The Circus Circus hotel hosts the world's largest permanent circus, including flying trapeze artists, jugglers and body contortionists. These free performances take place every half hour, 11 a.m. to midnight. Entrance is free, and it's advisable to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the show.
The Mandalay Bay hotel shark reef aquarium is one of the premier underwater tourist attractions in Las Vegas. Kids get up close and personal with over 2,000 animals, including 100 sharks, sea turtles, exotic fish and rare golden crocodiles. Children under 4 enter free.
Mandalay Bay's 11-acre outdoor water recreational area, featuring a wave pool, a beach, and a lazy river, is a big hit with kids. It is only accessible to guests of the hotel.
Not only does the Manhattan Express roller coaster at the New York Hotel and Casino travel at speeds up to 67 miles per hour and drop 114 feet, it also offers great views of the Las Vegas strip. This coaster is for older kids only, as you must be at least 54 inches to ride.
If your child is a thrill-seeker, make sure to visit the NASCAR Speed ride at the Sahara Hotel. This state-of-the-art roller coaster accelerates from a speed of 35 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour in a mere two seconds. Afterward, kids can check out Cyber Speedway's race car simulators. There is an admission fee for both of these rides. Combo pass and unlimited day passes are also available.
At Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat Attraction, located in the Mirage Hotel and Casino, children can marvel at the beauty of the big cats, such as panthers, white tigers, and leopards, and admire the grace of a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
Teenagers can participate in the "Trainer for a Day " program, where they can spend the day working side-by-side with the dolphin trainers. Teenagers ages 13 to15 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Circus Circus hotel is home to the Adventure Dome, a 5-acre indoor theme park featuring a variety of rides, including a double cork screw roller coaster, a waterfall ride, and a Sponge Bob Squarepants ride. The emphasis is on thrill rides, and most of the rides require you to be at least 42 to 48 inches tall. You can pay individually for each ride, or, if you plan on spending some time there, all-day passes are also available.
