Las Vegas is a great destination for families, with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. But if you’re on a budget, it can be tough to find things to do that are free. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! After a fun family trip to Las Vegas, Buddy and I are sharing five great ideas for fun and FREE things to do in Vegas with kids.
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5 FREE and Fun Things to Do in Vegas with Kids
1. Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
Located inside the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is a family friendly garden filled with streams, ponds, and even waterfalls. The habitat features turtles, fish, and birds such as the California Brown Pelican, the Northern Cinnamon Teal, and the Red-Crested Pochard. Offering two free habitat keeper talks twice daily, this free exhibit perfect place for the whole family to visit and enjoy. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat website.
Best for: Families with Young Children. Families staying in the immediate area. People of all ages who like birds and other wildlife.
Pro Tips
- If visiting I the summer, we highly recommend the morning show because it already at 8am, it is really hot! And no matter what time you visit, make sure you bring sunscreen, a hat, and an refillable water bottle to beat the heat!
- There are two entrances to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat, a smaller one on the side and a larger one across from the main elevators in the Flamingo. The smaller entrance will lead you to the habitat where they place the flamingoes, but either entrance will lead you into the four-acre habitat area.
- If you are planning on attending a keeper talk, please note that the Flamingo can cancel these at any time and without prior notice on the website. Keep that in mind if you and your family are staying far from the Flamingo and are planning on making a special trip to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat just to attend a keeper talk. It might be best to call ahead before venturing out. The number to the Wildlife Habitat is listed on their website.
Thoughts from Buddy, the teenage travel blogger “I liked the ducks. The flamingoes were kinda fighting. There were nice turtles. The presentation was canceled for some random reason. We don’t know exactly why but there was a sign saying it was canceled and sure enough it was canceled. So hopefully it is not canceled next time we come. I am amazed at how the wildlife interacted with each other. It is kinda cool that they have a little wildlife exhibit in a casino. That is very unique to the Flamingo.”
2. Area 15
Area 15 is an experiential entertainment district located off the strip in Las Vegas. From interactive art installations to live music and restaurants, the district is also home to a variety of activities and attractions. Area 15 offers free entry passes. You can register for your free passes and get the most up-to-date information on Area 15’s website.
Although, there is a free ticket option for Area 15, be warned that most attractions cost money. So, if your kiddos might want to explore more than what the free ticket offers, perhaps splurge on some of the attractions or save Area 15 for the next trip to Vegas. The good news is, Area 15 offers activities at different price points, so you may be able to find a few things to do on site that won’t break the bank.
Best for: Families with older kids. Families with teens.
Pro Tip
- Area 15 is a fun place to visit with your family. Just make sure you visit before 10pm! After 10pm Area 15 becomes 21+
Buddy’s thoughts: “I liked the free tickets to Area 15 but most of the attractions are not free. The attractions are really cool and high tech, and I am disappointed we did not go to them because we had free tickets.“
3. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Located in the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is 14,000-square-foot garden whose display changes with each season. Currently, there are five display changes each year, four the four seasons and one the Lunar New Year. Entrance to the beautiful fountain and flower filled Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is free. Spending some time in the botanical gardens in the afternoon with the family is a great way beat the Las Vegas heat! Visit the website for up-to-date information.
Best for: Older kids or teens wanting to take photos for social media. Younger kids who love flowers. Families staying in the immediate area. People of all ages who like flowers.
Pro Tip
- Get there early if you want to take photos in the garden without other tourists in the shot. When we visited, we arrived at 8:50am on a Monday morning in June and there were already a lot of people vying for spots to take photos.
Buddy’s Thoughts: “It was very beautiful. It is nice to enjoy. Lots of water, kinda like nitrogen infused water. It was kinda cool. The population increased the more time we stayed there, so the earlier you get there, the better. Yea I recommend it.”
Yvonne (aka Mom) says: “If I could capture the essence of the smell through photos or through words, I totally would. Of course, the gardens are beautiful. But there isn’t a whole lot for kids to do other than see (and not touch!) the flowers. So plan accordingly as it might be a quick stop.”
4. Fountains of Bellagio
Located on the Las Vegas Strip directly in front of the Bellagio Hotel & Casino are the famous Fountains of Bellagio. A performance of music, lights and more than a thousand fountains occur day and night to the delight of hotel guests and passers by on The Strip. This iconic attraction is completely free. For exact performance times, visit the Fountains at Bellagio website.
As the Foundations of Bellagio are located on The Strip, please note that there are sometimes scantily clad showgirls and their Thunder Down Under-esqe male counterparts walking The Strip taking photos with tourists. While this usually occurs more during the evening hours, they are also out during the day. If you visit the Fountains at Bellagio, chances are you may pass by these street performers with your family.
Best for: Kids of all ages! Who doesn’t love a display of music, water, and lights!
Buddy’s Thoughts: “The Fountains at Bellagio are really cool and it is amazing to see how high the water can actually go. And the fact that the water is synched to the music so perfectly is amazing. Yes, I recommend seeing this free Vegas attraction. And I recommend going at night because you get to really enjoy the show better in my opinion.”
5. Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. It is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and street performers. The highlight of the Fremont Street Experience is the LED-lit canopy that stretches overhead, providing a spectacular light show after dark. Viva Vision, the world’s largest digital display offers free shows each night. There are also free nightly live music performances on multiple stages on Fremont Street. The music is good, the bands are great, and the light show is amazing!
The Fremont Street Experience a great place to take a break from the casinos and enjoy some family-friendly fun. For the most up-to-date information regarding Viva Vision shows and the live music line up, visit the website.
Like The Strip, there are sometimes scantily clad showgirls and their Thunder Down Under-esqe male counterparts walking The Strip taking photos with tourists. These street performers, along with dancers and musicians, are a part of the overall vibe of Fremont Street. If you visit, chances are you may pass by these street performers with your family.
If you are not staying in the area, parking for the Fremont Street Experience can be a bit tricky. The neighborhood around the Fremont Street Experience may seem a bit rough around the edges for some families. Keep that in mind when planning your trip, especially if you are parking and walking to your car.
Best for: Kids who like lights. Families who like music. Teens who want to share the Viva Vision show on social media.
Pro Tips
- Beat the crowds by arriving closer to sunset or visit during the week. It can get packed so hold on to and keep an eye on your kiddos.
- Also, the music can be loud. That combine with the lights and the loads of people, it may be a sensory overload for littles!
Buddy’s Thoughts: “It is very cool honestly. The top of the screen is cool. It’s a little packed, so keep an eye on your parents or you might get lost. I would recommend it for teens. It would be better if it was less crowded.”
Honorable Mentions
Before we go, we wanted to share some honorable mentions for free things to do in Vegas with kids. These honorable mentions include:
The reason we are not writing about these activities is because we did not get a chance to visit them during our trip! Our guarantee to you is that as family travel bloggers, we only write about destinations based on firsthand knowledge and experiences. Since we do not visit these places in person, we cannot provide an honest assessment of these places just yet.
A note about the Tesla Tunnels
We wanted to share that there were some travel vloggers on YouTube who recommended riding in the Tesla Tunnels at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The tunnels are currently free. As a science and engineering enthusiast, Buddy was excited to try this free activity! We went to the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, and it was a ghost town! Everything was empty and quiet. There were no rides to be found. That is why at this moment, we do not recommend the Tesla Tunnels as a free activity to do in Vegas. Perhaps this will change in the future.
Movement Postcards
Unfortunately, there is no Movement Postcard for this post. But check out this mini-dance film from Death Valley!
What are your favorite things to do in Vegas with kids? Are you planning family trip to Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments below!
Do you have questions about family travel or traveling with teens? Feel free to reach out! We are happy to chat and share our experiences! We look forward to connecting with you.
Planning a trip to Las Vegas with Teens? Check out our blog post series on Las Vegas!
- Visiting Vegas with Teens: 5 Fun and Interesting Things to Do
- 5 Fun and FREE Things to Do in Vegas with Kids
- 4 Great Reasons Families Must Visit the National Atomic Testing Museum
- 5 Great Tips for Visiting The Neon Museum
- Travel Made Easy: What to Know Before Visiting Hoover Dam
- 5 Interesting Things To Do in Vegas off the Strip
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I appreciate that not everything you featured here is right on the Strip. There is so much to do in Vegas!
Yes! There is so much to do in Vegas and we love to get away from the hustle and bustle of The Strip. We are going to write a post about our favorite off The Strip things to do in Vegas soon!
We did a baby moon in Vegas and loved it. Thanks for the information. Maybe we will return with our kids the next time!
I love the Bellagio Conservatory and how its different every time I go! I’ve never heard of area 15, so we will have to check that out next time!
Every time I am on the Strip, I visit the Bellagio Conservatory to see the new exhibit. They are so fun! And Area 15 is definitely an experience!
Fun guide! I took my kids to Vegas this summer – wish I would have had this before! They would have loved the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
The Flaming Wildlife Habitat next time for sure!
To be honest I’m surprised Vegas does have activities for kids. I was there with friends, but good to now that kids won’t be bored there either.
Love this guide! Vegas can be so overwhelming sometimes and I think this guide is great to help navigate that!
Thank you!
I’ve never done Area 15, but I’m sure it would be fun! I also enjoyed seeing the Eiffel Tower replica as a kid!
Flamingo keeper talk sounds like an interesting activity to do. I would love to do it.