Is Vegas a Family Vacation Destination?

We took our kids to Vegas in April - I regret it. My oldest son is 13 and I saw him take notice of all the smut magazine machines and the enormous dial-a-hooker advertising truck we got next to in a turn lane. Even though we stayed on the outskirts of "The Strip" most of the time it was not a good decision to take them there. It was my first time there in 12+ years and I didn't remember it being so bad. It won't happen again!

Definitely not a family friendly place! I went there last year for a convention. I did see a few kids and I was shocked! I definitely wouldn't take my kids there. Like you said OP, the only real thing they can do is the pool.

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No way on Earth! I wouldn't take my girls there! In fact I felt so intimidated and vulnerable walking along the strip at night and I am an adult!

I disagree. Vegas is more than the Strip. I took my family there and we went to the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Downtown Vegas has a lot of family friendly activities as well. There are many places to stay off the strip that are family friendly.

We go out west regularly and our Phoenix family members inevitably want to go to Vegas for a few days. I don't understand the kids and strollers on The Strip. Unavoidably, there are drunk people, folks with the little "Stripper MVP Cards" littering the sidewalks with nearly nude pics, and it's just not an environment I'd want my child in, if I'd had children of my own.

That said, my husband did take my stepson there when he was in grade school (he's 24 now), but since our family knows the area well, anything family friendly (staged Pirate fight at Treasure Island, arcades, rides, etc.) was scoped out in advance and that particular trip just didn't involve bars or casino areas.

There SO many amazing vacation destinations out there for families with little ones...I say pick somewhere else for Family Time!

About 20 years ago I went with my parents and my older sister and little brother. That was when they were trying to make it a "family friendly" destination and every hotel/casino had arcades and other things for kids to do. I think that fell to the wayside pretty quick because they make a TON more money off the debauchery. Now the only place that really still has stuff for kids that I remember last time is Circus Circus. But I think that will always be there unless it finally falls down.

Man, now I want to go back to Vegas...it's been 13 years since the last time I was there!

Since reports are showing that business is down in Vegas they have been trying for years to come up with new ways of attracting customers. Many casinos out East are closing too. Vegas is not a place to bring your children. It is and should be an Adult environment. When I visited in April on the weekend, I was unhappy about all the younger people from California who looked like gang members who just hung around the Strip at night. They tended to look for young girls from out of town to harass...openly. There were nightly fights and police action. Lots of drunk people which I get tired of putting up with. Sloppy drunks are a pain. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a beer or some wine myself. Next time, I will avoid the weekend.

I think parents who bring their kids on a vacation in Vegas are just being selfish. It's not really fair to the kids or other guests who are there to get wild. It always surprises me when I see kids in the casino hotels and on the strip - I just don't get it. Wouldn't it be way more fun for your kids to go hiking in Yosemite or something?!

My kids loved collecting all the hooker collectible cards the jerks on the drag were handing out to everyone. The aggressive costumed "characters" and panhandlers only furthered the charm.

Ha! This made me think of the movie "don't think unnatural thoughts about your cousin Rus"

I will also agree with the chorus, Vegas is not great for children. I can't even imagine how parents with strollers navigate all those stairs!

My husband stayed one night in Vegas on his way to Arizona to pick up our Savannah. He told me about busses that would drive up and down the strip advertising prostitution, people handing out pamphlets and papers for "girls" and the streets littered with these advertisements. I would agree...Vegas is NOT an appropriate place for children.

I loooove Vegas, but can't stand seeing kids on the strip. I'd like to swear and drink as I please without an annoyed parent giving me dirty looks, thank you very much.

I was there in May and we went down to Stratosphere to go on the rides. Decided to check out Circus Circus on the way back - big mistake. Such a dive, and kids EVERYWHERE. I literally tripped over a small child in a darker area whose mother was not paying attention. Nope. Don't need to go back to that creepy place ever again.

Vegas is an ADULT playground. Take the kiddies elsewhere.