Vegas visit with 16yr old :(

[KAR3600]

Hi, we are taking a 16yr old (not my idea!)to Vegas in July. I just know this going to be a problem in finding things for him to do. I know he won't be able to be on any casino floors. Staying in his room all the time won't be fun for him either. Any ideas would be helpful. We are staying at MGM....Thanks!

[Scottie]

This may not be the answer you are looking for, but you're going to have to do some work to schedule activities that are of interest to both adults and a 16-year-old male. I'd look at some teen-friendly shows, maybe a day trip to Red Rock or someplace similar. You also have the pool, arcades, and nearby venues such as the Lion Habitat, M&M World, the Shark Reef at MB, as diversions.

[Steve]

Hi, we are taking a 16yr old (not my idea!)to Vegas in July. I just know this going to be a problem in finding things for him to do. I know he won't be able to be on any casino floors. Staying in his room all the time won't be fun for him either. Any ideas would be helpful. We are staying at MGM....Thanks!

First if we knew how much gambling time your intend to put in, that would really help. Did you plan this trip to include your 16 year old or are to taking him just to be sure you can keeo an eye on him?

If this is a vacation, there are plenty of this you can all do as vacation activities.

Start with breakfast.
Spend time at the pool
Lunch
Take in one of the many family friendly afternoon shows
Fo some sightseeng
Dinner
Save the night for yourselves..Let him order some movies in the room and some room service. That will keep him busy. There are also casinos that you can go to that have movie theatres and arcades.

Steve

[DrScorpio]

I was once a 16 year-old in Vegas and it isnt going to be easy finding stuff for him to do. I kept myself busy at arcades or places with games such as Gameworks, Excalibur or Circus Circus. My parents literally dropped me off with like $100 in quarters and went gambling for about 5-6 hours occasionally checking up on me to make sure I'm not out of money.

[ChicChas]

One activity I always suggest is the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum. It's located on Tropicana not too far from the Strip -- Mile or two at the most.

The place is packed with vintage pin ball machines from the 1930's through the 1980's. Get $5-$10 worth of quarters from the change machine and play the machines for an hour or two. A great trip down memory lane for adults and a fun time playing those old-time amusement games for kids who grew up with video screens.

[MHIROTSU]

I think you should have your son bring along a friend. I think they are old enough to go around the Las Vegas Strip by themselves, but just keep close tabs on their whereabouts. Don't let them wander off the Strip.

You can also leave him by himself in the arcades, pool or whatever, but I'm not sure whether he will have as much fun being by himself. Even at that age, he won't want to be hanging around mom and dad.

Age 16-20 is a weird age in Las Vegas because you are too old to be hanging around mom and dad but too young to go inside the casinos. If he were 18, there are a few other options.

Mike

[KenoMom]

I've taken my son twice now....once when he was 17 and the other at age 18. Here are some things we did or should have done....

1. The number one thing was to accept that this was not going to be a gambling trip like my usual trips. Having accepted this, the first time I kept the trip alot shorter and spent very little time in the casino. The second time, I flew out a few days early, did my thing, and then flew him and his brother out.

2. For the second trip, I chose a time that coincided with an event that he was interested in attending. We grabbed tickets for both nights of the Dave Matthews concert...the first night I went also, the second night, he and his brother were quite comfortable with making their way over to the event without my supervision.....(I didn't trust the 25 year old, but did the 18 year old <G>).

3. Although he had his brother, Matthew is 25 and on his first trip as well. I knew that this was not going to be a buddy trip and it was still my role to be with him most of the time.

4. One day we went to the Palms. He saw two back to back films that he wanted to see, while I got to gamble.

5. I had bought tickets to his beloved Blue Man Group - both times. The first time, we both went. The second time I bought a single ticket and then decided to tag along afterall.

6. Bought tickets for two different Cirque shows which he loves.

7. I didn't have him bring a friend because to be honest, I knew my own son would be content to hang in the hotel room, play video games on his computer and chat online for a large amount of time. Having a friend was a recipe for trouble as the chances of them wanting to roam where they probably shouldn't was a distinct possibility. (Although to a large extent, he has friends that would have hung on the computer, but why take that chance).

8. If we had time, we would have done the Pinball Museum and Madame Troussauds.

9. Bowling was another thing of interest. He has been known to bowl 12 games straight and this was something he could also do.

10. Went to Fashion Mall and Forum Shops. He's not a real shopper, but he does enjoy wearing shirts that most wouldn't have back home. He enjoyed the stuff from Metropark clothing the most.

But honestly, the biggest thing is realizing that it's a trip together and it's a little unfair to ignore them - even at any age. So again, just make sure the emphasis is on what he wants to do. My son, also got the unique luck in riding the elevator with Criss Angel and getting his picture/autograph. About the only thing he missed was the chance to see one of those Ultimate Fighting events.


He's not into swimming nor amusement rides, but those are two other things you can do. He did, however, enjoy many of the buffets as an opportunity to try a few new foods. He really wasn't into going to Gameworks but that might be because he was content with online computer gaming. He actually thought it was cool to be 3 hours behind when online with friends. On the first trip, I had managed an upgrade to a beautiful suite and he also got a kick out of people seeing him go in and out....and ordering room service.

Just goes to show you that sometimes it's the simple things that they remember.

Oh yeah, he was 18 on the last trip and I made sure he didn't have access to enough money on his debit card to come home with a permanent souvenir - a tattoo!

[KenoMom]

I forgot two other things....

Stomp is on our list of things to do the next time.

AND....

If you would ask my son about his visits, in spite of all the things we did, he would tell you that he has no intention of ever going back to Las Vegas until he's 21. I laugh when I hear him say that he was bored.....geez, who could be bored with the fact that we had something going on every day! But that's a kid for you

[MHIROTSU]

If you would ask my son about his visits, in spite of all the things we did, he would tell you that he has no intention of ever going back to Las Vegas until he's 21. I laugh when I hear him say that he was bored.....geez, who could be bored with the fact that we had something going on every day! But that's a kid for you

And this after everything you did with your son. I would have been tired after the first day.

KenoMom, from your perspective, did you think your kid was bored? I give you a lot of credit because I wouldn't have been as agreeable to do all of those things.

This might be the problem that from the adult's point of view, everything is fine (I'm assuming a lot), but from the kid's point of view, it isn't so fun. I have no kids, so I'm further in the dark.

Mike

[AppleGreenJade]

Since you're going to be at MGM, your son can spend some time at the ESPN Zone across the street at NYNY.