Monday, May 26, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SUMMER VACATION: Ready for Fun

Grandparents can find many things for visiting grandkids to do in Southern Nevada

Click above for enlarged image. Illustration by David Stroud. Skateboard parks prove popular with teenage grandchildren. There are several around town. A fishing trip to Floyd Lamb State Park, 9200 Tule Springs Road, can fill a lazy summer day. A visit to Hoover Dam can be an interesting outing.

Bill Campbell's grandsons visit him at least once a year, usually for seven to 10 days at a time.

Like any good grandfather, Campbell is never at a loss for things to do when Gunnar, 6, and Blake, 3, trek to the desert from their home in Cincinnati.

They visit the Strip and see the sights like any other tourists. They swim, and tour Sun City Anthem in Campbell's golf cart. They read and play games at home, and just enjoy hanging out together.

But not all grandparents are as creative as Campbell. And, for them, the arrival of grandkids for a visit can prompt anxiety.

Never fear. There is plenty for visiting grandchildren to do in Southern Nevada.

Campbell, 63, who has lived in Sun City Anthem for about three years, said his grandsons are like most kids their age.

"They're very active, very much into sports and that type of stuff," he said. "When they visit us, we have a lot of activities planned."

They spend some time visiting casino-based attractions, Campbell said, mostly because "you come from Ohio or any part of the country, and there's nothing like this."

The boys enjoy checking out the entertainment at the Forum Shops at Caesars, and spend time at the carnival midway at Circus Circus.

But the boys also enjoy closer-to-home activities, such as swimming at Sun City Anthem's community center, Campbell said.

Which leads to a key point for grandparents trying to design a grandchild-friendly itinerary: Think beyond the usual suspects.

Sure, a kid always will enjoy a visit to Adventuredome at Circus Circus, Wet 'n Wild, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum and the Southern Nevada Zoological Park.

But think, too, about entertainment possibilities that may not spring immediately to mind.

We've come up with a few lesser-known but fun activities for visiting kids. We've broken them down by age range and type: rainy day stuff, when indoor activities are called for; outdoorsy stuff, for nature-loving kids; and active stuff, for kids who just want to burn off energy.

This is hardly a comprehensive list, and some activities can be adapted for different ages, but it's a start.

Ages 4 to 8

Rainy day stuff:

• Use summer vacation as an opportunity to show a grandchild that reading can be fun.

Campbell said when his grandsons arrive, they often sit down with his wife, Lois, to read. The nostalgic capper: The boys, Campbell noted, enjoy the same books Campbell and his wife read to the boys' mother when she was a kid.

For further literary options, check out the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's roster of summer activities. This year's schedule includes not only regular storybook sessions and the district's annual summer reading program, but also such special events as Harry Potter Magic Shows in July and shows by musician and songwriter Sid Hausman in August.

Debbie McGuire, the library district's youth services coordinator, said visiting kids are welcome to participate in any of the programs. They also can look for their favorite books featuring such popular characters as Captain Underpants.

Library staffers are happy to help grandparents "connect their grandchildren with appropriate materials for their age group," she added.

For more information and the library district's entire summer schedule, visit the district's Web site (www.lvccld.org) or visit a nearby branch.

• As retro as it sounds, how about an afternoon playing Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, or any of the other games kids used to play in the days before video?

Campbell says his grandsons enjoy playing board games when they visit as "a nice change of pace" from video games.

• Try creative activities in the kitchen.

Susan Lednicky, a nutrition educator with Nevada Cooperative Extension, said even young kids can make puddings, snack art -- using, say, cut-up vegetables to make edible faces -- and other foods that don't require baking or slicing.

And, Lednicky suggested, who says Easter eggs are only for Easter? Whatever the season, coloring eggs can be a fun way to spend an afternoon.

"My (older) grandson and my wife, they cook together," Campbell said. Their favorite dish: a type of candy made with molds. "He gets a real kick out of it."

• Make a unique souvenir at Stuffy Bear Factory at the Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway, (967-2327), or Build-A-Bear Workshop at Desert Passage mall, 3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South (836-0899). Children can design, customize and create their own stuffed teddy bears.

Outdoorsy stuff:

• There isn't a kid alive who doesn't enjoy tossing pieces of bread or stale cereal at hungry ducks. Try the ones at Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave., which also is a great place for running off steam.

Active stuff:

• Valley recreation departments operate a variety of summertime programs aimed at kids. For instance, the Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services' Recreation Division offers programs for kids ages 4 to 14 from June through August.

Linda Ryan, a recreation field supervisor for the city, noted all programs are open to visiting kids. For most, she added, "kids can join up anytime during the period or only for a few days a week."

Ryan said it is common for out-of-town kids to participate in the city's slate of summer camps, athletic activities and other events while visiting relatives here.

For more information, visit the department's Web site (www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us/leisure_services) and follow the links.

And while you're at it, don't forget about the recreational activities offered by your local park or playground.

Ages 9-12

Rainy day stuff:

• Give your budding Spielberg his or her big break. Buy a blank videotape, loan your grandchildren the family video camera and let them direct you in their first movie. When it's finished, assemble in front of the TV for your own at-home movie premiere. Spotlights and fancy dress are optional.

• Say hello to a desert tortoise during a visit to the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway (895-3381). You also can take a gander at other assorted desert creatures and learn about Southwest native culture.

Outdoorsy stuff:

• Sure, you've seen Hoover Dam 16 times. But for a visiting grandchild, visiting the dam -- or anywhere else around Southern Nevada -- can be an adventure. Campbell and his grandsons take photos wherever they go. Then, the kids create scrapbooks to record their vacation journeys.

• Head out to Gilcrease Orchard, off the Centennial Parkway exit of U.S. Highway 95, and pick out whatever's in season. Apricots should be ready to pick in early June, and vegetable crops are expected to be good this year.

Starting Saturday, the orchards are open daily from 7 a.m. to noon. For recorded updates on what's good, call 645-1126.

• Throw in a line at Floyd Lamb State Park, 9200 Tule Springs Road. A simple bamboo rod and some night crawlers make for an old-fashioned outing at the park's four fishing ponds. Just remember that anglers ages 12 and older need a fishing license -- a junior license for ages 12 to 15 is available -- that can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. For more information, check out the Nevada Division of Wildlife's Web site (www.ndow.org/fish/license).

Active stuff:

• Miniature golf courses abound in Southern Nevada. And, coincidentally enough, miniature golf is one of relatively few sports that all age groups can participate in together. Just give the younger duffers a few strokes' handicap, and hit the artificial greens.

Ages 13 and older

Rainy day stuff:

• Take the teenagers on a trip to one of Southern Nevada's outlet malls, which feature stores varied enough to suit anybody's tastes.

• Family recipes often fall victim to the passage of time. Take this opportunity to pass on to your grandchildren a favorite family recipe. It's not only fun, but can offer nice grandparent-grandchild bonding time, Lednicky said.

Outdoorsy stuff:

• Enjoy the cool breezes of Mount Charleston -- or the warmer breezes of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area -- on the back of a horse.

Cowboy Trail Rides and Cowboy Carriage & Wagon Co. (387-2457) offer guided trail rides on Mount Charleston and at Red Rock Canyon for riders ages 6 and older. The trips, lasting for varying lengths of time, are suitable for anyone from novices to experienced riders, said the company's John Sage. For details, check the company's Web site (www.redrockranch.org).

Active stuff:

• Let your wheel-savvy grandkids show you how it's done at a city or county skateboard park. If your grandchild couldn't pack his or her own skateboard or in-line skates, head over to one of several skate shops in town, buy a board -- consider the $35 or so an investment in multigenerational bonding -- and give it a try.