Tom, standing on the dock in Hanalei, Kauai, ten years ago.

When researching travel news today, I encountered the following article, which might interest ice cream-favoring adults and families considering Las Vegas, Nevada, as a vacation option.

“Las Vegas Is Getting a Museum of Ice Cream With Themed Hotel Suites and an Epic Ice Cream Buffet

The Museum of Ice Cream announced it’s adding to its collection of five pop-ups and five permanent locations with its largest flagship destination. By Stacey Leasca, Published on January 28, 2025

The sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream Las Vegas. Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Ice Cream

“Love a good scoop of ice cream? Then, it’s time to book a flight to Las Vegas.

On Tuesday, the Museum of Ice Cream announced it’s adding to its collection of five pop-ups and five permanent locations with its largest flagship destination, set to open in Las Vegas in 2026. Specifically, it’s opening as the new flagship family-friendly food and beverage destination at the AREA15 immersive entertainment district, and, according to the brand, it will also be its “most ambitious location” to date.

“AREA15 is built on immersive experiences, and Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World, making it the perfect location for the evolution of the Museum of Ice Cream. Since founding the Museum of Ice Cream, we’ve seen visionary designers like Bjarke Ingalls and Lionel Ohayon push the city into a new era of design, and we are excited to contribute to that legacy,” Maryellis Bunn, the museum’s co-founder and CEO, said. “Our Las Vegas flagship represents the pinnacle of our journey — blending design, hospitality, and participation in ways that balance family-friendly experiences by day and create a global nightlife destination by night.”

Museum of Ice Cream Las Vegas buffet — The Ice Cream Buffet. Courtesy of Museum of Ice Cream

The Museum of Ice Cream Las Vegas, the brand added in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure, “will redefine immersive entertainment, spanning nearly 30,000 square feet — three times the size of previous locations.” Its new location will include its iconic sprinkle pools, playgrounds, an epic ice cream buffet that the company is calling “the world’s first permanent, dedicated ice cream buffet,” costume parlors, and even an ice cream cake wedding chapel. And perhaps most fun of all, visitors can sleep over in its ice cream-themed hotel suites.

“We’ve been working toward opening in Las Vegas for over five years, and this marks a pivotal moment in our brand’s growth,” said Manish Vora, co-founder and co-CEO. “It comes on the heels of eight years of growth and millions of visitors served worldwide. We have watched the city evolve with groundbreaking attractions like the Sphere, Spiegelworld, and the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. To bring a permanent version of the Museum of Ice Cream to Vegas, we knew we had to elevate everything — size, interactivity, gamification, and theatrics.”

While you can’t visit this new location just yet, you can visit one of the Museum of Ice Cream’s five permanent locations in Austin, Chicago, New York, Singapore, Miami, or Boston. You can also keep track of Vegas’ progress by signing up for updates on the Museum of Ice Cream’s website, museumoficecream.com.

Las Vegas might have a reputation as a party destination, but it also provides plenty of family-friendly venues and activities. Here are some great options:

Entertainment and Shows

The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage
- This is a magical spot where you can see dolphins, tigers, and other exotic animals up close. Kids will love the playful dolphins and learn about animal care.
Tournament of Kings at Excalibur
- A dinner show with jousting knights, sword fights, and medieval fun. It’s interactive and great for kids who enjoy a bit of action.
Cirque du Soleil Shows
- Family-friendly options like Mystère (at Treasure Island) feature acrobatics, humor, and awe-inspiring visuals.

Interactive Attractions

Discovery Children’s Museum
- This hands-on museum has interactive exhibits covering science, art, and culture. Perfect for curious little minds.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
- Walk through a tunnel surrounded by sharks, rays, and sea turtles. It’s an immersive underwater adventure.
Adventuredome at Circus Circus
- A five-acre indoor theme park with rides, games, and attractions for all ages.

Outdoor Fun

Bellagio Conservatory and Fountains
- The Conservatory’s seasonal floral displays are mesmerizing, and the fountain show is a must-see for all ages.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- If your family enjoys hiking and nature, this is a stunning day trip destination outside the city.
Springs Preserve
- A mix of botanical gardens, museums, and interactive exhibits that explore the desert environment and Las Vegas history.

Quirky and Fun

Pinball Hall of Fame
- A massive collection of vintage pinball machines. It’s an excellent place for a nostalgic trip down memory lane for parents and fun for kids.
Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
- An interactive exhibit for superhero fans with costumes, props, and challenges inspired by the Marvel universe.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden
- Take a free self-guided tour to see how chocolates are made, then explore the desert-themed cactus garden.

Dining with a Twist

Rainforest Café (at Planet Hollywood)
- A jungle-themed restaurant with animatronic animals and thunderstorm effects that kids adore.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Crazy Shakes (at The Venetian)
- Known for their over-the-top milkshakes, which are practically a dessert and a photo-op in one.
Sugar Factory
- Famous for its candy-themed décor and giant goblet drinks (non-alcoholic options for kids, of course!).

Of course, adults or a family can keep themselves entertained for days with the events and venues listed above. However, parents (and adults) must prepare themselves for the exorbitant costs of participating in many of these offerings. The costs per person for the above events are listed on their websites and can be easily found online.

Since Richard moved to Las Vegas, we’ve been coming here for over 35 years. We’ve seen some of these but have little interest in spending hundreds of dollars on a single event. We’d rather spend our money on wildlife, nature, and cultural adventures worldwide.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 28, 2015:

No photo was posted on this date ten years ago. The post may be found here.

We were pulled on a cart up the steep hill to the dunes for an exciting, happy hour with entertainment.

We’ve been posting highlights of a few of our activities on the excursions we made away from the Maharajas Express train each day, all of which have been included in our train fare.

Comfortably seated on fluffy cushions on the sand, we enjoyed free-flowing beverages and snacks.

We have so much more to share that doesn’t include dining and entertainment. We’ve visited no less than a dozen forts, palaces, and sights of historical significance.

Tom captured this sunset while we were out at the dunes.

Unfortunately, there aren’t enough hours in the day for us to tackle those more comprehensive stories to coordinate with the hundreds of photos we’re accumulating.

We were bundled up in warm clothing and blankets provided at the venue. Several bonfires scattered around the area helped keep us warm.

By the time we return to the train each day, it’s so late. We don’t have time to compile the research, check facts, and present the kind of story we’d like concerning these many historical areas of interest.

We were entertained by traditional Indian dancing and musicians.

With only two days remaining until the train journey ends, when we’ll spend three nights in Delhi, we’ll work on these new stories of the many exciting venues we encountered while traveling on the train from Mumbai to Delhi.

Plus, during the upcoming 55-night tour, we will have a little downtime here and there, and we’ll surely catch up during these periods. At that time, we will have the opportunity to present detailed information on the various places we’ve visited.

At this point in the ceremonial festivities, she stood on a bed of nails and continued her dance.

In most cases, when cruising, we may miss going out on a port of call or two, especially if it’s a location we’ve already visited in the past, and also, since most tours can cost hundreds of dollars, we may avoid partaking.

The Maharajas Express includes major tours each day in the original train fare, and then there are additional tours, referred to as “optional” tours at other times with varying fees for each.

As darkness fell, another dancer performed a Hindu ritual dance.

These optional tours would be going on right now, as I’m sitting here in the bar with Tom while he’s conducting research, and I’m preparing today’s post. Once completed, we’ll head to our cabin to freshen up for dinner with perhaps a stop back in the bar for a cocktail and more lively chatter with other guests.

It’s hard to believe this part of our journey ends in 48 hours, but with the big and long tour yet to come, we continue to be excited about India. We’re comfortable here. Its colorful people are warm and friendly, and its culture is undoubtedly also colorful in countless ways.

Some of the passengers on the train joined in on the dancing. We sat back and watched the show.

The smog hasn’t been as bad as we expected. Although heavy and a bit treacherous, the traffic is not much worse than in any major city in the US. People aren’t wearing face masks with fear of Coronavirus as we’d anticipated.

Yes, sacred cows walk in the streets along with goats, horses, camels, and an endless array of stray dogs. Yes, there are endless areas of horrific poverty where citizens live without electricity and running water. But, we’ve seen these circumstances in one country after another.

Upon returning to our cabin around 10:00 pm, we discovered this pretty “towel” display presented by our attentive and thoughtful cabin attendant, Surender.

After almost 7½ years of world travel, we’re no longer shocked by the realities of life which unfold before our eyes. We no longer experience “culture shock.” instead, we embrace the differences and revel in how people of the world make a life for themselves and their families.

We continue to be in awe and grateful for the experiences before us, never forgetting for a moment how fortunate we are.

Have a fabulous day and evening, and we’ll see you soon with more.

Photo from one year ago today, February 6, 2019:
Sorry, there was no post one year ago today as we waited to figure out my medical situation.

Tag: entertainment

Fun new addition to Las Vegas family entertainment offerings…Family friendly events in Las Vegas…