling or settle down on the lower deck for shade and comfort. Parents who may not relish endless walking will enjoy this easy-paced introduction to the city, and everyone will love being able to hop off for snacks, shopping, or bonus attractions on a whim. 

Besides, it’s fun keeping an eye out for that next stop you want to explore—kind of like an urban treasure hunt, Las Vegas-style. 

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art 

If you’re craving a dash of culture amid the neon, step into the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. The setting inside the Bellagio Resort is all refined glamour, but the gallery itself feels warm and inviting, not intimidating. Exhibitions rotate regularly, but you’ll find masterpieces from world-renowned museums, with a mix of classic and contemporary art. 

Parents tend to love the peaceful atmosphere—an oasis away from the casino buzz. The gentle lighting, uncluttered layout, and thoughtful curation means you can get up close to each painting or sculpture, pausing to share your thoughts without feeling rushed. Even reluctant art fans will find something to spark curiosity, from ancient works to mind-bending modern pieces. 

The gift shop is filled with books and beautifully made souvenirs, perfect for a little keepsake dash before you’re back to exploring the Strip. 

The Neon Museum 

Step into Las Vegas’ luminous past at The Neon Museum. This outdoor attraction houses a treasure trove of restored neon signs from casinos, hotels, and restaurants. Walking through the “Neon Boneyard” feels like stepping onto the set of a vintage movie, with signs glowing against the desert sky in every direction. 

Guided tours bring these historic artifacts to life, blending engaging anecdotes with plenty of local color. Parents are often surprised by how much history each sign carries—did you know there’s drama behind nearly every bulb? Sunrise and sunset tours are magical, but night tours are unforgettable with the signs fully illuminated. 

The atmosphere is equal parts nostalgic and playful, perfect for swapping stories about old Vegas or imagining the city’s next chapter. Don’t forget to snap a family photo among the flashing lights! 

Explore Fremont Street 

If your parents are curious about the “other” Vegas—the one beyond the Strip—bring them straight to Fremont Street. This pedestrian zone in Downtown Las Vegas bursts with street performers, dazzling light shows overhead, vintage casinos, and live music. The Viva Vision canopy, an LED display that stretches over several blocks, pulses with energy and color all night long. 

Fremont Street strikes a perfect note for families: lively, quirky, and packed with surprises, but just far enough from the Strip for a more relaxed mood. Browse for souvenirs, take in a cover band on one of the free stages, or share a round of classic shrimp cocktails at a retro casino diner. There’s energy and nostalgia in equal measure, making it easy for everyone to find something that delights. 

If you’re feeling brave, just around the corner you can try the Fly LINQ zip line—rollers and adrenaline fans in the family will love soaring above the crowd! 

KA by Cirque du Soleil 

For a shared experience that’s both dazzling and family-friendly, KA by Cirque du Soleil is hard to match. The entire show is an adventure story brought to life with jaw-dropping acrobatics, martial arts, and spellbinding visuals. The production value is sky-high, with a rotating stage, larger-than-life puppetry, and a sweeping original score. 

KA manages to be stunning without being overwhelming; the music, visuals, and performances are all perfectly paced for audiences of every age. The storyline is easy to follow—especially helpful for parents who aren’t into abstract theater—and you’ll all leave wowed by what the human body can do. 

The seats offer great views from almost any angle, and the pre-show atmosphere builds excitement from the very first note. It’s a shared thrill, an artful spectacle, and a Las Vegas must for families. 

The Eiffel Tower Experience 

The Eiffel Tower Experience transports you (and your parents) straight to Paris without leaving Las Vegas Boulevard. Take the glass elevator up 46 stories for an unbeatable view of the Strip and beyond. From the airy observation deck, you can point out landmarks, spot the Bellagio fountains below, and let the breeze brush your face as you look out over the city. 

It’s particularly magical around sunset or after dark, when the lights glimmer and the streets below pulse with excitement. Parents tend to appreciate the low-key romance of the experience and the chance for incredible photos. Knowledgeable guides share fun Paris Las Vegas trivia, making the visit feel special and personalized. 

Feeling peckish? Treat yourselves to French pastries or a celebratory toast at the café below, which has its own stylish, Parisian flair. 

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Whether your parents love Hollywood nostalgia, sports heroes, or music legends, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is part museum, part interactive playground. Pose with an astonishing 

array of shockingly lifelike celebrity wax figures—from Elvis to Beyoncé, from the Rat Pack to Marvel superheroes. The experience is pure fun; there’s no hushed silence here, just a parade of camera-clicks and delighted whispers as you discover the next familiar face. 

What makes Madame Tussauds such a parent-pleaser? For one, it’s equal parts retro and current. You can strike a pose with historic Vegas notables (think Sinatra and Liberace) or challenge your folks to photobomb Spider-Man and the Avengers. If your family loves a bit of silly competition, see who does the best red carpet pose or re-enact a famous movie moment. The set design is detailed and immersive, often themed to the era or style of the figure, and there’s always a new surprise around the corner. 

The flow of the museum means you can linger as much as you like—there’s no rush, making this an easygoing choice for groups of all sizes and ages. And don’t forget to let your parents star in their own “Walk of Fame” moment! 

Sweet Sin Bakery & Cafe at The LINQ Promenade 

Every great outing deserves something delicious, and Sweet Sin Bakery & Cafe is the kind of spot your parents will be raving about long after the last crumb is gone. Find this gem tucked on The LINQ Promenade, surrounded by lively shops and people-watching opportunities. 

What makes Sweet Sin so special? The baked goods strike that perfect balance between nostalgic comfort and Vegas-worthy flair. Try the tiramisu (it’s a bestseller for a reason), fluffy, flavor-packed cupcakes, or the rich, indulgent pistachio cannoli. For a lighter bite, go for the tangy lemon tart or a flaky fruit croissant. Coffee here is a treat too—robust, fragrant, and served with a smile. 

The vibe is cheerful and inviting, with décor that hints at both Parisian café and modern oasis. There's cozy indoor seating and a few tables right beside the bustling promenade, perfect for a mid-morning break or an afternoon recharge. It’s the kind of place where you can swap travel stories, recap yesterday’s adventures, and fuel up for whatever’s next. 

Before you leave, snap a sweet family photo out front—every trip deserves a little dessert memory! 

 

There you have it—Las Vegas is a city for everyone, and sharing it with your parents means discovering unforgettable experiences together. Whether you’re reliving classic Vegas, finding peaceful escapes above the glitz, or diving into delicious treats and spellbinding shows, these activities offer the perfect blend of fun, nostalgia, and family connection. Enjoy every minute! 

 

Enjoyed this? Check out our guide to all the best bits just outside the Vegas Strip, and learn how to the make the most of your mornings. 

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The Seven Magic Mountains art installation in the Mojave Desert south of Las Vegas
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5 Days in Las Vegas

Metropolises the world over dub themselves ‘the city that never sleeps’ on a near-daily basis. But none have turned that tired old cliché into a neon-lit reality with quite the show-stopping aplomb of Las Vegas, where the entertainment – regardless of what time of year you visit – stays turned up to eleven 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Five days in Las Vegas is just about enough time to get a taste of this unique desert city’s hedonistic lifestyle and visit some of its most memorable attractions: the Strip’s mega-hotels, the laidback downtown neighborhood and the Grand Canyon being among the most essential. We’ve put together a suggested 5-day itinerary to help guide and inspire you on your Sin City adventure. So put on your best poker face, cram your pockets full of dollar bills and dive in! Viva Las Vegas! And may lady luck smile upon you... Day 1: Vegas in a Nutshell Kick off your Vegas experience with a spin aboard the hop-on hop-off bus tour. It’s a great introduction to the city’s many pleasures and, best of all, requires minimal effort from you. The tour calls at iconic landmarks along the Strip and Downtown, including the famous ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign, the Strat’s skyscraping SkyPod observation tower and Fremont Street. You can hop off anywhere you like to start filling your Instagram feed with classic Vegas selfies, or stay on for the full two-hour loop to get a proper introduction to Sin City – there’s no better way for a newbie to experience the Strip than from the comfort of an open-top bus, as the supersize hotels and neon-lit casinos roll past. Book a private pod with a decadent glass of bubbles aboard the High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ Hotel and watch the sun go down over the Strip and surrounding desert from a sweaty-palmed 550 feet up. Then, suitably emboldened, it’s time to hit the blackjack and roulette tables and one-armed bandits in your first (of what will no doubt be many) Vegas casino experiences. We favor the old-school glitz of Caesars Palace for first-timers – movie mavens may even recognize its cavernous interiors from the likes of The Hangover and Dream Girls. Stick around for a show at its Colosseum theater, which has hosted megastars including Madonna, Elton and Sinatra in its time, or head to the Bellagio, Mirage or MGM Grand for one of Vegas’s ever-popular Cirque du Soleil spectaculars. Day 2: A Spot of Culture Anyone who tells you Vegas is purely about high rolling and horrific hangovers is missing a trick. Did you know, for example, that Sin City also boasts some pretty great galleries and museums? Fill your pockets with quarters and get down to the Pinball Hall of Fame, where you can try your luck on over 150 antique machines. Or don a fedora, pinstripe and your best Al Capone face and get yourself made at The Mob Museum, a fascinating journey into the US’s history of organized crime, with interactive exhibits that include a rogues’ gallery of gangsters and a shooting range simulator. There’s even a working distillery and Prohibition-style speakeasy tucked away in the basement. Meanwhile, the National Atomic Testing Museum explores Nevada’s explosive past when, in the 1950s, atomic weapons were detonated out in the desert here with alarming frequency. Check out the ever-changing program at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, which has hosted exhibitions focusing on the work of Warhol, Picasso, Lichtenstein and others. And step inside the mind of a Dutch master at The Immersive Van Gogh experience, where spectacular set designs by Tony-nominated David Korins of Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton fame make you feel like you’re walking through his best-loved paintings, including Starry Night and Sunflowers. Spend your evening in the neon boneyard at the excellent Neon Museum. Here, retired Vegas signs of yore including iconic examples from the Stardust and Lucky Cuss Motel are given a second lease of life. Day 3: Downtown! Often overlooked by visitors here for the higher octane thrills and spills of the Strip, Vegas’s laidback Downtown has many charms of its own. Get yourself down to the Fremont Street Experience, where an arched canopy over the mall area doubles as a giant video screen. And when we say giant we mean length-of-five-football-pitches giant. Expect spectacular hourly light shows as you browse the shops and sip cocktails in the bars below. Stick around for live music across three stages, kicking off at 6pm every evening. Downtown is also where you’ll find the Las Vegas Arts District aka the 18b. Soak up the boho vibe and shop 18 blocks of art galleries, unique independent stores, vintage clothing boutiques and craft breweries. An arts walk on the first Friday of every month showcases eclectic local art and features live music, fire breathers, fortune tellers and other such Vegas entertainments. Afterwards head over to the nearby Strat, where the Skypod and its utterly terrifying 108th floor thrill rides await nearly 1,000 feet above the Strip. Day 4: Get Outta Town! We get it: the constant noise, bright lights and general chaos of the Strip can get a little overwhelming. We recommend a relatively soothing day out to the Grand Canyon. Charter a helicopter to the South Rim in the afternoon. You’ll soar over the epic Hoover Dam en route and get the opportunity to take a short hike among the wildflowers and rust-red rocks before returning along the Strip at sundown, as the desert skies turn a bruised purple and the Neon City is at its picture-perfect best. Or rent a Cadillac, put the top down and cruise south along Interstate 15 to the wildly incongruous Mojave Desert art installation that is Swiss sculptor Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains. These gravity-defying tall stacks of boulders – some as high as 35 feet – are painted in a rainbow of trippy colors. Then make for the nearby Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon’s diminutive sibling which, at a mere 200,000 acres, still offers plenty of hiking opportunities. Look out for hidden waterfalls and ancient Native American petroglyphs among its towering sandstone crags and deep, cacti-filled valleys. Day 5: Go Hotel-Hopping Vegas’s mega resorts are attractions all of their own, and no Vegas vacation would be complete without spending a day wandering the Strip and taking in essential attractions like the dancing fountains outside the Bellagio, or the Mirage’s exploding volcano. If you’re here during pool party season (March to October), get yourself along to Mandalay Bay’s sprawling Daylight Beach Club with its enormo 4,400 square foot pool, massive man-made beach and winding lazy river. Dive in, or grab a cabana and pina colada and people-watch the day away. Major exhibitions at the Luxor are always worth a couple of hours of anyone’s time and the Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are a horticultural marvel, with exhibits that change with the seasons and culminate in a hugely over-the-top festive display at year’s end. You’ll also want to ride the gondolas at the Venetian, with its faithful replica of Venice’s Grand Canal, and ride the glass elevator in the Paris hotel’s glitzy half-size Eiffel Tower facsimile. While you’re there you might as well stop to gorge on caviar, steak tartare and escargots in the panoramic restaurant 100 feet above the Strip. Bon appetit! Save on attractions in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Panorama of the Las Vegas Strip
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4 Days in Las Vegas - Perfect Itinerary

Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, so believe us when we say you’ll have zero trouble filling four days with high-octane, dice-rolling, Strip-tastic fun. Your only difficulty will be deciding what to do first. And that's where we come in! Read on for our perfect 4-day Las Vegas itinerary, including: High Roller Observation Wheel Fremont Street Experience Grand Canyon Mandalay Bay Beach Club Bellagio fountains, gallery and gardens Colosseum theater Las Vegas Arts District Hoover Dam Red Rock Canyon Day 1: Viva Las Vegas! Kickstart your Sin City adventure by getting the lay of the land aboard the open-top hop-on hop-off bus. There’s really no better way to get an overview of this sizzling city’s must-see landmarks. Tick off the bucket-list classics, including that essential selfie stop at the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign, and marvel at how the Strip's flamboyant hotels vie for the tourist dollar with their increasingly outlandish gimmicks.  We’re talking Paris’s replica Eiffel Tower, the Bellagio’s legendary dancing fountains, and the exploding volcano at The Mirage, to name just a few. You’ll also get to whiz around the OG downtown area, home of the glitzy Fremont Street Experience (of which more later). There’s even a nighttime version of the bus tour that gives you an opportunity to experience the Strip in all its neon glory, all without having to lift a finger (or indeed a foot). Having experienced Vegas’s uniquely surreal atmosphere at arm’s length, it’s now time to go full immersion mode in the city’s legendary casinos. So put on your best poker face, cram your pockets full of dollar bills and get lucky. Take your pick from dozens of casinos, from old-school giants like Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand and the Bellagio to beloved downtown faves including the famous Golden Nugget. Expect hundreds of classic table games like like roulette, blackjack and Texas hold ‘em poker plus thousands of slot machines in these cavernous, money-guzzling twilight zones of capitalism. Day 2: Strip Highlights Ok, day 2 of your awesome 4-day Vegas experience and it's time to get up close and personal with some of the Strip’s main attractions. And you really could fill a whole day or more exploring this vast thoroughfare, with its supersize hotels, monster malls and hundreds of bars and restaurants, from fast food to fine dining. Top tip: the Strip is much longer than it looks. Avoid aching calves and pesky blisters by taking full advantage of the Las Vegas Monorail, which connects a number of major hotels and casinos along the Strip’s eastern side, running for nearly four miles. But what to see and do? Bit of an art fiend? Good news: Vegas does high culture every bit as well as it does low culture. Case in point: the ever-rotating exhibitions at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art have included works by household names including Warhol, Picasso and Lichtenstein; the horticultural marvel that is the resort’s botanical gardens is also something of a work of art in itself. Here during pool party season (March-October)? Hit up Mandalay Bay’s epic Daylight Beach Club, home to a ridiculously large pool (4,400 square feet, fact fans), a man-made beach and a seemingly endless lazy river. You could sip bubbly aboard the knee-knocking High Roller Observation Wheel at the LINQ Hotel, which soars 550 feet over the Strip. Or catch a show at the legendary Colosseum theater at Caesars Palace – superstars from Sinatra to Madonna have graced the glittering stage here down the years. Ride the glass elevator up Paris’s replica Eiffel Tower or cruise the Venetian’s faithful replica of Venice’s Grand Canal in a gondola. The possibilities are almost literally endless. Day 3: You can always go… Downtown! It would be easy to overlook Las Vegas’s laidback downtown area for the considerable thrills and spills of the Strip, but that would be to miss out on Sin City most old-school enclave, home of the boho Arts District and terrific Neon Museum, a sort of retirement home for Vegas signage of yore. Best visited in early evening, this is the place to nab Insta-perfect selfies bathed in the neon glow of such iconic signs as the Stardust and Lucky Cuss Motel. Check out the nearby Arts District for the best of Vegas’s indie scene, including galleries, boutiques, vintage clothing emporia and hipper-than-thou craft breweries like Hop Nuts Brewing and the Nevada Brew Works. There’s nothing old school about the Fremont Street Experience. Easily Vegas’s most popular attraction outside the Strip, this huge complex features a video-screen canopy the length of five football pitches, beneath which tourists and locals browse stores galore and sip colorful cocktails in the chi-chi bars. Eye-popping hourly light shows and live music across three stages every evening means there’s never a dull moment here in Glitter Gulch. Day 4: The Great Outdoors Sure, Las Vegas is terrific fun, but three sinful days of sensory saturnalia can be more than enough for most people. What better way then to round out your perfect 4-day Las Vegas itinerary than swapping the noise, neon lights and general chaos of the Strip for the wide open spaces of the Nevada and Arizona deserts? You can take a helicopter ride over the awe-inspiring Hoover Dam to the enchanting South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where a restorative stroll among rust-red rocks and vibrant wildflowers is pure manna for the soul. Opt for an afternoon trip that will time your return descent along the Strip around sundown, for some of the most spectacular skies and Sin City views you’re likely to find. Helicopters not your bag? Rent a soft-top instead and strike out south along Interstate 15 to Red Rock Canyon deep in the Mojave Desert. This relatively diminutive sibling of the Grand Canyon promises equally otherworldly landscapes, characterized by soaring sandstone crags and towering cacti. Don’t miss sculptor Ugo Rondinone’s hallucinatory art installation on the way there. Seven Magic Mountains is a series of gravity-defying boulder stacks painted in a kaleidoscope of vivid colors – essential eye candy for any Insta addict worthy of the name. Save on attractions in Las Vegas  Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Silhouette of man drinking water on a hot day
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Things to do in Las Vegas When It's Hot Outside

It’s built slap bang in the middle of one of the planet’s hottest deserts, so it should come as no surprise that Las Vegas can get uncomfortably warm from time to time. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to experience triple-digit days between June and September, when the mercury hits a sweltering 100°F on the regular and has even been known to top out at an earth-scorching 115°F.  So yeah, Sin City simply sizzles in summer. But fear not: there are plenty of ways to beat the heat in Las Vegas, from lazy rivers and frozen cocktails to ice rooms and air-conditioned mega malls. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Las Vegas when it’s hot outside. Ice Ice Baby So you’ve donned your Saturn-sized sun hat, slathered on the sunscreen and kept well hydrated with chilled water, but you’re still overheating like a faulty gasket. Good news: Las Vegas caters for precisely this issue and you never have to walk far before stumbling upon some fine purveyor of frozen drinks, extravagant ice creams, boozy popsicles or other thirst-slaking concoctions. Hit up Sticks and Shakes on the Strip for a quite dizzying selection of gelato and milkshakes (literally hundreds of flavor combos available), or head to the colorful Best Friend bar at Park MGM for some of the best spiked slushies in town. The signature CrazyShakes at Black Tap in the Venetian – spectacular frozen confections topped with candy, cookies and whole slabs of cake – are pure Las Vegas. Dive in! Pool the Other One Huge aquatic playgrounds abound in Sin City, where man made beaches, staggeringly large swimming pools, VIP cabanas, poolside cabanas and servers that could be models are de rigueur. And let’s face it, floating down a lazy river, pina colada in hand, is probably just about all you’re good for in this heat anyway, right? The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, the MGM Grand… take your pick. The modestly monikered Garden of the Gods at Caesars comes complete with epic Romanesque columns, statues and fountains, as well as a whopping SEVEN pools. Meanwhile over at the Golden Nugget, you can ride a water slide right through the middle of a 200,000-gallon shark tank. Only in Vegas.  Get Wet and Wild More water-based activities await at Cowabunga Canyon Waterpark, a bumper 40-acre attraction that presents dozens of inventive ways to cool off in the hot Las Vegas sun. We’re talking high-octane water slides with names like the Ricochet Racer and Boomer Wrangler, the massive Cadillac Shores wave pool, the Piñata Falls play area (complete with refreshing 1,100-liter tipping bucket), and the thousand-foot-long Cactus Creek lazy river. A fine way to keep the kids entertained (and cool) all at the same time. Get Outta Town! Temperatures on majestic Mount Charleston in Clark County tend to be around 20-30 degrees lower than in the city during summer, making this fine natural wonder a great choice for escaping the Las Vegas heat. The scenic drive northwest out of Sin City is worth the journey in itself, as the otherworldly landscape transforms from the rust reds and arid heat of the desert floor to a cooler alpine environment. This lush wilderness, all pine forests, wildflower meadows and crashing waterfalls, offers a wide range of hiking opportunities, from canyons to high summits. Steel yourself for the 16-hour round-trip ramble to Charleston Peak, 11,916 feet up, where intrepid explorers are rewarded with life-affirming views of Death Valley, the Sierra Nevada, and Las Vegas itself.  Splash the Cash It goes without saying that Las Vegas is no slouch when it comes to indoor entertainment. Casinos, malls, bars, buses: every square inch of Sin City real estate is air-conditioned to within an inch of its life, the welcoming Arctic blast that greets you in every single doorway providing the most straightforward solution available to beating the desert heat. And, here in the world’s entertainment capital, it’s near-impossible to run out of fun ways to occupy yourself. Where, then, to begin? You could try your luck in any one of dozens of Vegas casinos: keep your cool at the Cosmopolitan’s craps tables, go for gold at the old-school Golden Nugget downtown, play hundreds of slots at the STRAT, and recreate your favorite scenes from The Hangover at Caesars Palace. Assuming you haven’t just bankrupted yourself at blackjack, you might also consider taking yourself off to one of the city’s mega malls. These great cavernous cathedrals to capitalism are lovely and cool inside, meaning the only thing at risk of going into meltdown is your credit card. Try window-shopping the Venetian’s upscale Grand Canal Shoppes, where a gondola ride on the replica of Venice’s Grand Canal may be just enough to distract you from that eye-wateringly expensive Dior choker you’ve been coveting. Cool Cultural Highlights Thankfully there are plenty of alternative indoor attractions that are far less likely to break the bank. Ride the (fully air-conditioned) Deuce bus for a cost-effective way of seeing some of the Strip’s highlights, including the Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano and the iconic ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign. Or drop by one or two of Sin City’s rather awesome museums: the Pinball Hall of Fame contains more than 150 fully operational old-school arcade classics, while The Mob Museum charts the history of organized crime in the USA and – bonus alert! – comes with its own with Prohibition-style subterranean speakeasy, serving real cocktails. Then there’s the cooling effects of the lush vegetation in the Bellagio’s eye-popping Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Or the fantastical, futuristic worlds to be found inside Area15 and the epic Las Vegas Sphere, both, of course, air-conned up to the hilt. Chill Out! Still too hot? You need to get yourself over to the opulent Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace. Inside the Arctic Ice Room, the mercury drops to a teeth-chattering 55°F – not quite cold enough for snow in the real world, but this is the surreal world of Las Vegas, baby, so snow you shall have nevertheless. There’s also ice to rub on your skin should you feel inclined to do so. Believe us when we say it won’t be long before you’re begging for some of that circulation-reviving 100-degree outdoor heat! Save on attractions, tours and activities in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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