Visitor Attractions Around Las Vegas, Nevada

Hoover Dam

• Built in 1936, the Hoover Dam sits on the border between Nevada and Arizona and is located about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. The dam was built to control the Colorado River, and was the largest concrete structure in the world at the time it was finished. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation conducts daily tours of the dam beginning at 9 a.m. and running until 4:30 p.m. The dam is a popular attraction, with more than one million visitors annually, and even more come to drive across the dam. Dam tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be purchased in person at Hoover Dam. For those wishing to drive across the dam, most passenger vehicles are allowed on the dam, with the exception of vehicles carrying items that are unable to be inspected.

  Hoover Dam
  30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on U.S. Highway 93 in Boulder City, Nevada
  702-293-8321
  usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

Ethel M Chocolate Factory

• Located about 10 miles from the Strip in Henderson, Nevada, Ethel M's Chocolate opened its doors in 1981 when Forrest Mars, Sr. retired to Henderson and created Ethel M Chocolate to honor his mother. The company now offers guests free self-guided tours of the factory, which takes guests through each step of the chocolate-making process before closing with samples of its chocolates. Each style of chocolate made in the factory is also available to purchase. In addition to the chocolate, the factory is also home to the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden, home to more than 300 species of cacti.

  Ethel M Chocolate Factory
  One Sunset Way
  Henderson, NV 89014
  800-471-0352
  ethelschocolate.com

Red Rock Canyon

• Situated 15 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is a national conservation area that offers visitors a respite from the casinos and lights of the city. The park's most striking feature is the Keystone Thrust, a series of large, red sandstone peaks. The peaks measure up to 3,000 feet high and are a popular destination for hikers, bikers and visitors. A one-way, 13-mile road provides car access to most of the key sites within the area. The area is home to a variety of animals and plants, and at dusk offers vibrant views of the Las Vegas Strip.

  Red Rock Canyon
  1000 Scenic Loop Drive
  Las Vegas, NV 89161
  702-515-5367
  redrockcanyonlv.org/