Last month, we visited my cousins in Las Vegas! Some people might think Las Vegas is an odd choice when you’re 28 weeks pregnant with a toddler, but I say those people don’t know what they are talking about. There is a lot to do with little ones and it’s easy to fill the day with fun activities! Ideally, you’ll be traveling during a cooler time of year rather than in the heat of July, but fortunately, the casinos all have great air conditioning.

Our visit was only a couple of days and we spent most of it catching up with our family, meeting their new baby, and spending quality time with them at their home and pool. So I’ll keep this post short and sweet and include our top activities and breakfast spots with our almost two-year-old.

Where to eat breakfast:

Pronto by Giada at Caesar’s – If you’re staying at Caesar’s, this is a great place to grab a quick breakfast sandwich and coffee or smoothie to start your day. It’s also the perfect spot to get a scoop of gelato to cool off in the afternoon. The restaurant also offers lunch and dinner options. All meals are available to go or with table seating.

Egg Slut at Cosmopolitan – There is a reason the line extends down the hallway. These egg sandwiches are the perfect breakfast comfort food. Prices are also much more reasonable than your typical Vegas fare. The restaurant serves walk-up breakfast items  all day every day. Don’t miss a stop at Milk Bar for cookies, a slice of cake, or their famous soft-serve on your way out!

What to do with a toddler:

See the flamingos at the Flamingo – You can walk right into the outdoor flamingo habitat through the Flamingo casino to see Chilean flamingos, ducks, ibis, pelicans, and swans. This free activity is open from dawn to dusk daily. The habitat is small, so plan for a quick stop unless you’re staying for the pelican feedings, which happen daily at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Watch the fountain show at the Bellagio – One of the most famous attractions in Las Vegas for all ages, the Bellagio fountain is sure to be a hit with little ones. The free show is on afternoons and evenings during the week and most of the day on weekends. Check the hours here. Find a comfortable (and preferably shady) spot to sit and enjoy the show!

Check out a pool – We stayed at Caesar’s, many thanks to my cousin’s husband. The beautiful Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesar’s offers seven different pool experiences. The Jupiter pool is the most family-friendly pool that includes games, bubbles, snacks, and kid-friendly activities. If you’re visiting in the summer months, I recommend going to the pool early in the morning before the heat of the day sets in.

Visit the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage – If you have an animal lover on your hands, a visit to see the dolphins, lions, and tigers at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is a must. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., this activity runs $22 for adults and $17 for children aged 4-12 (free for toddlers!). You’ll encounter the dolphins first and you can view them from above or below the water. They were very active during our visit and played with balls and jumped around and did flips for us!

When you continue on through the exhibit, you’ll come to several enclosures for lions and tigers. Our son loved the big cats and had a great time watching them walk around, play in the water, and sleep. The exhibit is completely outside and will take about an hour to get through with time to watch the animals and take pictures. You might even run into Siegfried himself!

Despite the desert heat, the staff is very strict about taking the top from any water bottle you bring to protect the wildlife from people who might throw their bottle caps in the enclosures (who is doing this?!?). So even if you just have a bottle in your bag or stroller, be prepared in advance. There are water fountains and cups around to help you stay cool if you want to leave your own water behind to avoid this inconvenience.

Ride the High Roller – Another crowd pleasing activity is the High Roller, the biggest observation wheel in the world. Located in the LINQ Promenade, it is comprised of enclosed and air-conditioned clear pods that hold up to 40 passengers each. Allot for about 30 minutes to make one full rotation while you enjoy panoramic views of Las Vegas, including the Strip, the valley, and the mountains. We went in the middle of the day on a weekday and lucked out by having a pod completely to ourselves! List prices for a daytime ride are $25 for adults, $10 for children age 7-17, and free for children 6 and under; however, you can easily find discounted rates at various websites. A night ride costs about $10 more per fare. Another perk of this activity is that it is ADA accessible and stroller friendly!

Thanks for reading! Next up, I’ll be talking about our babymoon in Aruba so check back for that post soon!