Las Vegas Vacation
A Las Vegas vacation can imply a bunch of diverse things to a lot of different people, from a booze and gambling-filled gathering to a pleasant vacation absent from home with the kids (some people even combine these two vibes in one vacation). The Las Vegas vacation business really boomed in the late 60s and early 70s when Las Vegas made-up its image as a recreational area for adults, filled with glitzy casinos, exaggerated shows, and bars that were open night and day. In this Vegas you could watch a show, gamble all night, drink a whiskey sour with breakfast at 8am and go to snooze for a few hours before doing it all over again.
In the early 90s the Las Vegas vacation became something totally different. With the introduction of attractions like New York New York's roller coaster and MGM Grand's child-friendly surroundings, the Las Vegas casinos began to attract families who were traveling together. Casino owners realized they could attract the night gamblers and high rollers whilst catering to a completely new group, the families, who brought their own cash to play in the Las Vegas sands. Kid-friendly shows, restaurants, and attractions popped up everywhere, and many casinos also presented child play areas so mom and dad could still go off to drink and gamble.
Now, Las Vegas vacations signify an odd mix between the adult and child's playground. Roller coasters roar over casino floors where slot machinery ping and whiz and roulette wheels clang. Thanks to the legalization of prostitution in Vegas, advertisements for escort agencies spoil the sidewalks and ads for topless shows are displayed on taxi cabs close to ads for Sponge Bob Square Pants. Although the strip has reinvented its image as a family-friendly location, the adult-playground atmosphere still persists. You can still discover more high-end restaurants and nightclubs that just about any other small region in the U.S., and cash and bubbly still run freely.
Though adults and young children alike can take pleasure in a Las Vegas vacation, the environment is a bit tougher for teenagers. As those under 21 can't drink, nor can they gamble, most of the adult-orientated attractions in Vegas are inaccessible to them. Similarly, older teenagers most likely aren't very interested in the arcades or the roller coasters that their younger siblings are so thrilled about. Although some nightclubs aren't 21+, most of them are, leaving elder teens with little amusement. If you're a family with a few teenagers another destination may be better, as vacationing with older teenagers in Vegas may lure them to try out more adult forms of activity.