We’ve all heard the same opinion before: Las Vegas isn’t kid-friendly. Although Las Vegas has a reputation of being an adult playground, not every part of this city has that Sin City vibe. Off The Strip and in local neighborhoods, Las Vegas is a typical town where there are plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.

East - Whitney, Henderson, and Boulder City

Crystal Palace Skating Rink photo courtesy of Dreaerers

It’s no surprise that Whitney and Henderson have a large selection of activities to keep kids busy as the side-by-side neighborhoods are both community-oriented and full of families. Directly off the 515 freeway on Boulder Highway is Crystal Palace Skating Center where kids can skate, have parties, or attend a class. Also in this area is Cowabunga Bay Water Park.

On the east side of town, the Lion Habitat Ranch is a fun way for kids to learn about wildlife while feeding some of the animals. The District at Green Valley Ranch has My Gym Children’s Fitness, which has classes, programs, camps, and events for infants and young children. Minutes away at Green Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, there are movie theatres, a family-friendly pool, and an arcade. The resort is also home to Kids Quest, which provides hourly child care, arcade games, kid-friendly activities, and family entertainment. Kids Quest is available at any Station Casino property.

Families in and around Boulder Citycan check out the Nevada Southern Railway where they can take open air train rides or enclosed Pullman coachesand learn the history of the Boulder Branch Line that dates back to the early 1930s.

Paradise

Pinball Hall of Frame photo courtesy of Bobak Ha'Eri

Although Paradise is known for being somewhat of a college community that’s full of casinos, bars, and restaurants, there’s also a substantial amount of kid-friendly fun in the area. SeaQuest is a popular, interactive aquarium attraction inside the Boulevard Mall where kids can get up close with stingrays, sharks, reptiles, birds, and other exotic animals. The Pinball Hall of Fame is also in the area as well as Vegas Indoor Skydiving and Top Golf.

South of The Strip at the Town Square shopping district, there are a few kid-friendly options too. There’s Gameworks, which features a lounge-like bowling, indoor and outdoor patio dining, and a 100-seat gaming center where players can choose from 125 video games to play. The Town Square also has a movie theatre, the Cactus Coaster train, and the Children’s Park, which features a 42-foot live oak tree house, pop jet fountain, playhouses, and a hedge maze. During the summer season, families can watch family-friendly movies in The Green at Town Square every Thursday.

Spring Valley and the Southwest

Indoor go-kart racing / Shutterstock

On the west side of The Strip, Spring Valley and the Southwest neighborhoods have some fun options for kids to enjoy. Within minutes from each other is Pole Position Raceway, an indoor go-kart racing venue, and the indoor trampoline park SkyZone. KISS by Monster Mini Golf is a 13,000 square-foot “KISS” themed attraction that features an indoor 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini golf course designed with KISS props, music, and special effects. The venue also includes arcade games, a KISS museum, and a special event room for private parties.

For year-around ice skating fun, try the Las Vegas Ice Center that’s located a bit farther west. Also in the area on Fort Apache Road, Wet’n’Wild offers tons of water slides, rides, pools, and games. The water park also has dive-in movie nights on Fridays and select Saturdays.

West and Northwest - Centennial Hills and Summerlin

Family hiking in Red Rock Canyon photo by Shutterstock

Centennial Hills and Summerlinare also both very family-friendly neighborhoods that have plenty of options for children to stay active and entertained. For hiking and outdoor recreation, consider Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, or Floyd Lamb Park. The Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary has animals and guided tours, and just a few minutes away is Gilcrease Orchard, which offers educational field trips, camps, and fruit picking activities.

Downtown Summerlin is home to Dave and Buster’s, a 60,000 square-foot entertainment venue with arcage games, virtual games, billiards, shuffleboard tabes, and dining options. Offering laser tag and arcade games, Laser Quest is also short drive away on Lake Mead Boulevard.

Downtown Las Vegas

Neon Museum photo by Shutterstock

Downtown Las Vegas has tons of activities for the kiddos too. Museums in this neighborhood include the Neon Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Mob Museum, and the Discovery Children’s Museum.

With its botanical gardens, camps, classes, trails, and playgrounds, The Springs Preserve has tons of activities that will keep the kids entertained over the course of multiple visits. Another part of downtown that has great family-friendly options is Container Park. The open-air shopping and dining location has a play zone, park, outdoor movies, and an interactive playground with a treehouse.

North Las Vegas

Drive-in theater / Shutterstock

For those who live north of downtown near Sunrise Manor and North Las Vegas, kid-friendly activities can be found at West Wind—a drive-in theater with family nights on Tuesdays and overall low prices for kids. In this area, families can also find the other location for Crystal Palace Skating Center.