Las Vegas is a popular family vacation spot. Despite the city’s reputation as a playground for adults, there is a wealth of family fun in and around the city. Although many of the casinos and resorts in town feature activities appropriate for all age levels, Vegas and the surrounding area offer much more beyond the bright lights of the hotels.

Here are a few fantastic, family-friendly things to check out off the strip:

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Only a few miles from downtown Las Vegas, the Springs Preserve features a botanical garden, nature and science exhibits, hiking trails, and live entertainment. Part museum, part nature preserve, the Springs Preserve includes over 180 acres and is built around the naturally occurring Las Vegas Springs, which was the desert city’s first water source.

Valley of Fire State Park

Established as a Nevada state park in 1935, Valley of Fire State Park is known for its striking red sandstone formations. Spanning 40,000 acres, the park is home to colorful wildflowers and diverse wildlife. Get kids engaged with the landscape by participating in some of the activities found in the Kids Activity Pages, which the Valley of Fire State Park put together by the Nevada State Parks Department.

Hoover Dam and Colorado River Tour

The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River is only a quick 45-minute drive from Las Vegas. Receiving over a million visitors per year, the Hoover Dam is one of the highest concrete dams in the world. Although you can get a sense of this height looking down from the top, some of the best views of the dam are from the bottom. At the base of the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River flows gently south through the breathtakingly beautiful Black Canyon, towards the northern edge of Lake Mohave.

Although much of the Colorado River is known for its rough water and difficult rapids, the Hoover Dam and the Davis Dam that forms Lake Mohave have tamed the waters at this point on the river. Visitors enjoy a scenic and peaceful float with picturesque views of the dam and knowledgeable guides from Black Canyon Adventure Tours.

Step off the beaten path and go beyond the strip on your next family Las Vegas vacation. At Black Canyon River Adventures, we make it easy to add a river tour to your Vegas vacation with round-trip transportation from several different Las Vegas hotels. Contact us today at Black Canyon River Adventures today to make your reservation.