Las Vegas isn’t just for bachelor parties and elopements. This Nevada city has plenty to offer families, including families with teenagers. No teen will scoff at the unique photo opportunities, riveting live shows, and refreshing outdoor pools found here in Las Vegas. Here are the best things to do in Las Vegas with teens.
Visit The Neon Museum Las Vegas
What Is It?: Home to over 250 neon signs, the Neon Museum is where Vegas’ old neon signs go to retire. Known as the Main Boneyard, this part of the museum has a variety of functional neon signs that date back as far as the 1930s.
Why Do It?: Besides being one of the best things to do in Las Vegas off the Strip, teens will love the photo opportunities here, especially if you book a night tour when some of the neon signs are illuminated. Even if your teen isn’t into history, the vintage signs give off a very cool vibe that even the pickiest teenager will want to post on social media.
Good to Know: Make sure to book a reservation in advance, as tickets to the Neon Museum commonly sell out. Also, unless you purchase a Photo Walk ticket, Portrait Hour ticket, or private photo shoot, only phone cameras are allowed.
Brave the Drops on the Big Apple Coaster
What Is It?: Located in the New York-New York Hotel and Casino (one of Vegas’ best hotels for families), the Big Apple Coaster is a Las Vegas roller coaster that features a thrilling 203-foot drop.
Why Do It?: A popular Las Vegas attraction, this roller coaster thrills over one million riders a year. This coaster travels over 65 miles per hour and is the world’s first roller coaster to have a 180-degree heartline twist.
Good to Know: Riders will need to book a time slot in advance to ride this roller coaster. It is also mandatory that riders be at least 54” tall.
Snap a Pic at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign
What Is It?: The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is one of the most iconic signs in the world. It has been a beacon for Las Vegas travelers since it was first erected in 1959.
Why Do It?: A picture with the welcome sign is a right of passage for first-time visitors to Las Vegas. As an Instagrammable location in Sin City, teens and adults alike will want to document this vintage signage.
Good to Know: Similar to many Las Vegas attractions, the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign draws a crowd, so expect a line if you visit later in the day. If you can, arrive early to avoid a wait.
Feel the Energy on Fremont Street
What Is It?: Escape the Strip and head to “Old Vegas” to visit Fremont Street, one of the most unforgettable things to do in Vegas. This energetic street is full of street performers, neon lights, and free live music.
Why Do It?: Teens may want to take a ride down the zipline, SlotZilla, which zooms harnessed riders high above Fremont Street. At seven stories high, SlotZilla is a great way to experience this unique part of Vegas.
Good to Know: Fremont Street is more family-friendly during the day than at night. Adult street performers tend to come out during the night, and a curfew of 9 p.m. is set for unaccompanied teens under 18 years of age.
Step Into Another World at the Mob Museum
What Is It?: This Las Vegas museum, which is close to Fremont Street, showcases the inner workings of organized crime. From notorious crime families to the detectives that took them down, the Mob Museum is an interesting, educational attraction in Sin City.
Why Do It?: This multi-level museum has unique exhibits, like a firearm training simulator and the crime lab exhibit.
Good to Know: For the firearm simulator, teens under 18 will need parental consent.
Discover the Thrills at The STRAT
What Is It?: Formerly known as the Stratosphere, the STRAT hotel is a Las Vegas hotel and casino that has thrill rides and an observation deck that towers over 1,000 feet high. It’s a sensational travel experience sure to make you and your teens feel alive again.
Why Do It?: The Strat is home to three different thrill rides that adrenaline junkie teens will love. Named Big Shot, Insanity, and X-Scream, all of these rides offer incredible views of the city while also inducing some serious screams. Shoot straight up the tower in the Big Shot, dangle and spin from the side of the building in Insanity, or teeter off the edge of the Strat Skypod on the X-Scream roller coaster. Aside from the thrill rides, there is also a bungee jump called the SkyJump.
Good to Know: All of the thrill rides at the Strat have a height requirement of 52”. For the SkyJump, participants must be 14 years or older, and teens under 18 must have parental consent.
Find “Secret Pizza”
What Is It?: There is a “secret” pizza parlor located in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, one of Vegas’ top hotels, that serves New York-style pizza.
Why Do It?: With no restaurant name and no menu, finding this pizzeria is a fun challenge for teens.
Good to Know: If you find yourself near a wall of album covers, you’re getting close to the unmarked entrance to this secret pizzeria.
See the Blue Man Group
What Is It?: A long-running Vegas live show at the Luxor Hotel & Casino (one of Vegas’ top kid-friendly resorts), Blue Man Group is a unique and electrifying performance that is both edgy and humorous. The show is called the Blue Man Group because it stars men covered in blue paint.
Why Do It?: Perfect for teens who are into percussion instruments or even theater, the Blue Man Group is an engaging live show that keeps audience members of all ages entertained.
Good to Know: VIP tickets are available, which offer close-up seats and a chance to meet the performers.
Hike Red Rock Canyon
What Is It?: The perfect day trip from Vegas at just 25 miles from the Strip, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is an outdoor recreation area that is home to hiking trails, campsites, and a scenic byway.
Why Do It?: Red Rock Canyon is a great spot to escape the busy Vegas city for a day while taking in the beauty of the Mojave Desert through unique rock formations and beginner-friendly hiking trails. Rock climbers will also find plenty of bouldering spots here too.
Good to Know: If you’re visiting during the summer, visit Red Rock Canyon in the morning. Avoid visiting here from noon to 3 p.m., as this is when the desert day temperatures are hottest. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of drinking water.
Check Out the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
What Is It?: This Las Vegas museum inside Treasure Island Hotel & Casino (one of the best family-friendly resorts in the U.S.) will definitely fascinate Marvel-obsessed teens, as this museum focuses on the props, history, and characters of some of the biggest superheroes in the Marvel universe.
Why Do It?: Interactive exhibits from the Iron Man Simulator to Bruce Banner’s Lab are unique features of the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. that will intrigue visitors of all ages. Don’t miss the gift shop here, as it is one of the largest Marvel retail stores in the world.
Good to Know: There is an app that goes with the experience. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can rent an iPod touch at the museum for only $5.
Race at the Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix
What Is It?: This amusement center has an arcade, rides, and slide; however, the main attraction is the go-karts. With four go-kart tracks, Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix makes go-kart racing a possibility for kids and adults alike.
Why Do It?: Teens will definitely want to race on the Euro High-Speed Karts. This track, which is only for drivers 14 years old or older, has karts that can go up to 47 miles per hour.
Good to Know: Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix serves food and drinks, so no need to stop playing just because it’s dinner time.
Board The High Roller
What Is It?: Resembling a Ferris wheel, the High Roller in Las Vegas is the world’s tallest observation wheel and is considered to be one of the best Ferris wheels in the world.
Why Do It?: Riders board glass-domed pods that reach a height of 550 feet high, boasting incredible views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Good to Know: Take the Las Vegas Monorail to the LINQ, where you can then walk to The High Roller or explore shopping along the Linq Promenade.
