Top Spots To Go With Your Family For The Weekend In Las Vegas
8982 Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89139
(702) 361-9606
www.mckeeranchfoundation.org
Whether you're looking for a pony party or event site for a reunion, or just want to visit a real working ranch and perhaps ride a horse, take a hay ride or have a chuck wagon meal, McKee Ranch has it all. This friendly family has welcomed guests onto its property for years now, so bring your carrots and crackers to feed the critters and wear an old pair of shoes — this is a working ranch, after all. There's even a playground, since it's really geared toward tykes and toddlers. This is a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a weekend morning or afternoon, especially once the weather is cooler.
7050 E. Wetlands Park Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89122
(702) 455-7522
www.clarkcountynv.gov/wetlandspark
Imagine that: a wetlands park in a desert! There is a nature center and exhibit hall, but the real feature of this property is the beautiful nature preserve. The Wetlands Park is home to over 300 species of plants and animals and doubles duty by improving the local water quality. What better place to take a serene walk through the lush grounds and educate yourself and your children at the same time? Go for a stroll or enjoy guided discovery walks, plus there are scheduled events, art and recreation programs and chances to volunteer. Reconnect with nature and return home refreshed. The Park is open from dusk to dawn throughout the year, and you will always find something new to see or photograph.
Related: Top Petting Zoos in Las Vegas
Clark Country Museum site (Credit, Sharon Damon)
Clark Country Museum
1830 S. Boulder Highway
Henderson, NV 89002
(702) 455-7955
www.clarkcountynv.gov
The Clark County Museum is the perfect place to turn back the clock and revisit history. The well-designed, informative exhibit hall/interpretive center follows the area's development from prehistoric times to the present, plus there are also the streets lined with beautifully restored homes that allow you to enter and take a peek back into life in the '30s to '70s. The 30-acre grounds wind through Paiute "villages" and heritage "streets," and you will even be able to take an up close and personal look at a 1918 Union Pacific steam engine. The ghost town and mining trail lets you see the toll that the desert takes on the buildings and outcroppings that encroached on its landscape. It's a fascinating glimpse of the past, and is a fascinating way to spend a few hours, especially with the nominal cost ($2). Bring your camera for all of the "photo ops" along the trail.
360 Promenade Place
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 382-3445
www.discoverykidslv.org
The three stories of the new Children's Discovery Museum are pure magic. There are opportunities to explore, learn, touch, experience and have fun for children from infants to adult, with water play, science experiences, the chance to see how things work, dramatic play areas and crafts. There are even active learning areas where you can discover your body and the world around you. It's truly a learning experience for the entire family, and a place to start children on a lifetime journey of exploration and curiosity.
Hemenway Park (Credit, Sharon Damon)
Hemenway Park
401 Ville Drive
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 293-9256
www.bcnv.org
Just half an hour from Las Vegas, Hemenway Park is a beautiful little park with a very unique free attraction: bighorn sheep that mingle with the tourists to share the greens and playground area. It is fascinating to watch them come down from the mountains to graze and just as interesting to watch their dignified parade back up the trails again at the end of the day. This little jewel of a park has play equipment, gazebos, basketball courts, lit tennis courts, a beautiful view of Lake Mead, grassy fields to play frisbee or have a picnic and the awesome beauty of the mountains. Whether it's summer, winter or any season in between, this is the perfect spot for families to wind down in the heart of nature before picking up the daily grind once again.
