Free Attractions for Kids & Families in Las Vegas050

We asked and you answered! Our Las Vegas readers are definitely free thinking and have provided us with some great ideas about free and almost-free things to do in the Valley. Check back often - we'll keep adding to the list as long as you keep sharing! Send your ideas to vegas@parentsconnect.com.

Since our city is a popular tourist destination, we inevitably find ourselves with out-of-town relatives and friends who need entertaining during a visit. Our readers suggest showing them quintessential Las Vegas - the Strip - on the cheap! Resorts along the Strip offer myriad shows and attractions that are free and family-friendly. Readers' favorites include:

The choreographed water shows at the Bellagio Fountains; the prowling - or snoozing! - felines at the MGM Grand Hotel Lion Habitat; and the evening pyrotechnics at the Mirage Las Vegas Volcano Show.

Not far from the Strip is Fremont Street; its Fremont Street Experience features a 90-foot barrel-vault canopy covering four blocks of the mall. Evenings find the canopy illuminated with fantastic LED light-and-sound displays - the Viva Vision shows - to the tune of many different musical genres. It's all free.

Several readers wrote about Red Rock Canyon Natural Conservation Area, noting its numerous free hiking programs and workshops for children and teens. It's one of our favorite haunts too; hanging out in the Visitors Center on a hot day and chatting with knowledgeable rangers can't be beat.

You might be tempted to pull out your wallet for the mouth-watering confections at Ethel M. Chocolate Factory, but if you can resist the temptation, you can tour the facility for free. Becky in Henderson reminds us that once finished, visitors are invited to meander through Ethel's Botanical Cactus Garden, which features 350 species of cactus, succulents, and desert plants from the Southwest and other deserts of the world.

Las Vegas readers like their parks, especially when they feature animals and great nature viewing. Two favorites: Wetlands Park - a 130-acre preserve with two miles of paved walking trails and wildlife along the way - and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve - which features nine ponds that serve as home to thousands of migratory waterfowl and numerous resident desert birds.

Animals of the, well, "preserved" variety can be found a'plenty at Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World, Joanne of Mountain Crest tells us. The massive store features a wonderland of interactive displays for kids of all ages, life-like dioramas of wild animals, a 40,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, a rock-climbing wall, and an indoor archery range.

If it's playgrounds you're after, Aliante Nature Discovery Park and Las Vegas Town Square got several shout-outs from readers, who like Aliante Nature Park for its dinosaur-themed play equipment and water play; Town Square got votes for its homey, Main Street feel and unique Hedge Maze.

The District at Green Valley Ranch is always lively and a great place to stroll, many of you note. Or, you can cruise the shopping-entertainment attraction by trolley, which is free and air-conditioned. If you have a few dollars to spare, kids will appreciate a turn or two on the new carousel, which opened in spring 2008 and features 32 animals and two chariots on which guests can ride. Rides cost $2 each.

What else is out there, Valley residents? Let us know and we'll keep adding to our list! Send emails to vegas@parentsconnect.com.