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What happened to those days when our teenagers were kids who loved to go on vacation with us, to spend time hanging in the pool or discovering new places? Suddenly, they know it all, and we parents are as uncool as last year’s mullet. The best part is when they tell us how we’re embarrassing them!
But that can’t stop us from planning a vacation while we still have them at home. It may take a little more research to find those activities teens will love, but Vegas makes it easy. From roller coasters and ziplining to aquariums and teen-appropriate nightlife, here are the things that our teens love when we’re able to drag them away from their friends.
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Things to Do with Adventurous Teens
Since they were young, my boys have been climbing trees, jumping off anything they could, and generally waiting for that fall or trip to the ER. Luckily, that rarely happens! These activities in Vegas are perfect for thrill-seekers like my sons, from hiking and rock climbing to rollercoasters and ziplining.
Valley of Fire
The Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest, largest, and arguably most impressive of Nevada’s State Parks. It’s much closer than hiking in the Grand Canyon and is known for swirling, red sandstone rock formations and the ancient petroglyphs carved there. When the sunset conditions are just right, the entire valley appears like it’s on fire!
These red rocks come ablaze in the right lighting conditions!
Photo by Tom Delanoue on Unsplash
Helicopter Tours of the Grand Canyon
It is about a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. It’s worth it for people planning on camping or staying overnight but hard to accomplish on a long weekend trip to Vegas. Instead, take airplane or helicopter tours leaving right from Vegas!
View the Grand Canyon’s impressive landscape from the window of a helicopter!
Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash
Enjoy the dazzling Las Vegas landscape on the way to the Grand Canyon. Even eye-rolling teenagers who don’t think anything is cool will be captivated by the bright vermillion and creamsicle-colored rocks from the windows of the helicopter.
DON’T MISS! Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Teens: Destinations Even Eye-Rolling Teenagers Will Love!
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is the perfect day trip from Las Vegas, being a short drive (less than 30 minutes) from the Strip. Rent 4x4s, ride electric bikes or scooters down the trail, or go out with a hiking guide. Visitors will want a car to drive down Scenic Drive, offering access to most of the hiking areas. The Hoover Dam is another area worth a visit!
Love thrills? Climb rocks at Red Rock Canyon!
Photo by Michael Kirsh on Unsplash
No car? Consider Pink Jeep Tours – they’ll pick visitors up at the hotel and head for an off-roading adventure with views of the mountains, desert flora and wildlife, and even hieroglyphics and dinosaur tracks.
Ziplining
There are plenty of ziplining chances in Vegas but our favorite is the slot machine-inspired SlotZillla Zipline. This zipline takes riders over the Fremont Street Experience (Old Vegas) with a whirlwind of neon lights on either side of the casinos. Riders can also fly prone and feel like superheroes flying over sparkling Las Vegas!
Zoom past the sparkling lights of Fremont Street by zipline!
Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash
Swim in the Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget
Want to swim with the sharks without actually swimming with sharks? And enjoy water slides? The Golden Nugget is one of the best places to do that! Race down the 3-story transparent waterslide (as sharks and fish swim around!) at the Tank Pool at the Golden Nugget. There’s also a 200,000-square-foot aquarium that guests can view from the swimming pool!
The Golden Nugget is known for its incredible tank pool!
Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash
The Stratosphere
The best things about the Stratosphere at the Strat Hotel are incredible views from indoor and outdoor observation decks and thrill rides that adventure-seeking teens will love. The top things to do include zooming up 900 feet while riding the Big Shot, teeter-tottering on the hotel’s edge while riding Insanity, or bungee jumping from one of the highest points in the city!
The Big Apple Roller Coaster
Stop by the New York New York hotel and experience the unique “heartline” twist that twists riders around at 180 degrees. Teens will love the 67mph ride and 203-foot drop that rivals the best theme parks. Stop by the arcade for more fun on the way out!
Ride the Big Apple rollercoaster for twists, turns, and thrills!
Photo by Pouyan Nahed on Unsplash
The High Roller
Standing 550 feet tall and named the tallest observation deck in the United States (and all of North America!), the High Roller is the perfect place to view the Las Vegas Strip and attractions like the Bellagio Fountains. The wheel has fixed cabins that hold as many as 40 people, so the whole family can experience the panoramic view of downtown Las Vegas together.
Enjoy panoramic views of Las Vegas in front of mountain scenery.
Photo Credit: Shane Kirk
Indoor Attractions Teens Visiting Vegas Will Love
I once thought my kids would grow out of complaining, “I’m hottttttt” or “My feet hurt” as they started getting older. If your teens haven’t grown out of this yet either, these activities will get them out of the Las Vegas heat.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”03_6C” via=”no” ]Want to plan a vacation to impress even sulking, eye-rolling teenagers? Check out this guide to the best things to do in Vegas with teens![/ctt]
Shark Reef Aquarium
Located at Mandalay Bay, Shark Reef Aquarium is home to more than 2,000 animals. Watch jellyfish float around, see a shark or ray feeding, or swim with a tiger shark in the VR theater!
Stop by and visit the sharks at Mandalay Bay!
Photo by Eric Aiden on Unsplash
Pinball Hall of Fame
While arcade games don’t have the graphics of today’s video games it’s hard not to appreciate the classics. Older kids will love playing Frogger, Pacman, and of course, Pinball at the Pinball Hall of Fame – and it’s only a quarter to play!
Don’t forget the quarters!
Photo by Paige Laine Elmer on Unsplash
The Mob Museum
Teenagers might not appreciate the interactive exhibits at Discovery Children’s Museum, but they will love learning about the darker, more interesting side of Las Vegas at the Mob Museum. Its video presentations, mob artifacts, and educational videos with unique stories are the best way to keep teens entertained and learning.
The bright lights of Las Vegas come from a much darker history.
Photo by David Vives on Unsplash
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Bellagio Hotel updates the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens seasonally, using pops of color and various botanicals to create beautiful scenes. There are occasional dark-out dates between exhibits – be sure to check the dates.
After viewing the fountains, step inside the Bellagio and appreciate the gorgeous, ever-changing botanical gardens!
Photo by David Vives on Unsplash
The Neon Museum
Appreciate history, art, and bright lights at the Neon Museum, a Guinness World Record holder, with 2.62 acres and over 250 neon signs from the earlier days of Sin City – including the recently acquired revolving Planet Hollywood sign! Check for seasonal evening hours to see the refurbished signs in all their shining glory.
Visit the retired signs of Vegas at the Neon Museum!
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Circus Circus
Not all teens will appreciate the clown shoes or circus acts at Circus Circus, but they will enjoy the rollercoasters, midway games, and rock climbing walls. There is also an arcade and virtual reality area with 10 different games!
Even teens that don’t enjoy the circus will love the carnival games!
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Vegas Shows and Nightlife Appropriate for Teens
No trip to the entertainment capital of the world would be complete without some teen-friendly shows and nightlife. Take in incredible magic shows, the Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil, or these other attractions.
DON’T MISS! Family Restaurants in Las Vegas: The Essential Guide
Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street is known as “Old Las Vegas” and while teens won’t get to appreciate the casinos, it offers vibrant nightlife and tons of free entertainment including live music, street performers, and the Viva Vision Light Show. You can see the event schedule here!
Be sure to see the iconic Vegas sign while on Fremont Street!
Photo by Ronan Dorard on Unsplash
Meow Wolf Omega Mart
Omega Mart looks like a grocery store at first glance but it’s easy to get lost in the swirling colors and lights of this immersive art museum. Walk through a labyrinth of mind-scrambling digital art – it can take hours to explore in its entirety!
A peek at the mind-bending illusions of Meow Wolf art installations!
Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash
Jabbawockeez
The high-tech special effects used on stage during the Jabbawockeez performance are a great time for teens. Jabbawockeez was the first dance crew to headline at the Las Vegas Strip and is known for bringing music alive with world-class choreography even hard-to-impress teens will enjoy.
To get discounts on tours in the area, we recommend Get Your Guide or Viator (which offers 51% off last-minute tours!).
When You Go
Where to Stay with Teens in Las Vegas
For some of the best pools in Vegas (featuring a lazy river and wave pool!), stay at Mandalay Bay. Teens will enjoy shark reef aquarium or riding the tram to nearby Excalibur, where there’s an arcade that takes up an entire floor!
The New York New York Hotel & Casino’s biggest attraction is the iconic NY NY Rollercoaster. Teenagers will also enjoy live shows, three onsite arcades, a roomy pool, and plenty of shopping including Hershey’s Chocolate World.
Where to Eat
Bacchanal Buffet
While teens can’t hit the slot machines of Caesar’s, they’ll love dining at the on-premises Bacchanal Buffet. It is a great place to feel like they are taking a food tour at the biggest buffet in fabulous Las Vegas with flavors from around the world spanning 25,000 square feet – and they can eat as much as they’d like! After dinner, stop by the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck for views of the iconic Paris landmark from 46 stories up.
Secret Pizza
Visitors will find Secret Pizza on the third floor of the Cosmpolitan Hotel in a “hush-hush” location. It boasts “the best pizza on the Strip” any teen will love. Head to the third floor of the hotel and find a dimly lit hallways covered in album covers (some with clues!). Follow this corridor to delicious New-York style slices.
Shake Shack
It’s not hard to convince teens to munch on “fast food.” Shake Shack is so much more than that though with burgers, chicken, crinkle cut fries, and milkshakes on the menu to appease even choosy eaters.
Traveling to Las Vegas from Los Angeles
For families in a hurry, the best option for traveling to Vegas is flying. Flights from LAX to the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas are typically nonstop and affordable, taking less than 1.5 hours. United, Southwest, Delta, American, and Frontier make this trip.
It takes less than five hours to drive to Las Vegas for families who would like to appreciate the beautiful California scenery. Be sure to check out this San Francisco to Las Vegas road trip itinerary for cool stops along the way!
WayAway is a flight search engine that looks for the best deals for destinations you’re visiting with the possibility of earning cash back on your purchases. Have you tried them yet? If not, give them a spin and see how much money you’ll save on flights.
This is an excellent discount site for rental cars! We’ve literally saved hundreds using it.
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