Possibly, Las Vegas is currently attracting the most family-focused tourists in the United States.
Introducing the Live Sketchbook, a captivating exhibit within the ARTE Museum, a digital art haven nestled in the hidden corners of CityCenter along the Las Vegas Strip.
The Live Sketchbook experience is nothing short of mesmerizing, embodying a new trend of attractions in Sin City: Destinations that cater to youngsters yet possess an allure that appeals to anyone beyond the twenties.
These contemporary attractions showcase technology and interaction – essential elements for the underage population. Moreover, they also feature an influx of live entertainment, a surge of sports events, and renovation of classic favorites, making Las Vegas possibly more welcoming to families than ever before.
Statistics suggest that tourists are recognizing this shift. According to reports from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, approximately 16% of visitors to Las Vegas in 2023 were accompanied by individuals under 21, triple the number of families that visited the city prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Families aren't just visiting because of the added amenities for kids; they're here due to a wealth of offerings appealing to both adults and children," commented Steve Hill, CEO and president of the destination marketing organization.
"No destination has succeeded in adapting to changing times as well as Las Vegas, and no aspect of our recent history highlights this better than our transformation into a desired destination for families."
The metamorphosis of a destination
Welcome to Family-Friendly Vegas 2.0, the latest iteration of Las Vegas' quest to captivate families. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing in the beginning.
The 1990s marked the start of the modern resort boom, with lavish hotels like Luxor and Excalibur attracting families with lively themes. But, shortly after, Sin City took precedence, leading to an increase in adult entertainment and the expansion of poker rooms. Animal habitats were replaced by high-end restaurants and nightclubs. MGM Grand's theme park shut down to expand pool and meeting space, and the fine dining scene along the Strip flourished.
The "Battle of Buccaneer Bay" show in front of Treasure Island – once a kid-friendly spectacle - transformed into "Sirens of T.I.", adding a little more spice to the offerings. Las Vegas remained in this state until 2017, up until the arrival of the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL.
Professional sports events brought entire families to the city, requiring a significant change in direction. The arrival of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces and the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 further emphasized the demand for family-friendly attractions, prompting casinos to adapt once more.
Accounts from Brendan Bussmann, managing partner at B Global, a consulting firm serving the gaming industry, explain how the current era builds upon the charm of sports to attract families with an array of age-appropriate amenities.
"To grow a destination, we must cater to various demographics. Las Vegas has managed to do this effectively throughout its history. In this instance, we simply continue to adapt," said Bussmann.
Technology takes center stage
Many of the new family-friendly attractions aim to grab the imagination of younger audiences, and technology is the common thread.
This becomes blatantly evident at the ARTE Museum, where QR codes, 3D models, and UV mapping bring the animals from the Live Sketchbook to life. Guests select from coloring pages displaying deer, giraffes, and various animals and personalize their creations using crayons. For the concluding touch, visitors place their drawings under a scanner, and behind-the-scenes software brings their creatures to life on the jungle backdrop projected on the walls.
Each animal goes around for a few rounds before making room for newcomers.
The Museum, located at 63 CityCenter, features several other digital art exhibits, immersing guests in unique natural worlds. In the most mesmerizing room of all, a combination of screens and projectors create the illusion of a beach at night: virtual waves crash on the virtual shore while virtual Northern Lights twinkle overhead, allowing visitors to either quickly view the phenomenon or linger and soak it all in.
Elsewhere along the Strip, technology offers a more exhilarating experience.
For instance, the Electric Playhouse in the Forum Shops at Caesars takes advantage of motion sensors, allowing families to participate in life-sized video games using their bodies as controllers. One game combines elements of soccer and air hockey, accommodating up to 20 players, while another, a variant of Cosmo Breaker, features players maneuvering a paddle with foot shuffles.
At Flyover, found in a strip mall facing Park MGM, you're in for more than just a glance. Conceptualized by Rick Rothschild, renowned for crafting the Soarin’ flight simulator at various Disney theme parks, this establishment incorporates a curved dome screen, atmospheric effects like mist and wind, and seats that move like a glider. Each visit revolves around a brief movie; as of current, families can opt between movies showcasing Chi-town, Iceland, the Canadian Rockies, and the American West.
Leaving no stone unturned in the world of all-ages entertainment-powered activities in Las Vegas, it's necessary to mention The Sphere. This $2.3-billion spectacle, that unfurled in the autumn of 2023, boasts the title of the largest spherical construction globally.
The radius of this high-tech orb has garnered attention due to live performances from heavyweights such as U2 and Dead & Co. When the concerts wrap up, the 16K resolution 360-degree interior LED screen serves as the canvas for “Postcard from Earth,” a 50-minute visionary movie directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Tickets for the movie come with an hour-long lobby sojourn, where families can engage with robots who impart knowledge about the state-of-the-art screen and cutting-edge sound system.
Interactive playground
Interaction is a significant trend among family-friendly attractions that have graced Las Vegas of late.
Without a doubt, the prime exemplar of this trend is Particle Ink: House of Shattered Prisms.
By moonlight, the attraction nestled on the Atrium level of the Luxor transforms into a foreboding spectacle, complete with performers, puppets, and computer-generated characters interacting with the audience. By day, this metamorphoses into an all-ages encounter titled “Wanderlust,” which encompasses an iPad-driven augmented-reality treasure hunt, as well as a smoke ring cannon and a graffiti wall that kids can tag with virtual paint.
Situated to the west of the Strip, at AREA 15, kids can partake in axe-throwing at Dueling Axes, and can zipp around a dual-track suspended from the ceiling in an adventure called Haley’s Comet. This latter experience is a hybrid of ziplining and hang-gliding; individuals who meet necessary height and weight requirements strap into slings operated by electronic motors achieving speeds of up to 7 miles per hour.
Of course, AREA 15 also hosts Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, an eccentric immersive art exhibit that commences in a supermarket and transitions into an alternative universe comprising passages, strobe lights, and more. A mysterious pastime that can keep boredom at bay awaits kids with unwavering focus.
Solving puzzles is the objective of the family-friendly escape rooms sprinkled about town. These attractions, commonly for players 8 and up, challenge a group in solving enough enigmas to “escape” a room within a designated timeframe. Majority of the perplexities necessitate resourcefulness.
The Escape Game, at the Forum Shops, is one of the most acclaimed, encompassing six rooms in total; Escapology, at the Town Square mall south of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, boasts 10. The scariest of the bunch, Escape IT, is inspired by the Stephen King book with the same name, and it offers two separate experiences that integrate live actors for an additional fright. A new establishment, Red Door Escape Room, slated to launch mid-September at the Grand Bazaar Shops, will debut with five different rooms and eventually grow to seven.
Mini-golf has enjoyed a tee-off in Las Vegas over recent years and has turned into a loved pastime by families. Popstroke, co-owned by Tiger Woods and situated adjacent to Town Square, opened in April and incorporates two 18-hole mini-golf putting courses, a full-service bar, and a restaurant. The Twilight Zone by Monster Mini Golf within Horseshoe Las Vegas boasts an 18-hole track with quirky obstacles bathed in eerie black lights.
Even a competitive (they label it “social”) darts attraction invites kids: Flight Club, inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian Las Vegas, allows youngsters 12 and up until 5 p.m.
Yesteryear's champions
On top of all these contemporary attractions, some classic family-friendly experiences and entertainment options in Las Vegas continue to uphold their popularity among guests of all ages.
With its beach, wave pool, and lazy river, the pool complex at Mandalay Bay still ranks among families' highest picks. The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino still attains 67 mph, and still executes a journey from inside to outside and back again. Toward the opposite end of the Strip, at the Strat, the 1,149-foot Observation Tower remains home to two heart-racing attractions: Big Shot, which propels guests 160 feet into the air; and X-Scream, a roller coaster that teeters over the ledge.
For a more leisurely atmosphere, all three minus5 Ice Experience locations (Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, and the LINQ Promenade) offer budget-friendly family pricing before 9 p.m., enabling kids 7 and older the opportunity to don a parka, gloves, and a ski hat, order a mocktail in a glass crafted from ice, and indulge in a room with sculptures and furniture fabricated entirely from ice.
A handful of the O.G. family-friendly shows persist in their excellence, too. Excalibur’s Tournament of Kings, a corny medieval dinner theater graced by horses, boasts a perfectly kitschy atmosphere for youngsters, including a rule where lunch is enjoyed with one's hands. O, the Cirque du Soleil show at Bellagio, merges synchronized swimmers and underwater acrobatics, amazes audiences of all ages every evening.
Wrapping up, the top old-school, family-friendly spectacle in Vegas's playbook is the High Roller Ferris wheel. Standing at a whopping 550 feet, it remains the highest Ferris wheel globally.
The Ferris wheel consists of 28 enclosed gondolas, ensuring safety for tiny travelers. A single rotation takes 30 minutes, providing ample time for young explorers to familiarize themselves with the breathtaking sights of the Las Vegas Valley. As the gondola reaches its peak, a pre-recorded announcement counts down backwards from 10 to the peak moment, recreating a New Year's Eve vibe, Las Vegas-style. It's a celebration fit for the whole family, truly!
Moving Forward
The family-friendly renaissance in Vegas isn't slowing down significantly. Alongside fabulous family-friendly pools at resorts such as Resorts World Las Vegas and Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the city is preparing for more family-centric attractions in the near future.
Currently in the development phase: Universal Horror Unleashed, a year-round horror attraction from Universal Destinations & Experiences, a theme park division of NBCUniversal.
This project is under construction and is set to debut adjacent to AREA 15 in 2025.
On the horizon as well is professional baseball. The Oakland Athletics have announced intentions to relocate to Las Vegas for the 2028 season, and soon, the Tropicana Las Vegas will be demolished to create space for a proposed new ballpark.
Residents in Vegas are known to have a sense of humor, often joking that the Nevada state flower is the orange construction cone. When it comes to family-friendly attractions in and around town, the larger the construction boom, the better.
Matt Villano is a writer and editor based in Northern California. He has covered Vegas for more than 25 years.
After experiencing the family-friendly transformation of Las Vegas, travelers might be interested in visiting the ARTE Museum's Live Sketchbook exhibit, where technology brings animals to life through QR codes, 3D models, and UV mapping.
Moreover, families can engage in interactive playground activities, such as life-sized video games at the Electric Playhouse or experiencing virtual reality at Meow Wolf's Omega Mart. These attractions demonstrate how technology has taken center stage in catering to young audiences in Las Vegas.
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