Las Vegas Off The Beaten Path Tips by bugalugs

Hoover Dam Hoover Dam/Lake Mead Review

A short drive away from Las Vegas and you can visit the Hoover Dam. Built between 1931 and 1935 this huge engineering construction to control the flow of the Colorado and forming Lake Mead was built 2 years ahead of time and actually well below budget.
You can just stand there and look at the river or the lake or take the Dam tour, which we did and it was well worth it.
You are taken into an auditorium first where you see a short film which is really interesting, even to me who is not engineering minded. The guy who talked to us was also really good and so interesting.
You are then passed to another guide who takes you through the tunnels and into the generator room explaining as you go what everything is.

Phone: 800-291-TOUR

The Mojave Red Rock Canyon Review

Red Rock Canyon is in the Mojave dessert and if you have a car available when you visit Las Vegas then try and drive up here. Only 17 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon has a 13 mile scenic loop. There are lay- byes where you can stop to take pictures and admire the view.

West of Las Vegas Charleston Boulevard (North of Sahara Avenue), follow Route 159

Website: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org

Red Rock Canyon Red Rock Canyon Review

It is $5 to enter this state park with your car. There is an information and park shop with exhibits and some lovely things for sale. Arts and crafts, books. I bought two cacti in a box. One of the cactus keeps producing lovely white flowers.

There are picnic areas here, toilets, vending machine with cold drinks, but no food on sale.

The magnificent backdrop of the canyon has been used for many films over the years. In fact in 1932 Boris Karloff's The Mummy was partly filmed here.

Website: http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org