Vegas not for kids? A slightly different perspective

Hey all! I just want to point out that I truly don%26#39;t believe vegas is a place for kids as far as a vacation goes but I just wanted to talk about my experiences in vegas.

My grandparents moved to vegas when I was 6. Every summer I would fly out there with my aunt and cousin (who is 10 mths younger) and we%26#39;d stay at my grandparents-which was off charleston and rainbow. We spent a month out there, and yes we did spend a decent amount of time in the casino%26#39;s--we were never left alone though until we were about 12. Hey, maybe it was a wrong move to make but I turned out ok!! We would hang out in the arcades, or bowl at Arizona Charlies or Sam%26#39;s Town, Gold Coast etc.. We also spent a great deal of time at Scandia which had bumper boats, mini golf, go kart racing, and a huge arcade. And we went to Wet N Wild many times (still sad it%26#39;s closed!), Circus Circus Midway... My aunt and grandparents were always a part of these activities as well.

Not to mention the many road trips we took as a family-many trips to Mt Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, Zion and Bryce, Grand Canyon, LA-disney land-knotts berry farm, Lake Havasu... I really got to see the west coast a lot on these trips and it really made me the person I am today!

So what I%26#39;m trying to say is, I spent A LOT of time in vegas as a kid/teenager and I grew up just fine. I still hold the belief though that it really isn%26#39;t the place for kids NOW--most of the places I named are no longer around and it definitely is more catered to adults.

I will say though, that vegas became my 2nd home and I still have a great love for it and have gone back, since age 16-about 10 more times and even considered moving there. (realized I%26#39;d be poor and a drunk though LOL) (i%26#39;m now 31 and going in Feb!!)

I just wanted to share my opinion and experiences in vegas. I don%26#39;t want this to get turned into yet another debate though. LOL

Vegas not for kids? A slightly different perspective

I am glad that you have good memories..and yes Vegas has changed quite a bit..they used to cater to families..and now they do not. It is also different that you were visiting family and staying in a home. I enjoy Vegas, and go as often as I can...but i can tune out all the in my face nudity and such..but children cannot...Slotto

Vegas not for kids? A slightly different perspective

vegas definitely caters to kids.

and vegas is so so tame compared to stuff you see everywhere and on tv. unless you lock your kid inside a closet, anything they encounter on a daily basis is the same if not less tame than vegas.

vegas is no different than a regular resort town now, only with more casinos... those who think vegas doesnt cater to kids either lock their kids up in a closet or only see the casinos when they are in vegas.

Thank you Curly for your perspective! You%26#39;ve proven what we locals have always known, this is just a big city. New York is also a big city, as is Los Angeles. There are good and bad parts to it. As a person who has raised children here, as have hundreds of thousands of others, I appreciate your side of the story.

And you%26#39;ll be happy to know, Wet and Wild will return! I don%26#39;t think thats going to be the name, but there was a news story recently and land has been purchased at the far south end of the strip. Here is the website for info...not much yet, but it%26#39;s a start !!

http://www.lasvegaswet.com/

I do not lock my kids in a closet...I lock them in their rooms. No really...are you serious? You can moniter what your kid watches and listens to without keeping them captive. In Vegas you would have to blindfold them on the strip....Vegas does not want your kids in the Casino%26#39;s...period...................

Thanks for sharing that link!! That%26#39;s great to here. :) So is everything still at the old site? Have they begun tearing it down at all?

Like I said, I am not here to debate but when I think about where people should take a family vacation where the kids can get the most out of it (because, otherwise, why bring the kids??) I don%26#39;t think of vegas as the best location. The way it has changed-sure there%26#39;s always been gambling but now there are a lot more adult-oriented shows, expensive restaurants, Treasure Island changes it%26#39;s name to TI and has scantily clad women now in their show! That stuff has changed. The kids aren%26#39;t the ones spending the money in vegas so why go out of the way to cater to them? It%26#39;s just the way it%26#39;s changing. It does make me sad because I do have very fond memories of my time in vegas and I know I%26#39;ll be sad to see how it has changed, even in the 4 years since I%26#39;ve gone! But of course, once a vegas lover, always a vegas lover. :)

I meant hear. LOL

sure there must be welll over 100k kids in town like any town that size,

its just the local kids are not in stroller in casino crying a 1am.

its more tire kickers with kids in the casino,bar adult places,fine dining ,walking strip with porn slappers,dt at fse drunks party time, topless girls of glitter out side ,is where most dont like to see kids

the ME,ME, young adults who take there kids there does not change anyting for us we have great trip

Thanks for you post curlyq, interesting other perspective. You know, it sounds like you had a blast. Even though I am going this December, you have reminded me how I really enjoy the summer roadtrips that include Vegas, but also the beautiful surrounding places, and I think I need another road trip this year.

Now, something occurred to me about the differences between various people considering a trip to Vegas with Children. For one thing, I have a student who has one parent who lives in Vegas, so she goes to spend time with him during various school vacations and has fond memories of that time. Then there are also people travelling from very far, such an England or Ireland, or Australia, and they have incorporated Vegas into their trip along with other parts nearby, such as California. I don%26#39;t think they need to change their plans and avoid Vegas, and I can see why such a trip, which might be once in a lifetime or very rare sounds appealing. Planning a trip, you can plan things that would appreal to every member of the family.

Of course, in general, as a yearly vacation with the whole family, it is not the top choice, and probably something people should strongly consider before making plans.

Enjoyed reading your post again. Scandia, ice-skating, Gold Coast movie theater, Cinedome 12, Wet and Wild-all those great places are now gone-but not forgotten. I still haven%26#39;t figured out the ';tube'; place. Do you have any more details about it?

Vp, I really don%26#39;t recall too much else about it. It was just a tiny place that had maybe 2-3 different blue hydrotubes, I remember them being called. It was north/west area--I recall a street named Cheyenne? We are talking like 1982-1985 time span.