Weekend with the Kids

Description:

Give the kids the time of their lives and have some good, old-fashioned fun yourself. From clowns to jugglers, this is one big top that never comes down. At this Circus Circus attraction, you will enjoy a complete carnival midway with circus acts, high-wire artists and girls on the flying trapeze. More than 200 electronic games are available in the state-of-the-art arcade. Other entertainment includes the ring-toss, milk bottles and balloon pops. Snack and souvenirs are also available.

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Here's a tradeoff: It's just about the cheapest buffet on the Strip but also what some consider the worst buffet food in town. Here you'll find 50 items of typical cafeteria fare, and none of them is all that good. If food is strictly fuel for you, you can't go wrong here. Otherwise, find another buffet.

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This restaurant has won several "Top Steak House" awards over the years. It offers a cozy, inviting atmosphere and some of the best steaks in town. You can also choose from entrees such as grilled chicken, and other goodies like Black Bean Soup, Caesar salad and Fresh Mushrooms sauteed in a fresh butter, sherry and lemon concoction. Desserts include Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Cake. It is located at the Circus Circus Hotel. The eatery is open for dinner all seven days of the week.

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CLOSED MAY 2011
Speed is the name of the game at this exciting attraction, located at the Sahara Hotel. Thrill-seekers will delight in zooming from zero to 50mph, then looping 360 degrees while reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. The final thrill comes when the course is repeated; this time, it goes in reverse!

Description:

CLOSED MAY 2011

Auto racing is the fastest-growing spectator sport in America, so it's no surprise that these two attractions at the Sahara are a popular stop. The first is an 8-minute virtual-reality ride, Cyber Speedway, featuring a three-quarter-size replica of a NASCAR race car. Hop aboard for an animated, simulated ride -- either the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a race around the streets of Las Vegas (start with the Strip, with all the hotels flashing by, and then through the Forum Shops -- whoops! There goes Versace! -- and so forth). Press the gas and you lean back and feel the rush of speed; hit a bump and you go flying. Should your car get in a crash, off you go to a pit stop. At the end, a computer-generated report tells you your average speed, how many laps you made, and how you did racing against the others next to you. It's a pretty remarkable experience.

Speed junkies and race-car buffs will be in heaven here, though those with tender stomachs should consider shopping at the well-stocked theme gift shop instead.

SPEED: The Ride is a roller coaster that blasts riders out through a hole in the wall by the NASCAR Cafe, then through a loop, under the sidewalk, through the...

Description:

Las Vegas poses some challenges for families--namely, what to do with the kids. The Adventuredome at Circus-Circus is the Strip's only remaining theme park, and while it might not have the size or technology of larger theme parks like those in Southern California or Orlando, it's a good place to spend an afternoon with the kids. One of its best features is that it is indoors, a major bonus during the summer. You'll find rollercoasters (including the world's largest indoor, double-loop rollercoaster), laser tag, and miniature golf, all in a small indoor theme park that has the same circus midway feeling reflected in the rest of the property. If you're looking for upscale, top-of-the-line, brand-new rides, you may be disappointed--Circus Circus is known as a budget destination almost as much as a family destination. Circus Circus and Adventuredome are on the northern part of the Strip, closer to downtown and the grittier side of Las Vegas, which may turn some visitors off. But if you're hoping to find a reasonably-priced, G-rated place away from the slot machines and poker tables, Adventuredome has five acres of family-appropriate entertainment. Visitors can purchase all-day passes or...

Description:

Circus Circus has been a family-friendly Las Vegas hotel for decades. Its giant circus tent houses a casino, live circus acts, and a carnival midway. Located on the northern part of the Strip, the Circus Circus also has an RV Park and a small amusement park, Adventuredome.

Many of the rooms have been updated, although the accommodations are still basic and budget-priced. A resort fee covers internet access and other incidentals. The RV park has over 300 hookups and includes a convenience store, arcade, a dog park (the RV park is dog-friendly) and playground. They also rent trailers, in case you don't have your own.

The property has a good selection of restaurants, including a buffet and fast food. Two pools are available for guests in the hotel, and one pool is located at the RV Park. The carnival midway in the hotel and Adventuredome are good for smaller kids, but you'll want to go looking for bigger rides for teens. (Fortunately, the Stratosphere, with its thrill rides at the top, is a short drive away.)

Families who want to sight-see along the Strip will need a car if they're staying at the Circus Circus. The hotel casino is family-friendly, but is too far from many of the major... read more

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The Stratosphere is America's tallest observation tower (1,149 feet) and one of the tallest structures west of the Mississippi River. At the very top, the daring get their adrenaline going on one of the thrill rides: The Big Shot, which shoots its riders into the air; the X-Scream, a teeter-totter that dangles you over the side; the Insanity, which spins you over a thousand feet of thin air; and the Sky Jump, where you can free-fall your way to the bottom.

You don't have to be a thrill seeker to visit the top of the Stratosphere. A rotating restaurant, the Top of the World Restaurant, takes advantage of the view to offer a memorable meal. You'll also find bars and lounges here.

Tickets to the top of the Stratosphere are $16. An indoor and outdoor observation deck are available. The Stratosphere's wedding chapel also offers services at the top.

Description:

This ride is available from the top of theStratosphere Hotel Casino. It takes advantage of the height of the hotel and offers a hair-raising experience to those brave enough to try it. Riders scream out their lungs as their seats spin at the rate of 40 miles per hour at a height of 906 feet-facing the ground! For further information check the website.

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What do you get when Steven Spielberg and his DreamWorks team get in on the arcade video-game action? Grown-up, state-of-the-art fun. High-tech movie magic has taken over all sorts of traditional arcade games and turned them interactive, from a virtual-reality batting cage to a Jurassic Park game that lets you hunt dinosaurs. There are motion-simulator rides galore and even actual-motion activities such as rock climbing. But classic games, from Pac-Man to pool tables, are here, too, though sometimes with surprising twists, such as air hockey where multiple pucks occasionally shoot out at once.

All this doesn't exactly come cheap. Games are priced via a point system: $5 gets you $7 worth of play points, $10 gets you $16 in game play, $20 delivers $36, $25 brings $50. On Thursday nights from 9pm until the midnight closing you can purchase a card to play for the final three hours for $30. Purchased points go on a debit card that you then insert into the various machines to activate them. But you do get value for your money, which makes this a viable alternative to casinos, particularly if you have children (though it's clearly geared toward a high-school-age-and-older demographic). Children...

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Hit this attraction at the right time, and it's one of the best freebies in town. It's a large, multilevel glass enclosure in which various lions frolic during various times of day. In addition to regular viewing spots, you can walk through a glass tunnel and get a worm's-eye view of the underside of a lion (provided one is in position); note how very big Kitty's paws are. Multiple lions share show duties (about 6 hr. on and then 2 days off at a ranch for some free-range activity, so they're never cooped up here for long). You could see any combo, from one giant male to a pack of five females who have grown from cub to adult size during their MGM time. Each comes with a trainer or three, who are there to keep the lions busy with play so they don't act like the big cats they are and sleep the entire time. But obviously, photo ops are more likely to occur as the more frisky younger set tussles, so what you observe definitely depends on who is in residence when you drop by. And, of course, actually seeing anything depends on how many other people think this is a two-star attraction; hordes of tourists are often pressed against the glass, preventing you, not to mention your kids, from doing...

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Las Vegas' most well-known attractions--and it's free!

Description:

The Bellagio's Fountains sound like a simple concept: shooting jets of water timed to music. But what sounds simple is actually a complex choreography of technology, sound, and water. Designed by WET Design, an international company that specializes in elaborate water displays, the Bellagio's Fountains are spread over the nine-acre lake in front of the Bellagio. Over 1,200 nozzles and 4,500 lights work together to shoot water 400+ feet in the air-but that's not all the fountains do. They sway, they dance, and they wow the crowds that gather to watch them.

Shows start in the afternoon, but the best time to see the fountains is at night. The combination of music and the illuminated dancing water is enchanting. Many people have already seen the fountains on television shows or in movies (most famously, the George Clooney remake of "Ocean's 11"). Romantic, spectacular, and iconic, the Bellagio's Fountains are a free Las Vegas attraction that's appropriate for anyone of any age.

An underground well supplies most of the water for the fountains. Prior to the Bellagio, the Dunes and its golf course were located here-thus, the well, which watered the golf course. The Dunes was imploded to... read more

Description:

This fun spot is located right in the heart of the MGM Grand entertainment center near Studio 54 and the Lion Habitat. It is a recreated jungle with waterfalls, families of elephants and gorillas, and plenty of excitement. Specializing in exotic jungle concoctions made with rum and other exotic liquors, the cafe also offers milkshakes, salads, pasta, pizza and burgers. Check out the 'Cha!Cha!s' Breakfast Carnival, where you will have the opportunity to watch magicians perform daily from 8a to 10:15a.

Description:

The New York-New York Las Vegas has wonderfully imitated the city of New York and its attractions. And the Manhattan Express Roller Coaster takes you for a joyride past the replicas of the Big Apple; Empire State Building, Chrysler Building to name a few. Speeding upto 67 miles per hour, the ride specialises in a 203-foot drop. The hotel also offers packages, which include, unlimited rides, souvenir T-shirts, food and drinks, and clown dolls. As for the experience - absolutely dizzying!

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This fun place, located at New York-New York Hotel Casino, was voted "Best Arcade" for three years running by the Las Vegas Review Journal. Once inside, find 32,000 square feet of super games and prizes to win. There are more than 200 midway games including Laser Patrol, Daytona Simulator and Bumper Cars. There is also plenty of popcorn and cotton candy. There is no admission charge.

Description:

Circus Circus has been a family-friendly Las Vegas hotel for decades. Its giant circus tent houses a casino, live circus acts, and a carnival midway. Located on the northern part of the Strip, the Circus Circus also has an RV Park and a small amusement park, Adventuredome.

Many of the rooms have been updated, although the accommodations are still basic and budget-priced. A resort fee covers internet access and other incidentals. The RV park has over 300 hookups and includes a convenience store, arcade, a dog park (the RV park is dog-friendly) and playground. They also rent trailers, in case you don't have your own.

The property has a good selection of restaurants, including a buffet and fast food. Two pools are available for guests in the hotel, and one pool is located at the RV Park. The carnival midway in the hotel and Adventuredome are good for smaller kids, but you'll want to go looking for bigger rides for teens. (Fortunately, the Stratosphere, with its thrill rides at the top, is a short drive away.)

Families who want to sight-see along the Strip will need a car if they're staying at the Circus Circus. The hotel casino is family-friendly, but is too far from many of the major... read more

Description:

Kids of all ages can go nuts at FAO Schwartz. This place is jam packed with all manner of unique toys and gadgets. Drop in the nursery and adopt a new born baby doll, or maybe you'd like a Thomas the Tank Engine track with your name on it. Store closed in February 2010.

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In addition to all the other superlatives you would expect, you will find hands-on displays and lots of records pertaining specifically to Las Vegas. Videos display actual record-breaking feats of individuals and teams. The tour is self-guided.
CLOSED

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Kids will love the multi-dimensional theater experience.

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Efficiently run, this buffet will seat you fairly quickly even when lines are long. The food is quite good and the selections change each day. Breakfast features egg dishes, ham, bacon, sausage, fruit and pastries. Turkey Breast and Roast Beef generally highlight the dinner menu. This eatery is located in the Excalibur Hotel Casino.

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Tease your palate with a comprehensive gourmet Italian menu and wine list. Begin with the Prosciutto and Melon or the Stuffed Portabella Mushroom, then perhaps the Linguini with Clams or Veal Piccata. Top off your meal with a cup of espresso and a slice of Sacher Torte or Creme Brulee. The restaurant is located inside Circus Circus Hotel.

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Siegfried & Roy's famous white tigers went from famous to infamous when one of them either did what tigers all do eventually and attacked his beloved owner/trainer, or -- depending on whether you buy the following story -- helped said beloved owner/trainer when the latter was having a medical emergency. Either way this saga is played, it explains why the Secret Garden attraction is still up; no matter what, the tiger is not to blame. We hope this attraction, a gorgeous area behind the dolphin exhibit, stays put for a long time. Here, white lions, Bengal tigers, an Asian elephant, a panther, and a snow leopard join the white tigers. (The culprit, Montecore, may sometimes be on exhibit.) It's really just a glorified zoo featuring only the big-ticket animals; however, it is a very pretty place, with plenty of foliage and some bits of Indian- and Asian-themed architecture. Zoo purists will be horrified at the smallish spaces the animals occupy, but all the animals are rotated between here and their more lavish digs at the illusionist team's home. What this does allow you to do is get safely very close up to a tiger, which is quite a thrill -- those paws are massive indeed. Visitors are...

Description:

Madame Tussauds's waxworks exhibition has been the top London attraction for nearly 2 centuries, so even if you aren't a fan of wax museums, this, its sole branch west of the Mississippi, is probably worth a stop -- if you can stomach the price. Figures here are state-of-the-art, painstakingly constructed to perfectly match the original person. Truth be told, though some are nearly identical to their living counterparts -- Brad Pitt gave us a start -- others look about as much like the celebrity in question as a department-store mannequin. All the waxworks are free-standing, allowing, and indeed encouraging, guests to get up close and personal -- there's interactive fun! Go ahead, lay your cheek next to Elvis's or Sinatra's and have your photo taken. Or put on a wedding dress and get "married" to "George Clooney" (you know you want to). Or fondle J. Lo's butt (you know you want to). Live performers make the Haunted House section more stimulating than expected in a facility dedicated to statues. Exhibits change, but someone sheepishly enjoyable ought to be on display when you go through. There's also a behind-the-scenes look at the lengthy process involved in creating one of these figures....

Description:

Circus Circus has been a family-friendly Las Vegas hotel for decades. Its giant circus tent houses a casino, live circus acts, and a carnival midway. Located on the northern part of the Strip, the Circus Circus also has an RV Park and a small amusement park, Adventuredome.

Many of the rooms have been updated, although the accommodations are still basic and budget-priced. A resort fee covers internet access and other incidentals. The RV park has over 300 hookups and includes a convenience store, arcade, a dog park (the RV park is dog-friendly) and playground. They also rent trailers, in case you don't have your own.

The property has a good selection of restaurants, including a buffet and fast food. Two pools are available for guests in the hotel, and one pool is located at the RV Park. The carnival midway in the hotel and Adventuredome are good for smaller kids, but you'll want to go looking for bigger rides for teens. (Fortunately, the Stratosphere, with its thrill rides at the top, is a short drive away.)

Families who want to sight-see along the Strip will need a car if they're staying at the Circus Circus. The hotel casino is family-friendly, but is too far from many of the major... read more