Find some wildlife.
Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
The Mirage is home to white tigers, lions and leopards, the Secret Garden is a lush, tropical environment with some of the rarest cats on the planet. The Dolphin Habitat has an underwater viewing area and a few different hands-on experiences you can book like Painting with the Dolphins, and Trainer for a Day.
The Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay joins only 10% of aquariums nationwide that are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association; it’s also the only one in the state. Needless to say, they’re kind of a big deal. There are more than 1,200 species of marine life to see, including sharks, a 300-pound sea turtle, exotic fresh and saltwater fish. In addition to the super neat shark tunnel, guests can also check out exhibits with crocodiles, piranhas, and even pet some stingrays. Here are some family-friendly activities to do off The Strip:
Trek the great outdoors.
Some of the country’s greatest natural wonders are located right outside of Vegas. In just a quick car ride, you can hike, camp, ski and kayak (yes, in the desert). If your family is the type that likes to get outside and soak up a little Mother Nature, there are plenty of ways to do it without going all the way to the Grand Canyon or Death Valley.
If crawling across plateaus and squeezing through ancient passages in the Valley of Fire sounds like something the whole family would enjoy, Love Hikes is just the tour for you. Your kids will think you’re Indiana Jones re-incarnated when they explore the rich copper rock, sandstone formations, and Indian petroglyphs dating back 3,000 years.
For the John Wayne lover in all of us, there are great Wild West Horseback Adventures that let you channel your inner cowboy and show your kids what it was like to be out in the Wild Wild West–riding along the same dusty trails that were once ridden by the most infamous outlaws of the American West.
For the more adventurous family, a quick half-hour hike is all it takes to get to the Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon launch pad near Boulder City. From the top of Red Mountain, you’ll get harnessed in and coast down four separate runs on zip lines perched high above the mountainous desert terrain.
Get Aquatic
With more than 25 slides and attractions on 33.5 acres, the Wet ‘N’ Wild water-themed amusement park, delivers a fun and easy way to beat the heat. There’s something for everyone, from massive slides to a lazy river and kid-friendly aquatic zones. And it’s only 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.
The Black Canyon River Adventure takes you to explore waterfalls and hot springs down the mighty Colorado. For 12 miles, you’ll glide along the river, passing through canyon walls that rise 2,000 feet above you, and see wildlife like desert big horn sheep, osprey and great blue heron.
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