About 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is absolutely worth the drive . Even if you're…read morejust passing through, this is definitely worth the stop. I've been here multiple times, and it never gets old. The history is impressive , and the engineering behind it is just crazy . Definitely do the guided dam tour--it's totally worth it. You get to go through the tunnels, ride the original elevator, walk through inspection areas, view the Colorado River through the ventilation shaft, and tour the power plant, including the Nevada Powerhouse . Great views, great history, and just cool as all get-out . Easy 5 stars.

Parking was easy to get to and the visitor center has wheel chairs to rent which was super helpful…read morefor my mother! I believe it was $5 or $10 bucks, they keep your ID and you get it back when you return the wheel chair. Staff was very knowledgeable and worked well together to make the process as quick as possible.

Hey Yelpers! This is…read morea super easy mostly flat hiking trail with the most beautiful views. This is the best time of the year to hike it, too. You can easily drive into the parking lot like you are heading to the visitor center, but drive past it down to the restroom parking lot close to the trail and it's perfectly marked for easy no brainer adventure. About half way or an hour in there is another restroom with a covered picnic table for a break. Then you can continue on down to the Boulder Dam. There are amazing views there as well as awesome retro restrooms , memorials, and water. There used to be a cafe. I forgot to look if they are still open. Before the dam is a parking structure. You can take the stairs or an elevator. We usually start our hikes about 8 am. The restrooms were still clean and stocked. I bring hand sanitizer. Be sure to bring water and a snack just in case. Dogs are welcome but please pick up after them and keep them on a leash. The later it gets the more busy it gets. I like to go here at least once a year. It's just so nice to get out into nature and experience Nevada. Parking is free. You can check out the visitor center while you are there. They have cool stuff. I recommend this trail. Check it out!

Free Parking this is the beginning 1 mile until you hit the 1st rail tunnel. You are walking…read morebasically on the removed railroad tracks where the rail cars were used to remove and bring in materials to build Hoover Dam. Walk, Jog, or bike love this spot for the beauty and the history. $25 to enter lake Meade State Park if you choose to go in if you have a pass it's free. Hoover Dam Hotel Casino and Hoover Damn are also in the area to visit to see the sights along with the small town of Boulder City which offers restaurants bars and small shops & antiques.

Even though the water level seems to be getting lower and lower these days, the lake is still…read morebeautiful and this place is such a serene retreat! You can enjoy some time at a beach, kayak, rent a boat, hike, or do a scenic drive here. There's also the famous railroad tunnel hike (which is really like an easy walk), boasting incredible views that tends to be a family favorite. No matter what kind of adventure you choose here, the views will be beautiful.

There are places in this country that aren't just destinations they're chapters of a life. Lake…read moreMead is one of mine. I remember when it was full truly full back in its heyday, when it stood as the largest reservoir in the United States, born from the mighty Hoover Dam and fed by the Colorado River like a beating heart in the desert. It wasn't just water out there... it was life. The kind of place families planned entire summers around. The kind of place that meant something. Our family didn't just "go" to Lake Mead we made a journey out of it. A couple days on the road, anticipation building mile by mile, until finally, there it was. We'd spend a week out there, soaking it all in. And I'll never forget those spring breaks. The sun high, music playing somewhere in the distance, boats cutting across the water, laughter echoing off canyon walls. Girls in bikinis everywhere and I was just a young man coming into my own, thinking every single one of them was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. It felt like the whole world was alive, and somehow, I was right in the middle of it. Back then, the water... it had a color you almost couldn't describe without sounding like you were exaggerating. Turquoise one minute, blue-green the next, shifting with the sunlight like it had moods of its own. The desert wrapped around it, rugged and raw, but the lake softened everything. It brought people together. You couldn't find a place to park half the time, and nobody cared. That was part of it. People shoulder to shoulder, coolers open, music playing, drinks in hand, strangers becoming friends for a weekend. It felt affordable, accessible... like it belonged to all of us. It felt like America. And now... now it feels like something else entirely. These days, when I pass by Lake Mead, it doesn't greet me the same way. The shoreline has pulled back like a memory fading. What was once shimmering and alive now looks cracked, dry, almost forgotten in places brown where it used to glow. The "bathtub ring" carved into the canyon walls isn't just a mark of water levels it's a scar. A reminder of what used to be there. It's hard not to feel like something's been taken. Whether it's overuse, growth, decisions made in rooms far away, or just time itself catching up whatever the cause, it's left behind a shell of what once was. A place that used to be bursting with life now feels like somewhere people go to remember instead of live. You don't go there the same way anymore. You visit it like a piece of history. And that's what hurts the most. Because I think about bringing my kids there today... and it's not the same gift my grandpa gave me. Not even close. What was once a living, breathing escape now feels like something we're quietly burying. Not gone but not what it was. And maybe never will be again. Still, I can close my eyes and see it. The color of that water. The sound of laughter. The feeling of being young, sunburned, a little wild, thinking the world was wide open and I was somebody in it. Lake Mead gave me that. And for that, no matter what it looks like today... I'll always love it.

We have lectric bikes and boy did we take em out for a Spin!…read moreWe rode the entire 35mile loop. It took us about 5 hours with one of them Being breaks. Even with help this trail is a beautiful beast. Steep hills and a steady gradual I cline in the middle. It sure was beautiful though. Great views. Some nature. Just some chipmunks and lizards mostly.

This is one of the few cycling trails in the extended Las Vegas Valley that allows you to ride for…read moremiles while separated from cars (another is on the west side of the 215 Beltway). It is a 34 mile loop including almost 3,000' of climbing--both long, slow grades (up to Boulder City) and very steep, short hills (The Three Sisters). Road cyclists regularly take advantage of the well-paved path. You will also see pedestrians walking along the way. The path passes the edge of Boulder City at Bootleg Canyon, goes behind Railroad Pass Casino, passes Lake Las Vegas, and enters Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It continues along the main road in the park, then starts the uphill slog just before the park's Visitor's Center. There, it crosses the park road and the path continues up to Boulder City. Accept on part of the climb to Boulder City where the path is in the flood channel, it is in pristine condition with nicely paved asphalt. There are not many water stops which is a problem for summer workouts. You can get water at Bootleg Canyon, the water district (just past Railroad Pass Casino), and two places in the park (including Boulder Beach). Except for the water district and one of the Lake Mead stops, there are bathrooms at each of the water stations. There is also a bathroom on the path by the Visitor's Center. Almost all riders go in a clockwise direction. I prefer this direction because it is really uncomfortable coming down the flood channel at speed. There are lines in the cement that cause little bumps that are both a problem in the nether-regions and they slow you down. A great workout is to do the loop clockwise and then counter-clockwise. If doing this, you may want to do the CCW-Boulder City-to-the-Lake section on the highway instead of in the storm drains. Other than the flood channel, what I don't like about the RMT is its curviness on the lake side. There are some excellent descents and ascents, but there are usually compact turns at the bottoms of the hills so you lose your speed before having to climb the next hill. And, you can't maintain your speed through the curves because many of them drop 100' to the desert floor below. The views are wonderful. You see the lake during a third of the trek and the Las Vegas skyline during another third. Caution: This is a HARD ride and water is not quickly accessible. Carry MUCH MORE water than you think you'll need. I experienced true thirst only once in my life and it was on this path. Also, I've had to stop on more than one occasion to give others desperately needed water.

As a park, this is a lovely park. It has a view of Lake Mead and is simply beautiful! The…read moreplayground has a lot of equipment that kept our tiny one busy and so happy! There are beautiful picnic facilities and a lot of seating throughout the park . There is also a tennis court and ample shade to help stay cool. The walking path provides informational displays that explain the best part of the park....the long-horned sheep. There is a large herd that spends part of their day right here in the park. Of course they are wild animals and should not be approached but you are able to sit so close to them and observe as they relax in the grass. They are not tame but it is so neat to be able to be so close to them without them being at all disturbed by our presence. If you are in the area, stop by and see if you are able to share part of your day with wildlife!

A surprise visit that was amazing and special. A beautiful park that offered a treat with wild…read morelife. An experience that I will never unsee such magic and beauty of the desert. As Hemingway would say - "Every day above earth is a good day."

It is well-known that the construction of Hoover Dam has its roots in the vicinity of Boulder City…read more It is hardly known that the teddy bear cholla also has its roots in the vicinity of Boulder City. In this review, I will share with you the grove of teddy bear cholla that stand in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City. The teddy bear cholla lives in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Northwest Mexico. A teddy bear cholla forest is an uncommon sight in the vicinity of Las Vegas. There are two locations where I am aware of teddy bear cholla thriving. It is off Nevada State Route 165 in Nelson and this very spot that I am reviewing. The teddy bear cholla is an adorable cactus. It stands up-right and tree-like. From February to June they are decorated with colorful flowers. I strongly suggest doing this hike in late April and early May. The teddy bear cactus grows to an average of 3 feet, which is the size of a Star Wars Ewok or teddy bear. On that account they are known as teddy bear cholla. Their adorable appearance could be deceiving. From a distance they are charming. Up close their needles and balls of needles on the ground could turn an admirer to a victim. In a way they are back stabbers. My admiration of the teddy bear cholla forest dates back to 2005, when I got my car shortly after moving here from the East Coast, when hiking research was conducted at Border's Books. This research planted the seed for an annual hike into the cholla teddy bear forest. The best way to describe this hike is to visualize a triangle. The bottom left corner would be the River Mountains Loop Trail [RMLT] Pacifica Way trailhead. The bottom right corner would be the Alan Bible Visitor Center. The hiker has the choice of using any two of these trailheads. The point of the triangle would be where the RMLT intersects with the power line road that runs uphill to the teddy bear cholla forest turnoff. The triangle itself is the River Mountains Loop Trail. From the tip of the triangle a line running northwest would be the power lines road. This is the layout of the hike. I will discuss my previous hike utilizing the RMLT via Pacifica Way trailhead. There will be no problem getting a parking spot. Huge parking lot. The hike follows RMLT to MM 26.5. It is a beautiful paved trail with spectacular vistas of Lake Mead and the River Mountains. Because it runs on the former railroad, it is an unofficial extension of the Railroad Tunnel Trail. I have posted tips & pictures [concerned about 5,000 word limit]. After MM 26.5 where there is a sharp right curve, look for a valley, and make two lefts. The power line road is a gradual uphill climb. The trail texture is kind of rocky. I have done it in sneakers. When you walk the trail count the power lines. At the 13th power line, which is pole #57 [or X14441], turn left. There will be a sign saying "Authorized Vehicles." You are near the forest. The grove of trees will soon be on the right. What is neat is that the hiker is observing the forest instead of walking in the forest. This eliminates getting spiked by the cactus. The teddy bear cholla forest is in a valley that is so off the beaten path. I will usually sit on a rock, take in the teddy bear cholla forest and mountains before closing my eyes for a bit. The walk back on the power line road extends the adventure. The hiker, now on a downhill trail is rewarded with spectacular views across the Hacienda Hotel into Arizona. Beyond power line 48, a mesmerizing vista of Lake Mead appears. This will be near power line #45, where the hiker will make two right turns to get on the RMLT. The walk back on the RMLT is slightly uphill. When I wallk this stretch I have been rewarded with wildlife sightings that have included squirrels, big horn sheep, and birds. The hike will go fast. If you want an extended hike, I recommend parking by the Hemenway Valley Park off Villa Drive, right off MM 28 of the RMLT. This is a popular spot for big horn sheep sightings. If this review influenced you to experience the teddy bear cholla forest, and you were impressed my Great Outdoors list has other special places in the Great Outdoors in and around Vegas. This is review 75 of the Daniel. S Yelp 100 Challenge

This place was not worth the walk over. It's an area full of the cholla cactus. We had walked over…read moresince we were hiking in the area of seven dry falls canyon, we had been advised to bring some pliers. We were a little confused, but we brought needle nose and regular pliers. Well, we quickly found out why. The pieces of the cactus are all over the ground, you can't even walk through the area without one attaching to you. We had one person, (it was a man, of course, because a woman wouldn't be dumb enough) that decided to check out the forest up close and personal, and ended up with balls of cactus up and down his legs, shoes and a gnarly one that was in his hand pretty good. The pliers came in handy. I would not tell anyone to go out of their way to come check this area out, unless you have a love for cactus.

Not too far from the (paid) NPS Henderson entrance is this moderate 2-3+ mile (you choose) trail…read morethat starts right off the parking lot. Shaded picnic areas and rudimentary restrooms are at both nearby 33 Hole parking lots. The first (and last!) hill warrants good hiking footwear and your attention. Uneven and unmaintained so find a map online for best results. Bring water, bring Fido, dress for the weather and pack out your trash. The views and slot canyon are worth it!

This hike is unpaved, and someone can easily get lost. There were times when I had no idea where I…read morewas going, and luckily, the navigation on here told me I was going the wrong way. The hike, in general, is excellent. You see a little river, go under tunnels, and hike up a small hill. There is enough nature to look around rather than just dirt and rocks because we are in a desert. Not too many people around either, which is nice, that it isn't too crowded. Unfortunately, I did not see any owls. Lastly, you do have to pay an entrance fee to come inside, I believe it was 20. Overall, the hike was easy, and I would come back.

Wow! Had no idea this was even here! Came in for the native plant sale and walked out with some…read moreknowledge. I had no idea this was even here. They do bird viewing walks around the pond. Amazing the critters that live here.

Although there was not much greeneries, it was nice stroll outside with this round loop…read more I didn't see any birds flying around or on trees but saw lots of geese and ducks in the small water ponds. There's an area where there are monarch butterflies. So awesome to see them flying around one area. And of course, Mr Tortoise. I heard he is usually not out of his hiding spot and I was lucky today to see him come out and smell the fresh air. So awesome to see him. There's a bee display inside the office. So intriguing to see the movements of this huge display. The front desk ladies say that they do try to escape at times so we have to be careful of the bees.

Not too sure if it's quite complete…read more The entrance has many covered picnic tables, working bathroom and map of trails. Hiking wise, there are 3 entrance paths that enter into a gravelled open area that was unclear of where it would end up. Pretty much turning left or right, you kind of loop back to the parking lot from that gravel area.

After our hike at the Wetlands, we came here for our after hike snacks and drinks. The park is…read morevery nice and new. This used to be just an area you pulled in to park with a dirt lot. Now there's a large parking lot with several picnic tables and benches and bathroom facilities. The tables are mostly shaded but that depends on the sun and the time of year. It was a pleasant place to spend our after hike time and plan our hike for next week. There are two trails leading from the parking area. One of them splits into a third and they end at an unpaved trail that is the south section of the Wetlands Park Loop Trail. You can take any of these trails from the picnic area to the Nature Center at the Wetlands Park and then come back here for a picnic. It would be a nice family outing!

I had so much fun when I did the Chinese Banquet. I felt like I was in an episode of the "Crazy…read moreRich Asians" or a Vegas highroller. I enjoyed the VIP behind the scenes tour, I learned so much about how the high rollers are served, the art and tidbits about Resorts World and Chairman Mao's role in Genting. So much food. So decadent and delicious. Service was incredible and Marco was a great tour guide

We just enjoyed a happy hour through Nevada Tour Company for their Embassy Suites Sphere viewing…read morecalled - Sphere Sensation Celebration: A Las Vegas Happy Hour! The booking process through TicketTailor was easy, and our tickets were sent electronically. We Uber'd but the hotel does have a paid parking option. We showed up at the hotel a few minutes before our start time, and the front desk checked us in and directed us to the 10th floor suite. Inside the room, you have access to the entry room with a loveseat, a countertop/kitchenette area with our champagne, the table with a charcuterie board, and of course, the restroom. But the star of the show is the big outdoor terrace and the view of the MSG Sphere itself. The view of the Vegas skyline was incredible, and 1.5 hours is a great amount of time to see all of the different graphics cycle through! The drinks were great, the food was delicious - fresh, great variety and beautiful presentation, the accommodations were clean, and the view second to none! I recommend this activity for tourists and locals alike!