It’s summertime in Las Vegas — and that means school’s out. For many families, it’s a reason to spend some quality time together.
But in a city built for tourists, packed with luxury hotels and big-ticket entertainment, what is there for locals — especially families — to actually do?
Believe it or not, from indoor escapes to outdoor adventures, there’s something for just about everyone in the Las Vegas Valley.
For families looking to cool down and burn off some energy, the pool is an easy go-to summer escape.
Russell Thompson, recreation and cultural specialist for Clark County, recommended a variety of swimming pools to check out.
“We have the Desert Breeze Community Center’s aquatics facility, they have great outdoor pool activities going on throughout the week,” Thompson said.
“There’s also the Hollywood Aquatic Center and the Cora Coleman Senior aquatics facility, so whether you want to get your tan on, or maybe go on some slides, there’s something for everybody.”
Summer camps are always a solid option for keeping kids active and engaged. Thomson shared that, “every recreation center is very unique with what they have to offer.”
“For example, we had the Vegas Golden Knights come out to Desert Breeze Community Center on June 4th, and they taught our participants the fundamentals of hockey. The public library will come out and teach the importance of reading. We have sports, arts and crafts, board games, etc.”
For families looking to get outdoors, hiking is still on the table — if you time it right.
Reannon Muth, a Desert Companion magazine contributor and organizer for the popular Facebook group Tiny Hikes and Adventures in Las Vegas, recommends getting out early to avoid the worst of the heat.
“Red Rock has ranger led hikes at 7:30 a.m. that you can do with kids. They also have a cool scorpion hike where you can go out with a black light and look for scorpions right after sundown,” Muth said.
If staying indoors is the goal but the swing set isn’t cutting it for the kids, Muth recommends ”Uptown Jungle, in part because it has a really affordable membership. For $20 a month you can visit unlimited. And it's great for older kids too. They have rock climbing and trampolines.”
Muth continued, “Ninja Kidz Action Park is also great and that one is also only $20 a month.”
After families have had enough playtime and they seek some more educational activities, there are well known options like the Springs Preserve and the Children’s Discovery Museum, but Muth suggested The Clark County Museum.
“It's a very small, cute museum, but I really like it because it's not crowded, even in the summer,” Muth noted.
“It has [historical Vegas] houses that you can tour and see how people used to live.”
Clark County’s Russell Thompson pointed out The Clark County Wetlands.
“They have a learning center that can include encounters with live desert creatures, crafts, activities, and a full range of interactive exhibits.”
Links to visit:
Clark County Parks and Recreation
Guests: Russell Thompson, recreation and cultural specialist, Clark County; Reannon Muth, organizer, Tiny Hikes and Adventures in Las Vegas Facebook group
