Take a Side Trip from Vegas and Have Some Fun

Las Vegas is one of the most popular US cities with its many hotels, casinos, and various other attractions. Every year millions of people visit Vegas and its many sites. However, taking a side trip from Vegas may reveal many hidden treasures. Travelers can find fun by taking a side trip to the city of Laughlin, by taking a side trip to Boulder City to visit Lake Mead, or by visiting Hoover Dam. There are many Las Vegas attractions that are close to Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin is located less than 100 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

The town of Laughlin is also located on the Colorado River. The travelers can take a short drive from Las Vegas, which will lead to a stark desert landscape. However, it the desert town offers a more laid back gambling experience, offers many fine dining restaurants, water sports, shopping and golf. Laughlin also offers lower prices at casinos and restaurants than Las Vegas, which may provide a better gambling and dining experience for visitors. The city of Laughlin has been undergoing many changes and improvements. It is offering a cheaper alternative to Vegas gambling, and many tourists may find it best to spend a night in Laughlin during their Vegas vacation.

Boulder City is another great site for a side trip when visiting Las Vegas. The town sits southeast of Las Vegas, and is full of historic neighborhoods, small businesses, parks, green belts, and one casino. Lake Mead is located behind Hover Dam in Boulder City. It is the focal point of the water based recreation for southern Nevada and Northwestern Arizona, and is the major water supplier to seven southwestern states. The desert surrounds Lake Mead, but is a beautiful sight that is known as the Valley of Fire. The Valley of Fire contains red sandstone outcroppings, petrified logs, petreglyphs, and hiking trails, which are located along the northern reach of the lake. The Valley of Fire also has a visitors center, which has displays on the parks history, ecology, archaeological recreation, slide shows and films, as well as an art gallery and information about campsites within the park. The park is open year round for visitors to visit and camp.

Taking a side trip to Boulder City and Lake Mead from Las Vegas takes an hour or less. Travelers will have the chance to visit Lake Mead and find tranquility and fun away from a city filled with lights. Daily ninety minute sightseeing cruises are available for visitors, and dinner cruises are available on weekends. The 300 passenger Desert Princess is a paddle wheeler that travels a portion of the lake. There are many breakfast, cocktail, and dinner and dancing cruises available also.

Boulder City also features the famous Boulder Dam Hotel, which was built in 1933. The hotel is a 22 room bed and breakfast that has been host to many notables, including Bette Davis, Shirley Temple, and Pope Pius XII. Guests may also visit the museum, which features artifacts relating to the workers and construction of Boulder City and Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is another attraction worthy of a visit, when taking a side trip from Las Vegas. The dam is located eight miles northeast from Boulder City. Hoover Dam was built in 1928 on the Colorado River to control destructive floods, to supply a steady water supply to seven Colorado River Basin states, and to generate electricity. The dam is also considered one of the seven wonders of the industrial world. It is 726 feet high and 660 feet thick at the base. Construction of the Hoover Dam required 4.4 million cubic yards of concrete, which is enough to build a two lane highway from San Francisco to New York.

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