probably one of the more kid-friendly major casino/hotels in las vegas, but it's starting to show its age -- some of the areas we walked through on the way to and from our room seemed to be 'backstage' areas, not decorated or polished for the public, and some rough edges showed elsewhere, as well. but, the room prices were reasonable, and there was quite a bit to see and do for my kiddo at circus circus, including fair-type games, mini-circus exhibits, and a quite nice set of shops to explore. all in all, i'm glad we stayed there.

tour a working gourmet chocolate factory (complete with tempting gift shop) and meander through nevada's largest botanical cactus garden, with an inside look at some of the science involved in gardening in the desert. fun for all ages, and FREE, so it's not a big commitment to go check it out!

all sorts of interaction are available here -- a mini basketball court, an art room, a firetruck to climb around in, even a kid-size supermarket and restaurant playscape, complete with checkout counter. it's located just off of I-25 and very easy to get in and out of, there's free parking, and there's also a free playground outside that looks like tons of fun. we spent about 2 hours there with my 4-year-old, and only really experienced about half of the inside, i think, and ran out of time before exploring the playground. we'll DEFINITELY be going back!

many many exhibits of all sorts of animals, in a beautiful setting. there's lots of walking if you want to see the whole shebang in one day, or (if you're local) get a membership so you can take it in small doses. our favorites are the elephants, but the tigers and gorillas usually get a good reaction, too. ;) the mini-train ride through part of the zoo is always highly anticipated, too!

lots of great things to check out, especially the discovery zone kids' area on the second floor! there are great interactive exhibits all throughout, but the discovery zone (open 10-4 daily) has arts & crafts supplies, musical instruments & a stage to perform on, storytimes, and lots of other great fun for the younger set in particular. if you're a local, their family plus membership is a great deal, covering 2 adults from one household plus up to 5 others (of any age) per visit.