Hoover Dam?
 

We're going to Vegas in March and don't want to spend ALL our time in the casinos or shows. Is Hoover Dam worth the trip? How long is the ride?

The trip from Vegas to Hoover Dam is about 45 minutes to an hour. It is definitely worth it...the scenery is beautiful. <BR>I would recommend taking the "hard hat" tour while at the Dam. It is very interesting. <BR> <BR>I am jealous!

It is very much worth it. You get to go down inside the dam on the tour. There is a lot of Art Deco architecture and fixtures. Also a good visitor's center. I highly recommend it as a break from the pace in town.

Debbie, <BR> Absolutely worth the drive. Are you taking any kids? The hard hat tour is definitely worth the extra cost for adults and teenagers, but if you're going with younger kids I'd say stick with the regular tour. There is a (relatively) new visitors' center with interactive displays which all the kids really enjoyed as well.

The Dam is well worth the trip. Also, if you are driving yourself. Think about visiting Red Rock Canyon. It is beautiful ! You can get out of the car and do some waliking in the Canyon also. It is definately worth the drive. Take advantage of all the free shows that the casinos have to offer outside of their properties as well. The Pirate Show at Treasure Island is a must see. Be sure to get there early. The dancing waters at Bellagio are also nice. Check out the Volcano at the Mirage. Go inside the Mirage and take a look at the white Tigers. There is so much to do besides gamble. We go to Vegas twice a year and just love it !!!

After your tour of Hoover Dam, take a quick 15 minute drive to the Lake Mead Marina on Lake Mead. There is a restaurant/pub with reasonable prices and it is right on the lake. Very pretty, usually quiet. I always found it a very relaxing place to just sit with my burger and ice cold beer and just be.

Here's a couple more suggestions besides Hoover Dam and Red Rock: Visit the Valley of Fire and don't miss the Fremont Street Experience. Also, if you like to window shop, visit Desert Passage at the Aladin and the Forum Shops at Caeser's.

Check the Hoover Dam website for availability of on-line ticket purchases for the hard-hat tour. I went to Hoover Dam at the end of March last year and noticed that all but the late afternoon hard-hat tours were sold out by mid-morning. If you want this type of tour it might be worth it to plan ahead. Also, traffic into the site was very heavy and might add to the normal travel time. (Is this the only major tourist attraction in the US that sits on either side of a major traffic route?)

What is the deal with the claustrophobia warning on the website? Is it that bad? I am a little claus.