Las Vegas has long been known for its casinos, music shows and night-time entertainment. But now there’s more to Vegas than that. The city is growing fast, and moving beyond it’s legacy as a getaway for adults-only pleasure: it’s establishing itself as a destination for all-around family entertainment as well.There’s Cirque de Soleil where the circus meets performance art. The Blue Man Group is another family-friendly performance extravaganza that has regular shows in the desert city.

Kids and animal lovers will enjoy the Mirage Hotel’s White Tiger Habitat. Here, you can gaze at these rare creatures behind glass walls, something different from your typical zoo experience. If it is aquariums you like, the Las Vegas Mirage is also home to The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat where you can have the unique experience of sipping a drink at the bar beside swimming dolphins. Some might even leap to celebrate your good fortune. Over at Mandalay Bay, you can visit the Shark Reef. The sharks swim among a dozen other sea species inside a million gallon tank.

The shopping is also good in Las Vegas. If you have the budget, there’s fine jewelry from Harry Winston, to every brand name clothes designer, to Versace home decor. At the Venetian, the gondolas can take you right to the shops. The famous tri-level Forum Shops, you can visit at Ceasars Palace.

Las Vegas also has something to offer those who enjoy the great outdoors. In nearby Red Rock Canyon you will find Red-Tailed hawks and 8,000 foot peaks. The red sandstone cliffs feature unbeatable views, 30-foot waterfalls and challenging hiking trails.

For something educational, it would be great to take the kids to The Atomic Testing Museum at the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology complex. The nearly 50-year history of nuclear weapons testing at nearby Nevada sites is recorded and explained here. They have interactive displays, films in the concrete bunker and the most unusual gift shop anywhere.

Vegas is also known as the city of lights, one reason would be Fremont Street where you’ll see the $70 million dollar 1,400-foot canopy covering an area housing dozens of casinos. You will be dazzled by continual projections of video and amazing sound. Offering more neon lights than anywhere outside Hong Kong, it’s a must-see.

If you’re a brave thrill seeker, try one of the scream-inducing rides at the Stratosphere. At a thousand feet, no one can hear you anyway… except maybe the terrified rider next to you! Then judge for yourself which is scarier: riding the Stratosphere or good old Las Vegas gambling?

Here are a couple of entertainment package you can experience in Las Vegas:

• Blue Man Group at the Venetian Las Vegas

Kids and adults alike love the party atmosphere of the Blue Man Group, playing at the Venetian on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip! Combining music, comedy and multimedia theatrics, the Blue Man Group is a totally unique form of family-friendly entertainment

• Penn and Teller at the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino

Penn and Teller’s live show has been a hit on Broadway and now has a permanent home in Las Vegas at the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino. Known for their outrageous blending of comedy and magic, which often stretches the boundaries of traditional magic, this iconoclastic pair’s live show on any given night can involve knives, guns, a fire-eating showgirl and a duck.