When exploring the North Las Vegas area, there is so much more to see and do for the entire family than initially meets the eye. Known for its wide range of fun and exciting options for the oldest in your household, the Las Vegas area boasts several hands-on and engaging activities for even the youngest in your home, too. From museums and nature areas to sweet treat factories and adventure parks, there is certainly something for everyone in Las Vegas. Check out these seven activities the next time you’re in the area. You won’t want to miss them!

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden

Image via Flickr by TDelCoro

The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is a 14,000-foot fauna and flora playground located inside the famed Bellagio Hotel. Open 24 hours a day with free admission, this adventure for the senses features large, bold, and beautifully crafted designs of brightly colored flowers and plants. Displays are rotated four times a year, presenting an exclusive exhibit for each season — spring, summer, fall, and winter. Past shows at the botanical gardens include “Into the Woods,” which highlighted a magical forest with a host of woodland characters, and “Chinese New Year” that featured traditional designs of the holiday celebration.

Discovery Children’s Museum

With three stories of educational and engaging action-oriented fun, your child will thoroughly enjoy the Discovery Children’s Museum. This amazing experience features several activities and events, like Water World, an interactive water encounter where they can experience firsthand the power and value of water. Creative kids will love the Young at Art hands-on arts and crafts exhibit that uses a variety of mediums, like fluorescent crayons and watercolors. If you’ve got really little ones, Toddler Town is a desert-themed center specifically designed for those under five years old and children of all ages with sensory or development issues. 

Ethel M Chocolate Factory 

The Ethel M Chocolate Factory is a fun-filled experience for every member of the family. Only a short 20-minute ride from Las Vegas, you and your family can take delight in watching these world-renowned chocolates being crafted, enjoy free samples of these tasty goodies, and bring some home for later when you visit their gourmet gift shop. The factory’s chocolatier creates sweet confections such as pecan brittle, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and peanut butter bars, as well as a wide range of filled and bar-size milk, dark, and white chocolates. 

Along with the self-guided factory viewings, the Ethel M Chocolate Factory is also proud of its 3-acre Botanical Cactus Garden. This breathtaking garden is Nevada’s largest and most unique cactus display of its kind. There are over 300 species of drought-resistant plants, such as cacti, succulents, desert trees, and shrubs that are native to the American Southwest, Australia, and South America.  

Red Rock Canyon

There is something for everyone at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is only a 30-minute drive from Las Vegas. This awe-inspiring natural site consists of 195,819 acres within the magnificent Mojave Desert. Explore this geologic beauty by taking a day hike through one of its 26 different hikes and trails. View highlights of the canyon by traversing the 13-mile Scenic Drive either by vehicle or bicycle. End the day at the Elements Gift Shop, where every purchase you make supports a wide variety of programs and activities at the Red Rock Canyon.

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

From the youngest to the young at heart, everyone in the family will be fascinated with the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network). Superheroes of the world, from the tiniest to the tallest, will experience the Avengers like they never have before. Dig into the history, science, and engineering feats of The Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America. Explore the extensive range of original Avengers operational equipment, such as Black Widow’s uniform, Captain America’s shield, Hawkeye’s bow and arrows, Thor’s hammer, and more.

Silverton Aquarium

The Silverton Aquarium, located inside the Silverton Hotel, is a more than 117,000-gallon aquarium stocked with amazing tropical fish, three species of stingrays, and several other oceanic animals. Interactive feeding shows are featured daily at 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM, making this an exciting adventure for everyone in your family. The best part of the Silverton Aquarium? The Mermaids! That’s right, real-live mermaids swim through the aquarium interacting with guests and visitors alike. This favorite for all school-aged children is a must-add to your family day to-do list.

Valley of Fire State Park

Another outdoor adventure for the entire household, the Valley of Fire State Park is 50 miles northeast of the Strip. Explore this beautiful, scenic state park in all its natural wonder. Featuring bright red Aztec sandstone, gray and tan limestone, ancient petrified trees, and petroglyphs that date back more than 2,000 years, you can traverse as much of the 40,000 acres as you wish. The visitor center boasts scientific data and information on the geology, prehistory, and history of the entire park region for an education-focused visit.

Each year, the park hosts an Annual Atlatl Competition. The atlatl is a hunting tool that was created before the invention of the bow and arrow, and the Native Americans used this ancient, spear-like instrument to pursue the bighorn sheep that freely roamed the area. Along with the annual competition, you can also view a real-live demonstration of this tool in use, along with a brief history of how it was used by the people of that time. If you’re lucky, you may be given the opportunity to show your strength and throw the atlatl all on your own. 

Now that you’ve seen all the amazing family opportunities in the Las Vegas area brought to you by Crème de la Crème of Las Vegas, which one are you going to choose for your next family day away? Will it be a visit to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory or an afternoon spent at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden? Let us know how you like these fun sites or if you have a favorite spot of your own. We’ll add it to our list!