Located in Henderson, Nevada, the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden is a real treat for children and adults. The Factory is about 12 miles outside of Las Vegas and is easy to get to from the Strip. It's on the way to the Hoover Dam so a sightseeing trip could include both locations. Ethel M is short for Ethel Mars and is named after the mother of Forrest Mars, who created M&Ms and other Mars candy bars. A trip to the factory includes a free tour of how chocolate is made, free samples and admission to an on-site botanical garden showcasing more than 100 varieties of cacti.
Located about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is open year round for tours. It is situated in Black Canyon and spans the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. The dam is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and was constructed during the Great Depression afflicting the United States. It was finished in less than five years and, at the time of its completion, was the largest dam in the world. It is rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. The Dam is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily and has a parking fee of $7, as of 2010. A tour of the dam, PowerPlant and dam passageways costs $30. Admission to the Visitors Center only costs $8 and admission to the Visitors Center and PowerPlant costs $11.
The nearest end of the Lake Mead Recreational Area is about 25 miles from Las Vegas. The expansive lake includes more than 550 miles of shoreline for visitors to enjoy. Guests can swim, water ski, boat, fish and camp at Lake Mead. The surrounding desert area offers plenty of hiking trails to explore. Photographers will find a variety of plant and wildlife to documents as three of America's four deserts--the Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin--meet in the Lake Mead area.
