Grand Canyon News

Good morning to all.  I remember a saying from who knows where (a Star Trek movie comes to mind, but don’t quote me on that…), the gist of which was “just because you can do a thing doesn’t necessarily mean you should.”  It applies beautifully to my topic today. 

One of the first things you need to do when planning a Grand Canyon vacation is to decide where your vacation will begin.  If you’re like most visitors to the area, you’ll probably choose to fly to the Southwest, and if so, chances are you’ll start your trip in either Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) or Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS). Both are about a 5 hour drive away from Grand Canyon South Rim and within close proximity of other attractions, such as Hoover Dam, that you could easily stop at along the way. 

I had maybe three separate phone conversations last week with parents (like you perhaps?) who were putting together a Grand Canyon vacation and considering Las Vegas as their starting point.  These folks were wanting an honest opinion as to whether Las Vegas was really a good place to bring their kids, and I had to warn them that they’d stumbled onto one of the most hotly debated issues among Las Vegas locals – I too could be risking life and limb bringing up the very subject of children in what was once considered an “adults only” destination. 

I guess this is the point where a bit of “backstory” is in order: in the late 1980’s/early ‘90’s, a monumental effort (and a large infusion of cash) was made to remake Las Vegas into a more family-friendly destination.  Themed hotels, parks and other attractions were built in an effort to attract more families to the city.  Circus Circus led the way, followed closely by the Mirage, Treasure Island, Excalibur and Luxor. 

As a result, many of the newer Las Vegas hotels feature attractions geared to families such as the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay, a dolphin habitat and volcano at the Mirage, the pirate show at Treasure Island, rollercoasters at the Stratosphere, New York New York, Sahara and much more.  The Las Vegas Strip has literally turned into a zoo, with many animals (granted, the majority of which are not native to Nevada) occupying outlandish homes in this, the “other” city that never sleeps.  The kings of the “Neon” jungle reside in a specially-built habitat at the MGM Grand, where you might be able to catch them in action with their trainers; Siegfried & Roy’s famous white tigers are pampered 24/7 at the Mirage, or you can escape to a tropical island paradise with over 300 birds, including some rather well-known pink flamingos at – where else? – the Flamingo.  Oh, and Las Vegas does have its own actual zoo – the Southern Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park in North Las Vegas. 

All that said, it is up to you as a parent to make an informed choice as to whether you should bring your children to Las Vegas.  Among those who’ve “been there done that,” some will tell you to go for it; others will say “never again.”  Many Las Vegas locals will always assert that Las Vegas should have remained an adult-oriented destination, and if you want to see what they have to say, I would highly recommend visiting the Las Vegas forum on TripAdvisor.com (in fact, I recommend visiting that site to plan your whole trip). 

But what’s done is done, and I think the city is a lot more fun as a result!  It has been suggested by people in the area that winter time should be avoided if traveling with children since outdoor pools are typically closed.  Also, those under 21 are not allowed anywhere near a casino.  This is strictly (and sometimes rudely) enforced.  On the street, be prepared to ignore a lot of people handing out adult-oriented leaflets.  You’ll also need to be ready to shield little eyes from a lot of billboards featuring scantily-clad women in provacative poses.  Sorry folks, but that isn’t going away from the Las Vegas scene any time soon.  As Bruce Hornsby once said, “that’s just the way it is!” 

For some suggestions on child-appropriate activities in Las Vegas, visit www.lasvegaskids.net.  For some suggestions on Las Vegas hotels where you might want to stay, read this article on About.com giving the Top 10 picks of kid-friendly hotels in Las Vegas.  Oh, and while I’m at it, I would like to give a belated “Welcome” to a new member of our blogroll, “Mercurial Mike,” a Las Vegas insider and the author of an excellent blog called “What’s Happening, Vegas?”   Check it out for news, reviews, opinions, observations, updates and more – all about Las Vegas! 

And if you’d like more first-hand testimony, GrandCanyon.com’s associates visit Las Vegas regularly, so don’t hesitate to give us a call!  

Happy Travels,

Alley Kaye

P.S.  A Las Vegas Grand Canyon tour is a great experience for the whole family, and since most tours do not require any strenuous activity, young children and even seniors can enjoy them.  Some tours can even get you to the bottom of the canyon! 

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