THINGS TO SEE AND DO WHILE IN LAS VEGAS
There Are Other Things You Can Do While In Las Vegas
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Hoover Dam
Just about 25 minutes away from the Las Vegas strip, the Hoover Dam is one of the engineering miracles in the world. Built in 1935, the Hoover Dam is one of the largest in the world, standing 700 feet high and provides a significant amount of hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, California and Colorado. You can get there by car, or book one of the sightseeing tours by companies such as Gray Line. Mini tour prices start at $50 on up, depending on the type of tour you book. Gray Line's mini tour takes about 4 1/2 hours from pick up to drop off, and includes two hours to tour the dam itself. For $3 more, book their standard tour and get a buffet lunch and tour of Ethel M's candy factory, along with the dam tour and other related tours. This one takes about 7 1/2 hours to complete. For $85 you can book a combined Hoover Dam/Lake Mead tour. More on that in the next section. You can also tour Lake Mead by helicopter, along with other sites. More on that later as well.
Tour Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake in the world, and is a result of the Hoover Dam construction. If you're touring Hoover Dam, you may as well see enjoy Lake Mead, too. Most of the sight-seeing tour packages will include Lake Mead along with Hoover Dam. In fact, Gray Line Tours offers a combined Hoover Dam-Lake Mead tour which is currently running $85, is an all day tour, and includes lunch and a cruise on Lake Mead, as well as the visit to Ethel M's candy factory. And there's a lot to see and do here if you don't take a tour. Come on your own and enjoy boating, fishing, sunbathing, amd swimming. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area also has programs including lecture series, hikes, paddle-boat tours, and even a Black Canyon raft trip. There are minimal park entrance fees, and this recreation area is a part of the national America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational pass system. For an annual fee of $80 you can gain admittance to any Federal Park or Recrecreational area on their list. If you have one of these, bring it along. If you're going to use your own boat on the lake, there's a separate use fee to do that.
Grand Canyon Tours
Another tour possibility is the Grand Canyon West Rim or South Rim tour package offered by Gray Line. Travel on one of their air conditioned coaches across the desert and enjoy the sights as you travel to one of the nation's top tourist attractions. Of course, if you're traveling on your own, you can enjoy the same trip from the comfort of your own automobile. We'll offer a separate article on the Grand Canyon in the future.
Helicopter Tours
If you've always wanted to ride on a helicopter, here's your chance! "Taking a Las Vegas helicopter tour can be one of the most exhilerating ways to see Vegas and the surrounding area." This quote is taken from Destination360's web site, and you'll find some good basic information here on helicopter tours, as well as other types of tours. You can book helicopter tours of through a number of companies in Las Vegas. While the tours will generally include the Las Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon, among other places, they will often add their own touches to the tour, such as lunches, a stop at a horse ranch for a ride, and other extras.
Other Sightseeing Opportunities
If you don't have the time or have little interest in the great outdoors, you can also tour Las Vegas itself, on your own or through a tour group. Visit the Strip, Chinatown, the museums during the day, or tour Las Vegas by night as the lights and sounds put you in a whole new world. Take a double-decker bus tour of Las Vegas. Other activities not mentioned previously include horseback riding or desert tours in a Hummer or SUV; ATV adventures, skydiving, and more. Rest assured, if you want a change of pace from the night life and gaming, there are plenty of fun things to see and do in and around Las Vegas!