Las Vegas Summer Bucket List
Things to do in Las Vegas: Summer Bucket List
Download and Print
Choose one or all of our Las Vegas Summer Bucket lists to help plan your fun this summer.
Have a Water Day
Find local pools with general admission
Join the YMCA and swim all summer!
Head to a Dive in Movie at the Cosmopolitan
Find Dive in Movies at local recreation centers on our calendar!
Eat Shaved Ice
Nothing beats Purple Penguin! Whiley you’re on Water Street visit Archer & Jane, take advantage of open skate times at Lifeguard Arena, have a slice of pizza or some delicious popcorn.
Looking for a new park, Central Park at Cadence isn’t too far away from Water Street.
Have a family game night
Did you know you can rent games from your local library?
Have you been to Meepleville Board Game Cafe? Las Vegas’ first board game cafe!
Meepleville is very unique, with seating for over 100 people to play and learn games. If you want to come in and play board games or participate in daily events, then you pay a nominal fee of $10 and you can stay and play all day. Meepleville’s Game Gurus will recommend and teach you some of the games from the library.
Meepleville sells and demos all of the latest and greatest games and has one of the largest inventories in Las Vegas.
Meepleville serves delicious sandwiches, snacks, pizza, smoothies, beer & wine.
Memberships are available.
702 – 444 – 4540
4704 W. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Spend the day at Lake Mead
Did you know Lake Mead National Recreation Area is America’s first and largest recreation area?
A Lake Mead annual pass is only $45
Day passes are $25 and good for 7 days.
Check out Lake Mead Mohave Adventures for excursions and rentals!
Visit a Mermaid
Sign up for Mermaid School!
Day Camp at Mt. Charleston
First stop is The Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway site is a destination in itself. This 128acre complex has reclaimed land from a golf course into public buildings, trails, exhibits, and more. Whether you just make a quick trip inside the Visitor Center for a map and a souvenir, or stay for a hike or program, make sure to stop at the Gateway! Make sure to grab your Junior Ranger booklet!
THE VISITOR GATEWAY IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID.
Deer Creek Picnic Area is a favorite spot. The paved trail is accessible and easy for strollers. The path is wide with a small creek running along the left side. Set up a day camp there and let your children explore the forest. Bathrooms are located in the parking area.
Lee Meadows is also popular for day camping. This wide open meadow is perfect for stick collecting, ball kicking, stone stacking, and just relaxing in the fresh air.
Spend the day at Lee Canyon!
Open Friday – Sunday with scenic chair rides, disc golf, hiking, ax throwing, dining and more.
Take a staycation
Here are some of our favorite family staycation vacations
- Mandalay Bay
- Hilton Lake Las Vegas
- JW Marriott Las Vegas
- Red Rock Casino and Resort
- Casablanca (Mesquite)
- Polo Towers
- Westin Lake Las Vegas
- Green Valley Ranch Casino & Resort
- Marriott Grand Chateau
- Tahiti Village
- Golden Nugget
Visit a splash pad
Use our Las Vegas splash pad map to find your favorite splash pad near you.
Eat Ice Cream
Stay tuned for an exciting trip down ice cream lane in July.
Some of our favorite ice cream in Las Vegas
Sorry Not Sorry Creamery
Nielsen’s Frozen Custard
Yogurtland Las Vegas
DuPars at Suncoast Casino
Go Birding
What to Expect During Your Visit
It is home to thousands of migratory waterfowl as well as numerous resident desert birds. There are nine ponds available for birding, surrounded by both paved and soft surfaces. The paved path is approximately 3/4 of a mile long and is accessible by wheelchair. The soft surfaces are mostly level and allow for easy walking.
When you visit, expect to do a lot of walking and allow yourself adequate time to visit the area. We also recommend that you wear appropriate clothing and comfortable, sturdy shoes. Bring water, a hat, and wear sunscreen. If you do not have binoculars, we have some available for loan.
Get Creative
Plan a picnic
Our favorite spots for picnics in the summer are Floyd Lamb Park and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park but you can have one up on the mountain, by a splash pad, or even in your own back yard.
Visit our Public Lands
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Desert Wildlife Refuge
- Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
- Zion National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
Don’t forget to ask for your junior ranger booklet at the visitors center.
4th graders get a FREE national parks pass with Every Kid Outdoors.
State Parks
Nearby Nevada State Parks include:
- Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
- Valley of Fire State Park
- Cathedral Gorge State Park
- Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
- Big Bend of the Colorado
Don’t forget to grab your Nevada Junior Ranger booklet or download it here.
Admission to state parks is fairly inexpensive but 5th grade students in Nevada can get a FREE parks pass for the year, or you can visit our local libraries to check out a Nevada State Parks Pass (there is a long waiting list).
Take a photo at Seven Magic Mountains
While you’re out in Jean check out the World’s Largest Chevron from Terrible Herbst. This giant gas station has everything you can imagine including a White Castle, rides for the kids, a giant big foot, and a replica Welcome to Las Vegas sign.
Internationally renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains is a large-scale site-specific public art installation located near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15, approximately ten miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada. Comprised of seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders standing more than thirty feet high, Seven Magic Mountains is situated within the Ivanpah Valley adjacent to Sheep Mountain and the McCullough, Bird Spring, and Goodsprings ranges of mountains. A creative expression of human presence in the desert, Seven Magic Mountains punctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color.
Seven Magic Mountains was produced by the Nevada Museum of Art and Art Production Fund. The exhibition opened May 11, 2016, and was originally scheduled to be on view for two years. Due to the incredible success of Seven Magic Mountains since its opening, artist Ugo Rondinone has expressed a strong desire to explore ways to keep the artwork on view at its current site. The Producers continue to work on an extension plan that would enable Seven Magic Mountains to remain on view for several years into the future.
Watch Live Music
Downtown Henderson, Downtown Summerlin and the District at Green Valley Ranch are hosting live music all summer. Check our calendar for live music this summer.
Take Advantage of Library Programs
Libraries do that?
Southern Nevada has FOUR library districts that are open to the public:
Las Vegas – Clark County Library District
North Las Vegas Library District
Visit our calendar for library programs or go straight to the library near you!
See a Las Vegas show
Adam London Laughternoon
Mac King Magic
Tournament of Kings
Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love
Illumination
Jabawokeez
Blue Man Group
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Monster Jam
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party
Take a Road Trip
Leave for a day or spend a weekend away!
Our favorite road trip destinations include:
Flagstaff, AZ
St. George, UT
Cedar City, UT
Zion National Park (Utah)
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
Quail Creek State Park, Utah
Cathedral Gorge State Park, Nevada
Laughlin, NV
San Diego, CA
Big Bear, CA
Park City, UT
Get creative in the kitchen
Cook dinner over the fire
Churn homemade ice cream
Bake cookies for a first responder
Create summer soup
Take a Day Trip
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Beatty, Nevada
International Car Forest of the Last Church, Goldfield, Nevada
Tonopah Mining Park
St. George, Utah
Sand Hollow State Park (Utah)
Oatman, Arizona
Laughlin, Nevada
Bend of the Colorado State Park
Tubing at Zion National Park
Mt. Charleston
Cedar City, Utah/Brian Head Resort
Use the Neon to Nature App
Discover beautiful walking and biking trails right in your own backyard with our Neon to Nature program. We have over 1,000 miles of trails here in the valley. Each trail listing includes trail information and photos, along with detailed map descriptions of the trail’s location, length, and various amenities.
You can Personalize Your Map to see only trails that meet your needs.
You can also download the FREE Neon to Nature app for your Android device or iPhone.
Try a new restaurant
Back to the 80s Cafe
Nightmare Cafe
Anime Cafe
Sapporo Revolving Sushi
Flights
Sugar Factory
Rainforest Cafe
Minus 5° Ice Bar
not really a restaurant, but cool and they have mocktails
Do Something Adventurous
Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving
Fly Over Las Vegas
Slotzilla
The Big Apple Rollercoaster
Challenge yourself with a hike at Mt. Charleston
