Family vacations in Nevada can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters — it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Nevada family vacations.
The Hoover Dam
When visiting Nevada, one of the most impressive sightseeing locations is the Hoover Dam. Construction began on the
in 1930 in Black Canyon, and today the dam rises more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. While traveling to the dam to snap photos is free, a guided tour through the dam will set visitors back about $10. The tour includes a history lesson on the dam's construction and the lives that were lost as it was being built. By the end of the tour, visitors will have traveled to the bottom of the dam, where the view up the giant wall is breathtaking.
Address: Thirty miles southeast of Las Vegas. Take U.S. Highway 93 to Nevada State Route 172. The dam is on the Nevada-Arizona border.Phone: 702-494-2517Hours: Summer tours start at 9:15 a.m. and end at 5:15 p.m. winter tours start at 9:15 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m.Price: Adults ages 17 to 61, $11; seniors ages 62 and older, $9; children ages 4 to 16, $9; non-uniformed military $9; military in uniform, free; children ages 3 and under, free
Adventuredome
Located in the family-oriented Circus Circus Hotel and Casino,
is a large 5-acre indoor theme park. The area is climate-controlled, offering relaxed and fun thrills for kids and adults in a cool environment. Included in this Nevada theme park are roller coasters, a water ride, video games and more.
Address: 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109Phone: 877-434-9175 Hours: 10 a.m. to midnightPrice: All-day pass, $26.95; junior pass for children under 48 inches tall, $16.95
Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
The
offers kids a hands-on approach to discovering and learning about science, arts, music and humanities. This Las Vegas museum is 22,000 square feet in size and offers kids the chance to be a radio DJ, enter a hurricane, dance on stage in costume, and play in an environmentally conscious mini-city.
Address: 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, NV 89101Phone: 702-382-5437Hours: Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, except most school holidaysPrice: Adults, $9.50; children ages 1 to 17 and seniors, $8.50; children under 1, free
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
The largest man-made lake in the United States,
offers miles of scenic Nevada beauty and easy access to the Hoover Dam. The area surrounding the lake allows for hiking trips along the Historic Railroad Trail, the Muddy Mountains and the Redstone area. For water lovers, the lake's clear water is perfect for swimming, skiing and fishing.
Address: 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005Phone: 702-293-8906Hours: Open year-round. Some beaches and other areas are day-use only, from dawn until duskPrice: Vehicle/motorcycle yearly pass, $30; vehicle/motorcycle pass for up to one week, $10; vessel yearly pass, $30; vessel pass for up to one week, $16
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
displays some of the best, most realistic wax sculptures visitors will ever see. The museum allows guests to snap photos as they pose beside life-size duplicates of stars like Michael Jordan, John F. Kennedy, Hugh Hefner and John Wayne. The wax figures are set up in various scenes and poses, making the fun photo opportunities endless.
Address: 3377 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109Phone: 702-862-7800 Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.Price: Adults, $25; seniors (60 plus), $18; children ages 7 to 12, $15; children under 6, free
Shark Reef Aquarium
Located at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino,
allows guests to travel to an underground labyrinth of tunnels and watch sharks and other aquatic wildlife swim around. The creatures on display include sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, alligators and more.
Address: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119Phone: 702-632-4555 Hours: Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.Price: Adults, $18; children 5 to 12, $12; children 4 and under, free
Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden
Almost like a miniature zoo, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden offers guests at the Mirage Resort and Casino the opportunity to see some of the famous animals from the magicians' stage shows in a climate-controlled environment. The giant white tigers from the shows are on display, as well as other big cats. At the Dolphin Habitat, visitors be trainers for the day.
Address: 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109Phone: 702-791-7188Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.Price: Adults, $17, children ages 4 to 12, $12; children 3 and under, no charge when accompanied by an adult
What are your favorite Nevada vacation spots?
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