The 5 Best Family-Friendly Educational Attractions Near Henderson, NV

Henderson and the Las Vegas area may be known for more grown-up fun and sports, but there are actually many things for your whole family to do in and around the city. Not only can you take your kids to entertaining, family-friendly destinations and attractions, but at many Henderson spots, they will actually learn something as well. So, whether your little tot is into science, animals, or playing and digging in the most extreme sandbox imaginable, the attractions below have something to offer kids with all different kinds of hobbies.

Dig This Vegas

You may not think that working with heavy equipment is a kid-friendly activity, but for kids who love to build, dig, and play around with tools, Dig This Vegas offers some amazing group activities for kids. The place itself is described as the “world’s first adult sandbox” and is sprawled out over 5 acres. You can schedule an individual dig, group dig, or kid dig, although the minimum age requirement for individual digs is 8 years old. However, kids as young as 2 years old can go on kid digs.

The staff at Dig This Vegas is incredibly professional and friendly and will show you and your family how to operate the equipment safely. The staff members can also help you set a team challenge if you want to bring your children and their friends along and teach them the value of teamwork through a building exercise. If you want to buy out a whole session, you’ll need a minimum of four people for the dig.

For session buyouts, you’ll get to work with between four and 16 pieces of equipment and machinery. Young children are always supervised by the knowledgeable staff here.

Lion Habitat Ranch

TheLion Habitat Ranch is a non-profit sanctuary that started as a retirement home for lions formerly at the MGM exhibit and is now dedicated to protecting these beautiful big cats. Though the ranch has been housing lions since 1989, it only opened up to the public in 2012. Take your children to the ranch so they can learn about the incredible lions here, see how they are cared for, and gain an appreciation for both the majesty of wildlife and the importance of preserving the diversity of species on our planet.

Since the ranch opened, several new species of animals have been added, including parrots, emus, ostriches, and the locally famous Ozzie the Giraffe, who you can help feed. You can either reserve tickets in advance or drop by during walk-in hours. These hours are Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Though the ranch is open until 3 p.m., no walk-ins are accepted past 2 p.m., and in general, it’s recommended to get here as early as possible so you have time to appreciate the exhibit.

Since the Lion Habitat Ranch is mostly an outdoor experience, call ahead on rainy days to check if it’s open.

Clark County Museum

If your kids can’t get enough of history and stories about the old Wild West days of Nevada, take them to the immersive Clark County Museum. Not only will you learn about the history of the state from prehistoric times until today, but you’ll also be able to see a huge range of historic buildings that show you what daily life was like during different eras.

As part of Clark County Parks and Recreation, the museum is spread out over a sprawling 30 acres. Start your tour at the modern exhibit hall, which will give you and your family a summary of the area’s history over the centuries. Then, you can move on to the historic buildings that have been restored from Henderson, Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Goldfield. Marvel at the Ghost Town and Mining Trail, Donald Reynolds Printshop, and Mobile America among the many other cool and educational structures you’ll find here.

The Clark County Museum makes for a long and very affordable day out with the family, as admission only costs $2 for adults and $1 for children and seniors. Drop by between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to check out this cool place for yourself.

Discovery Children’s Museum

The Discovery Children’s Museum believes in teaching children about the world and how science works through fun games and activities, rather than giving boring lectures or rattling off facts. Drop by the Discovery Lab, walk through Eco City, learn about the power of water by playing around with it and creating currents in Water World, or drop your younger toddlers off at Toddler Town, where they can learn about the desert around them while having a blast.

No matter what your child loves to do, Discovery Children’s Museum will have an exhibit or activity for them.

Botanical Cactus Garden

Discover the staggering array of plants native to the American Southwest in the Botanical Cactus Garden, the largest botanical garden in all of Nevada. The garden is laid out over 3 beautiful acres filled with over 300 species of cacti and other succulents. Walking around this stunning desert plant display provides a good opportunity to teach children not only about the different plant life around them but also how a land’s native vegetation, which is more sustainable to grow and cultivate in a garden, can look absolutely gorgeous.

As a bonus at the end of your walk, you can stop by Ethel M Chocolates (the gardens belong to them) and take a stroll down the chocolate viewing aisle with your kids. The whole family will love seeing how chocolate is made and will be happy to taste and buy some at the end of a fun and educational day.

Besides the cultural attractions  adults love, you’ll find so many places where you can have fun with the whole family while learning something new in Henderson, Las Vegas. Teach your kids about science, art, and the world around them at one of our favorite local attractions listed in this post. If you have a family-friendly spot you love that we didn’t mention, contact us at De Castroverde Personal Injury & Accident Lawyer, and let us know, as we would love to include it in a future post.

Photo Credit: Clark County Museum 01.2023 by Ron Mader is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0