Hoover Dam, America's Best Waterpark

If a trip to the Hoover dam is not on your bucket list, it very well should be. The building of this marvel began in 1931 to harness the power of the Colorado River. One of the driest areas of the United States, there was a real need for water for consumption as well as irrigation.

The Hoover Dam is located on US Highway 93, just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. To drive to Hoover Dam, head southeast from Las Vegas on Interstate 515. This will change to US Highway 93. There is ample parking on site, but plan plenty of driving time as the road can be crowded at times. January and February seem to be the slowest periods for tourists.

If you have no medical conditions and do not suffer from claustrophobia, I would suggest the both the tour of the Hoover Dam as well as the Power Plant Tour. This will take you into the lower levels of the dam, through dark and narrow passageways.

Many areas of Hoover dam are open to the public, but your real adventure will be in the lower levels of the Hoover Dam. There are several tour options and tour descriptions are available online. You will need to arrive early to purchase your ticket. The tour will not wait. If you are late getting to the starting point, they will leave without you and there will be no refund for late arrivals. Tickets are first come first sold and each guided tour is a group of only 20. You will walk about a mile at a moderate pace, traveling up and down stairways. You are not allowed into the dam unless with a tour group. You will be provided with a hard hat that will be yours to keep.

On the Hoover dam tour, you will walk through the same passageway that the workers used when building this massive structure. As you walk through the passageway you will delight at the stories your tour guide tells about the workers. The tale of the men who died, the father and son and how injured workers were carried across the state line before their injuries were reported. Find out why this was done.

The Power Plant tour will take you through the power plant where you will stand alongside the gigantic generators that power the dam. You will view historical displays and movies which tell the story of the Hoover dam.

Ticket prices and all other pertinent information can be found on the US Bureau of Reclamation website.