One of the biggest challenges on any family vacation is finding activities that are “cool enough” for older kids and family-friendly enough for younger kids. Dig This Las Vegas checks both boxes.
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The attraction gives kids (and kids at heart) the chance to play with life-size, real-life construction equipment. It was a big hit with Jacob, my teenage — but not-yet-driving-age son — on a trip to Las Vegas. He was thrilled to take the controls of a massive 315C excavator, and I was comforted by the fact that an expert instructor supervised him the entire time. The 90-minute experience took Jacob through a series of progressive skill exercises: building a mound of dirt, digging a trench, stacking 2,000-pound tires and, finally, using the excavator arm to play basketball. He says the experience is one of the coolest things he has ever done.
“It was awesome to be able to drive the excavator even though I didn’t have my license yet,” he said. “But playing basketball with the claw and tires was my favorite part.”
Jacob is not alone in his praise — the activity occupies the top spot in TripAdvisor’s Fun & Games in Las Vegas category, and it has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame designation in 2018.
“Since opening in 2007, Dig This Las Vegas has focused on equipment activities for ages 12 and older — and two years ago, we introduced rides for kids 8 and up,” said Ed Mumm, owner of Dig This Las Vegas. “Recently, my thoughts are that little ones need to experience the thrill of operating real earth-moving equipment, as well.”
Not only do adults and teens get to operate the massive machinery, but, beginning this month, kids as young as 5 will also be able to operate real excavators on their own. (Kids as young as 3 can do it with a parent.)
“We’ve developed a program on little 1-ton excavators where kids 3 and older can safely dig away in a super-fun, safe and contained area,” Mumm said. “Tonka toys are cool, but you can’t beat the real deal.”
The Details
Dig This Las Vegas
www.digthisvegas.com
