Despite popular opinion---and the moniker "Sin City"---Las Vegas is not an adults-only place. If you're traveling to Vegas with kids in tow, you can enjoy a handful of activities with your children that will also get you out and exploring southern Nevada. Check out Vegas' wilderness areas for hiking, wildlife viewing, swimming and boating, walk through miles of shops and attractions or mingle with a large collection of endangered animals.
Hiking
Mount Charleston towers over the Vegas area---and much of southern Nevada---to a height of 8,259 feet, the eighth-most prominent peak in the United States. Mount Charleston, located northwest of downtown Las Vegas, offers year-round opportunities; from November through April, you can hit the slopes at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort. During the rest of the year, Mount Charleston offers hiking, backpacking and camping, and can be a welcome respite from the often-extreme summer temperatures of Vegas.
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just 30 miles west of downtown Las Vegas, but it feels a world away from the bustling city. The Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association's Visitor Center has information on the area's best places for hiking, rock climbing, biking and camping, as well as the plants and animals that call Red Rock home. This includes desert tortoises, roadrunners, Gila monsters, jackrabbits and Joshua trees. Check the website for available events and guided programs.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which covers 1.5 million acres, sits about 30 miles east of Las Vegas. The man-made lake features 820 miles of shoreline and offers a wide range of outdoor activities for the whole family, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, bicycling and kayaking. The Lake Mead Visitor Center has educational and interactive programs that will help you learn more about the surrounding Mojave Desert. Ask about the Junior Ranger program for kids.
Walking
For all the activity going on inside the casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard, there's plenty to see outside, too. The Las Vegas Strip is more than 4 miles long, and walking it can be a good way to mix a calorie-burning, low-impact workout with sightseeing. Take in the impressive buildings, stop to watch lively water shows and brilliant fountains. Wear comfortable shoes, and if you're in Vegas during the summer, wait until dusk, as temperatures tend to soar to higher than 100 degrees.
Zoo
The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, also known as the Las Vegas Zoo, is a family-friendly option just a 15-minute drive north of the Las Vegas Strip. The zoo has more than 150 species of animals in a 3-acre park. Your family can get some exercise by walking through the zoo while also learning about its endangered species such as big cats and Barbary Apes. Check the zoo's website for occasional discount admission coupons.
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