Thinking of taking the kids to Las Vegas? You should! The adult-only Sin City days seem to be long gone.  Today Las Vegas is a kid-friendly destination that has families flocking here for weekend getaways and family vacations. When you think about it, this destination makes perfect sense for families since Vegas is filled with endless amount of free entertainment and budget-friendly attractions. Factor in the wide variety of reasonably priced hotels (but that's for an entirely different post) and Las Vegas makes a great family vacation destination. We recently took the kids to Las Vegas and today I want to share with you 10 things to do in Las Vegas with kids. Of course there are tons more you could do but these are just 10 that we recommend you start with. Happy travels!

10 Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids

1. Eat all the Food

Las Vegas is known for it's world-class eateries, delicious buffets, and unique dining experiences. Here you'll find everything from your favorite fast-food restaurant to dishes cooked by the world's top chefs. But dining with kids can be tricky which is what today I want to share with you a quick list of great family-friendly food spots to check out. These are some of my family's favorites!

• Grimaldi's Pizzeria at the Palazzo
• Carnival World Buffet at the Rio Hotel and Casino
• Maggiono's Little Italy at the Fashion Show Mall
• Tacos El Gordo on the Las Vegas Strip

Another unique family-friendly food spot that I highly recommend is the Yong Kang Street Dumpling & Noodle House located inside the PARIS Hotel on the Strip. This isn't your typical Chinese restaurant. They serve authentic Taiwanese cuisine,  Dim Sum, and dumplings. All made fresh and served in the first Dim Sum carts on the Las Vegas Strip. Delicious! We love this cozy restaurant and it's Asian decor. It's a unique dinning experience not to be missed. Take the kids!

2. Take in a Vegas Show

There are endless options when it comes to choosing a Las Vegas show. From Cirque du Soleil to Showgirls, impersonators, comedy shows and everything in between. I can only speak about the ones that I've personally experienced and they've been amazing. Here a few shows that I highly recommend when visiting Las Vegas with kids. These aren't only excellent family-friendly shows. I also found them to be the most budget-friendly when compared to some of the other much larger (and much more expensive) Las Vegas shows. This is something to consider when you have to buy more than two tickets!

Wow - World of Wonder at Rio Las Vegas

This Las Vegas spectacular transports audiences into a world of water, wonder and fantasy. You'll see more than 30 artists fly, flip, fold, dance and defy the imagination in a 180 degree theatrical setting that will engage you from beginning to end with 3D multi-media projections, water walls, and holograms. The costumes are dazzling, as is the choreography. Magnificent musicians and artists (finalists from the popular show, America's Got Talent). This show will surely wow you the kids. Don't miss it!

Blue Man Group Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel & Casino

If you're looking for a fun show to see with the kids while in Vegas, this is the one you can't miss! It's a comical musical and artistic show that features lots of audience interaction and is sure to draw in even the youngest member of your family. We've seen this show several times both in NYC and in Las Vegas and it's a must. The entire family will love this one!

Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay

What better way to introduce the kids to the iconic Michael Jackson songs you grew up on than to take them to see an electrifying Las Vegas show! Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil immerses audiences in the fascinating world of Michael's music through breathtaking acrobatics, dance and state of the art visuals. The entire family will be moonwalking by the time it's done. Take the kids!

3. Climb to the Top of the Eiffel Tower

Maybe you've been dreaming of taking the family to Paris, climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Here's the next best thing! Take the family over to the PARIS Las Vegas and ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Rise above the bustling Las Vegas Strip and take in some amazing views. This tower is an icon of the Las Vegas skyline and a half scale replica of the world-famous Paris, France landmark. It stands 46 stories high and offers fantastic views day or night. Plus, inspired by the Eiffel Tower's illuminations in France, this replica now offers a free, recurring light show every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from sunset to midnight. This synchronized twinkling colored light display is fun to watch and not to be missed when exploring the Las Vegas Strip.

4. Join the Circus

Did you know that the Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is home to the world's largest permanent circus? This family-friendly resort offers a wide variety of free circus acts daily starting at 11:30 a.m. There's also a Carnival Midway filled with tons of carnival-style games and arcades that the kids will love. Circus Circus is also home to the Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park where families can enjoy a variety of rides and experiences. From roller coasters to 4-D experiences, kiddie rides and so much more.  Everyone will love spending a few hours or an entire day at the Adventuredome. Pay per ride or purchase a Ride-All-Day wrist band. It's loads of family-fun!

5. Become a Super Hero

Are you and the kids big fans of Marvel Avengers? If so, head on over to Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N at Treasure Island Las Vegas, right on the Las Vegas Strip! This is an interactive exhibit that transports visitors into the world of The Avengers. Fans of all ages will love experiencing the official Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network (S.T.A.T.I.O.N) headquarters, and take a deep dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here you'll have access to exclusive intelligence files, view classified studies and experiments that explore the history and origins of The Avengers. The kids will feel like they are part of the super hero team as they train to become official agents of the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. There's an extensive collection of authentic props and costumes on display from a variety of Marvel Avengers movies. Fans get to see Captain America's uniform and shield, Black Widow's uniform and weapons, all the different Iron Man suits, and tons more. Just be warned that there is a retail store adjacent to this experience and chances are your kids will likely want to channel their inner Marvel super hero by asking you to purchase a cool toy or accessory. Totally worth a visit though as they carry a full range of apparel, toys, and collectibles that you might not find anywhere else.

6. Visit the Hoover Dam

Had enough of the buzzing Las Vegas Strip? Get away for a bit and take a short ride over to explore the Hoover Dam. Many different Hoover Dam day trips are offered through a variety of Las Vegas tour operators. You'll probably even find them at your hotel or through you concierge. You can also grab a car rental and make this a mini family road trip. It's just a 30 minute drive south of Las Vegas. Take US Highway 93 to Nevada State Route 172. Just follow the signs from Boulder City. It's easy to get to and it's a great family-friendly attraction to visit. The Hoover Dam straddles the Nevada-Arizona state line and is an engineering marvel you don't want to miss. From here you can take in the scenic views of Lake Mead and it doesn't cost anything to visit the Hoover Dam. However, there is a charge if you prefer to take a tour or pop into the visitor center. The admission into the visitor center is included with your tour, or you can purchase each separately.

7. Stop and Smell the Flowers

Las Vegas is home to gorgeous gardens and over the top floral displays. None bigger than the seasonal floral displays at the Bellagio. Each season this 14,000 square-foot indoor garden at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is transformed into a breath-taking masterpiece of distinctive arrangements to match the current season. The entire family will love exploring these beautiful gardens. Go on, take a little time to stop and smell the flowers!

8. Enjoy the Fountains

There's no shortage of beautiful water fountains in Las Vegas. The most iconic being the dancing Bellagio water fountains. There's nothing like seeing these up close. They're one of the most popular free Las Vegas attractions on the Las Vegas Strip and you shouldn't miss them. In fact, you should probably catch the Fountains of Bellagio Water Show more than once during your visit to Las Vegas. Daily shows happen every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Weekend hours vary. The fountains dance to a wide array of tunes -- opera, classic, Broadway, and pop tunes. Since each show is set to a different tune, you'll never feel like you're watching the same show twice. It's fantastic!

9. Make a Splash

Las Vegas gets hot! Really hot! After all this is a desert people. We recently visited during summer and temperatures reached as high as 110 degrees. That means pool time is the best time and your kids will love you for it! Most Las Vegas hotels offer great family-friendly pools. My personal favorites are probably the Beach Club Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas with water slides and lunge chairs set in a tropical oasis. The Mandalay Bay pool also offers a great time for families, featuring a huge wave pool and a lazy river that kids of any age will enjoy. Another favorite family-friendly pool in the Circus Circus Las Vegas pool. It's designed for families and includes exciting waterslides and a big Splash Pad water play area complete with splash buckets and waterfalls. Make a splash and stay cool when visiting Las Vegas with Kids!

10. Learn a Little History

The Neon Museum is a super fun place to visit in Las Vegas with kids. Plus, what better way to take in a little old Vegas history than through neon. Here you'll find a fascinating collection of over 200 unrestored neon signs from iconic old Las Vegas hotels, bygone eateries, and even roadside sings of decades past. This place is dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas neon signs. It's so interesting to learn about the history of each of the displays and find out how they came to be part of this fascinating collection.






Purchase general admission through the Neon Museum website to save $2 on each ticket. Guided tours and other experiences are also available for an additional fee. Don't miss this stop when visiting Las Vegas with kids! It's a history lesson they'll be glad they learned.