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 I'm Here!!
Posts: 4583
  
Location: Is it Summer Yet? | Can some people give me some advice please? Thinking very seriously about taking my son to the NFR next year. I've searched all the threads but nothing is really said about kids other than a 14 year old which they really aren't comparable. Just thinking one rodeo performance, then shopping for one day. And other than that playing it by ear. Stay 2/3 nights. I have never been to Vegas before. My aunt thinks I've lost my mind, am I off my rocker? Would like to stay at the Golden Nugget for the pool but it's so far from everything do they do shuttles to the strip, Thomas and Mack and Convension Centre? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
 
| I don't have any kids, but I went to the NFR this year and was very surprised at the number of kids that were there. Lots of kids of all ages just in general - walking in the casinos, shopping, all over! So, obviously there are plenty of people who do it. As far as staying at the Golden Nugget, is their pool inside? If it's not, there is no way you'll be enjoying it in December - it was cold and windy this year (like 40ish degrees). |
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I'm Here!!
Posts: 4583
Location: Is it Summer Yet? | Thank-you.
Their pool does look like it's inside, it's the only one that I've found that appears to be inside. |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | If you just go one night you might be alright. I'm not ready to take my almost 7 year old yet. Part of that is she never sleeps in even after a late night and then she is cranky all day. The other part is she doesn't like watching a whole rodeo so I don't want to spend that much on tickets. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Northern CO | Lots of fun things you can do with him I would think. There is the jousting dinner show at the Excalibur, m&m world, and there was an arcade and fun center in the new york, but I have not been for several years. If he likes rodeo I think he would enjoy seeing all the cowboys and getting autographs. Have fun! |
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Location: Big Blue Skies | Most of the big casinos have a free shuttle to the NFR every night. I believe the Golden Nugget does too. If you don't rent a car then it will be a bit far out for you. If you stay at MGM or Excalibur you can take the monorail from MGM over to the Las Vegas Convention center to shop and its easy to get over to Mandalay Bay for their shopping as well.Plus MGM has the NFR Experience. Lots to do along the strip from that corner you can walk around. Kids just can't stand in the casino and can't be around the machines. They are supposed to walk around them. You'll probably be too worn out from all the walking to bother with swimming so I wouldn't make that my deciding factor on a hotel. Since its desert most of the pools are all outdoors in Vegas.
There are other kids there and at the NFR too. |
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I'm Here!!
Posts: 4583
Location: Is it Summer Yet? | I'm just thinking if we need an easy do nothing day to recover from the walking. The pool is the obvious choice. It'll be something that is geared entirely towards my son, his day. |
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Location: In my own little world | Then plan on going to Circus Circus as it is a very kid oriented casino. I haven't been in there in years to know what the rooms are like there anymore but you might consider staying there. It would be fairly close to the LV Convention Center.
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | The Golden Nugget pool is outside! |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | Don't stay at Circus Circus ! It's a dump! |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | I have not found a pool indoors in Vegas. When I went in March, not during rodeo time, it was still cold one day but nice enough the next to go in the hot tub. It was a big enough hot tub so it was kind of like swimming. |
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Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | mreklaw - 2014-01-06 4:17 AM
Don't stay at Circus Circus ! It's a dump!
And in a dumpy area |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I have a friend who has a little girls about your son's age. She leaves her girl with her grandma at home, and wonders every year why anybody would want to take their little kid to Vegas.
I don't have kids, but don't think I would take her/him at that age. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I got married in Vegas in June and my 5 year old was there. We took her to the M&M factory but other than that, I wouldn't bring her back to Vegas. I've been to NFR and couldn't imagine having her with me at the time. |
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 Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | I saw this year at the sands they had a kid center set up my son was upset when I accidently slipped and mentioned it he wanted to go to Vegas with us to go to it. Called Kids Quest
http://www.nfrexperience.com/home/cowboy_christmas |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| The Silverton is out of the way but it's really neat. They have the big aquarium up front with lots of salt water fish. It is connected to the Bass Pro Shop where there are tons of taxidermied(sp?) exhibits, fresh water aquariums and a pond with ducks and fish inside the building.
We also went to the Mandalay Bay Shark Aquarium which was also really neat. I think the Flamingo has a small "animal park" as well.
I don't know of any indoor pools and I think the ones that are outside are all closed for the winter. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1033
Location: Iowa | Too much walking!! |
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  You just got to get mean and mean it.
Location: Arkansas | We were in LV for 2013 NFR. Three days, and I don't remember seeing a child under the age of 10-12 there. Leave the five year old at home with grandma so YOU can enjoy the experience! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 161
Location: Oklahoma or who knows maybe trucking ? | There are a lot of little kids there if you stay at the Golden Nugget they have a light show every night outside of it and it shows cartoons he would love it , it has sound also. There is shopping down town also where the golden nugget is located. There are things for kids his age to do. Go and have fun. They won't let him in the casinos if you want to gamble.
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 Cactus Cowgirl
Posts: 2791
Location: Montana | The Gold Nugget pool is in the center of the casino but has no roof. So it probably won't be usable during December. I am sure there is a shuttle to the T&M and there is a bus that takes you to the strip that is pretty inexpensive.
As hard as it is to leave members of the family at home, I think 5 might be too young for it to be enjoyable for him or you. |
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Location: Lost with the rest of the MINIONS! |  Do not plan on swimming, the pool is outside.
That being said, I took my son when he was 4 1/2, but he was obsessed with rodeo! We watched one perf live, shopped the main cowboy Christmas, he loved the Bass Pro Shops/Silverton aquarium, the Mandalay Bay has a kids finals rodeo everyday (or they did then) where he got a bunch of free stuff from Roper just for participating, we went around and gathered autographs. I did take a big jogging stroller for him and was glad for it more than once.
He still talks about it now and he is 10. I am definitely planning on taking him this year and am very excited about it. |
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 Horsezips Number One Fan
Posts: 3519
Location: on a horse | Lana - 2014-01-05 10:24 PM
Thank-you.
Their pool does look like it's inside, it's the only one that I've found that appears to be inside.
It is in the middle of the entry way but it is outside! You won't be swimming in that pool. You will freeze. Sorry. It is pretty to look at tho. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | I would leave the child at home. They probably won't remember it and you will have a better time. We made a California trip when my youngest was about 5. Went to the Grand Canyon on the way back. He has absolutely no memory of any of it. |
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I'm Here!!
Posts: 4583
Location: Is it Summer Yet? | Thank you to everyone for your comments. Good to know the pool at the Golden Nugget is actually outside. Gambling is not on the agenda for myself, not my cup of tea.
If I go "the 5 year old" goes. He only has one set of grandparents, and they have told me they will not keep him so I can go. So I'm obviously going to need to keep thinking about this, Thank goodness I have lots of time. |
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Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | Lana - 2014-01-06 7:35 PM
Thank you to everyone for your comments. Good to know the pool at the Golden Nugget is actually outside. Gambling is not on the agenda for myself, not my cup of tea.
If I go "the 5 year old" goes. He only has one set of grandparents, and they have told me they will not keep him so I can go. So I'm obviously going to need to keep thinking about this, Thank goodness I have lots of time.
I think you can do it and have fun. Maybe even just stay off the strip. Really, Vegas is like any other big city except for the casinos. There is plenty to do away from the strip. The NFR is worth it to go even if you take a 5 year old. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Lana - 2014-01-05 11:13 PM
I'm just thinking if we need an easy do nothing day to recover from the walking. The pool is the obvious choice. It'll be something that is geared entirely towards my son, his day.
I haven't read all the responses but ...try the South Point. They have shuttles ALL the time back to the strip and the T&M. There is shopping upstairs in their small arena as well as the bucking horse sale, the bucking bull sale, AND ... they have a bowling alley, their own arcade area for kids, and their own movie theater ... all in the same building. But, the pool is outside ... We stayed there 2 years ago for NFR and traveled with some people and small kids there this past summer for some horse things and we had a great time! |
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 Hot Dispatcher
Posts: 10185
Location: Utah | My parents took me to the NFR as a kid back in the 90's and there was not a ton to do, but I still loved the experience and appreciate them taking me. Now as a parent of a 4 year old and 7 year old Vegas has changed. There are tons to do with kids. It would depend on the kid if I would take them to a performance of the rodeo. My kids go to rodeos all year long and I know how long they would sit and how interested they would be and I would take them both and plan to do so next year. Cowboy Christmas is good for kids, the down side there is lots of walking. Most of the casino's have family things in mind most have been mentioned in this thread. There are aquariums, shows, the light show in fremont street is fun to watch, I wouldn't suggest the pirate show at Treasure Island anymore, it is not family friendly :( the knight show at excalibur is great for kids especially boys, the down side is it will be during the rodeo. There are some hotels that have NFR viewing parties with huge tv screens that are specifically family friendly. Some hotels have bowling ally's, the M & M factory is a must with kids. The autograph sessions were always my favorite meeting my idols was the best part.
Edited by kanchazer 2014-01-07 10:32 AM
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Member
Posts: 12
Location: TEXAS | I was there this year of course, and I'm 17, but I went last year with some friends of ours and they had a daughter that was 8. We had the time of our lives, between all the shopping and touring, it was a blast. My mom signed along with the other 14 barrel racers this year at the Golden Nugget, and the pool is outside, but it IS heated. Kids were swimming in it while we were there. I went and felt the water and it was at least 80 degrees. I think you would have no problem taking a 5 year old with you, it would be fun for him to see everything, and of course go to the rodeo, because who doesn't love the rodeo?! :) |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Take your child and have fun. Your son will remember the trip with his mom for the rest of his life. |
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NFR with a 5 year old