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| Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. // Photo by Victory Hill Expeditions |
Ah, Vegas: the city of sin and… kids? That’s right; think you can’t bring your family to Las Vegas? Well think again. We’ve found a few of the great hidden gems that Las Vegas has to offer to families and more.
Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Las Vegas, at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
Your little one will really think you’re a super hero when you bring them to the Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. The S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (or the Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) is an immersive and educational experience completely transporting visitors into the world of The Avengers. Inside the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. visitors are taken within the official headquarters of the Marvel Universe, gaining access to intelligence files, classified studies, experiments around the origins of The Avengers, all while training to become an agent of S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Fans of the series will recognize tons of Marvel equipment, including Captain America’s uniform and shield, Bruce Banner’s laboratory, Hawkeye and Black Widow uniforms and weapons, Vision’s birth cradle, Ant-Man’s helmet and more. Agents also can map the stars to find Asgard, making this all-ages Vegas attraction really out of this world.
Gondola University at The Venetian Las Vegas
Limited to just nine participants per day, The Venetian Las Vegas’ new Gondola University is an exciting and unique experience that answers the most asked question to The Venetian’s gondoliers: “how can I become a gondolier?” Open to students ages 13 and up, the program begins with a primer on the history of Venice, where the hotel drew inspiration from the city's famous aquatic transportation. Students then learn the ins and outs of piloting a gondola before heading through “Rowing 101,” the hands-own experience allowing future gondoliers to navigate their own vessel. The day ends with an official Sash and Scarf ceremony that mimics the ritual performed by The Venetian Las Vegas when a new gondolier earns their stripes after training. Graduates will also receive a gondola hat and t-shirt, a souvenir photo and a degree certificate from Gondola University.
The West Rim Drive, Fly and Float Adventure Tour, by Pink Jeep Tours
A great way to get a family off the Strip for a while is the all-day Pink Jeep Tour to the Grand Canyon. The day starts with a custom pick up from your Las Vegas Strip hotel. Tour vehicles come equipped with car seats for children under 60 pounds / six years old, though children under two cannot be permitted on the tour, as mobility is a necessity for this adventure. As you head towards the Grand Canyon your tour guide will point out some eye catching views; passing Lake Mead, crossing the Mojave Desert and driving through a Joshua Tree forest. Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon, you’ll board a helicopter, flying you 4,000 feet down into the canyon before landing and boarding an excursion boat for a 10-minute ride down the Colorado River. Once back on land adventurers are guided to viewpoints of the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, where you’ll have time to eat an included BBQ lunch. Before departing the Canyon, we suggest purchasing a ticket to the Skywalk experience, where the brave can extend 70 feet out beyond the rim on a glass walkway, seeing the canyon floor thousands of feet below them. On the ride back to your hotel, tours make a final stop at the Hoover Dam, so have your cameras ready!
Vegas Indoor Skydiving
Not brave enough to jump out of a plane just yet? Vegas Indoor Skydiving has got you covered. Children weighing more than 40 pounds have the opportunity to experience this simulated free fall. Vegas Indoor Skydiving provides even the youngest adrenaline junkie in your family the opportunity to feel like they’re flying without ever leaving the building. A 1,000 horsepower motor keeps divers high above the ground in a safe, indoor, vertical wind tunnel with winds reaching up to 120 miles per hour. Every flyer must attend a training class before taking off, covering the basics of how to indoor sky dive, including proper body position, flight technique, hand communication signals used in the tunnel as well as safety procedures. We recommend wearing athletic gear like tennis shoes and socks for this one; your instructor will provide you with a flight suit, earplugs, goggles and helmet that can be worn over your street clothes.
Ultra Strip Limo Tours by Presidential Limousine
Why shuffle around the crowds of the Vegas strip when you can have a professional take you exactly to the spots you want to see? Treat your kids to a ride they’ll never forget: a limo around Las Vegas. This private, three and a half hour night-time tour takes you to all the famous Vegas Strip hot spots, like to take photos The Las Vegas Sign, the water and music light show at the Fountains of Bellagio, the Mirage Volcano Explosion and Tropical Gardens and the Fremont Street Experience, complete with a laser light and sound show, shops, food and an indoor zip line. Limos are available with anywhere from six to 20 seats, making this excursion perfect for a family of any size. The ride comes with complimentary water for everyone and complimentary champagne for adults.