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Hoover Dam
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Lake Mead
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Grand Canyon
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Truly one of the wonders of the world. Built in the 1930’s by thousands of workers working round the clock pouring enough concrete to build a highway from San Francisco to New York. Hoover Dam backing up the Colorado River near Boulder City, creates the largest man made lake, Lake Mead, in America.
Approximately a half hour drive Southeast of The Strip. (see directions below)
There are several walking tours on the top of the dam, and a tour with exhibits down inside the dam. There are several indoor exhibits at the Lake Mead Visitor Center that show the flow of water from the Rocky Mountains hundreds of miles via the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon finally dumping into Lake Mead. Fascinating stuff! Cameras are allowed.
Worth mentioning is the engineering marvel currently under construction is the new highway bridge being constructed across the canyon walls to alleviate the traffic jams that are common crossing the two-lane dam. This can be seen from the viewing area at the top of the dam.
NEWS FLASH:
Nearly completed and due to open March 23, 2007 is the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is a 4,000 foot high glass enclosed U-shaped observation deck that juts 70 feet out over the Grand Canyon wall it is about a 2 hour drive from the Hoover Dam. Absolutely breathtaking!
Click Here to go to our Skywalk at Grand Canyon West page, there you’ll find a link to the Skywalk website where you can see an amazing video of this spectacular attraction and a map of how to find it, and lot’s of information on the project.
WARNING:
Ok, here’s a plug. For those of you that don’t have a car to drive to this Must-Do attraction. I highly recommend taking a bus tour from your Hotel to the Hoover Dam, you get a funny guide, lunch, 2 hours at the Dam, and return trip for $42.00! A real deal!
Click Here to go to our Tours page to read more.
Ok, one more, not free. I personally have done this several times with out of town relatives/guests and will do it again and again. Why? With all the excitement your Vacation to Las Vegas has for you, this is one Memory you will never forget! What the heck am I talking about?...A helicopter (gasp) tour of the Grand Canyon, my favorite is The Grand Canyon Picnic, a low-level flight over the desert plateau, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead then breathtaking ride up the magnificent Grand Canyon, land 4,000 feet down in the canyon at the Colorado River and enjoy a Champagne lunch. On the return flight you’ll get a fantastic view over The Strip. A video of your trip is available. Truly a lifelong memory, ahem, much more than a few hundred bucks in slot machine!!
Click Here to go to our Tours Page for 5 choices of Helicopter Rides. Worth every penny!
Just take the dam tour will ya’!
Driving directions to Hoover Dam/Lake Mead. Get a map from our Maps page as there are several ways to get there. My favorite is take E. Lake Mead Boulevard (147) past Nellis Air Force base (be sure to stop and watch the fighters take off and land) from up on Sunrise Mountain. Then it is a beautiful desert drive on Lakeshore Scenic Drive (166)overlooking the lake and boat marinas to the Lake Mead Visitors Center and on to the dam. Almost forgot, Lake Mead Railroad Tunnel Trail is near the Visitor Center, an easy family 1 mile hike with spectacular views of Lake Mead and rock formations. This drive is only a few minutes/miles further. This is a very easy beautiful desert drive for first timers.
OR, If you would like to see the Historic Boulder City on the way take Hiway 93, which gives you a choice of going thru Boulder City or bypassing directly to Hoover Dam/Lake Mead.
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