Frog Hopper

Frog Hopper at Buffalo Bill's Details

• Hours of operation:
  Friday - Sunday, 12:15 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Closed Monday - Thursday.
• Cost:
  $3, or included in a wristband, which is $30 for a full day ($22 for half day). Also available are Little Wrangler passes at $12 for children 48 inches tall and under.
• Payment options:
  Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
• Reservations:
  Not applicable. For more information on prices and times call the ride hotline at (702) 679-RIDE.
• Location:
  About 40 miles south of Vegas on I-15 in Primm.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  Must be 36 inches tall to ride.

Frog Hopper at Buffalo Bill's Description

As any parent knows, children are fearless and often want to go on the daring rides that adults tend to be more apprehensive about. Unfortunately, those pesky height restrictions tend to get in their way. Primm Valley Resorts has the solution to this problem with the Frog Hopper.

Frog Hopper stands 30 feet tall and allows children to experience about 60 seconds of free-falling in a seven-seat car containing one adult seat.

Riders are raised to the top before being dropped swiftly to the base. The drop is followed by several bounces in short spurts up and down, similar to that of a hopping frog. Children, as well as adults, are sure to enjoy this ride

Floyd Lamb Park

Floyd Lamb Park Details

• Hours of operation:
  Summer (May - August): Open daily, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Winter (September - April): Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Cost:
  $6 per vehicle or $1 per person, which ever is greater. Annual passes that can be purchased for $45 are good from the day of purchase until the end of December.
• Payment options:
  Cash; checks are accepted for annual passes.
• Reservations:
  Not applicable.
• Location:
  Located about 20 miles from the Strip off U.S. Highway 95 north past Ann Road.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  Not applicable.

Floyd Lamb Park Description

In a city filled with palms and desert landscape, the grass lawn, pond and cottonwood tree-filled Floyd Lamb Park might look a little out of place in the Mojave metropolis of Las Vegas.

However, this oasis has been popular for literally thousands of years.

Today, the expansive park has four stocked ponds, picnic areas, barbecues, scenic paths and volleyball and horseshoe facilities on 2,040 acres in northwest Las Vegas. Visitors will come face to face with beautiful peacocks, ducks and geese. Those with a Nevada fishing license can fish in any of the park's ponds but are limited to three fish per person.

Visitors can also explore Tule Springs Ranch, one of the best examples of Pleistocene paleontologic sites in western North America. Tule Springs was visited by large prehistoric mammals in an era when the southern Nevada area was much cooler and wetter. Fossil remains of extinct mammoths, bison, horses, camels, giant sloths and other animals have been found in Tule Springs.

Later Tule Springs served as a watering hole for Indians and prospectors who traveled across Nevada. In 1916, John Herbert (Bert) Nay was the first non-Indian to file for water rights. As he acquired more property at Tule Springs, he built a blacksmith shop and a storage room.

Nay sold his interest in the farm in 1928 when he moved to California. The property remained vacant until prospector Jacob Goumond purchased the land to be a private retreat for his friends. He took advantage of Nevada's changing divorce laws and set up a dude ranch for prospective divorcees. The guests would wait out the six-week residency requirement to file papers. This was the shortest waiting period in the country. The ranch became a resort area and was glamorized by divorce-minded movie stars. 

Tule Springs also was a self-supporting ranch. One hundred acres was set aside for alfalfa and cattle; other animals were raised and sold, as well as several vegetable varieties. Its many functional wooded buildings still exist.

Goumond's granddaughter inherited the ranch when he died in 1954. She sold it to a group of businessmen who formed the Tule Springs Investment Company. They leased out the ranch until the city of Las Vegas bought it in 1964. It was converted into a city park and renamed in honor of state Sen. Floyd Lamb. 

Floyd Lamb is a pleasant and pretty place to throw out a picnic blanket or reel in a rainbow trout.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory

Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens Details

• Hours of operation:
  Open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Live chocolate production hours vary, but are generally Monday - Friday until 4:30 p.m. Chocolate factory workers are not available on Saturdays and Sundays. Please call for more details.
• Cost:
  Free.
• Payment options:
  Not applicable.
• Reservations:
  Reservations not necessary.
• Location:
  Roughly 10 miles from the Strip, near Mountain Vista and Sunset Road.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  Not applicable.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens Description

Holiday Cactus Garden Wind your way through more than 600,000 sparkling lights in the a sprawling 3-acre Botanical Cactus Garden as Ethel M Chocolates presents its 20th Annual Holiday Cactus Garden, Nov. 13 through Jan. 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free and open to the public, the holiday hot spot will boast live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays as well as photos with Santa on Fridays through Sundays.

If you want to take a break from the Las Vegas Strip, see the making of chocolate and wouldn't mind a free sample, Ethel M is sure to be a sweet stop. 

Located on the southeast side of town, Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden is only a 15-minute drive from the Strip. If you've ever eaten Ethel M Chocolates, they were made here. Forrest Mars Sr. opened the location in 1981. This is the only Ethel M factory in the world. He named the brand after his mother Ethel, who made chocolates from scratch -- right in their own kitchen. 

The factory follows the same traditions of Ethel's kitchen. The recipe for the chocolate never changed. To this day, chocolates are still hand-packed into the boxes. While you're touring the facility, see chocolate in the making through the factory's windows. In addition to chocolate, the factory also creates pecan brittle, peanut butter and caramel. 

Picking up a piece of chocolate and popping it in your mouth only takes a second. Preparing the filling, texture and shape of it takes a lot longer. In fact, this factory has a series of pipes, conveyer belts and tanks that hold 20,000 and 35,000 gallons of chocolate. Workers actually have to be latched into belts so they don't fall into the chocolate!

At the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, visitors witness the time and effort it takes to create that perfect morsel. After seeing and smelling the rich aroma of these sweets, we bet you won't be able to wait to devour a piece. You get a sample of your favorite chocolate in the retail area. 

There are plenty of chocolates to choose from that are fit for all tastes. Select from white chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate with fillings like fruit, caramel or nuts. The store offers festive flavors and box packaging during Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas. If you're purchasing chocolate during the summer, you'll be given an ice pack so your treats won't melt. Since the chocolates are preservative-free, the freshness of each package only lasts two weeks. But we're pretty sure you'll be done with the box before then. The gift shop includes M&M's chocolates and souvenir items. 

Ready to walk off all those calories from the chocolate? Just next door is the unique, three-acre Botanical Cactus Garden. It features more than 300 types of cactus including spotted aloe, agave plants, Texas prickly pears and yuccas. Flowers bloom starting from the end of April to the beginning of May. During the holiday season, the garden transforms into a breathtaking winter wonderland complete with lights, festive decorations, Santa visits and carolers. 

Even after more than three decades, Ethel M Chocolate Factory has maintained its popularity. Almost 1 million visitors from all over the world visit each year. After all, who would ever get tired of chocolate?

Holiday Cactus Garden

Wind your way through more than 600,000 sparkling lights in the a sprawling 3-acre Botanical Cactus Garden as Ethel M Chocolates presents its 20th Annual Holiday Cactus Garden, Nov. 13 through Jan. 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free and open to the public, the holiday hot spot will boast live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays as well as photos with Santa on Fridays through Sundays.

Life doesn't get any sweeter than this. 

Discovery Children's Museum

Discovery Children's Museum Details

• Hours of operation:
  September through May:

  • Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, noon – 5 p.m

  June 1 through Labor Day:

  • Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, noon - 5 p.m

  The museum is closed Mondays in September (after Labor Day) through May, except select holidays. The museum is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.
• Cost:
  Tickets are $12. Admission is free for members and children under the age of 1.
• Payment options:
  Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover. Payment by check is only permitted for groups or membership payment.
• Reservations:
  For birthdays, private parties and groups.
• Location:
  Downtown, at the Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center, next to The Smith Center.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  Children under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult, 18 years or older. Adults who visit without a child are required to leave their driver's license or ID card at the admission desk.
  

View less discovery children's museum details

Discovery Children's Museum Description

Think about a kid in a candy store. Now imagine that the candy store is actually a three-story museum full of interactive exhibits promoting science, art and culture -- and your child's reaction is strikingly similar to being confronted with a three-story candy cane.

That's the Discovery Children's Museum. Home to nine themed exhibition halls, the 58,000-square-foot museum entices children of all ages with a well-rounded array of learning experiences that feel a whole lot more like play.

The experiences start from the minute you approach the building, located in Symphony Park, adjacent to The Smith Center in downtown Las Vegas. The museum's façade brings to mind prestigious museums in historically cultural cities like San Francisco or New York. The flashing stars on the building's colorful marquee are the only real reminder that this is still Vegas.

As soon as you enter the building, your children will hit the ground running … and possibly even squealing with happiness (true story).

Here is a roundup of the fun in store for you and your little ones:

The SummitThis 70-foot, 13-level tower puts your favorite park's climbing structure to shame with jungle gym-esque features like slides and climbing tubes as well as hands-on experiments along the way, centered around machines, air pressure, flight, magnets, electricity, light and more.

Note: Be sure to keep a close eye on your child here. The multilevel entrances and exits (particularly the enticing slides and climbing tubes) make it easy for you to get separated.

Water WorldChildren make a splash as they learn about the movement and power of water at play stations with turbines, whirlpools and water wheels. This wet and wild adventure includes colorful lessons and fast facts on water so your child dives right into learning.

Fantasy FestivalWanna be a cowboy, a doctor, an astronaut? You can dress up and be whoever you want to be at Fantasy Festival. Put your imagination to play as you learn how to tie clove hitch, constrictor and anchor bend knots on a two-story pirate ship, do puppet-theater in the two-story castle or perform a skit front and center on a stage.

Toddler TownArt projects, animal noises, a padded baby center and a two-story pulley system for beanbags await your tot in this little learners' retreat for children ages 5 and under.

Solve It! Mystery TownCrack the case and put your investigative powers to the test as you uncover clues in this interactive exhibit for mini-mystery-solvers.

Patents PendingIf you were given a paper cup, tissue paper, straws and tape, what could you invent? Find out here as you put your creation to work and experiment at other interactive stations including an earthquake center, ball track and more.

Young At ArtUnleash your inner artist as you paint a picture on paper or draw on a computerized wall. Learn about the intricacies of everyday objects such as pennies and wood as you put them under a microscope, and more.

It's Your ChoiceDid you know that a serving of fruit is about the size of a baseball and a serving of veggies is about the size of a light bulb? From serving sizes and good food choices to sun protection and heart rate, interactive exhibits turn learning about healthy living into a game.

Eco CityRun errands just like a grown up, plus learn the ins and outs of spending and saving money, in this mini city with a bank, animal clinic, smoothie store, grocery store, car center and airport.

Traveling ExhibitA 5,000-square-foot-space for temporary, traveling exhibits from some of the nation's top museums.

The Discovery Children's Museum replaced the Lied Discovery Children's Museum that was previously located near Cashman Field for 22 years. The new museum succeeds in carrying on the mission of the original, and does it with finesse and expertise. Windows provide natural lighting throughout the building while restrooms are located on all three levels, making them easily accessible. There are stairs as well as elevators (and, of course, you can always travel via The Summit).

 

Experience Nano

Through December 3, the traveling exhibit hall at the Discovery Children's Museum features "Experience Nano: Imagine and Discover a World You Can't See." The exhibit teaches families about nano science, technology and engineering with hands-on, interactive activities.

The parking garage, located to the side of the building, makes it easy to come and go. That being said, you might have a hard time convincing your child to leave!

Desperado roller

Desperado roller coaster Details

• Hours of operation:
  Friday - Sunday, 12:15 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Closed Monday - Thursday.
• Cost:
  $10, or included in a wristband, which is $30 for a full day ($22 for a half day). Also available are Little Wrangler passes at $12 for children 48 inches tall and under.
• Payment options:
  Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
• Reservations:
  Not applicable. For more information on prices and times call the ride hotline at (702) 679-RIDE.
• Location:
  At Buffalo Bill's, about 40 miles south of Vegas in Primm.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  Must be 48 inches tall to ride.

Desperado roller coaster Description

If you're driving across the California/Nevada state line, there's one particular thing that catches your attention.

We're not talking about thousands of neon lights. That's all Vegas. The one structure that stirs major curiosity is Buffalo Bill's Desperado roller coaster, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the entire country, located in Primm, Nev.

The ride starts off slow and serene -- talk about keeping you in suspense! This is your chance to admire the scenery of the Southwest mountain ranges and desert. Once you hit that 209-foot peak, you'll plummet through a tunnel, reaching speeds close to 90 mph.  

Just when you thought the scare was over, Desperado's second drop is a thrilling 155-foot-tall spiral. This ride features a four G-force. To give you an idea of how strong it is, astronauts feel 3.5 Gs on a space shuttle take-off. Just imagine the fluttering your stomach will feel during the experience. 

Speaking of fluttering, this ride is not for the faint of heart. It does rattle a bit. If your back and neck are sensitive, you might leave the ride feeling a little sore. Our advice? Try and sit back as stay still as much as possible. 

If you've come to Vegas to do something out of the ordinary, Desperado's speeds, twists and turns are a great way to start (or end ) your trip.

Ride facts

Length: 5,843 feet

Max Height: 209 feet

Biggest Drop: 225 feet

Max Speed: About 90 mph

Ride Duration: 2 minutes, 43 seconds

Capacity: 1,700 people per hour on three trains

Designer: Arrow Dynamics, Clearfield, Utah

Special Features: A high-speed dive down a 55-degree hill into a tunnel kicks off the ride followed by a 155-foot second hill. That's higher than most other coasters' first drop

Chaos

Chaos at Circus Circus Details

• Hours of operation:
  Hours vary. Please call for updated times.
• Cost:
  $5-8 per ride. All-day passes to the Adventuredome are $26.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 33-47 inches tall (free for toddlers under 33 inches with a paying adult).
• Payment options:
  Cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
• Reservations:
  For birthdays, private parties and groups.
• Location:
  Located at the Circus Circus hotel-casino, at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Circus Circus Drive.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  You must be 48 inches tall to ride.

Chaos at Circus Circus Description

Taking the Tilt-a-Whirl and Scrambler to new heights, the Adventuredome's Chaos has passengers spinning, tilting and flipping like never before.

Built on a circular platform, Chaos rises amid the Canyon Blaster's track and twirls riders counterclockwise, backward and upside-down. The variation of speed and motion makes each ride unpredictable and assures that no two rides will be the same. And with the coaster whizzing by above you, Chaos packs in the thrills.

Designed by Chance Industries, who also designed the Inverter and the park's carousel, Chaos adds to the thrill rides inside the Adventuredome. 

Although the ride may look scary, it's one of the park's most fun - you'll be laughing more than screaming. The topsy-turvy world of Chaos is one you won't want to miss.

Ride facts

Max Height: 36 feet
Max Speed: 12 rpm
Ride Duration: 2 minutes
Capacity: 36 people
Designer: Chance Rides Inc., Wichita, Kansas
Special Features: Creates a three-dimensional effect as riders rise, tilt and spin simultaneously.

Canyon Blaster

Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus Details

• Hours of operation:
  Hours vary. Please call for updated times.
• Cost:
  $5-8 per ride. All-day passes to the Adventuredome are $26.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 33-47 inches tall (free for toddlers under 33 inches with a paying adult).
• Payment options:
  Cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
• Reservations:
  For birthdays, private parties and groups.
• Location:
  Located at the Circus Circus hotel-casino, at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Circus Circus Drive.
• Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
  You must be 48 inches tall to ride.

Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus Description

Ready to step out of your comfort zone and have a blast? 

The Canyon Blaster zooms you through sharp twists and turns. This double-loop, double-corkscrew indoor roller coaster offers views of other Adventuredome rides such as  The Sling Shot, Chaos and a new roller coaster El Loco (coming soon) -- that is if you can keep your eyes open.  

And while it's not known for its steep drops, the Canyon Blaster is mighty fast and reaches speed up to 55 miles per hour. There's also a portion of the ride where it gets dark: This freaks you out because you don't know what to expect next. 

The ride isn't exactly the smoothest experience, so be aware of your head moving around a lot. Once you climb out of your car, there's a bench right by the exit so you can catch your breath. 

Even if you rode the Canyon Blaster back in your younger days, it's just as exciting now. And while you can usually tell how scary a ride is by how loud the screams are, this ride freaks you out so much you might be left speechless.

Ride facts

Max Length: 2,000 feet.
Max Height: 90 feet
Biggest Drop: 90 feet
Max Speed: 55 mph
Ride Duration: 1 minute 45 seconds
Capacity: 28 people per ride; two trains available
Designer: Arrow Dynamics, Clearfield, Utah
Special Features: 74- and 72-foot vertical loops followed by a two-inversion corkscrew. First drop: 45 degrees.